K1000 - boomy bass when resting against pillow

[Patrick82]

I have started using K1000 when watching tv in bed and noticed how boomy it sounds like, it's great for movies! But I don't like it for music because it sounds less airy and transparent, but it's a small sacrifice compared to the amount of bass you get.
I did a quick test with test tones and it seemed like the bass also went a couple Hz lower. The more the pillow curls around the speakers the boomier it sounds, but the bass doesn't go lower.

My K1000 are adjusted so that the pressure of all 4 contact points on the pillow are equal (I have the temple pads pulled out 2 steps and speakers angled close to ears almost touching, I use 3 pillows), it's very comfortable! The only problem is that you can't move your head sideways, but that doesn't matter to me. It's even more comfortable than HD590 because the pads on them press against the back of my ears and it starts hurting after 2-3 hours, but with K1000 there are no problems, I can listen for hours.

After listening in bed for a couple hours and then sitting up it felt very cold and there was lack of bass, it sounded annoying and it made me understand why so many don't like the first impression of K1000, but after an hour I got used to it and the bass sounded faster and more accurate, the warmth was back!

Anyone tried it?

 

[Nomad]

Yes. I noticed this effect the same first day I got the cans. Besides, if you are resting on a very soft pillow that tends to surround you (siberian goose down, for example) you can open all the way your K1000 and you won't lose much bass. You lose much more bass without the pillow if you open the K1000s.

I was thinking myself that I discovered the ultimate mod for the K1000 (the pillow mod, which has zero effort/work) but unfortunately I discovered that the soundstage gets a bit messed up and the bass become less accurate.

Still, it is a very interesting effect.

 

[gordie]

I noticed this too, and agree with both observations above - more bass, but not as tight. Still sounds pretty good! I tilt the actual headphone speakers forward, mostly so the bottom of the speaker housing doesn't hit the pillow and my ears, and that seems to mitigate a bit of the change in sound.

-- Gordie

 

[Anders]

K1000's are speakers placed in free air. Ordinary speakers can't either be placed anywhere and most designs don't work well when placed to close to a wall.

 

[dhp]

maybe there will be a closed design of the K1000s?