bookkeepers_son
Head-Fier
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- Apr 7, 2005
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Well, there you go. Title gives it away. I got the K340 today. Primary inspection shows it to be in good condition, just some scratches on the stainless steel trim on the outside of the earcups that niggle a little bit, but overall they were fine. Wanting to do a quick and dirty deal, and not being inclined to set-up the tube system, I unhooked the cables from the speakers and plugged them into the ASL adapter. I used an original (clamshell) Rega Mira. I'm just a lazy person nowadays with regards to using my supposed-to-be higher end system (but it's there when I need it
) The Rega Mira when used with a good quality source like my old-but-still-graceful Naim CDP is more than enough for my flat-earth taste these days.
Anyway, plugged in the K340 into the ASL, let it play half a song to energize the electret, and then I put them on. OMG! The K501 definitely didn't make this kind of first impression on me. The highs were clear, clean, and exquisite, as only electrostatics can do. The midrange is very full, smooth, and a bit lush. The bass is sufficient. Not as tight and overdamped as the K501, but goes lower. Grados still have more bass impact, even with my SR-60, and my memory of my long-gone RS-1. I actually don't like breaking up the frequency range like what I just did, as what's more important for me is if it plays the tunes, and lord, does it ever! The RS-1 back then didn't hit the spot for me, which could be because I knew what I would be getting, having lived with the SR-60 for years before I got the RS-1. The K340 was like a left hook to my face out of nowhere. More importantly for me, as a self-confessed flat-earther, is the PRATy nature of the K340 which keeps you involved in the music. But in the same vein, I don't dwell too much into staging and all that jazz (anymore), so staging-lovers, take my views with a grain of salt. In that department, the RS-1 driven correctly has the K340 beat. I am sure that modding the K340, especially replacing wire with some OFC copper or something more exotic/modern would up the soundstaging ante, but right now, I'm satisfied.
Also another caveat is that I am not a classical music buff (I listen to smaller works, though). But everything else...Some music I played throuh K340: "It's For You" - Pat Metheny/Lyle Mays, Only Living Boy in New York - EBTG, Wichita Lineman - Cassandra Wilson, Comeback - Josh Rouse...
So, there you go, the fun begins...Alessandro MS2s coming next week! And I have to try other amps still...
Thank you K340 fanboys for bringing my attention to these wonderful cans, philodox (you're right, I might not need HP-2s anymore.....nah
, aerius, and others.
Anyway, plugged in the K340 into the ASL, let it play half a song to energize the electret, and then I put them on. OMG! The K501 definitely didn't make this kind of first impression on me. The highs were clear, clean, and exquisite, as only electrostatics can do. The midrange is very full, smooth, and a bit lush. The bass is sufficient. Not as tight and overdamped as the K501, but goes lower. Grados still have more bass impact, even with my SR-60, and my memory of my long-gone RS-1. I actually don't like breaking up the frequency range like what I just did, as what's more important for me is if it plays the tunes, and lord, does it ever! The RS-1 back then didn't hit the spot for me, which could be because I knew what I would be getting, having lived with the SR-60 for years before I got the RS-1. The K340 was like a left hook to my face out of nowhere. More importantly for me, as a self-confessed flat-earther, is the PRATy nature of the K340 which keeps you involved in the music. But in the same vein, I don't dwell too much into staging and all that jazz (anymore), so staging-lovers, take my views with a grain of salt. In that department, the RS-1 driven correctly has the K340 beat. I am sure that modding the K340, especially replacing wire with some OFC copper or something more exotic/modern would up the soundstaging ante, but right now, I'm satisfied.
Also another caveat is that I am not a classical music buff (I listen to smaller works, though). But everything else...Some music I played throuh K340: "It's For You" - Pat Metheny/Lyle Mays, Only Living Boy in New York - EBTG, Wichita Lineman - Cassandra Wilson, Comeback - Josh Rouse...
So, there you go, the fun begins...Alessandro MS2s coming next week! And I have to try other amps still...
Thank you K340 fanboys for bringing my attention to these wonderful cans, philodox (you're right, I might not need HP-2s anymore.....nah