Lack of bass in AKG's

[gloco]

The problem i have with these cans is that they are going for $120 right now and it seems like i would have to buy a $500 amp to get the best out of them, i just find this quite odd. I guess thats why this is a very expensive hobby

George "gotta spend your money on something!"

 

[reynman]

Anyone have experience with the 401 and the MG Head?

I will be making my purchase tonight (thanks MacDef!!!) I listened to the 401 and 501 at the Chicago meet, I don't feel that the bass is lacking, it just needs the proper amp to power it to its fullest potential. I don't know which Headroom amp the cans were connected to but, I had the turn the volume pot up pretty high to get to just listening level, even though it was not loud in the room we were in. I was in control of the CDP at the time so I popped in some Coltrane - Love Supreme, Portishead, Samuel Barber - Adagio for Strings, and some Patricia Barber - Nightclub.

Most everyone at the meeting agreed that the AKGs sound great, though IMHO the 501 seemed recessed and dark, not as lively and detailed as the 401. For example the strings on Adagio for Strings were sweeter on the 401s. The static on Portishead's album was more apparent but not abrasive. Mike Jazz's bass on You Don't Know Me (Nightclub) was tight and detailed, not boomy. For the price they could be had, the AKGs are a great bargain. Thanks for all your comments!

Regards - reynman

 

[Neruda]

reynman, I'm happy to hear you like the 401's as much as xander and myself do!

 

[KR...]

Hey Team AKG,

Well guess what? I am planning another monster review as soon as I am done with all my college work. Included with be the Alessandro MS2, the fully burned in and modded CD1700, and the AKG501, only this time with a monster headphone amp!

So this time no excuses!

 

[legoman]

Quote:

Originally posted by KR... Hey Team AKG, [...] So this time no excuses!

Thank God for the "different strokes for different folks" excuse that even KR cannot take from us

 

[kwkarth]

BTW, I've got to tell you all...

The bass from my 501's using this SAC amp is absolutely stupendous! It seems like the bass has improved in the past couple weeks.

Here's the deal:
I finish a listening session with the Ety's and because my ear canals haven't developed a callouses... you know, they're kind of tender because I've been sort of overdoing it with the Ety's since they're new, etc...

Well, not having gotten my quota of music yet I plug in the k501's sort of expecting a little thinner bass experience than the Ety's...

Guess what? It is hard to immagine two such totally different headphone designs sounding so remarkably similar...

I can go from one to the other and not be missing anything... I love it!! If anything, the high end is still very very slightly better in the 501's and there is ever so so slightly better definition in the bass due to lack of standing waves with the Ety's. But I'm telling you, the differences are so subtle that most would not notice it.

So, TimD on this board has the tag line "Want Etys in a full-size can? Put on Etys, then put on a full-size can!" Well, Tim... Want Ety's in a full size can? Put on AKG-K501's properly amplified!!!!

Happy listening!

 

[KR...]

Quote:

Thank God for the "different strokes for different folks" excuse that even KR cannot take from us

Well, from what I have been told, this might very well be the best amp ever for the AKG's. I thought that I was only fair to re-review them with this amp, since I surely was not hearing what you guys were saying that you were hearing.

So don't get all upset already, I haven't heard the combo yet.

 

[bootman]

Well I think I may have found the amp for my AKGs.

Specs are pretty good.
(but specs are not everything and they won't tell you how it will sound but here they are anyway

)

Freq resp: 10Hz-30kHz +/- 3dB
THD <.01%
Max out voltage: 35V P-P (12 V RMS)
Max out current: 250mA
Max out power: 1W@32ohm; 0.5W@600ohm load
Output impedance: 2.5 ohms

It can drive any headphones from 8 ohms to 600 ohms.
It has adjustable crossfeed and adjustable EQ (both defeatable)

Can anyone guess what it is?
Review to follow after I get back from vacation.

 

[Neruda]

well KR, don't leave us in suspense. what's the amp?

 

[bootman]

Quote:

well KR, don't leave us in suspense. what's the amp?

Its mine.

I'm lending it to him while I'm on vacation.

 

[Tim D]

I have no doubt that the AKG sounds great especially with the SAC amp. These cans were always a favorite of mine.

However I do wonder if proclaiming the greatness of AKG501 with an extremely exclusive and a somewhat "specialized" amp is overselling it a bit. Particularly because the SAC amp was made to push the horrendously inefficient AKG1000. Now the AKG501 definitely are also sharing AKG lineage with being inefficient, however it should be made aware that the SAC amp by default doesn't drive conventional headphones without modification. And that the SAC amp is both rare and a little pricy at the same time.

I agree given that the AKG501 shares a lot with the AKG1000, if you mod the SAC amp to drive the AKG501 you may definitely get "new" results.

However for many of us getting the SAC amp and modding it is not realistic a recommendation (unless you have the AKG1000 in the first place)...for example I kind of like the idea of having a preamp/headphone amp like the Sugden headmaster. If that doesn't create the "magical transformation" with the AKG501 I'd be pretty bummed indeed. Likewise I also am not particularly looking for high-priced top-tier headphone amps yet...so if I got a mid-level amp again I am subject to the same constraints.

HOWEVER...I would agree that a AKG501 driven from even mid-level amplification still sound terrific...and even dare to say magical at times. But I would still not consider its sonic character the same as Ety's. Close maybe...but definitions of close is dangerous for me. Plenty of people could consider interconnects or even DAC's to sound very close as well. Indeed they do share a lot of similarities which is why I liked the AKG501's anyhow. I had the Ety's first and tried the AKG501's and LIKED them, so there is no doubt that they are great performers. I am however just wondering about the accessibility of this "magical transformation" with "proper" amplification. To most people "proper" amplification only means whatever they like the AKG501's on wheter it be a TA, Little, Skezeres, Sugden Headmaster, or even the jack off their receiver.

So I mean the AKG501...great cans...but if I wanted an SAC Amp I would be in a situation where I would also buy the AKG1000...for which if it came down to buying AKG501 and modding the SAC amp, compared to buying a sub....I'd do the AKG1000/sub route.

So maybe you should say, "SAC" or "SAC-LIKE" amplified instead of properly...since apparently properly is too vague being as it seems MOST headphone amps don't do it.

 

[legoman]

Tim D. has a point.

Especially since to me the 501s are first of all a great value-for-money choice. They can be even more if your bass / music preferences/training matches the profile of the 501s. People that are used to small shelf-speakers, e.g., or maybe grew up with the "British" sound philosophy (I hope I use the term correctly) will probably have expectations / hearing habits for which the 501s are a great match.

Also, Maybe we should start a list of things that guarantee a neverending thread:
1) Senns too dark
2) AKGs not enough bass
3) Grado RA-1 a POS or too expensive

am I missing anything?

Legoman

 

[PC Corp]

I just ordered the SAC/K1000 combo from Jan. He told me tht he can modify the SAC amp for me if I insist so I can use it to drive my HD580's too, but the sound will be somehow "degraded" a little bit. I do want to have the best sound out of the K1000's, so I decide to leave the SAC amp alone. By the way, Jan told me I grab the last SAC amp he has. Sorry guys.

 

[Neruda]

all you have to do is build an adapter. you don't have to modify the amp at all. Does Jan know that?

 

[PC Corp]

I asked him to build me an adapter, then he said he has to "rewire" the amp. So...