ounkchicago
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jun 28, 2007
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Here is my quick review of these three cans. I was supposed to post an in-depth review a few months back, but I haven't had the time to do the careful listening.
Cans reviewed:
1. M-Audio Studiophile Q40
2. Equation Audio RP-21
3. AKG K240 Studio (stock cable, Stefan Audio Art Equinox cable)
Sources used:
1. Apple iMac G5 headphone out
2. Sansa Clip
3. E-MU 0404 USB (headphone out)
Benchmark System:
Cambridge 840C--> LD MKIV SE --> M-Audio BX8a studio monitors / AKG K701 / Beyer DT880
1. M-Audio Studiophile Q40. Price paid: $125 street
The Q40 is a closed headphone designed for studio use. It has the highest SQ (sound quality) of these 3, with a very flat frequency response. It sounds the most realistic and least colored, and it seems like M-Audio didn't try to imbue it with any special "audiophile" powers. The Q40 is also the bass monster of this group. It has the deepest, loudest, and most accurate bass. In fact, its bass performance also exceeded that of my K701 and DT880.
This headphone doesn't need amplification at all, and is efficient enough to use straight out of the headphone jack of a computer or an DAP (digital audio player). The SQ will scale only slightly when using an amp... using a very powerful amp will produce absolutely thunderous bass.
The Q40 is comfortable for the first 20 minutes of listening, but after that the high clamping force becomes noticeable. It clamps the hardest and provides the best isolation of the 3, but has the lowest long-term comfort. The headphones look very modern and attractive, definitely the best looking of the bunch here. It has a screw-type detachable cable which has a good length and is not microphonic. The headphones also fold up and come with a handy carrying case.
2. Equation RP-21 Price paid: $100 street
The RP-21 also seems intended for studio application, with a closed design. It aims for a flat frequency response rather than an audiophile experience, but it comes up short. While the bass and the lower mids are fairly accurate, the treble has a persistent inaccuracy to it that significantly degrades the listening experience.
Like the Q40, the RP-21 is efficient enough to be used straight out of most headphone jacks. It benefits the least from amplification of these 3.
The RP-21 clamps hard out of the box, but as you stretch out the headband it becomes more comfortable. Its clamping force is more comfortable than the Q40, but the headband isn't well padded. Still, for long listening periods, the RP-21 should be slightly more comfortable than the Q40. It doesn't isolate as well as the Q40... I found these cans to provide insufficient isolation for train use. Also, when you wear these, you will look somewhat like an alien to other people. The cable is detachable, but it has a locking notch going into the headphone. This means that aftermarket cabling would be difficult to find. The drivers rotate 90 degrees for portability, and the cans seem to be able to take a beating. However, as some other Head-Fiers have noticed, the headband quality seems to be rather poor, and after a month or so you may notice the sticky part of the headband beginning to show, where the top piece of the headband meets the adjustment for head size.
3. AKG K240 Studio Price paid: $100 street
The AKG K240 Studio is the oldest and the most popular of these three headphones. While it is marketed as a studio headphone, it does not have a conventional closed design. Instead, it utilizes a semi-open design. This means that you will have very little isolation, and sound will leak out of these slightly at moderate to high listening volumes.
I have a love-hate relationship with the K240's sound. By far, the best feature of the K240 is its life-like reproduction of mids (a.k.a. the "AKG mids"). This makes most of the focal lead instruments, such as guitar or piano, sound exceptional. But the frequency response is not flat, even though this is supposed to be a studio headphone. Its main problems are a bloated, inaccurate, and slow bass reproduction that can't keep up with fast music. It also has rolled off treble response, which reduces the high-end detail but also virtually eliminates sibilance and listener fatigue.
The K240 requires amplification to sound right. Out of a DAP or computer headphone out, the K240 may disappoint. Although are not particularly inefficient, they do seem to require large amounts of power to sound their best.
The K240 is the most comfortable headphone here by a longshot. It employs a self-adjusting headband, and the clamping force is low. But as noted before, isolation is near zero. They have a retro style to them that may draw attention to them, but they don't look as dorky as the RP-21. They have a detachable cable which uses a mini-XLR plug, which allows for aftermarket upgrades.
Rumor has it that the stock cable for the K240 contributes to the muddy, bloated, inaccurate bass that plagues these headphones. One solution to this problem would be to replace the stock cable with a Stefan Audioart Equinox cable (price paid: $90 used for a 6-foot cable). The Equinox cable is compatible with the entire Studio series (basically anything with a mini-XLR connector) and is voiced specifically for AKG.
So the big question is, does the Equinox cable solve the K240's sound problems? The answer is yes, but not without compromises. The Equinox cable results in a huge increase in SQ... treble is less rolled off, mids are still as excellent as ever, and bass is now tight, although not very impactful. So if you like the classic AKG sound you would probably like this upgrade a lot. But you pay a price for this. The first price is, well, the price.... this cable costs over $100 new, which is more than the K240 itself. So altogether you're looking at a setup that exceeds $200. The second price is the thickness and microphonic nature of the Equinox cable. While not a dealbreaker, it is pretty annoying that every time I move I hear the friction of the cable through the headphones.
Conclusion
Sound Quality: The Q40 is the clear winner here, with its balanced sound and its powerful bass. The K240 has the most "fun sound," with its killer mids and non-fatiguing, rolled off treble, but with bloaty inaccurate bass. The RP-21 is the least satisfying of the 3 but is more accurate than the K240.
Comfort: The K240 is the clear winner here... the only can that can be used for hours without discomfort.
Isolation and Portability: The Q40 has the best isolation and is very portable. The RP-21 comes in a close 2nd. The K240 doesn't fold and leaks too much sound to be used as a portable.
Overall Pick: I think the Q40 is the clear winner in this roundup, but it still has its flaws. It may be uncomfortable to wear for a long period of time. While it has a very accurate sound, audiophiles may find this "flat" frequency response curve to be too dull and unembellished.
The RP-21 does everything reasonably well, but doesn't excel in any areas. Because of this, I would choose the Q40 over the RP-21.
The K240 is the troublemaker of the bunch. From an objective standpoint, it comes up short. It doesn't have a very accurate sound, its bass can't keep up with fast music (such as techno), it won't sound very good without amplification, and it's not portable at all.
But despite all its shortcomings, I refuse to part with my K240. These cans are supremely comfortable for their category, both in terms of physical comfort and having a non-fatiguing sound signature. And although they leak sound, under low to moderate listening volumes, you could still use these in a cubicle farm (but not in a library). So the K240 Studio wins an honorable mention for dutiful service, and they will continue to be the cans I use most at work.
Cans reviewed:
1. M-Audio Studiophile Q40
2. Equation Audio RP-21
3. AKG K240 Studio (stock cable, Stefan Audio Art Equinox cable)
Sources used:
1. Apple iMac G5 headphone out
2. Sansa Clip
3. E-MU 0404 USB (headphone out)
Benchmark System:
Cambridge 840C--> LD MKIV SE --> M-Audio BX8a studio monitors / AKG K701 / Beyer DT880
1. M-Audio Studiophile Q40. Price paid: $125 street
The Q40 is a closed headphone designed for studio use. It has the highest SQ (sound quality) of these 3, with a very flat frequency response. It sounds the most realistic and least colored, and it seems like M-Audio didn't try to imbue it with any special "audiophile" powers. The Q40 is also the bass monster of this group. It has the deepest, loudest, and most accurate bass. In fact, its bass performance also exceeded that of my K701 and DT880.
This headphone doesn't need amplification at all, and is efficient enough to use straight out of the headphone jack of a computer or an DAP (digital audio player). The SQ will scale only slightly when using an amp... using a very powerful amp will produce absolutely thunderous bass.
The Q40 is comfortable for the first 20 minutes of listening, but after that the high clamping force becomes noticeable. It clamps the hardest and provides the best isolation of the 3, but has the lowest long-term comfort. The headphones look very modern and attractive, definitely the best looking of the bunch here. It has a screw-type detachable cable which has a good length and is not microphonic. The headphones also fold up and come with a handy carrying case.
2. Equation RP-21 Price paid: $100 street
The RP-21 also seems intended for studio application, with a closed design. It aims for a flat frequency response rather than an audiophile experience, but it comes up short. While the bass and the lower mids are fairly accurate, the treble has a persistent inaccuracy to it that significantly degrades the listening experience.
Like the Q40, the RP-21 is efficient enough to be used straight out of most headphone jacks. It benefits the least from amplification of these 3.
The RP-21 clamps hard out of the box, but as you stretch out the headband it becomes more comfortable. Its clamping force is more comfortable than the Q40, but the headband isn't well padded. Still, for long listening periods, the RP-21 should be slightly more comfortable than the Q40. It doesn't isolate as well as the Q40... I found these cans to provide insufficient isolation for train use. Also, when you wear these, you will look somewhat like an alien to other people. The cable is detachable, but it has a locking notch going into the headphone. This means that aftermarket cabling would be difficult to find. The drivers rotate 90 degrees for portability, and the cans seem to be able to take a beating. However, as some other Head-Fiers have noticed, the headband quality seems to be rather poor, and after a month or so you may notice the sticky part of the headband beginning to show, where the top piece of the headband meets the adjustment for head size.
3. AKG K240 Studio Price paid: $100 street
The AKG K240 Studio is the oldest and the most popular of these three headphones. While it is marketed as a studio headphone, it does not have a conventional closed design. Instead, it utilizes a semi-open design. This means that you will have very little isolation, and sound will leak out of these slightly at moderate to high listening volumes.
I have a love-hate relationship with the K240's sound. By far, the best feature of the K240 is its life-like reproduction of mids (a.k.a. the "AKG mids"). This makes most of the focal lead instruments, such as guitar or piano, sound exceptional. But the frequency response is not flat, even though this is supposed to be a studio headphone. Its main problems are a bloated, inaccurate, and slow bass reproduction that can't keep up with fast music. It also has rolled off treble response, which reduces the high-end detail but also virtually eliminates sibilance and listener fatigue.
The K240 requires amplification to sound right. Out of a DAP or computer headphone out, the K240 may disappoint. Although are not particularly inefficient, they do seem to require large amounts of power to sound their best.
The K240 is the most comfortable headphone here by a longshot. It employs a self-adjusting headband, and the clamping force is low. But as noted before, isolation is near zero. They have a retro style to them that may draw attention to them, but they don't look as dorky as the RP-21. They have a detachable cable which uses a mini-XLR plug, which allows for aftermarket upgrades.
Rumor has it that the stock cable for the K240 contributes to the muddy, bloated, inaccurate bass that plagues these headphones. One solution to this problem would be to replace the stock cable with a Stefan Audioart Equinox cable (price paid: $90 used for a 6-foot cable). The Equinox cable is compatible with the entire Studio series (basically anything with a mini-XLR connector) and is voiced specifically for AKG.
So the big question is, does the Equinox cable solve the K240's sound problems? The answer is yes, but not without compromises. The Equinox cable results in a huge increase in SQ... treble is less rolled off, mids are still as excellent as ever, and bass is now tight, although not very impactful. So if you like the classic AKG sound you would probably like this upgrade a lot. But you pay a price for this. The first price is, well, the price.... this cable costs over $100 new, which is more than the K240 itself. So altogether you're looking at a setup that exceeds $200. The second price is the thickness and microphonic nature of the Equinox cable. While not a dealbreaker, it is pretty annoying that every time I move I hear the friction of the cable through the headphones.
Conclusion
Sound Quality: The Q40 is the clear winner here, with its balanced sound and its powerful bass. The K240 has the most "fun sound," with its killer mids and non-fatiguing, rolled off treble, but with bloaty inaccurate bass. The RP-21 is the least satisfying of the 3 but is more accurate than the K240.
Comfort: The K240 is the clear winner here... the only can that can be used for hours without discomfort.
Isolation and Portability: The Q40 has the best isolation and is very portable. The RP-21 comes in a close 2nd. The K240 doesn't fold and leaks too much sound to be used as a portable.
Overall Pick: I think the Q40 is the clear winner in this roundup, but it still has its flaws. It may be uncomfortable to wear for a long period of time. While it has a very accurate sound, audiophiles may find this "flat" frequency response curve to be too dull and unembellished.
The RP-21 does everything reasonably well, but doesn't excel in any areas. Because of this, I would choose the Q40 over the RP-21.
The K240 is the troublemaker of the bunch. From an objective standpoint, it comes up short. It doesn't have a very accurate sound, its bass can't keep up with fast music (such as techno), it won't sound very good without amplification, and it's not portable at all.
But despite all its shortcomings, I refuse to part with my K240. These cans are supremely comfortable for their category, both in terms of physical comfort and having a non-fatiguing sound signature. And although they leak sound, under low to moderate listening volumes, you could still use these in a cubicle farm (but not in a library). So the K240 Studio wins an honorable mention for dutiful service, and they will continue to be the cans I use most at work.