On pins and needles/K601 First Impressions

[Germancub]

Thanks you guys! I will change my sig right now actually thanks for reminding me. Yes, without a question, I like them a LOT more than my HD600's. Funny enough, they sound wonderful out of my iPod (volume at 75%). I can't for the life of me decipher a difference in SQ between iPod-OBH11-K601 and iPod-K601. I can't believe how "real" these sound and how... AKG they sound! LOL I'm extremely happy and if the midrange tones down just a sliver (i do mean a sliver) and the bass is a touch more present I'll have found the most perfect cans in the world to my ears. The bass is so much deeper and punchier than everybody made it sound. I just can't get over how much these make me tap my feet and bob my head to songs I never really "loved". I suppose that in itself is the definition of musicality lol.

 

[paulb09]

Yes, many people call them "bass light", yet the K601 actually has a good slap around the lower bass area. Perhaps a little more mid bass would do, but it really depends on your preference... I personally enjoy the clarity of bass guitar rather than having thunder fart all the time like the K81 gives, an if the recording calls for it, the mid bass does have some boom on the K601 anyway.

 

[Townyj]

The K601 is a great phone

I do miss mine for certain music genre's!! Enjoy!

 

[Shimmer]

I was thinking about trying a pair of these, but the permanent cord kinda turns me off from them.

 

[Germancub]

If I had to use one word to describe these... it would be "music". Everything is so clean, so crisp, so natural. I don't concentrate on an abundance of or lack of any particular thing... which is pretty incredible to me. The permanent cord bugged me a bit, but from what I've read it's easily replaceable plus seems quite durable!

 

[Germancub]

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulb09 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Yes, many people call them "bass light", yet the K601 actually has a good slap around the lower bass area. Perhaps a little more mid bass would do, but it really depends on your preference... I personally enjoy the clarity of bass guitar rather than having thunder fart all the time like the K81 gives, an if the recording calls for it, the mid bass does have some boom on the K601 anyway.

I completely agree with this. To me, it seems these have bass extension that meets or exceeds anything I've ever heard. The bass is coming in nicely and has just enough now already (either that or i'm used to it now lol). I can't get over how much they sound like a good speaker setup instead of headphones (thank the better than average soundstage and transparency).

 

[TheMarchingMule]

I'm going to have to go with the notion of the OP being in the "honeymoon phase" of receiving the new pair of 'phones.

 

[Germancub]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMarchingMule /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm going to have to go with the notion of the OP being in the "honeymoon phase" of receiving the new pair of 'phones.

I don't think so honestly. I am just overly ecstatic I found the sound I was looking for. I wanted something like the K501 with more musicality. I found it and I'm happy. I know the K601's aren't for everybody and I'm not going to turn into an AKG fanboy and post on every recommendation thread they should get K601's because... I'll say it again; they AREN'T for everybody. But, to my ears, they are the best headphones I've heard yet.

 

[XaNE]

Well this is enough evidence for my to get a pair

where did u buy these?

 

[paulb09]

I've had them as my primary phone for a long time now. I'm not sure I could deal with the HD497 signature very well again, even in a 'phone that does everything a bit better but with that same signature. Also, I find a few recordings just reaching sibilant for my limits on the K601, so I don't think I could stand things like the K701, especially on my system as it is otherwise. Really I do need to try some different headphones (next time a UK meet comes up, perhaps I'll go), but to be honest I'm fairly comfortable with these, so I've stuck with them for a while, and I personally can use them as an all-rounder, which helps too.

Saying that, I don't think I'll be happy with them forever. I've done a few system upgrades (just got a Graham Slee Solo SRG) since, and I'm done with changing things for this headphone, so when the time (and money) comes, I'll be looking for something different, or at least something that takes a similar signature and improves upon it. Haven't really considered what that might be right now, but "upgraditis" won't hold off forever

 

[Germancub]

I got them from B&H photo B&H Photo Video | Digital Cameras, Camcorders i totally recommend them as they had the best price and the service was wonderful. I noticed these are quite simple to drive, contrary to what everybody has always said about these, they sound wonderful straight out of my iBook G4 and my iPod, honestly. Plenty of volume to me and the SQ doesn't seem to change much (if at all) with the two amps I have or using straight out of the Apple stuff. They're such good all-rounders, they have sounded great with every genre I've used them with so far (although for some reason they sound best with the Austrian rock band Krautschädl... coincidence??? lol j/k).

 

[Germancub]

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulb09 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I've had them as my primary phone for a long time now. I'm not sure I could deal with the HD497 signature very well again, even in a 'phone that does everything a bit better but with that same signature. Also, I find a few recordings just reaching sibilant for my limits on the K601, so I don't think I could stand things like the K701, especially on my system as it is otherwise. Really I do need to try some different headphones (next time a UK meet comes up, perhaps I'll go), but to be honest I'm fairly comfortable with these, so I've stuck with them for a while, and I personally can use them as an all-rounder, which helps too. Saying that, I don't think I'll be happy with them forever. I've done a few system upgrades (just got a Graham Slee Solo SRG) since, and I'm done with changing things for this headphone, so when the time (and money) comes, I'll be looking for something different, or at least something that takes a similar signature and improves upon it. Haven't really considered what that might be right now, but "upgraditis" won't hold off forever

Ill be sure to compare them to the K701 at canjam. I agree, the K601 is just crisp and clear enough, any more highs and it would be too bright. Any more bass and it would be bass heavy, any more soundstage and it would be fake. The bass really came in nicely and I no longer wish for more, midrange toned down slightly as well. Like I said, this is to my ears only. I really have found my new favourite cans.

 

[Aimless1]

The K601 has a wonderful organic sound. Much better bass than the K501. Truly a good all rounder. Hard to believe anyone is having a problem with sibilance from these. I would guess a system problem, or a personal listening issue.

I know you're enjoying them straight from your ipod, but at some point you'll probably recognize the cans have more to offer. They are not as amp hungry as the K501s but they need plenty of amp in their own right to reach their potential. Many, myself included, prefer either the K501 or the K601 to the K701. These are a great pair of headphones that stand on their own merit.

 

[Germancub]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aimless1 /img/forum/go_quote.gif The K601 has a wonderful organic sound. Much better bass than the K501. Truly a good all rounder. Hard to believe anyone is having a problem with sibilance from these. I would guess a system problem, or a personal listening issue. I know you're enjoying them straight from your ipod, but at some point you'll probably recognize the cans have more to offer. They are not as amp hungry as the K501s but they need plenty of amp in their own right to reach their potential. Many, myself included, prefer either the K501 or the K601 to the K701. These are a great pair of headphones that stand on their own merit.

I definitely plan on taking them with me to canjam so I can try them out with various amps. Ignorance is bliss though, they sound perfect to me amp-less, what am I getting myself into?

 

[Miths]

Okay, now you forced me to try running them straight out of my iPod again to check the volume

.

At around 90% (and 100%) volume on both my 2nd gen iPod Touch and my old 5th gen iPod Classic I did get mixed results depending on the albums I tried, and on some of them (eg. "hard" rock like Garbage) both iPods did provide what could probably be considered decent listening volume, although still a somewhat below what I've gotten used to.
On other albums - eg. some from my Tori Amos and The Cardigans collections - the iPods really couldn't come close to delivering the volume I want for music like that. It was a level that would probably be suitable for background music while reading, but definitely not for making me feel I'm on stage with Nina Persson's exceptionally beautiful voice right in my face.