PLEASE TEACH ME... K240 v. K271 ?

[Boston]

Is there any discernible sonic difference between the semi-open, circumaural AKG K240's and the closed-back K271's? I would be using these headphones to monitor while recording voiceover spoken word, so mids are very important, as is not having a hyped bass or exaggerated highs...

Is there any such thing as a "monitor" version of the 240's, as I have heard? I have looked and can't find any reference on the AKG site to this.

Is there any real difference in the sonic characteristics of the Mk I and Mk II versions of these headphones?

Does the (auto) switch in the 271's have any effect on the straight-wire sound?

I'm new to this board and I think I have noticed a preference among the seasoned users for semi-open or open-back;is this accurate? If it is accurate, what is the rationale? Many thanks in advance! You're great!

 

[Tiemen]

Try this search in Google:
K240 vs. K271 site:head-fi.org

On Ebay.de are a lot different versions of the K240. Including
AKG K 240 Monitor Studio editions.

I owned the original K-271 with the stock vinyl earpads, and with the velour pads. Mk II comes also with those two. I think the difference is only in the different earpads and a extra cable added.
The K271 have mids to die for. The highs are also very good.

If the switch has a effect, I really don't know.

The K240 that I owned was an old Sextett model. I can't say anything about the newer K240 models.

My preference for an closed phone is because I want to shut out as many external noise as possible.
But my open headphone has a more natural sound, and a bigger soundstage as well.

 

[Fitz]

AKG's site has all the K240 models listed there:

K 240 Sextett (Discontinued)
K 240 DF (Discontinued)
K 240 Monitor (Discontinued)
K 240 Studio (Discontinued)

 

[SawaFish]

The discontinued K240 studio's are still available for normal prices at eBay. The K271s has seen a recent price increase since they were replaced with the K271MKII and the K272HD. So is the K240s replaced by the K240MKII and the K242HD.

I can only say that I really like the K271s's I have, I'm only dissapointed that I can't recreate the warm sound I heard when I tried them in the store

. And the people in the store can't remember what source/amp was used that time and I couldn't see it (source was built in in some kind of closed cabinet). They still sound great though.