Question on BCL/K1000

[niranhopper]

Hi

I read the following advert on Black Cube Linear where the writer says that it can even drive the K1000,

Music Hifi Co. Ltd.

I own a BCL and i am thinking of purchasing a K1000 only if BCL can power it to listening levels. I will upgrade the amp eventually to a more suitable one but cant upgrade now due to burnt wallet

any experience on BCL performance with K1000?

 

[tintin47]

Driving cans to listening levels are one thing, but driving them well is another. The amp puts out only 200mW into 60 ohms, and the K1K is about 120. Less than 200mW into the K1K will not result in a good experience. There is no way that the K1Ks would exhibit anything approaching their potential with that amp.

 

[mrarroyo]

Most of the stuff in audio is highly dependent on the user. Many will tell you that an AKG K1000 needs an speaker amp of at least 8 watts w/ 20-30 watts being better. That may be the truth to a few users, however the vast majority are just repeating what they have read and have never listened to a K1000. This is sad because the experience of a few become a fact by others repeating it.

In my case I purchased an used K1000 and at the time I did not have a dedicated amp. I did own an used Musical Fidelity X-Can V2 highly modded with the PinkFloyd Mods and one of the Little Pinkies PSU. I had even reduced the gain in X-Can V2 but I had changed the power supply transistors to increase the current flow.

I can say without a doubt that in my case the X-Can V2 (ouput is about 1 Watt) is more than adequate to drive my K1000 to my satisfaction, both sonically and volume wise. Nonetheless I ordered a Red Wine Audio Signature 30.2 amp which should arrive by next Thursday, December 3rd. Shoot me a PM in about a week and I will be able to tell you the differences.

So basically what I am saying is that it may work, it will depend in how loud you listen and if the signal you are feeding the amp is around 2 V RMS. Hopefully you can try it and decide by yourself. Good luck.

 

[tintin47]

^ I am not of the opinion that you need a full 10 W amp to drive the k1K, as I have heard the phones do very well driven by lower output systems (1-2W). That said, .2 watts is not enough to drive the K1K. Even if you listen at less than 80dB avg, you won't have enough current to deal with dynamic peaks in the music. Dynamics are one of the great strengths in the K1K, so its a shame to pair them with a low output amp. You might not need 10W, but you need some current to do anything.

 

[Afrikane]

Agree with tintin, 200mW is not enough. I consider Pete Millet's take on amping the K1000 as definitive: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/232402-post90.html

 

[mrarroyo]

I had read the Pete Millet's article a while back. I guess I am one of the few who can get by w/ very low volumes. Currently I am listening to my K1000 being driven by the MF X-Can V2 and the volume is at a tad below 9 o'clock. The source feeding the X-Can V2 outputs 2 V rms.

For an amp that produces about 1 watt that is pretty low, but I can not explain it.

 

[Afrikane]

It's not only the low listening level Miguel, you must be blessed with a very quiet listening environment too with the K1K being a very open headphone and susceptible to outside noise. Either way, if enjoyment is what you find via the X-Can then that is great.

 

[Audiogalore]

I have a K1000 and have experimented with several amps, both solid state and tubes. I do agree you do not need 10 or more watts to drive the K1000 to their dynamic potential.

What is very important is the current, make sure you have a amp that has high gain output with current. Tube amps being current devices are a good start.

Tube amps such as:

Cary 300sei
Little Dot MK6
Woo 5

Are a few that does well.

 

[mrarroyo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Afrikane /img/forum/go_quote.gif It's not only the low listening level Miguel, you must be blessed with a very quiet listening environment too with the K1K being a very open headphone and susceptible to outside noise. Either way, if enjoyment is what you find via the X-Can then that is great.

I may have a totally different perspective after I have used the Signature 30.2 for a while. Yes, I live on the 8th floor of a condo building and after putting storm windows it has isolated me from the outside world!

I do not have kids nor pets, kind of boring but very quiet.

I sure will compare them side by side and I hope the Signature 30.2 is the much better sounding amp than the much cheaper X-Can V2.

Last time I listened to them at a meet the difference was not that much but you know about meets ...

 

[Afrikane]

Polar opposite of my situation then; putting on headphones in my house seems to be a cue for some to start a conversation - with me.

I would wager that the Redwine will show up the X-Can's limitations in this application - but only if you can bring yourself to get the volume dial past 8 o'clock

 

[mrarroyo]

8 o'clock is a magic number, currently listening to K701 out of a Singlepower MPX3 using a 6BL7-GT driving a pair of 6SN7-GTB and the volume is below 8 o'clock. I do listen at very low volume.

 

[krmathis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Afrikane /img/forum/go_quote.gif I would wager that the Redwine will show up the X-Can's limitations in this application - but only if you can bring yourself to get the volume dial past 8 o'clock

8! Ouch, that would be loud...
I mostly stay on volume dial 3 or 4, which I find plenty loud for most kind of music to my ears.

 

[mrarroyo]

Afrikane, the Signature 30.2 arrived yesterday and it is being driven by the Line Stage in the Monarchy NM24 DAC. It really has opened up the K1000 and it has bass I do not recall hearing before. So even though it only has about 25 hours of burn-in (Vinnie gave it about 20 hours of use) it sure makes the K1000 sing.

So I stand corrected.

 

[tintin47]

Krmathis, I think he means 8 oclock at the bottom of the dial, not all the way around.

mrarroyo, its great to hear that your K1Ks are getting the love they deserve.

Does anyone find it funny that the OP hasn't posted since starting the thread?

 

[Afrikane]

Nice one Miguel, enjoy.

OP bought K701s instead