Quick compare (271 v 501) then suggestions?

[nm2285]

Comparison (akg k271s to k501)
Well, I've been looking for a compliment to my K501s (modded with blutac and compressed pads). I love their sound, but they sound a bit thin and bright on rock. I picked up a pair of k271s knowing that i love the sound of the 501s and hearing that they're better suited for rock. I did some listening and enjoyed the 271's, but realize they still aren't the cans my 501's are. The sound is more compressed and congested. Basically, they sound closed, versus the open sound of the 501s. The treble also seems a bit more rolled off since the brightness wasn't nearly as noticeable. Very nice headphone, especially for a closed set. Not quite what I need.


Suggestions?
Originally, with the 271's, I thought I'd get closed and kill two birds with one stone. Now I have er-4p's on the way, so I guess I'll use those whenever I have a need for isolation or no sound leakage.

So now I'm on the look out again. I need a headphone that has the transparency and resolution of the 501s, but has a sound sig better suited for rock. My two main contenders are the sr-225 and the hd580.
Priorities (in order):
1) transparency and resolution to match AKGs
2) sound sig suited to rock
3) if could replace my AKGs and I could get away with 1 headphone, i'd consider it.

I would also consider the dt990 as an add-on can, but don't know how it compares to the two above. Maybe the dt880 as a replacement can.

Any recommendations as to which will better suit my needs?

 

[nm2285]

anyone have any recc's?

 

[ReDVsion]

Looks like you need to go Grado. I'd look at the SR225, having heard the MS2 and given that you want something to compliment your K501s.

Beyers will give you the detail and airiness of the K501, but I honestly don't think that any Beyer can would be ideal for rock. I haven't heard them all, so there very well may be an exception, but I have heard the DT531, DT880, and DT770 and they all had that typical Beyer quality. Some were better than others with regard to rock, but none of them quite had the balls to be great at it.

If you didn't like the K271, I wouldn't look at a Sennheiser. Granted, the K271 is closed, but it's still got a similarly dark sound, and Senns don't have the agression in the mids for rock (same problem with the Beyers, I think).

I would also consider listening exclusively to the K271s a bit more if you still have them. Your assessment is quite accurate when comparing them to the K501s, but I think if you got used to their sound a bit more you might find they're what you're looking for. Then again, the K271 is my favorite headphone, so I'm biased.

 

[nm2285]

Thanks for the reply:

I was thinking during my comparison that I prob would grow to really enjoy the 271s given some extended listening. However, my problem is, I still have the 501s and I love them. I could never get rid of them for a can I didn't enjoy as much, and if I don't get rid of them, I can't let them collect dust for the same reasons.

I've owned the hd590s and tried the hd555s and found both to be too bassy. I figured my only shot in the senn collection would be the 580s. I am certainly leaning towards GRados, as you recommended. The beyers though - you say they don't have the balls, but do they at least have significantly more balls than the k501s? I'd only really consider the dt880 or dt990.

Nick

 

[ephemere]

I have directly compared the 225 against the K501. To my ears, the 225 is not even close to the transparency and the resolution of the K501. It is indeed great for rock music, but reading your post I'm pretty sure it's not what you're looking for. It satisfies your criterion #1, but not #2 and #3.

Right now I am listening for the very first day to a headphone that I think is everything the K501 is and much much more. But I hesitate to say any more because I really need to do much more auditioning first.

 

[nm2285]

No secrets please!

Let me know which it is. I assume earlier when you said satisfies 1 but not 2 and 3 you meant "satisfies 2 but not 1 or 3."

 

[ephemere]

Right, I got #1 and #2 mixed up.

The mystery headphones are the Sony MDR-SA5000. Hopefully a brief mention of them hidden in this thread will go unnoticed by the raving mob (see recent SA5000 threads). After my first few hours with them, I am extremely happy. But I really need to spend some more time with them. Feel free to ask further questions if you're interested.

 

[ReDVsion]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ephemere The mystery headphones are the Sony MDR-SA5000.

This might not be a bad suggestion at all...

Regarding the Beyers... the DT880s I don't think are an improvement at all in the agressiveness department, although they certainly have the resolution. The lower-end Beyers have a little more bite to them, but I really don't think it's significant enough. Moreover, if you found the Senns you tried to be too bassy, I doubt the DT770/990 will be much to your liking.

The only issue I see regarding the Sonys is that there is reputed to be some brightness with them as well (this is why I recommended the SR225 as opposed to the MS2 despite the fact that I have never heard the former).