[waco]

I own both SA5000 & K701, I have had the AKG 701 for over a month now. My Sony SA5000 and Grado RS-1's are my favorite cans.

I have about 100 hours on my AKG 701's and they just don't seem to be my cup of tea, I plan on keeping them until I have about 300 hours on them, and if they haven't improved I'm going to sell them.

If you are happy with the Sony SA5000, I don't think the AKG 701's are going to knock your socks off........Good Luck!

 

[tilt]

I really don't see the point of this post to begin with.

 

[raisin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tilt I really don't see the point of this post to begin with.

Gee, you must not be from around here.

 

[drarthurwells]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjcha I've had a top SA5000 system in the past, and loved it. I think the K1000 is the best headphone for under $2000. It reminds of the SA5000, and the Shure E4c reminds me of the K1000. Never heard any honkiness or any other sound anomaly with the K1000. The best quality source and amp are needed to appreciate the K1000's superiority. Definition, clarity, dynamic impact, and naturalness of tone are great - with the right equipment. link Best, -Jason

I ruled out the K1000 some time ago - factor in the amp requirements and the total cost exceeds $2000.

I believe in the most bang for the buck in making any purchase, which is why I keep my E5 CDP and don't buy a very expensive CDP instead - the very tiny sound upgrade is not enough to justify the cost difference.

 

[drarthurwells]

AdamWill:
Just wait for them to arrive, listen to them, and make up your own mind. The fact that no-one else loves the SA5000 as much as you do rather suggests no-one else here has the same ears as you anyway, so I suspect others' opinions would be even more meaningless than is usually the case.

Art:
Well you must have missed the recent German magazine review posted on this forum which rated the Sony SA 5000 as tops, rating the SA5000 above both the Sennheiser HD650 and the AKG K701. Duh!

You should change your statement from

"no-one else loves the SA5000 as much as you do"

to

"only critics with access to all quality headphones available love the SA5000
as much as you do as the best available headphone for the money".



chris719:
Who cares what magazines think? Do you borrow their ears before you listen every night? If there is one thing I have found out from reading head-fi, it is that people have wildly different opinions on things I thought were pretty cut and dry. I'm sure I could find at least a few people here who will tell me the K501 has better bass than the HD650, and the whole argument depends on their definition of "better bass".

Art:
Excellent points.

I distrust magazine reviews -too much chance that favorable reveiws go to those manufacturers who spend ad dollars on the magazine and negative reviews go to non-adverstisers.

However, this was a German magazine that reveiwed an extremely large number of headphones where the German headphones, which would be advertised in the magazine, lost out to non-German headphones, like the top rated Sony SA5000 and Grado Rs-1.

 

[jjcha]

Quote:

Originally Posted by drarthurwells I ruled out the K1000 some time ago - factor in the amp requirements and the total cost exceeds $2000.

My headphone system is in your price limit. You could spend five times as much and not get better sound.

The nOrh SE9 tube amp for $400 and is a fantastic bargain. I think the nOrh SE9 is as good as any SET amp at any price. When you add the K1000 for even $800, you will get a level of natural and realistic sound that matches any available.

I like an amp with an output that uses single-ended topology operating in pure Class A, but with the EL34 tubes that are wired to operate in pentode mode providing 9 watts per channel and no negative feedback used in the amplification stage.

As far as as SET versus solid state: Do you want solid state detail, dynamics, great transient response, deep and well defined bass, and neutrality, at the cost of less body (leanness) to the tone?

Do you want tube lushness and liquidity, with rich timbre?

Tube amps typically lend some flabbiness or mushiness to deep bass, lacking in sharp definition of tone images, and lacking in transient attack impact. Solid state typically overcomes these problems, but all have some leanness in the tone - no solid state amp made can match the timbral richness of tubes.

I get this combined tube and solid state sound with my headphone system by using an amp with a single-ended topology wired in pentode mode - my nOrh SE9 amp is like using a three tube pre-amp with a Class A MOSFET SS amp. I can control the amount of tube coloration I want by the tubes I select, but at the same time retain all the great qualities of solid state sound. You can get a hard sound with all-tube amps by using certain tubes, but this only superficially duplicates some solid state characteristics and not all the best of solid state sound (as the nOrh SE9 does).

link

Best,

-Jason

 

[mysticaldodo]

That is really mean

Anyway the AKG 1000 are one in a lifetime experience. Sourcing them might be a problem.

 

[drarthurwells]

Quote:

Originally Posted by akwok Go with the K1000 instead of the K701, then at least the stuff you'll be saying (best headphones under $2000) will at least be plausible..

Art: Well according to German reviews of many headphones, and Germans would be inclined to rate the German-made AKG high, you could argue that the SA5000 is superior to the AKG K1000.

Chisum's 6/16/04 post of German "Stereoplay" magazine test reports
Rated the Grado RS-1 ahead of the AKG K1000.

Results of headphone test in German magazine "Audio" 02/2006, posted on this forum by Superman's ears on 1/28/06, rated the SA5000 and RS-1 as both equal and better than any dynamic headphone they tested.

Conclusion: The SA5000 is better than the K1000.



Here are some results of the "Audio" 2/06 ratings (ranking by points):
===========================================
90 points = Grado RS-1
90 points = Koss ESP 950
90 points = Sony MDR-SA 5000
-------------------------------------------
85 points = Grado RS-2
-------------------------------------------
80 points = Sennheiser HD 650
-------------------------------------------
75 points = AKG K701
75 points = Beyerdynamic DT990
75 points = Beyerdynamic DT880
75 points = STAX SR 001 MK2
75 points = Ultimate Ears SF5 Pro
-------------------------------------------
70 points = AKG K601
70 points = Philips SBC HP 1000
70 points = Shure E4C

Here are some results of the "Audio" 2/06 ratings (alphabetical order):
===========================================
AKG K171 Studio = 60 points
AKG K28 NC = 55 points
AKG K27i = 55 points
AKG K601 = 70 points
AKG K701 = 75 points
-------------------------------------------
Beyerdynamic DT990 = 75 points
Beyerdynamic DT880 = 75 points
Beyerdynamic DT770 = 65 points
Beyerdynamic DTX 900 = 60 points
-------------------------------------------
Bose Quiet Comfort 2 = 65 points
Bose Triport = 65 points
-------------------------------------------

Grado RS-1 = 90 points
Grado RS-2 = 85 points
-------------------------------------------
Koss ESP 950 = 90 points
Koss KSC75 = 45 points
Koss Porta Pro = 65 points
-------------------------------------------
Philips SBC HP 1000 = 70 points
-------------------------------------------
Sennheiser PX200 = 60 points
Sennheiser HD 650 = 80 points
Sennheiser HD 215 = 60 points
Sennheiser PXC 250 = 60 points
Sennheiser CX3000 = 60 points
-------------------------------------------
Shure E2C = 60 points
Shure E4C = 70 points
-------------------------------------------
Sony MDR-NC 11 = 60 points
Sony MDR-SA 5000 = 90 points
-------------------------------------------
STAX SR 001 MK2 = 75 points
-------------------------------------------
Technics RP-DH 1200 = 65 points
-------------------------------------------
Ultimate Ears SF5 Pro = 75 points

 

[akwok]

Quote:

Originally Posted by drarthurwells Art: Well according to German reviews of many headphones, and Germans would be inclined to rate the German-made AKG high, you could argue that the SA5000 is superior to the AKG K1000. Chisum's 6/16/04 post of German "Stereoplay" magazine test reports Rated the Grado RS-1 ahead of the AKG K1000. Results of headphone test in German magazine "Audio" 02/2006, posted on this forum by Superman's ears on 1/28/06, rated the SA5000 and RS-1 as both equal and better than any dynamic headphone they tested. Conclusion: The SA5000 is better than the K1000. Here are some results of the "Audio" 2/06 ratings (ranking by points): =========================================== 90 points = Grado RS-1 90 points = Koss ESP 950 90 points = Sony MDR-SA 5000 ------------------------------------------- 85 points = Grado RS-2 ------------------------------------------- 80 points = Sennheiser HD 650 ------------------------------------------- 75 points = AKG K701 75 points = Beyerdynamic DT990 75 points = Beyerdynamic DT880 75 points = STAX SR 001 MK2 75 points = Ultimate Ears SF5 Pro ------------------------------------------- 70 points = AKG K601 70 points = Philips SBC HP 1000 70 points = Shure E4C Here are some results of the "Audio" 2/06 ratings (alphabetical order): =========================================== AKG K171 Studio = 60 points AKG K28 NC = 55 points AKG K27i = 55 points AKG K601 = 70 points AKG K701 = 75 points ------------------------------------------- Beyerdynamic DT990 = 75 points Beyerdynamic DT880 = 75 points Beyerdynamic DT770 = 65 points Beyerdynamic DTX 900 = 60 points ------------------------------------------- Bose Quiet Comfort 2 = 65 points Bose Triport = 65 points ------------------------------------------- Grado RS-1 = 90 points Grado RS-2 = 85 points ------------------------------------------- Koss ESP 950 = 90 points Koss KSC75 = 45 points Koss Porta Pro = 65 points ------------------------------------------- Philips SBC HP 1000 = 70 points ------------------------------------------- Sennheiser PX200 = 60 points Sennheiser HD 650 = 80 points Sennheiser HD 215 = 60 points Sennheiser PXC 250 = 60 points Sennheiser CX3000 = 60 points ------------------------------------------- Shure E2C = 60 points Shure E4C = 70 points ------------------------------------------- Sony MDR-NC 11 = 60 points Sony MDR-SA 5000 = 90 points ------------------------------------------- STAX SR 001 MK2 = 75 points ------------------------------------------- Technics RP-DH 1200 = 65 points ------------------------------------------- Ultimate Ears SF5 Pro = 75 points

I'm sold! The SA5000 is now definitely the best headphone under $2000!

 

[aerius]

Conclusion: The RS-1 is still the best headphone.

 

[jamesp]

Quote:

Originally Posted by akwok I'm sold! The SA5000 is now definitely the best headphone under $2000!

Are you serious?...to me the K1000 is the best and I owned both.

 

[akwok]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamesp Are you serious?...to me the K1000 is the best and I owned both.

No, the SA5000 is the best can you can buy, period. Other cans don't even come close.

 

[aerius]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamesp Are you serious?...to me the K1000 is the best and I owned both.

Hush! Thou shalt not doubt the rankings of a magazine article cherry-picked by drarthurwells!

 

[PsychoZX]

I am so sick of your arrogant posts here. What makes you think that you can claim the SA5000s as the best headphones under $2000 when you haven't even come close to hearing half of what is available for under $2000? I am starting to think that with all the raving you have done about the SA5000s that even if you found something better that you wouldn't want to admit it. You seem to have a big problem with differentiating between fact and opinion. You also can't seem to understand the fact that not everyone hears things the way you do.

Quote:

Originally Posted by drarthurwells You should change your statement from "no-one else loves the SA5000 as much as you do" to "only critics with access to all quality headphones available love the SA5000 as much as you do as the best available headphone for the money".

Oh so we are telling others what their opinions should be now?

 

[JaZZ]

Quote:

Originally Posted by drarthurwells Well according to German reviews of many headphones, and Germans would be inclined to rate the German-made AKG high, you could argue that the SA5000 is superior to the AKG K1000...

Just a side note: AKG is an Austrian company.


Quote:

Chisum's 6/16/04 post of German "Stereoplay" magazine test reports Rated the Grado RS-1 ahead of the AKG K1000. Results of headphone test in German magazine "Audio" 02/2006, posted on this forum by Superman's ears on 1/28/06, rated the SA5000 and RS-1 as both equal and better than any dynamic headphone they tested. Conclusion: The SA5000 is better than the K1000...

Forget about the German magazines when it comes to headphones! They have no clue and test headphones every second leap year, preferrably around christmas (where they can serve as a nice gift for somebody who already has everything). By all means they are treated as an accessory, not a serious audio device, and mostly connected to headphone jacks of CDPs or integrated amps (if the configuration is mentioned at all). Moreover AUDIO is the most commercial-oriented and least serious of the bunch. I have browsed the infamous headphone insert in their recent edition, and after reading things like «HD 650 is faster and more analytical than K 701... has a high sound eroticism...» it wasn't hard to resist the purchasing impulse.


Quote:

Here are some results of the "Audio" 2/06 ratings (ranking by points...

If you like the SA5000 so much, that's o.k. and needs no excuses and justifications. It wasn't my cup of tea, as much as I tried to find an adequate successor for my HD 650, which I now have found in the K 701, as it seems. But from your preference I guess the K 701 won't sound neutral to you if your reference for neutrality is the SA5000. Which to me sounds quite colored, while the K 701 is the most neutral headphone I've heard so far, although it's not perfect. It has stronger and more impactful low bass of about equal quality (the SA5000's bass is really good!) and a smoother transition between bass, mids and treble, also it lacks the SA5000's upper-midrange/lower treble hump, has just a hint of an emphasis in the same range. To my ears. And it lacks its hinted hollowness (note the bare, reflective earpieces!) and technical flavor.
.