I'm not totally new to headphones - I own a HE-400, which I use with Schiit Modi + Vali.
I'm looking to buy my second headphone, and it will be an AKG - I'm considering the K551 and K545. I'm aware that the K545 is more portable than the K551. I would prefer a portable headphone, but only if portability does not come at the expense of sound quality. I'm very confused about whether the K551 sound better than the K545, and searching seems to show up conflicting views.
1. AKG says the K545 is the 'next-generation' 'upgraded' version of the K550 (and by extension the K551 which is apparently sound-wise the same as the K550). However, they still price the K551 more than the K545, which seems to be contradictory.
2. It's very confusing that the K551 mentions features like 'real image engineering' but the K545 page does NOT, yet AKG calls it an upgraded version. Is it actually missing features, or did AKG just not mention them for the K545?
2. Some people say the K545 is sounds better than the K551, some people say it's worse.
Importantly, when I look at the specs, the frequency range is similar, but
1. There is a huge difference in 'maximum input power'. The K545 has 50mW whereas the K551 has 200mW! There has to be some practical implication of this. What does it mean? Note that I do have a headphone amp available (Schiit Vali).
2. There is some difference in 'sensitivity' - 545 has 97dB SPL whereas the 551 has 114dB. Again, what practical difference does this make?
For the record, I'll be listening to mostly classical (some orchestral, lots of solo piano and chamber) on these headphones.
Any help / clarifications would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
I'm looking to buy my second headphone, and it will be an AKG - I'm considering the K551 and K545. I'm aware that the K545 is more portable than the K551. I would prefer a portable headphone, but only if portability does not come at the expense of sound quality. I'm very confused about whether the K551 sound better than the K545, and searching seems to show up conflicting views.
1. AKG says the K545 is the 'next-generation' 'upgraded' version of the K550 (and by extension the K551 which is apparently sound-wise the same as the K550). However, they still price the K551 more than the K545, which seems to be contradictory.
2. It's very confusing that the K551 mentions features like 'real image engineering' but the K545 page does NOT, yet AKG calls it an upgraded version. Is it actually missing features, or did AKG just not mention them for the K545?
2. Some people say the K545 is sounds better than the K551, some people say it's worse.
Importantly, when I look at the specs, the frequency range is similar, but
1. There is a huge difference in 'maximum input power'. The K545 has 50mW whereas the K551 has 200mW! There has to be some practical implication of this. What does it mean? Note that I do have a headphone amp available (Schiit Vali).
2. There is some difference in 'sensitivity' - 545 has 97dB SPL whereas the 551 has 114dB. Again, what practical difference does this make?
For the record, I'll be listening to mostly classical (some orchestral, lots of solo piano and chamber) on these headphones.
Any help / clarifications would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!