Which pads for K500, K601s or K701s? Help!

[mypasswordis]

Try the K601 pads without the foam rings and let us know what you think.

 

[tohni]

I am torn between tinny and muffly. Without the rings, they sound less like the universal can I have been looking for; they are too thin like this. Yet, the one man's "thin" is the next man's "airy and spacious". (It is more than one man speaking here, obviously.) There is something to that. With the pads on, some, but very little detail in the mids is lost. Mmmm, now taking the pads in and out, depending on what I want to listen to, seems like a stupid idea. Guess I'll have to audition them more. Right now, I think I am more inclined towards the muffly side of the - still airy sounding - K600s.
I have always searched for something like my portable K24P (AKG) plus soundstage and definition. These are pretty much there. Though not quite. Maybe a thinner foam ring might help to balance them between the two extremes of punchy and airy? They shouldn't be too hard to make.

 

[mypasswordis]

A quick but permanent fix would be to punch a small hole or two in the foam rings you have now. You can always try different foam of different densities and thicknesses too, which is ideal. If you think K601 pads without foam was a little thin, you must've thought the K500 pads made it sound really thin, if they're similar to the K501 pads. Of course, the fact that they were worn may have helped diminish that effect.

 

[tohni]

thx for the suggestion. - Actually, there is already a hole in the foam rings. (Otherwise, wouldn't they have be called by another name, like "pads"

? -

)

But you got me thinking: I might just widen the hole, that could do it. I am not sure if I really am that discontent with the sound right now to let go for a possible improvement/deterioration. Though I'd like to see... Mmmm..

Naa, later maybe...


Edit: reread ypur post. Now I get it. I should punch some extra holes into the foam. That sounds even better. TY

 

[REB]

Sorry for resurrecting the thread, but I am faced with exactly the same choice. I am looking to buy either 601 or 701 pads, because the treble on my K500's is sometimes a tad bright. Tohni, are you still happy with the 601 pads? And what exactly are the foam rings you use? Are those the generic foam earpads that fit on AKG phones?

 

[edhamgtr]

I just ordered both 601 and 701 pads for my 500's today. Results to follow soon.

 

[REB]

Great, I'm looking forward to hear your experiences.

 

[tohni]

Hey REB,
I can only speak for the K601 pads (the foam rings are indeed the generic foam rings found in K5/6/701). The K601 pads, without the foam rings, sound like my K500s, i.e. clear and open, only now there is a a bottom end you can perceive. It is even good for rock now (IMO). I absolutely recommend buying them. The foam rings just dampened the sound too much. The cans became very rocking, however, they also sounded muffled.
As to the K701 pads, I am afraid I can't help you. All I learnt about them is from this and similar threads. I think the general opinion is that they muffle the sound more than the K601 pads and I am sure I don't want any more muffling with my current K600s

. This is not to say that they sound muffled, though.

Hope that helps

 

[REB]

Great, thanks for that, tohni. I was leaning towards the 601 pads and I think I'll just bite the bullet and order them.

What you described is what I'm looking for in terms of fine-tuning the K500.

 

[tohni]

Good decision,
let me know what you think about it. For me, the K500s are perfect now; or "were", because my K701s arrived today. It seems they beat the K500. Well, maybe I'll get back to the 500s sometime. Let's see.

 

[edhamgtr]

701 pads have arrived and installed on my k500's.

Previously written opinions on this pad/phone combination were a good reference point.
Low end really steps forward - and I REALLY like this change.

The comments about the high end being dulled down seemed correct at first - but with a bit of "modding" I think I figured out what causes this and how to correct it.

Basically the 701 pads contain more material and make the phones sit further from your ears. This rolls off the highs a bit.

Spent an hour smooshing (technical term) the pads and getting them to both soften up and compress a bit got the high end back.

I have to say that the K500's are now delivering everything I had ever wished for. They are as open and clear as ever but with a beefier low end - which they previously lacked a wee bit of.

Certainly worth the $$ for the 701 pads.

 

[tohni]

Great news. I like the improvement very much, too. Actually, I am listening to my K600s right now. - Wonder why I never tried the K701 pads while I had them. Well, I'll probably never know what the difference is. Don't think the difference is that big though. BTW, I sold the K701 cause it is just too expensive (for me) to have them along with the almost equally good modded K500s.

Anway, enjoy your new cans...