Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Jul 16, 2013 9:59:01 GMT
If you would like to audition the AKG K550, let me know and I will send it out to you. Just like the Ember, if someone else wants to hear it, it can be passed around.
That way, if you want to take advantage of the Amazon offer at £133 you know what you are getting, or if you want the one I'm sending - just send me an offer.
No obligation whatsoever, just pass it on, unless you want it yourself.
So if you want a listen, just let me know.
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Jul 16, 2013 12:14:29 GMT
If you would like to audition the AKG K550, let me know and I will send it out to you. Just like the Ember, if someone else wants to hear it, it can be passed around. That way, if you want to take advantage of the Amazon offer at £133 you know what you are getting, or if you want the one I'm sending - just send me an offer. No obligation whatsoever, just pass it on, unless you want it yourself. So if you want a listen, just let me know. Yes please Ian, can I have first refusal please? - and a warning to others: - if I like it as much as I expect to do I'll be making a (ridiculously low ) offer for them so if anyone else wants to audition them we may have to work something out . Dave.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Jul 16, 2013 13:10:08 GMT
OK Dave, you never know, you may want a new one.
pm the address and it's on it way.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Jul 19, 2013 21:01:07 GMT
Dave's had a go with the K550 and it's not for him, so if you'd like to hear it, just let me know and it will be on its way to you next.
Dave will forward it to you.
If you want it, make me an offer, if not, send it onto the next. You may want to buy a new one from Amazon anyway.
Dave felt that it lacked bass quanity but loved the sense of space and wide imaging. He just wants more bass.
If you want a listen - let me know.
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Jul 20, 2013 21:33:44 GMT
I just thought I'd like to add a bit to what Ian has said about my audition of the K550s. I definitely do not have 'golden ears' and consequently have a fairly limited vocabulary when it come to describing what I hear so please bear that in mind when reading the following. Some months ago a certain AK on the other side of the world made me aware of a series of CDs under the name of 'Best Audiophile Voices'. They consist largely of female vocalist recordings accompanied by piano, bass, guitar and probably not much else. I loved them and acquired 6 out of the 7 CDs. I understand from reading the cover of the CDs, and from what AK told me, that they are recorded at normal Red Book 16/44.1 rates but benefit sonically from their superior mastering. Can't say I truly understand all that but I can say they are very good CDs that I listen to a lot, often using a wide range of headphones. Many of the tracks I have other versions of and I often put them all into the same foobar playlist to compare the recordings. I have to say that it is (or was) far from easy for me to tell which was which. Doing the same but using the K550s was nothing short of a revelation - I would say that I could pick out the BAV version of the track 8 times out of 10 within the first few seconds of the track starting. The sound I would describe as 'fuller'. A wide sound stage I am used to but with very little depth or height - with the K550s there was always an immediate perception of height and depth of the sound stage with the BAV version. I did perceive a relative lack of bass though, compared to my other cans - had the K550s given me the level of bass I had got used to they would have been perfect, IMO. If anything is not clear or you have any other questions, you know where I am . Dave.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Jul 21, 2013 9:06:40 GMT
Anyone else want to hear a K550?
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Crispy
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Post by Crispy on Jul 21, 2013 19:20:07 GMT
Anyone else want to hear a K550? Ian, do you think they are worth a listen compared to the Beyer DT770's. I am really happy with them and I only ever want one pair of headphones at a time, but if you consider they are as good or better than the Beyers then put me down for a listen. Cheers Chris
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Jul 21, 2013 19:34:17 GMT
Hi Chris,
They are a totally different type of headphone. The only thing in common is they are closed.
They have much less bass than a DT770. They excel in mids and highs. They image better. They sound like an open headphone more than a DT770.
I suspect you may miss the quantity of bass that you get from the DT770.
I find they are excellent for acoustic and spoken stuff. (radio)
Extremely comfortable. Massive cups. Built like a brickhouse.
One headphone I think you'd love, but they are no longer available is the Denon D2000. I really like these headphones - not for their neutrality but just sheer exuberance and fun sound.
You'd probably love the D7000 on sale but it's not a cheap headphone which is why I avoid things like that. For me, once you start hovering above £200 ish, you get into real risk taking with headphones imo. Just because it's expensive doesn't mean you're going to like it and personally,m I'm happier with different pairs of cheaper ones that sound different and use those characteristics according to where I am and what I'm listening to.
For me, the K550 is perfect when sitting in the front room with the TV on for the wife, listening to radio or classical broadcasts. Crystal is a way I'd describe them.
However, for rock, I'd get something else like the DT990 or my D2000. For accuracy, I use the T40 or warm it up with the T50.
Not better, but just different flavours, Chris. I can understand Dave's problem with bass, although it sometimes comes down to fit on the head (as well as source) The cups are so big that some don't realise that they aren't sealed around the back of the head, so there is no bass.
I much prefer them on 120 ohm output from the amp. They calm down at the top end and so the bass seems more prominent and Dave is using a valve amp that has a low output impedance I think.
If you want a listen just ask. No pressure and Dave can send them on to you.
If anyone else wants to hear a K550 (one of those headphones that seems to have caused quite a stir of love/hate) then just say.
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Crispy
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Post by Crispy on Jul 21, 2013 20:07:30 GMT
Hi Chris, They are a totally different type of headphone. The only thing in common is they are closed. They have much less bass than a DT770. They excel in mids and highs. They image better. They sound like an open headphone more than a DT770. I suspect you may miss the quantity of bass that you get from the DT770. I find they are excellent for acoustic and spoken stuff. (radio) Extremely comfortable. Massive cups. Built like a brickhouse. One headphone I think you'd love, but they are no longer available is the Denon D2000. I really like these headphones - not for their neutrality but just sheer exuberance and fun sound. You'd probably love the D7000 on sale but it's not a cheap headphone which is why I avoid things like that. For me, once you start hovering above £200 ish, you get into real risk taking with headphones imo. Just because it's expensive doesn't mean you're going to like it and personally,m I'm happier with different pairs of cheaper ones that sound different and use those characteristics according to where I am and what I'm listening to. For me, the K550 is perfect when sitting in the front room with the TV on for the wife, listening to radio or classical broadcasts. Crystal is a way I'd describe them. However, for rock, I'd get something else like the DT990 or my D2000. For accuracy, I use the T40 or warm it up with the T50. Not better, but just different flavours, Chris. I can understand Dave's problem with bass, although it sometimes comes down to fit on the head (as well as source) The cups are so big that some don't realise that they aren't sealed around the back of the head, so there is no bass. I much prefer them on 120 ohm output from the amp. They calm down at the top end and so the bass seems more prominent and Dave is using a valve amp that has a low output impedance I think. If you want a listen just ask. No pressure and Dave can send them on to you. If anyone else wants to hear a K550 (one of those headphones that seems to have caused quite a stir of love/hate) then just say. Thanks for that Ian, I think I will give them a miss, the Beyers do everything I want them to do. Thanks again
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Jul 24, 2013 11:49:15 GMT
C'mon guys, anybody else want to give them a try? The soundstage (to my ears) can truly be described as holographic, best I've heard in that regard, but the relative lack of bass is a problem for me. Almost worth buying just for occasional use to hear the soundstage . Dave..
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Jul 26, 2013 8:02:25 GMT
Dave, they're yours.
Top poster and there's your prize. Have fun with them.
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Jul 26, 2013 8:59:30 GMT
Mike, Oooops, sorry Ian, don't know where that came from, sincere apologies. Thoroughly collywobbled by your gesture and just received some family news that has rather taken the wind out of my sails - all good though . As a fellow Yorkshire man you know how much I appreciate a bargain but this is overwhelming . You may recall that in a previous existence it was possible to make a donation to a forum and it would be nice if I could do the same here as I feel that, not including this event, I owe this forum and several of it's main members a debt of gratitude for all the help, understanding I have received and the enjoyment that has resulted from it. I'm sure I speak for many others in regard to this aspect. So do I get your cooperation or do I start buying shedloads of CDs by certain (old?) Sheffield groups and repay you that way . Many many thanks. Dave.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Jul 26, 2013 10:54:38 GMT
Dave, Christ, don't call me Mike!!! I'd rather they went to a good home. They have their strengths (and weaknesses) like all headphones, but they do some things really well as you will find out. I have another pair here. Believe it or not, I get things often given to me because they know I'll write about them so it's really not a problem. No payments towards the forum are necessary at all Dave. There's no mechanism for that in any case. Fact is, you were here from the start and it is beginning to become one of the most pleasant places to be in as far as hi fi goes. It's due to people like you, Dave. You're diving and ducking with the offers out there and posting them up here and it all contributes to make this a better place. Buy yourself some decent CD's though!!!
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