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In Reply to: RE: RE Off Topic posted by old guy 42 on April 24, 2024 at 17:32:18
Was just coming to do a quick review of these and saw your post. Thanks man for checking.
Kid? I suppose its relative but I just turned 55 and had some Bday money and took the plunge. AKG would let me use amazon pay so those gift cards worked out well.
DOing well! These earbuds are keepers. If you have the dough and use earbuds at all, don't think twice!
At first it didn't go well. Coming from the Shure 846 I am used to some bass and was totally disappointed. The imaging and soundstage is stellar on these AGKs at least for IEMs and they definitely beat the Shures in that regard. But the bass omg it wasn't there.
I let it burn in and after a few days it was better and in the interim I changed out the REFERENCE filter for the BASS filter and things were better, but not like the Shures. Long story short it was mostly the tips. You need a solid seal on these to get bass and it took the large tips to get that. I normally use the Medium tips with most IEMS and so it took a bit to try them. But man once I did, WHOA there is throbbing bass!
For the money the AKGs beat the Shures. At the normal $900 prices it would be more of a toss up and I would probably get the Shures overall, but it would be close and I would be saving up to buy the other brand.
My main listening biases are soundstage/ imaging and bass. Both are awesome but imagine the band getting together to design some IEMS. They would design the Shures. A group of audiophiles would design the AKGs. Think of the Shures as a muscle car (omg I just realized I am using a CAR analogy with you oh no) and the AKGs as a Ferrari. Both go fast and make people look, but one is quick and nimble and one is a beast!
For $171 out the door with tax and the fact you get all kind of tips and cables, plus a bluetooth cable I can't imagine a better buy. Heck, Shure's bluetooth adapter. is $189.
Now the downsides.
1. Got to get the fit right and fortunately there are multiple tips so its probably going to happen. Though Shure has expanding foam tips and give better isolation, but hey you can get some after market tips if you need to.
2. MMCX connectors. The Shures and FIIOs I have both have the MMCX connectors and the cables and bluetooth adaptors all are interchangeable. But the AKG buds wont work with my existing cables because they are recessed and need a longer connector. The AKG cables will work with the Shures and FIIO but not the other way around. ALSO and this is something that may be a deal breaker, the AKG is the only IEM I have that have alignment marks so you know where to twist the connectors to connect and disconnect. OMG I couldn't get them to come apart! Pulled and pulled and nothing. Gave myself a blister trying to get them to come apart. Anyhow I think it is getting better and I am probably learning some tricks. If you gave me 30 seconds to switch out the MMCX cables or I would die, I would live with the Shures but die with the AKG.
3. Cables. They have a 2.5mm balanced cable which is nice but none of my gear use that, so its the 3.5mm cable or the bluetooth one. But the 3.5mm cable comes with a MICROPHONE, which is great if you go portable but in my case I don't like that in the cable. Shure skipped the mic but you could get after market ones if you wanted.
Said another way, if you want to hear everything in a recording and listen to classical or genres where you need to pick out the spacing in a recording, AKG is for you. If you want to hear everything while just listening to the music get the Shures.
But for $159 its a nobrainer.
Anyhow hope you are well and enjoying yourself!! Old guys rock!!
Cut to razor sounding violins
Follow Ups:
I solved the MMCX issue with the linked adapters. They hook to the AKG and now work with normal MMCX cables. Now it is easier to remove the cables from the adapter. Odds are the adapters will not ever be removed...
Cut to razor sounding violins
DR,
Glad you are feeling well and enjoying some tunes!!
No offense with "Kid" btw. My oldest son turned 54 April 21st, so a belated Happy Birthday to you also!!
Nice review and update!!
Keep up the good work and stay well!!
Thanks man. I figured you were just old AF and everyone is a kid.
FWIW I constantly have to assure my mom that I am old enough to know how a jacket works and if I wanted one I would have it.
Hope you are well and enjoying yourself.
Cut to razor sounding violins
Found some adapters that are supposed to make the AKG work with regular mmcx cables so I bought them. Probably will grab another pair because they are such a great product especially at $159. Hopefully they are around at Christmas :)
Bass is now really great on these and I grabbed a balance adapter to use with the balanced cable in the box. My Cavali Liquid Platinum is out and ready to serve up a balanced experience.
I put them in the main rig and omg they sound amazing and may have to go back to the reference filter since the bass is almost overwhelming on the main rig where there is some big bass boost...but I can tone that down so maybe no need. Lots of options with these.
Cut to razor sounding violins
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