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| Model: | AKG K-501 |
| Category: | Headphones |
| Suggested Retail Price: | $200 |
| Description: | Hi-Fi Headphones |
| Manufacturer URL: | AKG Acoustics |
| Model Picture: | View |
| Review by Aimless1 on February 08, 2009 at 12:38:33 IP Address: 134.215.248.49 | Add Your Review for the AKG K-501 |
The mid range on the K501 is to die for. Female vocals are especially sweet. If you need alot of bass ... both quantity or quality, please look elsewhere. Bass can be increased by replacing the ear pads with ones from the K601 or K701. Good treble extension. Incredible sound stage. Sound is neutral but engaging.
You will want a good amplifier with plenty of head room for these headphones. They love current. Lots of it. Comfortable self adjusting head band with comfortable ear pads. No longer in production and NOS stock seems to be depleted. Generally go for $150-$160 on the used market which makes these an incredible value.
| Product Weakness: | Bass. Look elsewhere for Rock headphones. |
| Product Strengths: | Vocals, especially female vocals. Classical and Jazz. |
| Amplifier: | Meier Corda Opera w/DAC |
| Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): | none |
| Sources (CDP/Turntable): | Macbook to DAC |
| Speakers: | none |
| Cables/Interconnects: | unknown |
| Music Used (Genre/Selections): | Various |
| Time Period/Length of Audition: | 1 year |
| Other (Power Conditioner etc.): | unknown |
| Type of Audition/Review: | Product Owner |
I'm sorry but you call this a review? Mid-range "to die for"? Female vocals "especially sweet"? What does that even mean? And "Good treble extension", "incredible sound stage"? Do you have any idea how vague that is? How is the treble extension good, and what makes the soundstage incredible?
And you don't mention either that there are 3 model variations out in circulation that each have a slightly different sound.
damn, glad I did not sell mine. No finer headphone for listening to old 50-60's jazz. FWIW...I picked up a pair of K701's B4 Xmas and they sound nothing like the K501. Too bright and in your face.
"E pur si muove...And yet it moves"
I've heard the 601s, but not the 701s.
Have to agree the K501s are smoothe when it comes to classic jazz.
If the K701 is too bright then you have some impedance matching problems with amplifier. I have both headphones and the K701 sounds almost too mellow. I use the K501 because it's less current hungry, however the K701 hands down smoother sounding with not a single hint of brightness in sight.
Music making the painting, recording it the photograph
was is your listening setup for your 701's? I have a WooAudio 3 tube amp with NOS Tungsol and Amprex tubes. Source is a Marantz SA8001. All other cans I have tried in this setup work and sound great. Senn HD650's are the can dujour these days.
"E pur si muove...And yet it moves"
Headphone smp: "World Audio Designs" Headphone amp
Preamp: Sony TAE1
Sources: Sony SCD-1, Sony DVP9000ESThe 701's did not sound bright in this setup at all. but unlike the 501 but rather its juice hungry, so I have stuck with a 501 which is now powered thru a Kenwood C2 preamp's headphone output at present.
Music making the painting, recording it the photograph
Edits: 02/11/09
Heard these at 2007 AES conference NYC. Very good headphones. I just still prefer to listen to speakers... New thing coming though
I wasn't in on the $100 deals when they were being closed out. But yes, the current used market on the K501 is $150-160. Prices based on sales over the past year on audiogon & head-fi. A good opportunity for you to make some $$$ if you're not listening to it.
Wow.
I've picked mine up for 100$ a few years back. :x
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