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Author Topic: AKG K812 Measurements  (Read 27435 times)

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Marvey

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Re: AKG K812 Measurements
« Reply #20 on: March 06, 2014, 06:58:36 AM »

And yes, better than the T1s and better than the PS1000s. But those two are hardly worthy of being called TOTL, especially the T1 (depending on which chocolate you get can be either decent/good or a piece). The PS1000 I'm more willing to give a pass on because I used two layers of TP over the driver to reduce the treble; and also because it's so obviously voiced to be a certain way.
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donunus

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Re: AKG K812 Measurements
« Reply #21 on: March 06, 2014, 08:01:17 AM »

From your descriptions, this sounds like the AKG version of the Sennheiser hd518 but 20x the price LOL
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Hands

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Re: AKG K812 Measurements
« Reply #22 on: March 06, 2014, 08:43:28 AM »

I have to wonder who this "anonymous benefactor" is... because these impressions seem pretty close to what a certain someone was saying about the K812, and I have to wonder if that certain someone got a particularly bad set. I've since heard three pairs---my original, the replacement I was sent (finally), and a pair I recommended a close friend of mine get---and none of them seemed to have quite the level of treble irregularities these (and that certain someone's) seem to have.

Then again, I'm wondering if maybe I'm just not being as hyper critical as you guys are these days.

IIRC, Tyll's measurements looked consistent between a couple pairs, so I doubt product variation is a huge factor here. I would not be surprised if it's a mix of both...slight product variation, and varying degrees of personal preferences and patience with certain sound issues.

And no, at this point in my "headphone journey", I'm not interested in continued forced listening to the K812 to accustom my ears to their peculiarities in the treble. I'm too jaded, I've lost all patience.

And as I mentioned, the K812 starts to fall apart in the treble at higher volumes. I do know that I tend to listen louder than most people (but still not as loud as Anax.) So this could definitely be another factor. I also have a tendency (probably a bad one, again probably rediscovered from my recent resumption in speaker projects) to isolate bands (bass, mids, upper mids, treble) and listen for any issues. On a mental level, I'm not going to let the warm bass mask the treble issues.

Excellent points. I feel the same way about many headphones in general.

I really need to figure out how loudly I listen compared to others...I feel like I have to be up there.
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Darth Obvious

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Re: AKG K812 Measurements
« Reply #23 on: March 06, 2014, 08:57:47 AM »

For example, I tend to listen 15-20db quieter than most people around me. Therefore, I don't like headphones that tend to sound better at higher volumes while lacking at lower volumes (orthos) that much. I even heard electrostatic headphones that started to loose their magic at low levels where HD800s still shine.
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MuppetFace

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Re: AKG K812 Measurements
« Reply #24 on: March 06, 2014, 03:40:42 PM »

I understand that we have different tolerances to things. If anything, these days I'm less tolerant of treble irregularities than I've ever been: the stock HD800 and even the stock Abyss bother me in that respect despite having a number of other good factors. All that aside however, I like to think I can still use other headphones as a reference point to convey how I hear the balance of one versus another. The three pairs of K812 I've heard never seemed to exhibit treble issues nearing the level of the HD700. I also found the K812 to be rather amenable to just about any recording I tossed its way; on poor recordings it never gave me treble razors like the K550 or HD700 or HD800. Granted I don't think the treble is laid back by any means, but I found myself relatively fatigue free whereas the Abyss or HD800 (and especially the HD700) would have literally induced a headache.

I'd also say I'm pretty jaded these days. In fact I'm sick of headphones by and large and want to move to speakers as quickly as I can, circumstances permitting. I cite the T1 and HD700 precisely because they're middling products. To me the K812 stands out as one of the better new releases I've heard in dynamic headphones. I don't want people to get the idea that I'm just being more tolerant of crap so much as I genuinely feel the K812 is enough to make a jaded pirate (well, me) excited.

I will adamantly dispute any calls for the K812 to walk the plank just based on my own experience. I'd also point out that a lot of the negative impressions of the K812 I've read do seem to be coming from the same unit(s). Maybe I lucked out and got one of the good units. Maybe I'm just full of shit. At the very least though, that should tell folks they need to hear the K812 if they get the chance.
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Darth Obvious

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Re: AKG K812 Measurements
« Reply #25 on: March 06, 2014, 03:57:49 PM »

In fact I'm sick of headphones by and large and want to move to speakers as quickly as I can, circumstances permitting.

You mean... like quitting this (headphone) hobby forever?
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Marvey

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Re: AKG K812 Measurements
« Reply #26 on: March 06, 2014, 03:58:48 PM »

Oh no, the K812 treble is not anywhere as bad as the HD700 or K550 (bad sample). With those two headphones, the treble could be painful - "razors". However, I do find the K812 treble difficult to deal with after 5-10 minutes with more marginal recordings which otherwise perform fine on better behaved headphones.

As far as the  walk the plank2  assessment . I'm sticking with that. $1499 or whatever AKG is charging in unacceptable for that kind of performance (or product variation if such is the case.) This should be a $399 headphone, and even then AKG could still make money. If anything HF has done for the "community", it's to help escalate prices to completely absurd levels. I simply consider headphones like the HE-500+jerg pads and Slants to be better for far less money.

High-end smartphones like the iPhone have gotten slightly cheaper with more processing power, better responsiveness, better screens, etc. Headphones seem to have quadrupled in price with the same ol' same ol' (some things better, some things worse).

To put things in perspective, I would give the H800 (stock) this rating:

and I've called the HD800 a facetweeter, a term coined, by RD many a times.
« Last Edit: March 06, 2014, 04:07:54 PM by marvey »
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Deep Funk

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Re: AKG K812 Measurements
« Reply #27 on: March 06, 2014, 04:18:02 PM »

1499 Dollars?

I can believe that the K812 sounds pleasant for some people but the price is too high. For the HD800 at the time I could understand the price but the K812 right now also competes with its own siblings. 1499 Dollars  p:8
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Marvey

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Re: AKG K812 Measurements
« Reply #28 on: March 06, 2014, 04:26:29 PM »

Here are the impulse responses (phase is inverted)
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Tyll Hertsens

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Re: AKG K812 Measurements
« Reply #29 on: March 06, 2014, 04:38:11 PM »

Thanks Marv, nice to see another set of measurements.  headbang
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