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Author Topic: K550 Frequency Response and CSD Waterfall Plot Measurements  (Read 22586 times)

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Solderdude

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Re: K550 Frequency Response and CSD Waterfall Plot Measurements
« Reply #70 on: April 03, 2013, 03:23:55 PM »

The K550 and K551 seem to be closely related indeed.

The K551 is slightly more expensive it seems (will depend on where you buy it)
Never been a big AKG fan though.  :-[
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gelocks

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Re: K550 Frequency Response and CSD Waterfall Plot Measurements
« Reply #71 on: April 05, 2013, 11:56:52 AM »

So...

Has anyone tried the new K551s?
It seems they actually are a bit different (or at least measurements seem a bit different)

http://en.goldenears.net/17012
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shipsupt

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Re: K550 Frequency Response and CSD Waterfall Plot Measurements
« Reply #72 on: April 05, 2013, 12:38:30 PM »

Have not heard them... and they do look different, but I'm still seeing potential razors of treble pain on the CSDs.
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MuppetFace

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Re: K550 Frequency Response and CSD Waterfall Plot Measurements
« Reply #73 on: April 05, 2013, 12:44:50 PM »

Typical AKG.

Just look at the K701 -> K702 -> Q701 -> K702 65th

The sound gradually improved from one to the next, but it's still the same headphone for the most part. Basically the 65th Anniversary version is what the K701 should have been in the first place, only at triple the price.  ::)
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Re: K550 Frequency Response and CSD Waterfall Plot Measurements
« Reply #74 on: April 05, 2013, 04:07:19 PM »

I think they used different pad material on the anniversary edition, which would affect a lot of the sound.
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Re: K550 Frequency Response and CSD Waterfall Plot Measurements
« Reply #75 on: April 05, 2013, 04:30:31 PM »

I've got the K702 65 here, and going on memory the pads seem largely the same as the older versions to me.

I think AKG claim the difference is in more careful driver matching or something? In any case it's not a huge difference.
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Anaxilus.

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Re: K550 Frequency Response and CSD Waterfall Plot Measurements
« Reply #76 on: June 23, 2013, 07:56:19 AM »

So I got another K550 from CT.  This one is much more balanced and listenable than the 550 I had heard at the Headamp tables a few times.  Those were thin, dry and bass light w/ the treble nasties.  I thought they were doing the latest Shure trick by rolling off the bass to enhance fake detail and clarity.  This pair is much more balanced, even a hair over neutral in the Bass, notes are more fleshed out and the signature is pretty clean and clear but the treble still has some issues.  Female vocals and strings seem to carry harmonics into the fatigue zone either by peak and/or ringing.  There is a hint of a unrefined signature and tbh seems to remind me a bit of the HFI580 which was my favorite Ultrasone, especially modded.  I'm going to compare them now.  I would listen to the 550 loud and over extended time unless the treble were resolved one way or another.  It's just too splashy  up top.

Hmm, the HFI580 (modded using AKG pads ironically) is even more refined and smoother sounding, they have a shout somewhere in the midrange but the treble is much more forgiving.  The midrange signature is on the leaner side compared to the K550 , no doubt from the pads I'm using, but the overall signature is cleaner and better than the K500.  Bass is much bigger than the 500 but actually just as detailed, textured and resolving of information on the track.  No surprise as they were designed as Bass monitors for percussion.  These simply have some of the best quality bass you can get for around $100 that I've ever heard if you don't mind the emphasis.

If I had to pick a driver to work with, the 50mm HFI580 would be it.  If I had to pick a luxurious, and gorgeous housing it would be the K550.  Hate to say it, but the AKG actually looks like a classier knock off of the Beats Pro done in black.  Looks good.
« Last Edit: June 23, 2013, 08:04:23 AM by Analixus »
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Re: K550 Frequency Response and CSD Waterfall Plot Measurements
« Reply #77 on: July 13, 2013, 03:59:51 AM »

^Just happened to see this post.  Thanks for posting your findings. 


I've heard two K550 that sounded worse than this pair that I sent down.  Hopefully comparative measurements will confirm subjective impressions.  If not, it's cool...I still like these straight out of iDevices and will keep them.  :)p3 
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Re: K550 Frequency Response and CSD Waterfall Plot Measurements
« Reply #79 on: June 23, 2014, 01:12:52 AM »

i remember listening to these at bestbuy and even tried it on my phone there. i had to put them down after few seconds cause they did pierce my ears when listening. i was disappointed in them especially the 350 dollar price tag on them. the best headphone at bestbuy had was the sennheiser 558 which i really liked and was pleasant listening experience and only headphone worth the price tag it was asking for(i forgot how much but was defiantly lot cheaper than the akg).
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