CHANGSTAR: Audiophile Headphone Reviews and Early 90s Style BBS
Lobby => Headphone Measurements => Topic started by: Solderdude on July 14, 2014, 07:10:07 PM
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(http://diyaudioheaven.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/akg-k500.jpg?w=252&h=300)
The AKG K500 was the more expensive bigger brother of the K400 with more luxurious looks and headband as well as a different colour scheme.
It has the familiar AKG look and is simple and elegant. The pads are cloth instead and very comfortable for longer listening sessions.
(http://diyaudioheaven.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/akg-k500-stock-lr.png)
NOTE: the spikes that are measured here MAY have been caused by the fact that it was tested at 95dB SPL, which may have been a bit too much for it.
This headphone does start to distort at higher listening levels much sooner than most other headphones.
While it did have an edge to it at normal listening levels (around 80dBA) it certainly did not sound as bad as the measurements would suggest.
The CSD shows a shorter lived ringing around 8kHz but also has a substantial ringing around 2.5kHz. The K500 also has a bright ‘edge’ resulting in a slight feeling of ‘extra detail’.
(http://diyaudioheaven.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/csd-akg-k500-stock-lr.png)
Deepfunk also had K601 pads which can easily replace the original pads. The K601 pads are velours type and feel a bit stiffer to the touch but still very comfortable. The picture below shows what a K601 padded K500 looks like. Together with the grey leather headband looks as if it could be an original combination.
(http://diyaudioheaven.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/akg-k500-with-k601-pads.jpg?w=252&h=300)
AKG K500 with K601 pads sounds somewhat better in the bass area. It still lacks bass extension though and while slightly improving the treble quality (which isn’t bad but below that of better headphones) it still has a slightly artificial treble. Tonal balance is ‘accurate’ and very realistic.
(http://diyaudioheaven.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/akg-k500-with-k601-pads.png?w=614&h=346)
(http://diyaudioheaven.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/csd-akg-k500-with-k601-pads.png?w=614&h=294)
The CSD of another of deepfunks K501's, however, shows a quite different behaviour. No resonances around 1kHz and no resonances around 2.5kHz and a much shorter lived 7kHz resonance. The 13khz resonance is still the same.
Because this K500 didn’t show the 2.5kHz resonance I figured the K601 pads would be responsible for this improvement in the 2.5kHz area.
Fitting new K601 pads on the other K500 showed it was a difference between drivers and not caused by the pads.
More info on my website (click the globe under my avatar)
The positives are a very neutral sound, no muddy-ness with good comfort. Sounds good with Jazz and classical.
Negatives are the lack of body (bass extension) and the slightly ‘artificial’ treble.
The K601 pads bring some improvements which are most noticeable in having slightly more body.
See this in a subtle light, as it remains a headphone that still lacks bass extension.
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Check out DIY audio heaven for more measurements.
Regarding the AKGs, here is the link: http://diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com/headphones/measurements/brands-a/ (http://diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com/headphones/measurements/brands-a/)
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yikes! I do listen at higher levels than most.
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In that case a higher gain would help. The K400 and K500 are 120 Ohms headphones. My old K240DF was 600 Ohms. With enough gain you can keep the volume low and the sound should not distort.
I might be a typical AKG thing...
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Very interesting. I have found three different drivers in my collection of the K500s, all sounding quite different.
Condition of the pads affects the response as well. Original K500 pads (grey) seem not to be available - mail me if they can be found somewhere. There are also different versions of these, where the rim ring isolation foam/soft plastic (on some non-existant) between pad and baffle seems to influence the "tightness" of sound.
In my experience, new K501 pads sound best. They are quite similar to the K500 pads. With old, flat and porous pads the K500 is only a shadow of its true self.
Tuning the foam damper (often totally disintegrated) in the hole on the back of the driver and covering some of the paper slits on the baffle results in a more balanced response, with fuller bass and less strident treble.
To my ears, this modified K500 makes my records sound more lifelike and involving than 400, 501, 601 and 701. The K401 occasionally get a listen, though.
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Welcome MDR30 ahoy
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Very interesting. I have found three different drivers in my collection of the K500s, all sounding quite different.
Condition of the pads affects the response as well. Original K500 pads (grey) seem not to be available - mail me if they can be found somewhere. There are also different versions of these, where the rim ring isolation foam/soft plastic (on some non-existant) between pad and baffle seems to influence the "tightness" of sound.
In my experience, new K501 pads sound best. They are quite similar to the K500 pads. With old, flat and porous pads the K500 is only a shadow of its true self.
Tuning the foam damper (often totally disintegrated) in the hole on the back of the driver and covering some of the paper slits on the baffle results in a more balanced response, with fuller bass and less strident treble.
To my ears, this modified K500 makes my records sound more lifelike and involving than 400, 501, 601 and 701. The K401 occasionally get a listen, though.
Thanks for the info about the pads. I love K501 pads; most comfortable for me of any. The two K501s I've owned were slightly different, and I've never heard K500. How would describe the difference between K500 and K501? Did your three K500s have different drivers or different baffle arrangements (as with K501)?
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Very interesting. I have found three different drivers in my collection of the K500s, all sounding quite different.
LMAO. Doh! Looks like K550 over again.
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Very interesting. I have found three different drivers in my collection of the K500s, all sounding quite different.
Condition of the pads affects the response as well. Original K500 pads (grey) seem not to be available - mail me if they can be found somewhere. There are also different versions of these, where the rim ring isolation foam/soft plastic (on some non-existant) between pad and baffle seems to influence the "tightness" of sound.
In my experience, new K501 pads sound best. They are quite similar to the K500 pads. With old, flat and porous pads the K500 is only a shadow of its true self.
Tuning the foam damper (often totally disintegrated) in the hole on the back of the driver and covering some of the paper slits on the baffle results in a more balanced response, with fuller bass and less strident treble.
To my ears, this modified K500 makes my records sound more lifelike and involving than 400, 501, 601 and 701. The K401 occasionally get a listen, though.
Thanks for the info about the pads. I love K501 pads; most comfortable for me of any. The two K501s I've owned were slightly different, and I've never heard K500. How would describe the difference between K500 and K501? Did your three K500s have different drivers or different baffle arrangements (as with K501)?
To my ears, the K501 was the starting point of the K601/K701 sound, slightly artificial and compressed with a nasal quality. My modified K500 sounds less restrained and more natural, but again it's difficult to describe sound differences (and perception/ears are individual).
The three drivers are different, the baffle the same. I think I've posted pics and descriptions on the other site, will try to do it here as well when time permits.
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If that means early, middle and late version again we can confirm AKG was experimenting.
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It may also explain why one of the K500's measured better in the CSD.
One had substantial 2.5kHz ringing, the other had none.
I couldn't really tell big sonic differences between them though.
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In Monty Python's film "Quest For The Holy Grail" there is a scene in which a village struck by the plague is brought to life. A man with a cart keeps yelling "Bring out your dead!"
In the AKG scenario we might as well say "bring out your version!"
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The three different drivers of the AKG K500
Some photos so you can identify which version you have, and which versions have been measured on this site. If you take off the pad and hold the headphone in front of strong light it's easy to tell which driver it is.
The first one, as presented in the AKG introduction brochure, had a half matte diaphragm and 12 openings at the back of the driver (dampened with white fibre paper). All metal plug and adapter, and somewhat thicker cable.
(http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z465/beyerdt48/AKG%20K500/AKGK500driver12holes.jpg)
The second, and most common version (and in my mind the best, although I haven't experimented much with version No 3), had a half matte diaphragm but only 2 + 2 holes at the back of the driver. All metal plug and adapter.
(http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z465/beyerdt48/AKG%20K500/AKGK500driverversion2.jpg)
On the diaphragms above, there are two types of ridges combined: short ridges at the rim, longer ones at the centre.
The third version had 2 + 2 holes at the back of the driver, but a clear diaphragm with a simplified ridge pattern: only long, single ones. The cable was the same as the above, later a partly black plastic plug with metal adapter and slightly thinner cord as on the K401 and K501 headphones.
(http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z465/beyerdt48/AKG%20K500/AKGK500cleardiaphragm.jpg)
K500 (grey) and K501 pads (black). The latter has a foam rim gasket, the K500 not.
(http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z465/beyerdt48/AKG%20K500/AKGK500K501padsfront.jpg)
(http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z465/beyerdt48/AKG%20K500/AKGK500K501padsback.jpg)
I was lucky to grab a near mint first version K500 a couple of years ago. This one was also equipped with a removable foam filter which tames the treble somewhat. [Edit: come to think of it, these filters could have been from the K500 with clear diaphragms, the third version, and if so a late attempt to solve a problem. Difficult to keep track of all these versions!]
(http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z465/beyerdt48/AKG%20K500/AKGK500originalversion.jpg)
(http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z465/beyerdt48/AKG%20K500/AKGK500frontfilterunderpad.jpg)
(http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z465/beyerdt48/AKG%20K500/AKGK500frontfilter.jpg)
(http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z465/beyerdt48/AKG%20K500/AKGK500filterback.jpg)
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I will post pictures of the K500 drivers I have later.
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I will post pictures of the K500 drivers I have later.
Any photos on the way?
My present setup. Modified K500 connected balanced (two plugs), a special trick of the anode/cathode output of the Audiotailor Jade. Terrific sound stage and airiness. GEC 6AS7G (or Tung Sol 5998) output tube, Telefunken ECC808 driver tube (with adapter).
(http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z465/beyerdt48/AKG%20K500/AJK500mod.jpg)
I will post pictures of the K500 drivers I have later.
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The first K500.
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The second K500. This driver has 12 "legs" instead of 6. For me it sounds almost the same as the first K500.
Solderdude first measured the "first K500" and later the second K500. If I am correct Solderdude was the previous owner of the "second K500".
Do not ask me about driver versions. I know nothing about them and I only know that AKG did a lot of experimenting with drivers, enclosures and headphone designs which sometimes included co-operations. See Philips, the N6330 and other Philips N6xxx-series headphones come to mind.