deepak Posted January 15, 2007 Report Share Posted January 15, 2007 I managed to get a pair for pretty cheap, but I'm not really expecting much. At the very least I hope they can trump the KSC-75 for movies and laptop use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBLoudG20 Posted January 15, 2007 Report Share Posted January 15, 2007 I just sold MY K81, mostly because I got an Audio-Technica ATH-SJ5, and I thought it sounded better. If you like your music bass-shy, you might not like them, and I would suggest you check out the SJ5. It is more balanced to my ears. If you like bass, the K81 is your meal ticket. They both have a fun presentation, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sacd lover Posted January 15, 2007 Report Share Posted January 15, 2007 I managed to get a pair for pretty cheap, but I'm not really expecting much. At the very least I hope they can trump the KSC-75 for movies and laptop use. The 81DJ's are perfect but they are quite good. For an inexpensive closed headphone there is a lot to like and little to criticize. The bass can sound heavy and being a closed headphone they sound somewhat closed in. But I like mine and for the price I havent found anything better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiberian Posted January 15, 2007 Report Share Posted January 15, 2007 agreed, the k81djs are cool headphones for the price, and they look slick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iron_Dreamer Posted January 15, 2007 Report Share Posted January 15, 2007 I put them on and couldn't make it through one song. Bass bloat galore, they're the headphone version of the UE SF5 EB. I can see the appeal of the form factor and looks, but the sound just didn't do it for me at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philodox Posted January 15, 2007 Report Share Posted January 15, 2007 Take out the foam inserts and give them a chance to burn in... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iron_Dreamer Posted January 15, 2007 Report Share Posted January 15, 2007 Oh, I didn't buy them, that was just at a meet, so I wasn't going to waste any time listening to them more to find out the exact degree to which I didn't like them. The DT250-80 came off the same way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philodox Posted January 15, 2007 Report Share Posted January 15, 2007 Oh, I see... well if you get a chance again, I would try them without the foam inserts. They go from boomy to balanced when you remove them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deepak Posted January 15, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2007 Thanks for the tip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiberian Posted January 15, 2007 Report Share Posted January 15, 2007 they still sound bass heavy after the foam pads are gone...still very enjoyable nonetheless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ojnihs Posted January 15, 2007 Report Share Posted January 15, 2007 They may be bass-heavy but I thought the overall sound signature made them quite enjoyable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deepak Posted January 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2007 Giving them the source treatment On burn in: the previous owner told me he didn't burn them in and listened to them straight out of the box for around 3 hours. I've put maybe another 2 on them, so these are pretty much new. First thoughts on build, looks, comfort: -impressive for a cheap pair of headphones. -everything feels very sturdy, earpads are nice and soft, mostly plastic construction but AKG made a few peaces look like metal -cups swivel in and out so you can get nearly any placement you want -don't look too bad. I wouldn't have any problem wearing these on a flight (makes it a bit easier seeing all the Bose users), nice silver accents on the earcups -numbered adjustments for the headband are the sweet; every headphone should have these -thinnest cable I've seen on a pair of headphones (even thinner than the KSC35/75) which is great for portable use -cable is right length for home use (wraps around my DAC, behind the Pass Labs and to my chair), bit too long for portable -using them straight for 2 hours now and they're more comfortable than the SR-60 (without any headband bending). Since the cups swivel in many directions I've found perfect placement Sound: so far I've played select tracks from: AC/DC - Live (2 disc) Spock's Beard - The Kindness of Strangers Eric Clapton - Unplugged Sunn O))) - Black One Boris - Amplifier Worship Yes - Fragile (MFSL) The Who - Live at Leeds basically nothing really audiophile-ish -sound has impressed me -just the right amount of bass (stock), kickdrums sound real -not the best high freq extension -tonally these do nothing wrong -not hearing any midrange recession, but haven't listened to vocal heavy music -electric guitars sound fun, but not as in your face as the SR-60 -can get slightly claustrophobic in complex prog passages -bass lines sound great, can hear the different bass guitar notes clearly -can't say too much about soundstage and imaging just yet -bass is punchy and fun -on Clapton's Unplugged there is more air around the notes on the SR-60, and the recording sounds a bit more open I'm really happy with them for what I paid and I don't think I'll need to do the foam mod. I might add an update if much changes after 50 hours, but I'm not going to actively burn them in. I was expecting really heavy boomy, one note bass based off previous descriptions and having the DJ label, but notso off my source. Will be doing more comparison's with the SR-60 (which are my favorite pair of headphones under $100) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
humanflyz Posted January 18, 2007 Report Share Posted January 18, 2007 Some of the things you mention that the SR60s do better is inevitably because of the open/closed distinction, but my experiences pretty much match yours. They are decent headphones, and for the price, do nothing wrong. Hmm, which reminds me, I should pick up a pair of SR60s. I personally found removing the foam to be worth the while: it made the bass have a little bit more clarity. As for comfort, I can wear them fine without glasses, but with glasses, they pinch the part of my ear right where the glasses are, so my ears become really sore after an hour. Just a heads up, the K81DJs have a tendency to lose sound in one channel after a while; mine gave out in the right channel after three months. I personally blame it on the cable--especially the lack of a right-angle connector. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deepak Posted January 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2007 Is the foam 2 black discs about 3 cm in diameter, 2-3 mm thick? These might already have the foam removed, since these 2 black discs were sent separately with the documents, I'll have to ask the guy. edit: will also give these a run through a less than stellar source with music and movies (my laptop) which they were intended for. Hopefully much doesn't change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philodox Posted January 18, 2007 Report Share Posted January 18, 2007 The K81DJ scale pretty well to higher end sources and amps, but don't sound like complete garbage out of more modest gear. Hopefully you will be happy with them in the laptop setup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
en480c4 Posted January 18, 2007 Report Share Posted January 18, 2007 How's the isolation? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deepak Posted January 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2007 How's the isolation? Tried it around my gaming PC/file server (which has 5 fans @ 32 db) and at normal listening levels I was barely able to hear the fans from 4 feet away. And then tried it with the TV on with the laptop (TV at normal listening volume) and I could hear a bit of the TV. Can't comment on how much sound it leaks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ojnihs Posted January 19, 2007 Report Share Posted January 19, 2007 I didn't really think that they did so well in the isolation department when I had my pair. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deepak Posted January 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2007 Damn after some Lost and music these things are killing my ears. edit: if I can't improve the comfort these are gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
en480c4 Posted February 2, 2007 Report Share Posted February 2, 2007 Well, I've had my K81DJs for a couple of weeks now and have some limited listening on them. They're definitely a decent little headphone, and for $60 it's hard to argue with their performance. They're hardly perfect, but they seem like a great portable, sounding quite good directly out of the iPod and with my MINT. They scaled pretty well with my Millett as well. They vinyl pads were a little obnoxious with respect to heat and comfort so I did order the HD-25 velour pads. After some back-and-forth, there's definitely a audible difference between the two pads. I ended up settling on the velour pads with the Senn foam. There's definitely a more balanced presentation with the bass and mid-bass bloat gone. They also seem to have a bit quicker attack. I'm currently contemplating a recable... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grawk Posted February 2, 2007 Report Share Posted February 2, 2007 Well, I've had my K81DJs for a couple of weeks now and have some limited listening on them. They're definitely a decent little headphone, and for $60 it's hard to argue with their performance. They're hardly perfect, but they seem like a great portable, sounding quite good directly out of the iPod and with my MINT. They scaled pretty well with my Millett as well. They vinyl pads were a little obnoxious with respect to heat and comfort so I did order the HD-25 velour pads. After some back-and-forth, there's definitely a audible difference between the two pads. I ended up settling on the velour pads with the Senn foam. There's definitely a more balanced presentation with the bass and mid-bass bloat gone. They also seem to have a bit quicker attack. I'm currently contemplating a recable... So now they're $85. Still a good value? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
en480c4 Posted February 2, 2007 Report Share Posted February 2, 2007 So now they're $85. Still a good value? Well, more like $75, and I'd say so. I was looking for something to replace my E4c. At first I was a little disappointed because the bass and mid-bass was so boomy. But since switching pads they seem to have tighter and more controlled bass and nothing seems to be lost in the mids and highs. They don't do anything glaringly wrong, which is pretty decent for a sub-$100 closed can. And considering they're 1/3 of the price of the Shures, I couldn't be happier. Isolation seems to be the only thing the Shures do better. But the tips (soft flex or foamies) on the E4c were irritating the hell out of my ears, so I was looking to get away from IEMs because what good is isolation when I never want to use them? I use them primarily when travelling for coaching, and I just need something to drown out the drone on the bus or cut back a little on the crown noise at meets. The K81 seem like they'll do just fine for that, and actually sound good enough that I don't see any need to bring my 580s with me when I go to my cabin or go to visit my folks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grawk Posted February 2, 2007 Report Share Posted February 2, 2007 The velour pads are $25, right? Well, more like $75, and I'd say so. I was looking for something to replace my E4c. At first I was a little disappointed because the bass and mid-bass was so boomy. But since switching pads they seem to have tighter and more controlled bass and nothing seems to be lost in the mids and highs. They don't do anything glaringly wrong, which is pretty decent for a sub-$100 closed can. And considering they're 1/3 of the price of the Shures, I couldn't be happier. Isolation seems to be the only thing the Shures do better. But the tips (soft flex or foamies) on the E4c were irritating the hell out of my ears, so I was looking to get away from IEMs because what good is isolation when I never want to use them? I use them primarily when travelling for coaching, and I just need something to drown out the drone on the bus or cut back a little on the crown noise at meets. The K81 seem like they'll do just fine for that, and actually sound good enough that I don't see any need to bring my 580s with me when I go to my cabin or go to visit my folks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
en480c4 Posted February 2, 2007 Report Share Posted February 2, 2007 $13. The HD25 velour pads and a 650 cable were under $30 shipped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grawk Posted February 2, 2007 Report Share Posted February 2, 2007 That's cool. Beyer velours are a lot more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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