I was thinking about getting a good vintage AKG, and it seems the K500 is able to sound very good.

It doesn't seem to have the Sextett has on headfi, but it still seems better sounding than K501 or K701, and in need of less amplification.

What do you guys think?

It's actually quite similar to the K501, despite the different manufacturing process for the drivers, but edges it out slightly. It's what you'd get if you took a K501, and made the sound a little smoother and more balanced. I still like the K501 more for strings because of it's more crisp / detailed sound, but I prefer the K500 in general.

The K701 doesn't even factor into the comparison, it's in its own little la-la land.

Obviously the K501 is 1 better than the K500.

You should buy my K400.

Why don't they just make the K500 better and make K500 be the top number and make that a little better?

Obviously the K501 is 1 better than the K500.

Obviously indeed.

Then why isn't the 701 better by 200, did they really mess it up that bad?

(I have only heard the 701 from AKG)

But seriously, are the vintage ones significantly better?

You'll get many different answers to that question, but personally I just couldn't get into the K701. I don't find it to be bad, just boring. I much prefer the vintage K340 and K240 Sextett.

humph, interesting, thanks

I didn't strike with the K701 the way I did with the HD650 or Ergo 2 (didn't strike with the HD600 either).

I've not heard the K501, but I would like to.

The K701 is sort of like a K501 for people who didn't like the K501. They took away a lot of what made the K501 special in order to improve upon the most common complaints people had of the K501.

My preferences lean the same way as Steve though: I generally prefer the umpteen variations of AKG's studio phones using K240-style drivers more than the K501-style audiophile phones.

I kind of want to try the K601; nobody ever talks about it. Some even go as far as to say it's an almost complete improvement on the K501.

Obviously the K501 is 1 better than the K500.

That would make the K1000 the bestest.

Then would the ancient K2000 would be twice as good as the K1000?

Then would the ancient K2000 would be twice as good as the K1000?

I've never heard of those. What were they?

I've never heard of those. What were they?

Fugly.

Just curious, what were the original complaints of the K501?

Just curious, what were the original complaints of the K501?

They didn't complain, they were just headphones.

They didn't complain, they were just headphones.

Oh man...

Oh man...

I'm old, I'm entitled to make stupid jokes! It's expected of anyone over 45.

He uses the same excuse when he goes into town with no pants on. It's embarassing.

Pants chafe my weenie.

I've never heard of those. What were they?

The same drivers as in your telephone.

Pants chafe my weenie.

QF...OIDNK...JB*

*Quoted For...Oh, I DoN't Know...Just Because

I've been meaning to try the k500/501/240s, but I've always backed out either due to lack of funds/ funds in the wrong form (didn't have paypal access in the past), or my fear I'd break the phone while trying to replace some of the parts.

Been unhappy with the hd600s for while, going to try a few cables (Yes I know cables won't miraculously completely change the headphone's signature-- but some still say the cables are needed to help them shine) . If they don't sit with me, I'm saying goodbye to the phone. Have had the hd600's for far too long, always deciding at the last second not to sell, incase I'd regret it later on. After that, try the k240s/500s and decide if I want to get rid of the k701s.