Fine and honest headphones with slight weaknesses

For over six months now I call the K 601 my own. The transition from my old Sennheiser 545 Reference for AKG was very chaotic. The "old" made namely this that I always heard through a wall and got used to it. Suddenly opened the (acoustic) curtain and put free musical details that remained closed to me until now. The "badewannige" frequency response of the "old" burned so strongly in my ears that I was about to return the K 601. Good that I did not.
Especially in such a critical mid-high range of the K 601 played properly on airy. Singing sounded not only audible, but with a little enthusiasm even palpable on. Breathy female vocals sung caused downright goosebumps (Alicia Keys "Falling"). Instruments with high frequency transients (eg guitar) are clean reproduced (CHRIS REA "Blue Cafe"). The atmosphere at Phil Collins' "In The Air Tonight" is clearly noticeable. In "Summer Madness" by Kool & the Gang, you can easily imagine with closed eyes what is happening.

As for the bass range, the 601er looks a bit slimmer (in comparison to 545er, who was really "fat"), but the AKG is still good in the knees, assuming the appropriate recording and equipment. Low frequencies are the 601er so without problems and no exaggeration again (BILLY IDOL "Flesh For Fantasy"; Craig Armstrong feat ELIZABETH FRASER "This Love".).

The K 601 is picky in terms a little amplifier. The best sounds of the 601er with older equipment that still properly have steam on the headphone output. My monitor system is a 17 year old Technics SU-VX 720 with "Source Direct" setting and a Sony STR-DB 1080QS. The Technics is the first choice for me.

The AKG is no Boombox (such as the Sennheiser HD595) but rather a musical sophisticate, ideal for long listening sessions, without being stressed. Even after hours of acoustic outings I still feel relaxed, assuming adequate volume. Poor recordings mercilessly uncovered the K 601 and make some fun. The 601er exaggerates and also reduces not. The "old" disguised error quite clearly. Jazz sounds really intimate and delicate, but with rock right "drive" and the good 80's ... well, were strong and loud, Dance somewhat slim as diverse as 80s just produces.

Through the 545 sounded any music "equal". Through the K 601 the music has got back its own character. If the sound character eg light gives the K 601 the so again. Is this piece of thick bass you can hear it too. Brachial dynamics, the 601er as good as fine dynamics. Even emotions are transmitted ...

Where praise is also criticism. The low nominal impedance of 120 Ohm according to the manufacturer of the Earphones is not the loudest. Compared with the 545er and the short-obsessed HD 595 K 601 is much quieter and therefore not really suitable for portable devices. There are more appropriate head or earphones.

The quality I find success. Soft ear cushions, fine leather strap and quality cable I felt. The selbstverstellende band enough for my head and the cushions do not press uncomfortable.

Important to know is that the headphones a so-called. "Settling time" needs. The amounts to about 30 hours, preferably at the piece and without interruption. There are special "burn CDs". At first he sounded a bit reserved and harsh, but over time has been the sound more open and friendly. In the treble the Schrärfe declined significantly and in the bass put the K 601 (with the same sound) a pound of to.

My Conclusion:

A fine, honest and audiophile headphones made me happy after the burn in period. I think there is hardly a musical style that has not mastered the K 601 good. Of course there are better headphones, but this will cost no less than 100, - more. The only question is whether it's worth. The AKG K 601 but it is troubled at the beginning of high-end and the price is certainly nothing for bargain hunters. But I would always spend so much money for such a good set of headphones.

I would recommend headphones for all those not compressed music such as. MP3, WMA or AAC listening since the AKG compression artifacts not hidden, but well-behaved is, as it is well-produced music. Internet radio is thus inaudible under 160 kbits. With high-definition sources such as CD (eg REBECA PIDGEON "Spanish Harlem") or audio in 24 bits of Headphone plays out its full potential.