(Note: AKG was acquired by Harman Kardon and now producing in China)
I have now for seven years the "AKG K-271 Studio" and it is up to
the ear pads and the cable Tip Top, both can be replaced.
The cable I had to change until now three times.
I am heavy users and use the headphones Daily 3-10 hours.
After nearly 1.5 years, the cable begins with me to the headphone jack
(Not the 3.5 jack) hard and brittle to be and then breaks. I think
which is on the body fat, salt, etc. because the 3.5 jack-side is still very
elastic since barely touched. After another 6-8 months, then comes through
the constant movement of the head to the cable break, with all 3 cables
(Original and replacement) is the cable always at the same point Broken
gone (+/- 2mm)
For normal users, the cable holds probably several years, since this
Headphones but actually for intensive use (professional)
Has been designed and developed (and therefore the cable), I find it
highly reprehensible that AKG at that time for this type of plastic
has decided where there are plastic compounds the west
stay longer elastic and not on fats, salts, chemicals etc.
react (more about that in Supplement). Here, in my opinion deliberately plastic was chosen
which is to go to X times using broken (obsolescence).
That is why I give the product a 2-star. One for the idea
and because there would be even more waste without this idea.
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Supplement 08.17.2013
I meanwhile looked around even after alternative cable, while I once (from 0.50 to 1.00 / m) taken a 0815 audio cable with a cross-section of 3x0,14mm², but the cable was very bad, it came back to the cable break ,
Then I looked at Conrad a Unitronic LiYCY 3x0,25mm² cable (about 1.00 / m) bought with shielding jacket, but this proved to be too difficult, which manifested itself in the form of one-sided loads. That was probably because of the additional shielding.
Thus I repaired my old cable and only ordered a few months after a ÖLFLEX HEAT 205 MC (about 3.60 / m) with silicone cable, also 3x0,25mm². The cable is very rigid and barely flexible, thus you can hear everything that comes from the cable that quite annoying. The cable stops but very good. I will replace these cables now through a cable with PUR jacket.
Properties of PUR:
Chemical:
Very good resistance to mineral oils
Good resistance to alcohol-free gasoline
Good resistance during storage in water
Good resistance to many solvents
Microbe resistant, Hydrolysis, seawater resistant
Largely weather and ozone-u. UV-resistant,
Mechanical:
High tensile strength
Inputs and tear resistance, tear resistance,
Abrasion resistance, wear resistance
Flexural fatigue strength
Impact strength
Low temperature flexibility (practically over the entire temperature range of -40 to + 90 ° equal, brittle temperature -55 °)
I'll now 3x0.25mm² the Sensocord-PUR Sensor cable (1.28 / m) Try.
As a plug, I use since the start the MINI XLR socket of PACC, plus a 3.5mm stereo jack from REAN, where you can solder reasonable. When selecting the plug is natural to pay attention that the cables fit in Ø.
Cost of the cable (3 meters) incl. Connector at Conrad ca, 9.30 EUR.
As the cable itself suggests, I will report in 2-3 years or when problems arise.
