Reddit mentions of AKG K550 Closed-Back Reference Class Headphones

I love my AKG K550's. Currently $209 on Amazon

You're going to get more out of your music by splitting some of that money on a portable player. Check this one out http://www.fiio.net/en/products/39, if you can wait until April, I think it's going to be $200 give or take. Also, the AKG 550 are really good and very balanced. They have wide ear cups with lots of room for your sensitive ears; bigger than anything AudioTechnica puts out. http://www.amazon.com/AKG-K550-Closed-Back-Reference-Headphones/dp/B005CNR7B0

Looking for closed headphones under $200ish

For 2 years I have had Sennheiser HD 598s for Open, and $60 ATH M30x for closed. But the M30x's aren't really comfy over long periods and of course better sound quality is always a plus.

Some cans I am considering

1. beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 80 ohm
   
   
2. AKG K550
   
   Open to other suggestions. Just need some for public use like train/library/plane/gym
   
   
   

Home speakers are Event PS5 Studio Monitors. They are perfect for the size of my apartment.

Home headphones are from Grado (I think they are professional series but I can't recall at this moment). They sound great.

Work/travel - I use AKG K550 Closed-Back Reference Class Headphones. I work in an open office and the sound is great for muffling the noise while not letting anyone sneak up on me.

AKG K550.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/AKG-K550-High-Performance-Closed-Back-Headphones-Black/dp/B005CNR7B0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409598794&sr=8-1&keywords=akg+k550

Check out AKG K550?

Or ATH-M50x.

Budget: $200-300 for amp/dac, $500 headphones
Source:Asus G73SW laptop
Requirements: Closed - Office environment
Past Headphones: AKG-K550 Headphones
Preferred Music: Jazz, Rock, Electronic, Vocals


I'm looking to improve my at-work headphone experience, and am looking at a few different options:

1. Emotiva XDA-2 - Sale $219
   
2. Modi/Mangi Stack - $200
   
   I think the XDA-2 is nice if I want to have desktop speakers too, and I don't feel size is a great concern as this isn't going ot be a mobile setup.
   
   
   *Edited for formatting
   

• Budget - Max around $240 - prefer to stick lower but if there are substantial gains from spending the full amount it's fine.
  
• Source - 95% of the time these will be used at my computer.
  
• Isolation - won't be a problem - maybe a fan in the background sometimes.
  
• I'll very rarely use these in public.
  
• Preferred Type of Headphones - I prefer full-sized/over ear headphones.
  
• Tonal Balance - I like snappy bass but listen to a variety of music and also use headphones to watch movies.
  
• Past Headphones - Using my garbage Corsair 1500 gaming headset. Even without the crappy quality of these headphones, they have serious compatibility problems with Windows 10. Comfortable volume level is at like 4%. Sucks. I've heard some old Bose headphones a long time ago and loved the punchy bass and felt like I could hear more of the music being played. Without a model I'm not sure how much that will help you.
  
• Preferred Music - Like I said before, this really varies. Stuff like Daft Punk, Emancipator, Dire Straights, Rage Against the Machine, Ice Cube, MF Doom, Rx Bandits, Cage the Elephant, Streetlight Manifesto.
  
• **I want to get some more bass and hear more of the mids in my music from a new set of headphones.
  
  The two set ups I've been looking at are:
  
  

1. Beyerdynamic DT-990-Pro-250 as well as a FiiO E10k. - Since these need more than what my PC can give it I'll have to spend the extra money on an amp/DAC combo. Since they're open I'll occasionally have to switch to my old headphones if my music is bothering others in the room. I'm alone in my office 80% of the time so this wouldn't be the end of the world.
   
   
2. AKG K550 - I'd be spending a little more on the headphones up front but wouldn't need to purchase an amp/DAC right away to use these.
   
   Thoughts?

I would stay away from a gaming headset and get audiophile headphones. The difference in quality is phenomenal.

Examples include AKG 550s and Sennheiser 598

Beats Studio for $300

Alternatives:

AKG-K550

~$200

Sennheiser HD 600

~$280

Beyerdynamic DT-990

~$180

Audio-Technica AD700

~$200

All of these, and more (these are just 4 of the many) offer supreme audio quality and you can find a variety of styles, open ear, closed ear, all suited to whatever kind of music you want to listen to.

"Competitive in their price range?" I disagree with you, you can look at frequency curves and see plainly that the Beats Studios can't really compete with these headphones. Beats got style, but these have functionality. Beats are typically above the average consumer grade headphones, but they can't really compete with Audiophile grade headphones.

Very good value for the price, they cost 250$ in the US.
They are very clear and have a tight bass imo. Look for reviews online.

I don't know your budget but I use these:

https://www.amazon.com/AKG-K550-Closed-Back-Reference-Headphones/dp/B005CNR7B0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1479927156&sr=8-1&keywords=akg+k550

And the cord is pretty long also.

No worries. Have a look at these AKG K550. K553 would be another recommendation but I cant seem to find it on Amazon UK

AKG K550.

Good bass and noise isolation, easy to drive so amp not absolutely necessary, foldable for portability.

Personally I like the AKG K550 over both, a bit pricer, but combines the sound of open headphones with the practicalities of a closed pair. I also like the Sennheiser Momentum Over-Ear.


Of the 2 though I would definitely go for the HD 598 if you don't need isolation.

> AKG K550

http://www.amazon.com/AKG-K550-Closed-Back-Reference-Headphones/dp/B005CNR7B0/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1420604891&sr=1-1&keywords=AKG+K550

They're selling for $135 used on amazon, so your price is a bit high.

Do you have timestamps?

Also, what does it come with? Orig box? Etc.

I've both and used to prefer open for gaming but for rift gaming I much prefer closed.
It's an immersion thing for me, easier to pick out quiet sounds and no outside influence.

Open A beautifully worn in pair of sennheiser hd 590's

Closed AKG K550
(currently going for a steal on amazon)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/AKG-K550-High-Performance-Closed-Back-Headphones-Black/dp/B005CNR7B0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1421401390&sr=8-1&keywords=akg+k550

Neither amazingly high end but have good enough to my ears.

But audio is a personal choice which is why i'm hoping like hell the built in ones are not only detachable but all the fancy 3D audio works on other cans.

A cheaper version with no build in audio would be nice too.

I have a pair of http://www.amazon.com/AKG-K550-Closed-Back-Reference-Headphones/dp/B005CNR7B0 and I enjoy them

Thanks for the recommendation! I'll definitely check out some reviews.

I noticed that this appears to be a low volume item on Amazon - only a few reviews, customer questions, and third party resellers. There's also a $50 range in price depending on the color (??). Any thoughts?

Meanwhile the AKG K550 appear to be much higher volume. Do you know how these compare?

akg k550

Hey man, I know this is the wrong thread but seeing as your in the UK, I would highly recommend amazons deal on the AKG 550 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/AKG-K550-High-Performance-Closed-Back-Headphones-Black/dp/B005CNR7B0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1414755087&sr=8-1&keywords=k550)

For that price they really are a steal, easy to drive and amazing soundstage for a closed set of cans. Only problem is lacking bass but deff worth it

Budget - $200 hard limit (USA)

Source - PC

Requirements for Isolation - Yes, from the research I've done closed-back headphones are good for this?

Will you be using these Headphones in Public? No

Preferred Type of Headphone - Full-sized (circumaural?)

Preferred tonal balance - I think I want some headphones that are more toward the bass side but not too heavy. I play a few shooters (RS2Vietnam, BF1, CSGO, ARMA 3) and I think the music I listen to is on the mid-low side. Sorry if this sounds vague I just discovered this subreddit a few days ago.

Past headphones - Right now i'm rockin some $10 earbuds from Wal-Mart, not sure of the brand but its all-white i'm assuming Apple?

Preferred Music - I will mostly be using this for gaming and watching shows/movies/anime >90% of the time, but for the music I will be listening to, some R&B, Hip hop, lofi hip hop, Deep House, Flume, ODESZA, Chet Faker, Big House EDM, The Strokes, Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand, Weezer, Tokyo Police Club, Coconut Records

What would you like to improve on from your set-up - Better sound quality and some comfort. I would prefer it if they were compatible with a BoomPro mic, but it is not a requirement.

I did some looking and I came upon these pairs as possible headphones that might be good for what i'm looking for. The first two are what i'm leaning towards and the rest are in no specific order.

1.) Beyerdynamic Custom One Pro Plus ($172.33) - https://www.amazon.com/beyerdynamic-Custom-Headphones-Accessory-Microphone/dp/B00PK2LJ4E

2.) Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 80 ohm ($179.00) - https://www.amazon.com/beyerdynamic-770-Pro-Studio-Headphones/dp/B0016MNAAI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1497743335&sr=8-2&keywords=dt770

3.) AKG 550 ($139.95) - https://www.amazon.com/AKG-K550-Closed-Back-Reference-Headphones/dp/B005CNR7B0/ref=sr_1_1?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1497744145&sr=1-1&keywords=k550

4.) Audio-Technica MSR7BK ($193.99) - https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-MSR7BK-SonicPro-High-Resolution-Headphones/dp/B00PEU9CFA

5.) Shure SRH840 ($179.00) - https://www.amazon.com/Shure-SRH840-Professional-Monitoring-Earphones/dp/B002DP8IEK/

6.) Fostex T50RP MK3 ($154.90) - https://www.amazon.com/Fostex-Professional-Studio-Headphones-Semi-Open/dp/B0167XM092

7.) Audio-Technica M40x ($79.00) - https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-M40x-Professional-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B00HVLUR54/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1497704658&sr=8-3&keywords=m40x

Are these headphones appropriate for what i'm looking for? If not may I get a suggestion for what you think would be better? Also, what YouTube channels should I watch for reviews and to learn more about headphones in general? The only one I've watched so far is ZReviews.

For my last question, I am considering buying a soundcard (the Xonar DGX) with these headphones, is it enough to power the DT770 model i'm looking at?

Sorry for the wall of text, I was trying to be as detailed as I could with my limited knowledge. Thank you for reading this and your time!

IF you have the money to spend 100£, I'd really advice you to go for the AKG K550, which would be a lot better than most other headphones you'd find in the UK for the same price. Other than that, Sony MDR-V6/7506 seem like good choices.

Look up the AKG k550. $232 and much better quality than any razer headset. and if you are gonna say it doesn't have a mic, any cheap mic will function nearly as well as a gaming headset mic.

http://www.amazon.com/AKG-K550-Closed-Back-Reference-Headphones/dp/B005CNR7B0

For the electronics you could use the Fiio E10k which is a USB DAC/amp or the Creative E5 which is another USB DAC/amp but supports virtual surround.

For the headphones, HD598, K612. AD900x, A900x, K550, DT770 and DT770.

For the mic, something like this or this.

Thoughts?

There's basically nothing in Israel, so I'm 90% buying on amazon, and the msr7 is 250$~ if I wanna buy a new one, will look at the other two, thanks again!

Also, is this the 550?: https://www.amazon.com/AKG-K550-Closed-Back-Reference-Headphones/dp/B005CNR7B0