AKG vs Sennheiser

[Dynamic Mike]

I have 2 pairs of headphones in regular use, Sennheiser HD25-II & AKG K702 (65th Anniversary Edition). I'm happy with both but the velour earpads are getting a bit grubby. So I thought I'd treat myself to some replacement pads.

Straight to Sennheiser £15.95 inc VAT & shipping. Sorted.

So then to AKG (Remember these were £499 originally) to discover they don't sell them. A quick search reveals some dodgy copies on eBay & some Hi-Fi 'upgrades' that are only available in the USA. Luckily discovered you can get them from Thomann. The bad news is they're 20.70 Euros and that's EACH! Put them in the basket to discover another 10 Euros postage & packing for something that weighs marginally more than fresh air. You can buy AKG phones for very little more.

Does anyone know anywhere else that sells them? If not I'll have to bite the bullet but I'm not a happy bunny.

[Mike Stranks]

Alternatively: https://www.scan.co.uk/products/akg-k701-reference-class-open-back-headphones-with-flat-wire-technology-manufacturer-refurbished

I think a few of us here have bought refurbished AKGs from Scan. Apart from no box, mine were as new...

[Humble Bee]

https://m.thomann.de/gb/akg_k_702_ear_pad.htm

[Mike Stranks]

https://m.thomann.de/gb/akg_k_702_ear_pad.htm

Errmm... that's what DM stated in his initial post...

[Humble Bee]

Always repair before considering buying new (or used for that matter)
The planet earth and it’s inhabitants will thank you.

[Dynamic Mike]

Always repair before considering buying new (or used for that matter)
The planet earth and it’s inhabitants will thank you.

I'm trying which is more than you can say for AKG!

Sennheiser pads arrived today. Fitting them is a 3 handed affair requiring infinite patience but worth it. I'd also ordered a new 3.5m straight cable to replace a 3m curly one. Oddly the replacement doesn't have the little plastic rectangular splitter box that screws to the side. I've kept the screws because I'm going to have to fabricate a little cable clip tomorrow to hold the lead in place. No big deal but a little disappointing.

[John Willett]

Sennheiser is still Sennheiser

AKG were bought by Harman who were then bought by Samsung.

AKG microphone engineers and experts are now Austrian Audio.

No idea where the AKG headphone guys went (unless they are also Austrian Audio and something interesting will happen in the future...)

[Dynamic Mike]

Quick update: My old faithful HD 25's now have new pads (2nd set), new leads & connectors & just arrived today (for a very reasonable £8.88) new self-adhesive headband pads. I only need new drivers & we're in Trigger's brush territory.

Still using the grubby AKG pads. I might look on ebay now I've got a paypal account.

[The Red Bladder]

Sennheiser is still Sennheiser

AKG were bought by Harman who were then bought by Samsung.

AKG microphone engineers and experts are now Austrian Audio.

No idea where the AKG headphone guys went (unless they are also Austrian Audio and something interesting will happen in the future...)

Some AKG products were rubbish (e.g. budget mics in the 70s and 80s) and some were best described as quirky and some were quite good (C414) and some were excellent (D202 & D222).

Sennheiser always made either good or very good products. Lately, they have just been very good - and the prices are reasonable, unlike some mic manufacturers I could name, whose mics are no better than Sennheiser's but put snob-value prices on them of a few thousand!