AKG K712 Pro to DT900 Pro X?

[Bob Bickerton]

James may have hit the nail on the head by saying it’s in their interest to emphasise anomalies but who knows, as the response curves from headphones seem very variable dependant on the testing methodology.

As an example take a look at this website which compares the two side by side: https://www.rtings.com/headphones/tools ... shold=0.10

Anyway I have the DT900s. Not as accurate as HD650s but still very good and importantly, I find them very comfortable. Haven’t tried the 712s.

Bob

[Hugh Robjohns]

Small differences in the measurement technique can make big differences to the published frequency responses.

These are all AKG K712 Pro published review measurements.

They all show a bit af bloom around 300-400Hz, but thats the only similarity. The LF roll-off varies enormously between plots, as do the centre frequencies and amplitude amounts of the HF peaks/dips.

Most headphone plots show lots of obvious peaks/dips at HF due to strong reflections and phase cancellations within the measurement rig. Slight positional differences consequently give massive differences.

I'd take them all with s large pinch of salt, and rely on your own ears for judgement instead!

[Arpangel]

I'd take them all with s large pinch of salt, and rely on your own ears for judgement instead!

Hang on Hugh, that’s exactly what I wanted to say, but you cut to the chase.

[tea for two]

Ears N Gears.
Distant cousin of Guns N Roses.

K712 ended being a weirrddd one for me.
Working on shaping Basses and Kicks I found K712 plenty accurate. Yet when mixing a piece with K712 I just couldn't get the Bass level right within the mix, I ended up over egging the Bass level : so it was inaccurate for me in this sense.
So the K712 went to another home after a year.

I now prefer K702 to get levels better within a mix including Bass and Kicks even though it's sound is Bass light. I have my Superlux Evo HD681 deejay semi open for Bass and Kick ooomph.
I prefer K702 sound in the low mid, mid, mid to upper ranges where most of my museek is.

I should really give the Shure 1840 a spin as Sam likes them. I like the Shure sound my closed back is Shure 440. I might well pick up a KrK8400 closed liked by IAA. I'm going to pick up Senny 598 open as I don't have a decent amp dac at the moment to get the best from Senny 600 liked by Arpy, JP, Martin / 650 liked by Bob.

Comfort DT880pro DT770pro I had were the most comfortable for me, I mentioned my ears couldn't cope with the top end of their sound.
Lightest on my head was Audio Technica ATH R70x open I had, it was as if I wasn't wearing headphones, yet I found the R70x trifle harsh for my ears not agressive not in your face it has a laid back sound.

[Slash7]

Small differences in the measurement technique can make big differences to the published frequency responses.

These are all AKG K712 Pro published review measurements.

Wow... This may be the end of frequency response graphs for me. It seems they're pretty unreliable.
There should be stores, letting us take our time, listen to the headphones we want and analyze them as much as we want. Unfortunately, there's not many of them.

[amanise]

What a great thread! Superbly timed for me as my beloved Senny closed backs have just disintegrated their ear cups. They still work perfectly, but now I have open foam and flakes of weird black plastic falling everywhere and they feel weird on my head. So frustrating they couldn't use something more durable to bind the foam cups. Still, I can retire them to tracking duties and get some open backed for mixing. I was thinking BD DT990 ProX - but this talk of uncomfortable top end levels is worrying - and Drew has some, and said my stuff was tiring to listen to. Or tiresome. Something like that. I wonder if the two are connected.. I wouldn't want to get something that made me over load on the low end. I'm bad enough at that as it is!

[Hugh Robjohns]

... my beloved Senny closed backs have just disintegrated their ear cups.

They do that, eventually. I dont know which model your Sennies are, but you can get replacements for most. Eg. https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=sennheiser ... 34bkah1i_e

[amanise]

... my beloved Senny closed backs have just disintegrated their ear cups.

They do that, eventually. I dont know which model your Sennies are, but you can get replacements for most. Eg. https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=sennheiser ... 34bkah1i_e

The thread gets better and better! Thanks Hugh! HD380 Pro. I'll see if they have cups for them.

[James Perrett]

The thread gets better and better! Thanks Hugh! HD380 Pro. I'll see if they have cups for them.

Sennheiser sell replacement ear cups but the reviews suggest that they don't last very long. I find that velour ear pads are more comfortable and I have them on all my serious headphones now. However, I don't think Sennheiser make velour ear pads for your 'phones so you would have to buy third party replacements. I bought third party replacements for my HD25s which split after a few years but third party ones for yours may last longer than the plastic Sennheiser ones.

[amanise]

Thnks James! I found some! Arriving Monday - not too much of a problem if they only last as long as the originals at £14. As long as I don't bust anything trying to fit them - that is!

[Hugh Robjohns]

They can be a bit fiddly and tight, but they're usually fairly straightforward to replace with patience. Don't be tempted to use anything sharp, and make sure you're fitting the right one to the right side as they are usually handed!

Sennheiser own-brand are here:

https://en-uk.sennheiser.com/earpads-pa ... 250-hme-95

And some third-party velour equivalents here:

Geekria Comfort Velour Replacement Ear Pads for ... https://www.amazon.co.uk/Geekria-Replac ... B07FM9SMCQ

[Hugh Robjohns]

Sennheiser sell replacement ear cups but the reviews suggest that they don't last very long.

I bought some Sennheiser stock replacements for no.1 daughter's HD280s, and they've lasted longer than the originals...

[tea for two]

There should be stores, letting us take our time, listen to the headphones we want and analyze them as much as we want. Unfortunately, there's not many of them.

Are you anywhere near London at all.
Premium Sound in Kensington let me audition 12 headphones for over 2hours downstairs in their store.
They left me to it with what amounted to approx £10K worth of headphones.

[Dynamic Mike]

My Sennheiser HD25 C-II velour pads last forever & are relatively cheap. Those for my AKG 702's don't last anywhere near as long at twice the price & are frequently 'unavailable' for months on end when you need them (although Thomann currently have them in stock).

I've never owned Beyerdynamic's so can't really comment on the original post.

[amanise]

They can be a bit fiddly and tight, but they're usually fairly straightforward to replace with patience. Don't be tempted to use anything sharp, and make sure you're fitting the right one to the right side as they are usually handed!

Sennheiser own-brand are here:

https://en-uk.sennheiser.com/earpads-pa ... 250-hme-95

And some third-party velour equivalents here:

Geekria Comfort Velour Replacement Ear Pads for ... https://www.amazon.co.uk/Geekria-Replac ... B07FM9SMCQ

Brilliant - thanks. I must say, I thought they were not interchangeable because I looked to see any threads, screws, clip recessses or anything that might suggest they were replacable - but gave up. Now that I know someone goes to the trouble of making replacements I'll look more closely - hopefully without breaking anything or stabbing myself in the palm or anything.

[Hugh Robjohns]

How to replace hd380 ear pads video...

https://youtu.be/DFOJyqB9xxg?feature=shared

[amanise]

How to replace hd380 ear pads video...

https://youtu.be/DFOJyqB9xxg?feature=shared

Blimey! Whooda Thortit??

[amanise]

How to replace hd380 ear pads video...

https://youtu.be/DFOJyqB9xxg?feature=shared

WOW!! Just WOW!!

I just took delivery and fitted my replacement ear pads from Geekria and WOW!! These headphones sound like new now as well! The bass response has leapt back up to where it must have been when I first had them! I had no idea it had deteriorated with the foam ear pads. That's unreal!

See how easily pleased you can be when you're a rank amateur?

Thanks for all the help with this. Just amazing!

[Hugh Robjohns]

Bass is strongly influenced by how good the acoustic coupling is between earphone and ear, and the pads play a vital role in that. Change them before they fall apart next time!

[sonics]

I just took delivery and fitted my replacement ear pads from Geekria and WOW!! These headphones sound like new now as well! The bass response has leapt back up to where it must have been when I first had them!

I'd be careful with that assumption. Bass response is the first thing that will change with non-original replacements if they are different in size or materials. IME only original pads will guarantee original performance.

[amanise]

I just took delivery and fitted my replacement ear pads from Geekria and WOW!! These headphones sound like new now as well! The bass response has leapt back up to where it must have been when I first had them!

I'd be careful with that assumption. Bass response is the first thing that will change with non-original replacements if they are different in size or materials. IME only original pads will guarantee original performance.

I will. Careful eye on the frequency slopes and comparisons against my room monitors at all times. Which reminds me, I must give "Back To My Roots" a few listens on them before I do too much more. That usually calibrates my brain pretty well.