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Paul.M
48
Jan 14, 2015
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FractalPie
74
Jan 14, 2015
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Paul.MI'm with you on this one. I am disappointed in the build quality on these AKGs. I would prefer to have something that looks like it actually took $200 to make.
My Beyerdynamic Custom One Pros that I bought for $180 new are leaps and bounds ahead of the AKG design and build quality, oh and they don't have any bass rattle at the same exact volume level using the same test, making this"It became clear some folks were in danger of overdriving and possibly damaging their headphones in an effort to test for a rattle. One member was running the K7XX (impedance of 62ohms with a maximum input power of 200mW) out of his motherboard equipped with a TI TPA6120A2 headphone amp circuit capable of output up to 1.5W, with the volume set to 80% playing frequencies from 10hz (human hearing doesn’t pick up until 20hz, 10hz is feeling air movement) up to 50hz. Pushing that much power through the K7XX driver at those frequencies will cause the driver to fold on itself and produce some kind of rattling/flapping sound (this is the driver membrane being collapsed and expanded rapidly, doing this damages the driver). If you were to play a song at that setting while wearing the headphones, the volume would be well over 85db and in the realm of volume induced hearing loss. After seeing a few posts like this, I decided to run a quick test today.", somewhat irrelevant, for me at least.
I understand that the drivers on these are pretty amazing but they shouldn't be sacrificing build quality. I would honestly rather have payed $250 maybe even $300 for the same drivers(better quality control of course) but with much more solid, less plastic fantastic design than these current AKGs have. I feel like if I did happen to drop them, they would just shatter upon hitting the ground.
I really hope that AKG figures out a good way to work with people on this. At this point, like someone said, it is coming down to "brand damage control". This is all just my opinion, but I am honestly disappointed with AKG so far.
My Beyerdynamic Custom One Pros that I bought for $180 new are leaps and bounds ahead of the AKG design and build quality, oh and they don't have any bass rattle at the same exact volume level using the same test, making this"It became clear some folks were in danger of overdriving and possibly damaging their headphones in an effort to test for a rattle. One member was running the K7XX (impedance of 62ohms with a maximum input power of 200mW) out of his motherboard equipped with a TI TPA6120A2 headphone amp circuit capable of output up to 1.5W, with the volume set to 80% playing frequencies from 10hz (human hearing doesn’t pick up until 20hz, 10hz is feeling air movement) up to 50hz. Pushing that much power through the K7XX driver at those frequencies will cause the driver to fold on itself and produce some kind of rattling/flapping sound (this is the driver membrane being collapsed and expanded rapidly, doing this damages the driver). If you were to play a song at that setting while wearing the headphones, the volume would be well over 85db and in the realm of volume induced hearing loss. After seeing a few posts like this, I decided to run a quick test today.", somewhat irrelevant, for me at least.
I understand that the drivers on these are pretty amazing but they shouldn't be sacrificing build quality. I would honestly rather have payed $250 maybe even $300 for the same drivers(better quality control of course) but with much more solid, less plastic fantastic design than these current AKGs have. I feel like if I did happen to drop them, they would just shatter upon hitting the ground.
I really hope that AKG figures out a good way to work with people on this. At this point, like someone said, it is coming down to "brand damage control". This is all just my opinion, but I am honestly disappointed with AKG so far.
Mark
3186
Admin User
Jan 14, 2015
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Paul.MHi Paul,
I'm sorry to hear that you feel that AKG (and Massdrop by association) isn't giving the rattling issue the attention it deserves. I assure you that we absolutely are on top of the issue and are working on resolving it as quickly as possible. We have a handful of rattling units that are coming to us, (and have subsequently bounced to AKG's engineers) so that they can evaluate the issue and determine the best course of action. We (and AKG) are not denying that the rattling is a problem, nor are we refusing to fix it. We're just getting the process in place.
I can't speak for AKG, but an 'example' of why there might be a hold-up is that the engineers are still deciding whether returned products should have complete driver replacements, or repairs, or complete headset replacements, or something in between. Until that's been evaluated and decided upon, RMA units that are sent back now will just pile up in the office waiting for the go-ahead. So while we could start processing RMA's for the driver issue, I assure you that it wouldn't change the outcome in terms of when a (fixed, replaced, or completely new) pair of headphones will arrive on your doorstep.
Another way to think about it is, if you bought an Xbox360 on the day of release, and then the next day it ends up bricking so you send it in for an RMA (they're sold out so they can't give you a new replacement unit). It will probably take a while to get the repaired unit back simply because you're basically the first unit to ever be returned as "broken". Months after the release, their techs have detailed guides on all the possible problems and the exact fixes for them, so they can process these issues/repairs more quickly.
The rattling driver problem is on our radar, and we're following up with AKG about it daily, and we will do our best to get you guys a resolution process as quickly as possible.
I'm sorry to hear that you feel that AKG (and Massdrop by association) isn't giving the rattling issue the attention it deserves. I assure you that we absolutely are on top of the issue and are working on resolving it as quickly as possible. We have a handful of rattling units that are coming to us, (and have subsequently bounced to AKG's engineers) so that they can evaluate the issue and determine the best course of action. We (and AKG) are not denying that the rattling is a problem, nor are we refusing to fix it. We're just getting the process in place.
I can't speak for AKG, but an 'example' of why there might be a hold-up is that the engineers are still deciding whether returned products should have complete driver replacements, or repairs, or complete headset replacements, or something in between. Until that's been evaluated and decided upon, RMA units that are sent back now will just pile up in the office waiting for the go-ahead. So while we could start processing RMA's for the driver issue, I assure you that it wouldn't change the outcome in terms of when a (fixed, replaced, or completely new) pair of headphones will arrive on your doorstep.
Another way to think about it is, if you bought an Xbox360 on the day of release, and then the next day it ends up bricking so you send it in for an RMA (they're sold out so they can't give you a new replacement unit). It will probably take a while to get the repaired unit back simply because you're basically the first unit to ever be returned as "broken". Months after the release, their techs have detailed guides on all the possible problems and the exact fixes for them, so they can process these issues/repairs more quickly.
The rattling driver problem is on our radar, and we're following up with AKG about it daily, and we will do our best to get you guys a resolution process as quickly as possible.
neiru37
94
Jan 14, 2015
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MarkTransparency is key and I applaud MD for that. Personally, I think people are simply looking for a more detailed explanation, something they can accept as a reason why they should undergo the grueling waiting process. I have to agree with your analogy with the whole xbos thing, but at the same time I have to agree with Paul's argument that the email looks a little generic, giving the impression that you are brushing it off instead of actually getting into more detail about it.
TianZi
37
Jan 15, 2015
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neiru37I think a lot of it is because people own other AKG headphones, and in the past AKG had pretty good reputation for making quality headphones without these types of issues.
Even though it is manufactured to sell at at a discount price, I find it to be a pretty bad method to simply lower the quality of headphones because of that. It's probably not as bad for people going with their first pair of AKGs, but for people that have a bunch of AKG headphones, you just don't want a new lower quality one coming in.
Aside from the rattling, even the quality of plastic molding AND the quality of gluing 2 pieces of plastic together is lower than all other AKG headphones I've seen.
Even though it is manufactured to sell at at a discount price, I find it to be a pretty bad method to simply lower the quality of headphones because of that. It's probably not as bad for people going with their first pair of AKGs, but for people that have a bunch of AKG headphones, you just don't want a new lower quality one coming in.
Aside from the rattling, even the quality of plastic molding AND the quality of gluing 2 pieces of plastic together is lower than all other AKG headphones I've seen.
Paul.M
48
Jan 16, 2015
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MarkHi there Mark.
Like "Neiru47" I also agree with the Xbox 360 analogy but at the same time, If I was such Xbox buyer I would have been given the opportunity to return the Xbox 360 to the store and use the refund to buy a PS4.
Believe me I will be feeling "Fat, Dumb and happy" if I was just allowed to get a refund and wait till the next Open Back Type Drop from Beyerdynamic or Sennheiser comes along and invest in those brands instead.
AKG's approach to and I quote "We have a handful of rattling units that are coming to us, (and have subsequently bounced to AKG's engineers) so that they can evaluate the issue and determine the best course of action". Has left a bad taste in my mouth and I much rather cut the cord and jump ship to another brand right here and now.
However this option was not even offered by Massdrop and I am still too new on MD to know if such an option is even in the playing field.
I am a new MD user but I already have being part of 10 drops including the K7xx and have had no problems till now.
You want to have another happy MD user allow me to return my "DEFECTIVE" unit credit my refund and you can hold on to my "DEFECTIVE" unit in the warehouse until AKG gets off their butts and finishes "evaluating" the issue.
And I can invest my hard earn cash on a different brand.
What say you? MD
Like "Neiru47" I also agree with the Xbox 360 analogy but at the same time, If I was such Xbox buyer I would have been given the opportunity to return the Xbox 360 to the store and use the refund to buy a PS4.
Believe me I will be feeling "Fat, Dumb and happy" if I was just allowed to get a refund and wait till the next Open Back Type Drop from Beyerdynamic or Sennheiser comes along and invest in those brands instead.
AKG's approach to and I quote "We have a handful of rattling units that are coming to us, (and have subsequently bounced to AKG's engineers) so that they can evaluate the issue and determine the best course of action". Has left a bad taste in my mouth and I much rather cut the cord and jump ship to another brand right here and now.
However this option was not even offered by Massdrop and I am still too new on MD to know if such an option is even in the playing field.
I am a new MD user but I already have being part of 10 drops including the K7xx and have had no problems till now.
You want to have another happy MD user allow me to return my "DEFECTIVE" unit credit my refund and you can hold on to my "DEFECTIVE" unit in the warehouse until AKG gets off their butts and finishes "evaluating" the issue.
And I can invest my hard earn cash on a different brand.
What say you? MD
FractalPie
74
Jan 16, 2015
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Paul.MJust email the support and they will issue you a refund. I just got my return label today and will be shipping it back tomorrow. My experience has been pretty good with Massdrop so far, you just have to make sure to ask them, rather than waiting. I decided that I was unhappy with the overall build quality of the K7XX, not just the rattling, because of that I'm getting a refund and probably going to buy the fidelio X2s instead(Just sold my COPs).
jbrady3324
15
Jan 16, 2015
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FractalPieI am hoping to do the same. I am extremely disappointed with the build quality of a "limited edition" headphone and how the headphones were advertised by mass drop and AKG. The quality is worse than the product is based off of. At this point, I have no idea what other corners AKG cut and I don't care to find out. I hope to return them
FractalPie
74
Jan 16, 2015
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jbrady3324Yeah well it's super easy, just email massdrop support and they'll email you back with a return shipping label. Pack it up and put it in a local UPS drop box and you're good to go.
Paul.M
48
Jan 16, 2015
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FractalPieThank you, I will do this right away and see what I get for a reply.
FractalPie
74
Jan 16, 2015
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Paul.MYeah, good luck man. I just dropped mine off with UPS today; Massdrop said that once they receive it, they will begin to process my full refund.
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MD considers the wire as a physical problem which does makes sense, since it may actually be the cause of the rattle, I am not pocking no transducer with a Q-tip and risk damaging the transducer. I will email the AKG rep and tell him of the wire and see what he replies with..
P.S Units will be repair, not replaced I guess the selling point of "MATCHED DRIVERS" is also out the door since is pretty safe to assume that AKG will simply replace the affected driver and call it a day..
==================================== CUT & PASTE ====================================
We have been working with AKG for the return process and they will be handling all domestic returns for repairs. However, would you be able to check for any physical defects on your headphones? Physical defects may be visible when you remove the ear pads from the headphones. As some other users has posted in the discussion, some physical issues include dents in the transducer, bubbles or a wire that could cause the rattle. If any physical defects are visible, you can contact AKG. Here was the instructions:
Domestic orders:
1. We have been assigned a specific AKG representative, Hector Hernandez, from the AKG USA California office who will handle all issues related to K7xx headphones. Contact him by emailing your request to service.us@akg.com with a full description of the problem. NOTE: Currently only issues relating to physical defects (XLR port, physical driver damage, etc.) are being handled. AKG is still reviewing the data (and sample units) on the sub-50hz “flapping” - we’ll have an update on that process in the next 2 weeks. For now if you email about that the request will likely be ignored/filed for future reference. 2. Hector will review the service request and will follow AKG service procedures to evaluate and correct any manufacturing defects. Units that are deemed defective will be repaired, not replaced.
Let me know if you find physical defects on the headphones.
Best regards, Henry
-- Henry Vu