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CoolBean555
2
Sep 7, 2017
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Does one know what frequencies the bass boost spans over? Is there any subbass extension or is it a mid bass hump? (ie: more like the AKG k240mkii or more like k712?) or is it different altogether and closer to the m50 and dt990 sub bass? (I imagine it wouldn't be near as bassy but I'm just wondering if its a similar shape of bass boost)
Michael-Q
243
Sep 9, 2017
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CoolBean555https://www.innerfidelity.com/images/AKGK712.pdf
https://www.innerfidelity.com/images/AKGK7XX.pdf
If you stare at these graphs long enough you may notice they're quite similar in many ways- like really really similar with k7xx having better looking THD. But... that just might be an outlier sample. Regardless, I'd say k7xx sounds much like the k712. (I don't own k712). The bass "boost" is nothing significant but much appreciated for "reference" headphones. Reference in my mind means accurate reproduction but far from known bass cans.
(rest of post kind of my random thoughts-your question is kind of hard to answer I think as an above average >.> consumer) +3dB bass added to something lacking bass sets it on par with acceptable without destroying the sound. Now where that "3dB" increase is actually applied on the frequency response beats me. The audiphile world is full of mombo jumbo which can be interpreted differently. -> Kind of just marketing.
With that disclaimer said, I'd assume it's evenly applied across bass frequencies but more so around the sub bass. From my understanding, it was "added" by an earpad swap - not a tweak of the driver. The lower the freq, the more work the pad swap did. I'm no material scientist but that's what makes sense to me.
I doubt k7xx has a sound signature similar to m50. I don't own m50. Closed cans can maintain sub bass better-all bass better - as you seem to be aware. Open cans having a "similar shape" (debatable what that means to ppl) to closed cans wouldn't make sense to me.
If you stare at these graphs long enough you may notice they're quite similar in many ways- like really really similar with k7xx having better looking THD. But... that just might be an outlier sample. Regardless, I'd say k7xx sounds much like the k712. (I don't own k712). The bass "boost" is nothing significant but much appreciated for "reference" headphones. Reference in my mind means accurate reproduction but far from known bass cans.
(rest of post kind of my random thoughts-your question is kind of hard to answer I think as an above average >.> consumer) +3dB bass added to something lacking bass sets it on par with acceptable without destroying the sound. Now where that "3dB" increase is actually applied on the frequency response beats me. The audiphile world is full of mombo jumbo which can be interpreted differently. -> Kind of just marketing.
With that disclaimer said, I'd assume it's evenly applied across bass frequencies but more so around the sub bass. From my understanding, it was "added" by an earpad swap - not a tweak of the driver. The lower the freq, the more work the pad swap did. I'm no material scientist but that's what makes sense to me.
I doubt k7xx has a sound signature similar to m50. I don't own m50. Closed cans can maintain sub bass better-all bass better - as you seem to be aware. Open cans having a "similar shape" (debatable what that means to ppl) to closed cans wouldn't make sense to me.
CoolBean555
2
Sep 9, 2017
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Michael-QThank you so much for the explanation! The reason I was so curious about the frequency characteristics is because I intend to use these as a secondary source for mixing for when I can't use my monitors. I've used the k240mkii's recently and while they work quite well, the midbass/ upper bass hump on them makes things a bit tricky, and also masks the subbass a bit. And for electronic music I personally like hearing detail in the sub layers. Basically, I'm hoping these won't sound as warm and dare I say muddy as the 240's. I really appreciate your input on this, if they dont have that overly warm congested tone I might just grab them. Also, how much worse are these without an amp? Does the frequency response suffer a lot? Anyone have some amp recommendations for these in a sub $130 price range?
Michael-Q
243
Sep 9, 2017
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CoolBean555http://www.rtings.com/headphones/1-1/graph#327/1184/387
looking at the graphs of k240 (on this site), it has massive roll off compared to k712 (-16dB@20Hz compared to ~200Hz vs -8dB@20Hz compared to ~200Hz). So yeah, sub bass is a little quiet.
The distortion is the worst I've seen. Far above 10% distortion using a 100dB 40Hz signal compared to k712 2%'ish distortion 100dB 40Hz signal. Anything above 0.5% is apparently noticeable by well trained ears. So 20% or more in the sub bass is ridiculous. No wonder it sounds muddy to you.
As far as amps go, it depends on what else you're using. I have 2 computers. 1 sounds muddy and screechy w/o amp and the other computer sounds okay but doesn't get super loud. I'd be perfectly happy with comp 2's performance but computer 1 is a no go without an amp.
k7xx doesn't require crazy voltage to drive it (gets loud'ish easily enough because of the low'ish 62 ohms) but it does require a little more current than what cheap amp solutions provide (because of the low'ish ohms and mediocre sensitivity of 105dB/V).
I hate recommending it because I don't own one, but the O2 (objective 2 $75 here on massdrop) amp would probably supply more than sufficient power and clarity for k7xx. If you're looking for a decent DAC to go with it or something else that's a DAC/amp combo, I would be clueless to good inexpensive options. Perhaps others here know more.
The distortion is the worst I've seen. Far above 10% distortion using a 100dB 40Hz signal compared to k712 2%'ish distortion 100dB 40Hz signal. Anything above 0.5% is apparently noticeable by well trained ears. So 20% or more in the sub bass is ridiculous. No wonder it sounds muddy to you.
As far as amps go, it depends on what else you're using. I have 2 computers. 1 sounds muddy and screechy w/o amp and the other computer sounds okay but doesn't get super loud. I'd be perfectly happy with comp 2's performance but computer 1 is a no go without an amp.
k7xx doesn't require crazy voltage to drive it (gets loud'ish easily enough because of the low'ish 62 ohms) but it does require a little more current than what cheap amp solutions provide (because of the low'ish ohms and mediocre sensitivity of 105dB/V).
I hate recommending it because I don't own one, but the O2 (objective 2 $75 here on massdrop) amp would probably supply more than sufficient power and clarity for k7xx. If you're looking for a decent DAC to go with it or something else that's a DAC/amp combo, I would be clueless to good inexpensive options. Perhaps others here know more.
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