AKG - K550 - Studio Recording Reference Quality Headphones - Lowest Price on Reverb - Discontinued

Includes: Headphones and 1/8" to 1/4" adapter

These headphones are in perfect functioning condition and excellent cosmetic condition. The ear pads are brand new.

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AKG's K500 is an open headphone, and fits over the ear rather than resting on it. This type is known as a circumaural headphone, and the padded circular cushions are made from an open-weave fabric known as pique, which allows the skin beneath to breathe. These cushions are attached to a lightweight plastic disc which has an open plastic grille at the centre to allow the sound from the transducers to pass through unimpeded. A nice touch is that the cushions attach to the main body of the headphone via a simple bayonet fitting, which makes them easy to remove for washing or replacement. Care has been taken to minimise the number of reflective surfaces inside the phone, especially in front of the ear, which could upset the stereo imaging.

Removing the cushions exposes the diaphragm assembly, which is around 30mm in diameter including the surround. This is protected by a moulded plastic structure which is largely open to allow the sound to pass freely. The diaphragm is essentially a dome-shaped, transparent structure (probably Milar or a derivative) driven by a copper voice coil; hi-fi enthusiasts might be pleased to note that the 3m long feed cable is made from 99.999% pure, oxygen-free copper. According to AKG, the diaphragm shape was designed with a special surround which is purported to minimise the breakup modes which occur when different sections of the diaphragm vibrate in different ways, rather than the structure acting as a true piston.

The outer section of the basket is fabricated mainly from perforated metal, and with the headphones worn normally, the sound from the outside world passes through with very little change. Comfort is important with any headphone, and this one is held onto the head using a twin wire headband with a simple but very effective self-adjusting leather top-cushion. The captive lead emerges from the left phone and appears to be terminated in a gold-plated, quarter-inch stereo jack.

However, closer inspection reveals that the jack screws apart exposing a 3.5mm stereo jack of the type that is used with Walkmen and other consumer stereo products, which is a neat touch.

The overall weight of the phones is only 240g, not counting the cable, and I found them relatively comfortable and cool in use.

The Sound
The initial impression is of a very uncoloured, clear sound with plenty of detail. Particularly surprising was the quality of bass, especially when you consider that these are open phones which, in general, tend to produce less bass than enclosed types. In fact the frequency range is quoted as being from 15Hz to 27kHz, and while the bass doesn't actually knock you about, it is very even, and low bass guitar, bass synth and kick drum sounds are recreated quite accurately without being overemphasised. Furthermore, the relative level of the bass end doesn't change significantly when the phones are pressed closer to the head, which bodes well for consistency between users.

SpecificationsK500Transducer TypeDynamicFrequency Range15 Hz-27kHzSensitivity94dB/mWPower Rating200mWImpedance120ohm/chWeight230g