AKG K245 Review

[IAtaman]

Do you mind giving these filters a go with the stock pads and let me know what you think?


Preamp: -13.1 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 100 Hz Gain 3.0 dB Q 0.800 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 1430 Hz Gain 3.0 dB Q 1.800 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 4830 Hz Gain 13.0 dB Q 4.000

Low shelf to taste as you know bass is good on these already - the above just brings it to Harman OE2018.

n.b. I've got a single ply of tissue paper in front of the driver (behind the pad) too but it only brings down highs around 8kHz very slightly - would be ideal if you try the same but shouldn't make much impact on your preference regarding above filters.

When I tried them, I did not realize this was supposed bring the headphones to Harman OE. I am surprised it sounded the way it did - I do prefer the Harman target as-is.

When I measured them on my own head and EQ'ed them to HD600, which tracks the target really well, I got very different results from you. Can it be that the tissue paper "mod" makes a bigger difference than just 8K?

 

[surdo]

Thanks very much @isostasy for the review and others here for their contributions (@IAtaman particularly). The thread is very informative.

I have 8 pairs of the K245 phones for a project. While I'm reasonably happy with sound, they are not as "open" sounding as I'd hoped. In my project, it's important for the listeners to hear what's going on around them and the K245s tend to muffle the external sounds quite a bit.
I wonder for those here that have tried aftermarket pads, can you tell me, which pads produce a more open sound than the stock pads, letting other sounds enter and in general, breathing better? The "round perforated" Brainwavs pads look promising.

Cheers,

 

[IAtaman]

Thanks very much @isostasy for the review and others here for their contributions (@IAtaman particularly). The thread is very informative.

I have 8 pairs of the K245 phones for a project. While I'm reasonably happy with sound, they are not as "open" sounding as I'd hoped. In my project, it's important for the listeners to hear what's going on around them and the K245s tend to muffle the external sounds quite a bit.
I wonder for those here that have tried aftermarket pads, can you tell me, which pads produce a more open sound than the stock pads, letting other sounds enter and in general, breathing better? The "round perforated" Brainwavs pads look promising.

Cheers,

I tried a few pairs of aftermarket pads. I am not sure if they make any meaningful change to the sound isolation. I like Brainvaws XL because they fit my ears better and keeps them cooler. I can try and take some measurements with the in-ear mics this weekend to see perforated pads make any difference to isolation.

 

[ALaylowguy]

I am listening to a pair of K245 right now and they are amazing for the price!

 

[stalepie2]

I bought these again from eBay for a cheap price and have been surprised that they sound generally good; better than I remember or was saying earlier in this thread. Maybe they have too much bass, or maybe they don't have enough treble (or my hearing has gotten bad there), but mostly they're a very smooth, pleasant listen. I like their design too... I'm happy with them without EQ (but don't like resorting to EQ anyway, or don't know how to use it properly, so i end up letting my ears adapt).

 

[isostasy]

I bought these again from eBay for a cheap price and have been surprised that they sound generally good; better than I remember or was saying earlier in this thread. Maybe they have too much bass, or maybe they don't have enough treble (or my hearing has gotten bad there), but mostly they're a very smooth, pleasant listen. I like their design too... I'm happy with them without EQ (but don't like resorting to EQ anyway, or don't know how to use it properly, so i end up letting my ears adapt).

There's a 5128 measurement on Earphones Archive now which could help you EQ. Looks like mostly just elevated midbass relative to Harman which is what I remember about them.

Like you say I also remember you get used to it and other headphones sound very bright when you change back to them.

 

[stalepie2]

There's a 5128 measurement on Earphones Archive now which could help you EQ. Looks like mostly just elevated midbass relative to Harman which is what I remember about them.

Like you say I also remember you get used to it and other headphones sound very bright when you change back to them.

Oh, it's fine. It sounds just fine. The harman target keeps changing. If I wait a few years it'll probably read just like the K245. Then it won't need EQ, but the K371 will!

 

[Urubamba]

I bought these headphones and returned them. Mainly because they're incredibly microphonic due to their large diaphragm and stiff cable. I recommend buying an additional cable of the usual type, not coiled. But they also have an additional problem: the leatherette cover is very poor quality; it falls apart !

https://www.vinylengine.com/turntable_forum/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=138289&start=12