New Headphones don't sound any different?

[H4X3R]

Just bought myself a pair of NEW AKG K612 Pros (just arrived 10 mins ago) and i can't hear the difference between these and my old Philips SHP2700.

I am using the SupremeFX III on my mobo to drive them (i assume it's good enough).

Is something wrong with my ears?

 

They also have a too big clamping pressure (for me at least) below the ears. Any way to fix this? 

 

What i used to test: http://www.billboard.com/play/rdio?id=379&date=2014-08-02

[DigitalHermit]

Try burning them in by continuously playing something for around 4-8 hours... Some things might change...

[Karumu]

Just bought myself a pair of NEW AKG K612 Pros (just arrived 10 mins ago) and i can't hear the difference between these and my old Philips SHP2700.

I am using the SupremeFX III on my mobo to drive them (i assume it's good enough).

Is something wrong with my ears?

nope, that's just onboard audio for ya i guess, maybe your ears aren't trained enough? what ohm rating are they both?

[H4X3R]

Try burning them in by continuously playing something for around 4-8 hours... Some things might change...

I heard that before (1-2 weeks according to some).

 

 

nope, that's just onboard audio for ya i guess, maybe your ears aren't trained enough? what ohm rating are they both?

120 ohm. I asked some experienced people and they said it would be fine.

[Notree]

120 Ohms. Break out the wallet for DAC /amp   

[H4X3R]

120 Ohms. Break out the wallet for DAC /amp   

Why? The SupremeFX III can power up to 300 ohm headphones. I only have to turn my volume up to 40 to get a good listening experience.

[Notree]

Why? The SupremeFX III can power up to 300 ohm headphones. I only have to turn my volume up to 40 to get a good listening experience.

 Theres a reason you cant tell the difference. I was mearly suggesting something that will change that. 

[H4X3R]

 Theres a reason you cant tell the difference. I was mearly suggesting something that will change that. 

Hm, i hoped it wouldn't come to this.

I don't have the $$$ for an amp. Looks like i stuck with my onboard audio.

[EmoRarity]

Getting an amp will not change anything, its not how amps work. Burn in will be negligible if there is any to be had in the first place. 
More then likely is that you just can't hear a difference, which happens. 

[DigitalHermit]

Can I also suggest restoring the software equalizer to default and try to do a different setting for that pair?

[H4X3R]

Getting an amp will not change anything, its not how amps work. Burn in will be negligible if there is any to be had in the first place. 

More then likely is that you just can't hear a difference, which happens. 

Well let's hope

I'll report back in a week or 2.

[H4X3R]

Can I also suggest restoring the software equalizer to default and try to do a different setting for that pair?

I don't have a software equalizer (not sure if ROG realtek audio manager counts).

I am also hearing a crackling noise in the background o.0 (Song: Latch feat. Sam Smith). Looks like it was just that song though.

 

I enabled dtsultraPC II and it sounds different now, here are the default settings: http://puu.sh/avXFP/674b5c9a28.jpg

 

Do you recommend i keep dts ultraPC II on or off?

[EmoRarity]

Well let's hope

I'll report back in a week or 2.

Word, best of luck I do suppose.

 

I don't have a software equalizer (not sure if realtek audio manager counts).

I am also hearing a crackling noise in the background o.0 (Song: Latch feat. Sam Smith). Looks like it was just that song though.

Could be background noise in the song, or is it doing it else where too? 

[DigitalHermit]

I don't have a software equalizer (not sure if ROG realtek audio manager counts).

I am also hearing a crackling noise in the background o.0 (Song: Latch feat. Sam Smith). Looks like it was just that song though.

 

If that cracking noise is noticeable even when nothing is playing, it might be the electromagnetic noise in the system which can be fixed by a good DAC & Amp combo... I'd recommend Mayflower Objective 2 DAC&Amp or Schiit Audio or Fiio's desktop stuff... (Unfortunately I haven't tried them yet due to socio-economic reasons)...

 

Otherwise it's just the recording/compression imperfections in the track/file itself...

[H4X3R]

Word, best of luck I do suppose.

 

Could be background noise in the song, or is it doing it else where too? 

Seemed to be just the song, weird though since i expect it to be a good song (made lots of $$$). First difference to my old headphones found though

 

 

If that cracking noise is noticeable even when nothing is playing, it might be the electromagnetic noise in the system which can be fixed by a good DAC & Amp combo... I'd recommend Mayflower Objective 2 DAC&Amp or Schiit Audio or Fiio's desktop stuff... (Unfortunately I haven't tried them yet due to socio-economic reasons)...

 

Otherwise it's just the recording/compression imperfections in the track/file itself...

Was just the track. I may be getting a sync dac though.

[Valhallatier]

burn them in...
they have the same drivers as the K701 which are known to sound different after 300 hours of initial testing

[ShearMe]

Getting an amp will not change anything, its not how amps work. Burn in will be negligible if there is any to be had in the first place. 

More then likely is that you just can't hear a difference, which happens. 

 

+1

 

Their frequency response is probably close, and you probably just don't know what to listen for. Sometimes people have to listen to a really good headphone for a couple weeks and then go back to their old one to notice how bad it was.

[Lays]

You should notice a difference right away being that they're open and you're coming from a closed can. k612's are regarded as very good for the money spent as well.  But then again maybe you're just one of the people that doesn't notice a difference right away.

 

I'd say give it a few days, switch back to the old ones and see if you notice a difference.

 

 

 

What i used to test: http://www.billboard.com/play/rdio?id=379&date=2014-08-02

 

Also, the tracks in that list sound extremely compressed to me.  I re-listened on spotify premium and it sounds MUCH better.

(This could have something to do with the end result, but it won't make a giant difference)

[NannerBeans]

I had the opposite problem. Tried a pair of HE400 I got from an AKG K612 trade and hated them right away. Sad life. 

[Lays]

I had the opposite problem. Tried a pair of HE400 I got from an AKG K612 trade and hated them right away. Sad life. 

 

 

What didn't you like?

[NannerBeans]

What didn't you like?

 

It was much to airy/open for me. idk how else to explain it. It just felt like I wasn't hearing the music properly. 

[Lays]

It was much to airy/open for me. idk how else to explain it. It just felt like I wasn't hearing the music properly. 

 

 

Did the weight bug you?  My he-500's were comfortable but you did notice em on your head.  My LCD-2's are heavier, but because the pads are so thick and squishy it doesn't seem like they weigh anything near as much as my he-500's did.

 

My he-500's seemed sort of bright for me, the treble at times was a bit to harsh? (I think that's the word).  I sort-of wish I could of tried them with something other than my o2, maybe a tube amp.  But I'm much happier with my LCD-2's so I guess it's whatever lol

[NannerBeans]

Did the weight bug you?  My he-500's were comfortable but you did notice em on your head.  My LCD-2's are heavier, but because the pads are so thick and squishy it doesn't seem like they weigh anything near as much as my he-500's did.

Yeah that bothered me too but I assumed it would go away with time. Also when I just put it on, it seemed like the channel balance was slightly off but that went away after a while. I think my ears were trying to adjust to the new headphone. 

[Lays]

Yeah that bothered me too but I assumed it would go away with time. Also when I just put it on, it seemed like the channel balance was slightly off but that went away after a while. I think my ears were trying to adjust to the new headphone. 

 

 

True, I think if the headband had slightly more padding but really squishy padding, then if the pads were a tiny bit thicker with more cushion they could of been really comfortable for me.

[BoredErica]

Seemed to be just the song, weird though since i expect it to be a good song (made lots of $$$). First difference to my old headphones found though

 

 

Was just the track. I may be getting a sync dac though.

A song making big bux is not the same as a song recorded and mastered well, and these days, they are inverse of each other.