Thoughts On AKG K240 Studio
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RamblinE
(╯°□°)╯彡┻━┻
Not the best of the K240 line, however they're the only ones still in production. Reviews and impressions over at Head-fi claim it's a great can for somebody whose just getting into headphones though. Here's a link AKG K240 Studio. Because of how personal headphones are it's hard to really tell somebody how they're going to like a pair. In the past I've thought they sounded okay for portable use off of a cellphone. If you can find a place to audition them that would be a great help.
The K240 Monitor (600 ohm) and the K240 DF (diffused field) can still be found in plentiful quantities on Ebay and are both supposed to be quite capable. I'm planning on picking up a pair of the Monitors eventually to see how they compare to my newer AKGs.
What gear would you be using the headphones with?
The K240 Monitor (600 ohm) and the K240 DF (diffused field) can still be found in plentiful quantities on Ebay and are both supposed to be quite capable. I'm planning on picking up a pair of the Monitors eventually to see how they compare to my newer AKGs.
What gear would you be using the headphones with?
eurekaiv
Irritable
I have K240 Studios on my desk at work. They sound very good to me. I use them (currently) through either a Luxman L-450 (for vinyl) or an iBasso D10 Cobra DAC/amp connected to my computer. The strengths are airy, non-fatiguing sound. They're not heavy in the bass department (a plus to me) and they don't seem especially bright. I actually cut holes in the thin foam that covers the drivers to add a tad more high end back in but that's about all it needs to my ears. The main drawback would be that they sound a bit distant to me, much more then my Grado 325is which are a lot brighter and more immediate sounding headphone. The Grados also leak a lot more audio since they're fully open so using them in the office doesn't work. I replaced the original AKG ear pads with a velvet style—the original pads got hard and cracked within a couple years or so. And I have a "custom made" replacement cable that uses Cardas wire. It sounds no different then the original cable, but it has a nicer all metal 1/8" phono connector and was a cheap as chips forum buy so I use it instead of the flimsy-ish stock cable. Hope this helps!
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Adda
Super Member
I agree with what RamblinE said, I can add some experiences with the K242HD and K240DF.
The K240 Studio/mkII and K242HD are the same headphone, more or less, they just come with different bundles and color themes.
The old 600 Ohm K240's demand quite an amp, but don't mind high output impedances much, so are an ideal choice for use with receivers, integrated amps or powerful preamps.
The 55 Ohm ones are an ideal match for studio audio interfaces, think RME, Apogee, Echo Audio, M-Audio, E-MU and so on.
The K240DF is more bass light then the 55 Ohm ones, making it flat as a ruler.
It has a tighter sound, more detail, much better clarity and imaging.
You can tell that they are both K240's, but the DF trounces the 55 Ohm ones so badly it makes you wonder why they where ever discontinued.
This is all assuming you have an amp that drives the DF's, finding an amp that can tame them, is tricky.
But new info has come around, the drivers in K240 headphones have some vents on the backside.
On the K240DF, one of the vents is covered with some sort of resin, it seems the DF's use the same drivers as the K240 Monitor, but in that model, all vents are left open, making it more bassy, but also less clear, tight and detailed, as a result, it's not as neutral and accurate as the DF's.
The 55 Ohm K240's have the very same vents as the old ones, and if you cover some of the vents in the driver, you can make a sort of 55 Ohm K240DF.
Old thread, but recent events starting at post #34 are really interesting.
http://www.head-fi.org/t/416858/k-240-monitor-to-df-modification
The K240 Studio/mkII and K242HD are the same headphone, more or less, they just come with different bundles and color themes.
The old 600 Ohm K240's demand quite an amp, but don't mind high output impedances much, so are an ideal choice for use with receivers, integrated amps or powerful preamps.
The 55 Ohm ones are an ideal match for studio audio interfaces, think RME, Apogee, Echo Audio, M-Audio, E-MU and so on.
The K240DF is more bass light then the 55 Ohm ones, making it flat as a ruler.
It has a tighter sound, more detail, much better clarity and imaging.
You can tell that they are both K240's, but the DF trounces the 55 Ohm ones so badly it makes you wonder why they where ever discontinued.
This is all assuming you have an amp that drives the DF's, finding an amp that can tame them, is tricky.
But new info has come around, the drivers in K240 headphones have some vents on the backside.
On the K240DF, one of the vents is covered with some sort of resin, it seems the DF's use the same drivers as the K240 Monitor, but in that model, all vents are left open, making it more bassy, but also less clear, tight and detailed, as a result, it's not as neutral and accurate as the DF's.
The 55 Ohm K240's have the very same vents as the old ones, and if you cover some of the vents in the driver, you can make a sort of 55 Ohm K240DF.
Old thread, but recent events starting at post #34 are really interesting.
http://www.head-fi.org/t/416858/k-240-monitor-to-df-modification
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RamblinE
(╯°□°)╯彡┻━┻
Read that thread from pg 3 post #34 and I'm intrigued! That's a good link Adda, thanks for sharing!
I've modified my K701s and K550s with various applications of felt to varying degrees of success. At the very least I'm happy with the slight changes the modifications have made and have left them there. Taking apart an earcup is more invasive then I've previously done but I'm sure there's more than enough documentation on Head-fi about how to take one of these apart.
I can already see my next project shaping up
:yes:
I've modified my K701s and K550s with various applications of felt to varying degrees of success. At the very least I'm happy with the slight changes the modifications have made and have left them there. Taking apart an earcup is more invasive then I've previously done but I'm sure there's more than enough documentation on Head-fi about how to take one of these apart.
I can already see my next project shaping up
:yes:
Adda
Super Member
To help you all along, here is the service documents and a disassembly guide for K240's.
I'm very interested in hearing about results if anyone tries this out.
AKG K240 Service Documentation:
http://catalogs.infocommiq.com/avcat/images/documents/pdfs/K240_m_stu4055d215ac91a.pdf
Head-fi disassembly guide for K240 Sextett, it will be the same for other models:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/279905/taking-the-k240-sextett-apart-step-by-step
Edit: Don't remove the driver, unless you suspect the driver is dirty, it is quite difficult and downright nerve wrecking to do.
I'm very interested in hearing about results if anyone tries this out.
AKG K240 Service Documentation:
http://catalogs.infocommiq.com/avcat/images/documents/pdfs/K240_m_stu4055d215ac91a.pdf
Head-fi disassembly guide for K240 Sextett, it will be the same for other models:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/279905/taking-the-k240-sextett-apart-step-by-step
Edit: Don't remove the driver, unless you suspect the driver is dirty, it is quite difficult and downright nerve wrecking to do.
cchean
Super Member
Although this is an old thread, I was thinking about the K240s for my daughter. Would the current version (55 ohm) match an Iphone? I know it sounds stupid, but I am trying to assemble a 2-channel system for her, but I just wanted to see what the scenario would be if paired with a cellphone.
If she is going to be walking around with that phone and headphone, it is probably not the best idea. There is nothing at all wrong with the sound of the AKG's, but it can take a bit more to power them, and the cable on them is ten feet long. That cable would make them a bit cumbersome for use "on the go".
I have a pair of the K240's and use them at home quite a bit. Very enjoyable set. However, I wouldn't want to be toting them around with a phone.
The AKG 240 Mk ll also comes with a set of velour ear cushions in addition to the faux leather and a coiled retractible cord in addition to the 3m straight cord. I use mine on the go with an iPhone and the coiled cord and they sound great. I do prefer them with my Fiio Q1 DAC/Amp, but that's just another thing to carry around and not a necessity.
I use 240 Studios (55ohm) with a short aftermarket cord with my IPhone and dig it. No sweat.
Doh. When I replied earlier, I totally forgot about those shorter cords that are available. That could really change the game as far as portability goes. Don't remember the brand name, but do remember they had very good reviews on Amazon for their quality.
I use these Syncwire cords on most of my phones. They are available with the various jacks needed for AKGs, Shures and others. They do the job reliably.
https://www.amazon.com/Syncwire-Bra...yncwire+headphone+cable&qid=1588168770&sr=8-5
https://www.amazon.com/Syncwire-Bra...yncwire+headphone+cable&qid=1588168770&sr=8-5
