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AKG 271 vs 240 vs 181s
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kitphillips
I posted this in another thread to start with but its probably easier to start a new one....

So I need new headphones because my behringers have exceeded the limits of my patience. The most important thing is that whatever I get needs to be good for both studio use and also DJ use, and I need something long lasting. Of course is also has to sound good.

On the AKG website it indicates that the 240s are not good for DJing and the 181s aren't good for studio use. It says that the 271s are best for both.

I've heard good things about the 240s, but nothing about the 271s, are they worth the extra cash? Will they be ok for DJing? Most important, do they sound as good as the 240s?

Thanks in advance
echosystm
akg 240 arent good for djing because they're open; you'll destroy your ears using them in a loud environment. as far as i am aware, 271 are effectively the same thing in a closed form. the upside of close headphones is that they isolate. the downside is that you get alot of resonance and which distorts the sound, because is has nowhere to escape. it's not so important on the highs, but it is noticeable on the lows.

for example, in open headphones, you would hear a kick like "thud". the same kick in closed headphones would sound like "thuduh", as if it has a pronlonged tail on the sub bass.

i would strongly suggest getting two pairs. i use sennheiser hd280s for djing, because they are circum aural (not supra-aural like the akgs, sony's, most other "djing" headphones) and provide amazing isolation. i use akg240s for producing.
B_man
What he said...
kitphillips
OK thanks for the advice, I guess I'll have to go with the 240s and find something else for DJing...
Fledz
You can't go wrong with the 240s, they are great.
kitphillips
I realise theres about 3 threads about AKGs hanging around already, but I wanted to post in mine:D
So I got the phones and I have to say they're quite good, they sound nice and crisp, perhaps not as warm as I'd like, but I think they're probably just being honest. They don't sound great but they sound accurate.
The other really cool thing I first noticed about them is how light the things are! This is a real plus to me, as I often have them on for 6 hour stretches... It really feels like your wearing nothing.
I guess they're still burning in too, does anyone know how long I should keep them turned down for? Would it hurt them to be turned up just for a minute or so to check a mix?
Anyway, I'm pretty happy with these, I think I can recommend them to anyone who's in the market.
Ry Thomas
I have the k271's and they have been fine for me, nice second reference or for working late at night
kitphillips
Yeah, I think the 240s are better for me since they're actually gonna have to be a first reference:o So I need all the accuracy I can get:p

But I'm still wondering what the story is with burning them in?
the-sixth
I just bought the 271's today

So far quite happy with them. The hi end seems to stick out a bit more but that could be down to them either having to be burned in or my ears not used to hearing anything thru them yet.
Fledz
quote:
Originally posted by kitphillips
But I'm still wondering what the story is with burning them in?


Just play them at a moderate level for a few days.

What I did was use them to listen to my music as I was surfing the net for a few days to get used to them. Now, not only do I use them for producing but for everything else (music, games, movies etc) so I'm completely used to the sound. They change a lot once they've burnt in which for me took a good few weeks of intense use, though not on loud volumes. Normal levels are sufficient to burn them in and loosen them up.

kitphillips
Cool, I'm really liking the fact that these sound as good at low volumes as high, its going to save my ears:D I've been listening to my ipod with them, but when I did a little mixing with them last night they made my life much easier:)
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