Another major AKG intro: K812

dB Cooper · « **on:** 10 Dec 2013, 01:49 am »

Can't beieve I'm the first one to put this up... Haven't seen anything on pricing, but I think these are intended to be direct competition to the Senn HD-800 and Beyer T-1:
http://www.akg.com/k812-1308.html#features

santacore · « **Reply #1 on:** 10 Dec 2013, 02:08 am »

They certainly look interesting. It's about time AKG jumped in to the higher end stuff.

JohnR · « **Reply #2 on:** 10 Dec 2013, 01:02 pm »

I can't help wondering if the balloon is deflating already. How many new headphones can the headphone "public" be expected to be interested in?

parr3n1 · « **Reply #3 on:** 10 Dec 2013, 02:58 pm »

Unlike the T1 and the hd800 they are low impedance, therefore my OTL
will not work. I would like to see another flagship for the OTL even though
I am pleased with the T1 and Hd800.

FullRangeMan · « **Reply #4 on:** 10 Dec 2013, 06:39 pm »

Looks nice, a direct HD800 rival with similar drive diameter and 8 dB more SPL at spence of 36 ohms.
The magnet ~~look the same also,~~ magnet are different, pads and ear case would be bigger as the HD800.
Seems it is light angled in this image, or I wrong??

FullRangeMan · « **Reply #5 on:** 10 Dec 2013, 06:47 pm »

Double post.

Noseyears · « **Reply #6 on:** 10 Dec 2013, 07:21 pm »

According to a few guys, the K812 is not as picky with sources/amplification like the Sennheiser or beyer flagship models. If that's true, people won't have to spend thousands on headphone related gear/cables to make it shine.

AKLegal · « **Reply #7 on:** 10 Dec 2013, 07:31 pm »

I might get back into headphones for this one. Either that or chase down a used K501.

dB Cooper · « **Reply #8 on:** 10 Dec 2013, 11:01 pm »

Quote from: JohnR on 10 Dec 2013, 01:02 pm

I can't help wondering if the balloon is deflating already. How many new headphones can the headphone "public" be expected to be interested in?

Good question. The market is exploding but the proliferation of headphone brands and models seems to be exploding even faster. There definitely is a headphone glut right now and I think the market must be due for a shakeout with some of the johnny come lately brands going by the wayside. Boutique models like the HD800, T1, and K812 are aimed so far above John Q. Public that their elite market segment won't be affected much imo.

FullRangeMan · « **Reply #9 on:** 11 Dec 2013, 09:51 pm »

After looking this phones today I surprised it came to be released.
It is on the same avarage level than the T1/HD800, its not a flagship as the K1000.
I surprised AKG was so adamant and diplomatic with Senn HD800, unless the price are much lower than the HD800.

FullRangeMan · « **Reply #10 on:** 11 Dec 2013, 10:19 pm »

Just drop on this image, the 812 pads are hollow!
Would it be a prob when the phones get old??

DS-21 · « **Reply #11 on:** 11 Dec 2013, 10:42 pm »

Interesting that Harman's trying to capture a piece of the bubble. Given how the K550 performs, and my previous experience with the K1000 compared to my old Senn 580s, I'm not holding my breath. And I generally love things Austrian.

dB Cooper · « **Reply #12 on:** 12 Dec 2013, 05:01 am »

Quote from: FULLRANGEMAN on 11 Dec 2013, 09:51 pm

After looking this phones today I surprised it came to be released.
It is on the same avarage level than the T1/HD800, its not a flagship as the K1000.
I surprised AKG was so adamant and diplomatic with Senn HD800, unless the price are much lower than the HD800.

B&H reportedly has them for 1500 USD, exact same price as the HD800.

Guy 13 · « **Reply #13 on:** 13 Dec 2013, 02:24 am »

Quote from: FULLRANGEMAN on 11 Dec 2013, 10:19 pm

Just drop on this image, the 812 pads are hollow!
Would it be a prob when the phones get old??

Hi FULLRANGEMAN and all Audio Circle members.
1,500 USD for a pair of headphones with cheap looking ear pads...
Not for me thank you.
Regardless of the sound quality.
My top priority is comfort (45%), then sound (45%,
then 10% for all the other small things like cable, look...
That's why I love my Sennheiser HD-570 and HD-650
because both of them have velvet ear pads, no swetting.

Guy 13

dB Cooper · « **Reply #14 on:** 13 Dec 2013, 03:35 am »

I probably won't be too likely to hear a pair unless Woo or another exhibitor brings a set to CAF 2014 (already marked on my calendar!)

Just curiosity, I am not in the market for $1500 cans, especially after modding my 650s.

Guy13, I don't split out percentages, but sounds like you would agree that if a headphone isn't comfortable, it doesn't matter much to me how it sounds; I'm not gonna have it on very long. Velour or other breathable material is my preference for ear pads. I don't think these are hollow; I believe that is an optical illusion type thing. I waana look a pair over.

Although there is disagreement as to the comfort of K7xx series AKGs, I have found them very comfy (just didn't care for the sound of the K701).

parr3n1 · « **Reply #15 on:** 13 Dec 2013, 05:03 am »

Interesting that no one seems to address the fact that this new
headphone will not work with an amp that is best suited for the T1
or the HD 800.
Seems like these hp's are competition for the Audeze and the Hifiman.
Am I missing something?

FullRangeMan · « **Reply #16 on:** 13 Dec 2013, 10:03 pm »

Quote from: dB Cooper on 13 Dec 2013, 03:35 am

I don't think these are hollow; I believe that is an optical illusion type thing. I waana look a pair over.

On a close up as that??
On this other image below also easy to see the pads are hollow, i.e. the ear must enter inside the pad to a proper listening.
For this reason they printed sound sealing on the pad.

On this new image I see the K812 is a big diameter phone, not a small one as I said before, seems a adequate size as bigger is better.

dB Cooper · « **Reply #17 on:** 13 Dec 2013, 11:20 pm »

Quote from: parr3n1 on 13 Dec 2013, 05:03 am

Interesting that no one seems to address the fact that this new
headphone will not work with an amp that is best suited for the T1
or the HD 800.

I don't see why not, except possibly for a tube amp that didn't have the proper taps. HD800 is 300 ohms, T1 is 600, K812 is 36. There are many good amps (mostly SS) that could handle any of these.

Noseyears · « **Reply #18 on:** 14 Dec 2013, 01:41 am »

Quote from: dB Cooper on 13 Dec 2013, 11:20 pm

I don't see why not, except possibly for a tube amp that didn't have the proper taps. HD800 is 300 ohms, T1 is 600, K812 is 36. There are many good amps (mostly SS) that could handle any of these.

Solid States with gain settings. More manufacturers are including this useful feature.

dB Cooper · « **Reply #19 on:** 14 Dec 2013, 03:49 am »

Quote from: Noseyears on 14 Dec 2013, 01:41 am

Solid States with gain settings. More manufacturers are including this useful feature.

Good point. Gain adjustment is a very useful feature. I use both settings on my amp according too the source material.