Balancing my K501

[enos]

Hello everyone,

This is my very first post in this forum I discovered very recently, and I can see many of you already do post on head-fi.

My nickname on head-fi is Shamu144 if you need any reference, though I am not a very active member there.

As introduction background, I can say I have some experiences with the electrostat sound (I own a SR-303) and dynamic sound (DT880, HD650 and K501). I was very pleased with my SR-303 powered by a Manley Stingray integrated amp, through an Illusion ESC-1001 adaptater box (I see many of you use SRD7). I decided however to downgrade my system for reasons too long to explain now, and ended up with a balanced amp that probably outperforms my former electrostats rig . My first balanced headphones were the HD650.

I still have a pair of K501, and there come the reason of my first post:

I know the K501 are extremely difficult to drive properly, so I was naturally thinking of balancing my K501 too. However, I do not want to spend big bucks in this upgrade, and I would rather have it done at the lowest posible cost. At this stage, I prefer to see how the K501 respond to balanced operations.

Is it technically posible then to have my current SE stock cable rewired with two 3pins XLR plugs to operate in balanced mode. I believe it is possible with the SE stock cables of the Senns, but don't know about the AKG K501.

Thanks a lot for your help,

Regards,

[n_maher]

Regarding the stock cable, you need to find out if it's 3 or 4 conductor. Since the headphones are single-entry it could be either. Unfortunately there's no way of doing that without taking something apart so at a minimum you'll need to open up the headphones and see what's coming in from the cable side of things.

[Grand Enigma]

If they are like the other AKGs which I would tend to think they would be it should be a 4 wire cable.

[enos]

Regarding the stock cable, you need to find out if it's 3 or 4 conductor. Since the headphones are single-entry it could be either. Unfortunately there's no way of doing that without taking something apart so at a minimum you'll need to open up the headphones and see what's coming in from the cable side of things.

Wow, thanks for your fast answers.

If opening up the headphone can be done in such a way it is safe for me and my K501, I might try that. I understand for example K701 have 4 wires, since the stock cable can be rewired with 2 XLR plugs.

What exactly am I looking for and where

[enos]

Oups, do you think I could also ask this info to AKG directly, without taking apart my K501...

[n_maher]

Can't hurt to try but don't be surprised if it falls on deaf ears. You might also try emailing Alex at A Pure Sound since he's recabled a couple pairs. He might remember what the stock cable is like.

[Grand Enigma]

Oups, do you think I could also ask this info to AKG directly, without taking apart my K501...

I am sure they would eventually get back to you with your answer. That is the surest way to find out. I know the color designations of the K701s but I am not confident enough to say they would be the same for the 501s.

[Pars]

They look like they are 4 wire...

http://www.akg.com/mediendatenbank2/psfile/datei/93/K501_K500_4055d21891b68.pdf

[Grand Enigma]

The 501s look rather easy to open up. Follow the PDF linked above to find what wire is what channel... should be a rather simple task

Edited September 22, 2008 by Grand Enigma

[enos]

Thanks a lot for your help,

Unfortunately, I have just come across that on AKG official forum: Headphones

Apparently, they are made of 3 wires and were not intended to be used balanced. Pars, how do you get to the conclusion they are 4 wires.

I am sure Alex (APureSound) would be able to do that, but the cost would just be insane (paying shipping both ways from Europe and then the cable itself).

That's too bad....

I will have to get some balanced K340 to come over that

[grawk]

I'm sure you could find people in the usa who are willing and able to do it, as well...

Looking at the doc, it looks like the cable was originally 4 wire, but currently it uses a 3 wire cable.

[enos]

Oups, quoting both message:

Hi there,

last week a I bought a K501 and I am very pleased with it, however my primary headphone rig has a headphone amplifier which drives the cans symmetrically. So the standard left-right-ground connection is not usable, I need + and - for both channels. I downloaded the technical documentation from the website and as I see it the K501 has a cable which has only three wires (as opposed to the older cables like the one I have in my 15+ years old K141). That would mean that I have to completely rewire the K 501. Since the can has only one wire which comes from the left side I suppose the right side's cable is running through one of the headbands. Is this correct? Do I have other choice as recabling? Also, if there is some pitfall please note it, I did not took it apart yet so its not late

P.s.: I designed and built the headphone amplifier and also converted some other cans to balanced drive, so I think I have the needed technical skills...I just like to have as many information as I can get before modification. Also, I am a bit curious: did you (AKG) tried to drive the phones ballanced (except the K1000 of course) Any comments on this topic?

***********************************************************

Hi,

We did not design the K 501 for balanced drive, thus we do not offer to make modifications. We can offer a special cable, but this is not designed for the K 501 and has is a bit higher diameter, as a result a modification will not be easy.

--

kind regards / beste Gr?sse

Horst

AKG hotline

[enos]

Looking at the doc, it looks like the cable was originally 4 wire, but currently it uses a 3 wire cable.

I realize you are right... There is still a chance for me to have an old K501 version with the 4 wires. I bought mine 7 years ago, so who knows...

I guess I could open it myself (AKG certainly doesn't look too helpfull), but what I am looking for

[spritzer]

If there are no shared wires between the housings then you have a 4 conductor wire. Open it up an post a pic would be the first step.

[Fungi]

Open it up according to the service manual (don't forget the screw under the sticker) and count how many little wires there are. It's really easy to tell.

[enos]

I just took some pictures.... If I am not mistaken, I only see 3 wires, and a yellow one

That probably means I should have the K501 completely rewired to go balanced. It might be too expensive though...

You have been really kind and helpfull anyway. Thank you all !

[Fungi]

It's actually not very expensive if you get some cheap wire like navships on eBay or buy some molded Canare/Belden/Mogami/whatever and buy Neutrik connectors (which will be about half the parts cost)

[grawk]

get some small gauge upocc wire, some sleeving, a 4pin male, 4 4pin females, 2 xlr-M, 2 xlr-F, 1 1/4" connector, and 1 mini connector, and you'll have the complete complement you'll ever need.

[luvdunhill]

get some small gauge upocc wire, some sleeving, a 4pin male, 4 4pin females, 2 xlr-M, 2 xlr-F, 1 1/4" connector, and 1 mini connector, and you'll have the complete complement you'll ever need.

except it won't work with my balanced 4-pin Lemo jack

[enos]

Hello again,

I might have found someone willing to do the job of balancing my K501 for me.

I would really appreciate if someone could help me regarding references and places where to buy 15 feet of premolded cable (looking for 4 wires) that would suit best this use.

C'mon, this might be the first review of a balanced K501 ever.

[Fungi]

Either Mogami quad or mini quad, I like the mini but if you like fatter wire take the quad, redco, markertek have it, don't ask me where's cheapest.

[hYdrociTy]

I have a few K501s, the stock wire on all of them were 3 conductor, the headphones come apart easily, I've run it balanced, and also from speaker amp can say this is one of the most easily modified headphones out there apart from those koss clips... Opening each side is done by unscrewing one screw under each "K501" gold sticker.

Drill a hole on the opposite end, find some kind of strain relief similar for both sides then solder away. The solder posts are metal and large. Hard to fubar.

Mogami mini quad is a good cable to use, but shielded cable may be unnecessary. Any good old four wire braid is fine. If I were you, I would ask nmaher to supply a finished cable out of the ohno cast stuff, then you assemble it yourself to the headphone.

[n_maher]

If I were you, I would ask nmaher to supply a finished cable out of the ohno cast stuff, then you assemble it yourself to the headphone.

At 15' it might exceed the cost of the 501s.

[hYdrociTy]

they are worth it. AKG K501 rules! beats grado, senn and stax by a long shot.

[Fungi]

I always strip the rubber stuff and shielding off and slip some nylon multifilament on. Makes for great minimalist cable.