Monsterzero speaks the truth, he knows his stuff. Veteran head fi'er. Great review Mzero you hit the nail on the head. I'm a proud owner of a pair of Akg k240 sextett (mid pro) and I listen to metal and rock daily too and these are perfect, guitars forward just like you say. Lush mids I just can't get enough. I too use a vintage receiver.
@@nicktan4530 They are pretty good all arounders but the specialty is metal rock. There are two more types the early and late production that could be better all arounders, I don't know as I have never tried them. If you can afford it it's nice to have all three. The sextett mp, the monitors and the df's. Those will cover pretty much everything.
@@kanelo7046 What are the two more types the early and late production that could be better all arounders ? What are the difference between all sextett mp, the monitors and the df's ? Am interested in Sexttet mp mainly because of that forward mid and treble presentation, those typical classic vocals and guitars centerfold and that quality we are talking about. Add that vintage hifi sound. Thats pretty much it. And these compliment with other headphone of mine.
I have repair about 30 Sextetts over the last years a cheap trick to buy replacement parts get a superlux hd681 maybe I'll do a how to video in the future, I got my first pair at 16 i'm over 30 now still works :D and yes vintage amps are the best way two drive the K240 im my case a marantz 1090 or sansui au-555a Introduce in 1974 discontinue in 1984 for the mass market the very last production for European studios in 1986 great video cheers from vienna :D
I bought mine new in 1977. They are MP and I love them even though they command power. I sent them to AKG and had them refurbished a year ago. I think they will out live me. They are very clean and useful to me in my home recording studio (small scale, but very fun). If you can find them, buy them. You will pay less than I did years ago and you will not be disappointed unless you do not give them the power they need. Thanks for the review, nicely done.
I love these headphones. I used Superlux HD681 EVO, then I had 3.5mm jack on them snap and I repaired them dozens of times. Then when I was searching for good deals on AKG K240 MK2 I came across these. Best money spent ever. They are so good for all types of music I listen to, metal, 80s synthwave, folk music, synth-pop, you name it. I had a cable problem, so I recabled them, and if its needed I'll do that every year, sound is so good its unreal. I power them with Behringer U-phoria UMC22 and they sound sharp and precise, guitars are unreal, just as you explained.
Hey, I ended up purchasing the MP (Creamy colored drivers and a grey original box). I haven't yet listened to them through a vintage receiver but through an entry level headphones amplifier and I can already tell that these are sp special when it comes to mid-range and guitar-based music. In fact, when I listened to a guitar through them I was blowen away. Will update after I have tried then with a vintage receiver.
An update: So, after I tried them on a vintage receiver (Creek CAS4040 to be more precise, which is cheap yet legendary in its own way), I can confidently say that they are fast, transparent and have exceptional separation. The soundstage isn't that large but it does the job quite well. They are neutral with a great bass but the sub-bass extension is not that great, it is fine. I tried to elevate the bass through the receiver, and they responded well. Overall, they are a great choice for classical music.
I went through this post searching to find something more about AKG 240 Sextetts because I had these as gift, (used for sure) from a musician and producer in my town. I needed to know something more and started to search few weeks ago about. Great video and talk about these great and rare headphones man. I have done only one mixing and playing with them. Of course I did listen a lot of music with. I have try few days ago a pair of Beyerdynamic DT 770 250 ohm and could not listen for more than 15 minutes. These are absolutely amazing! I have asked him: Do you really know and are you sure about what you gave me? I know!- was the answer. I had to thank him many times. I did a check on your sextett buying guide and looking on the radiators with the help of torch light is that cream color that you say it is on the MP sextetts .
@@headkarma It is a Behringer U-Phoria UMC 204 HD soundcard that can feed them easy even when the volume pot of the phones reach the 2 o'clock. I am looking around reviews and videos trying to understand if I can get something more in quality not gain or volume if I use them with a headphone amp. Not expensive equipment here. Just playing for hobby and fun.
I wish more people talked about this headphone. Got myself a pair of late productions and replaced the pads with some nice Brainwavz pleather pads. Fuckin insane how awesome these headphones are. With a good dac amp device, they're not AS hard to drive as people think. My FX Audio X6 dac powers these babies and it's around the 60-65 dollar range. And it has the chonker 6.35 mm input by default. Anyways, I know this vid is old, but I just wanted to throw my love out here for the Sextett's too.
Little update. I use the stock pads now actually, they sound the best with them as that's the kinda pad they were meant to have anyways. I have replacement pads from amazon that are more comfortable and don't change the sound signature at all. I now have a Schiit stack and I use these on my Schiit Vali 2+ hybrid tube amp and listening to rock/metal/jazz/funk is just so insanely nice. I love the forward presentation they have, while still retaining the relaxed k240 signature sound. What I mean is that, they're forward but they aren't fatiguing or overwhelming. They hit a serious sweet spot between Grado and AKG. Still my favorite out of any headphone I have.
Since you are metal head with an affinity for high end audio can you give us a list of your most favorite rock/music bands of all time starting from the very best ?, I have a feeling that you'll give us some great recommendations, Thanks and have a Happy New Year.
Well, I'm old, so a lot of my favs are the classic bands like Priest, Motorhead, Angel Witch, old Metallica, Riot, Krokus, Saxon, Dianno era Maiden Witchfynde, Sabbath, Accept etc.... Newer stuff that I enjoy are Unleash The Archers, Amon Amarth, Falkenbach, Agolloch, Immortal, Ahab, Windhand, Ruby The Hatchet, Kryptos, Opeth, Black Label Society, Alunah, Messa, Sleep, Gygax etc.... Not all sound great on headphones though... :(
Love the review mate - these sound awesome!! One pair on E-bay in Oz for over $850 AUD so will look to Atriums or similar but thanks for opening my eyes up!!
Great review as usual. Upon your thoughts and opinions, I decided to order the pair which I found on eBay. I saw that it has holes in the headband. In fact, the original box comes with it and it is identical to the one on the desk in your video. I couldn't verify which version it is (EP, MP or LP). However, I do enjoy music with light bass as well. Will let you know how do they sound from perspective once they have arrived, it will take 90 days at least as it is transported from Germany. Have you tried them with one of your OTL amps?
Hey Qusay thanks for the comments and questions: If your incoming Sextetts havent been modded, they will be the LP version, which has the least amount of bass of the three Sextett versions. I have tried all of my Sextetts on the various OTLs I've owned over the years and I def prefer them via solid state. The Sextetts are very fast, snappy, incisive, immediate sounding headphones and I feel that tubes tend to take away some of the magic, much the same way as I feel about planars+tubes. It's just my personal preferences at play here and you may love them via an OTL.
@@headkarma Then these Sextetts are not the same the Sennheizer HD540 which benefits from OTL (Elevated low frequencies and slightly recessed high frequencies). It is a pity, especially after my vintage amplifier died two weeks ago. I will have to find a new one. I believe modern headphones amplifiers (such as Topping ones) won't make Sextetts sing properly. The thing is, planars, generally speaking, have low impedance and thus don't work properly with OTL. At least this what I have read many times already. Which planar headphones do you have?
@@QusayM91 Correct, the HD540 and HD250 benefit immensely from a good OTL. The Sextett is different, in fact I've only come across one Sextett owner who prefers it on tubes, but like anything in this hobby, YMMV. If you want a modern HPA for the Sextetts you will want something quite powerful. I've heard good things about the Wells Milo for the Sextetts. Also the Cayin IHA6 does a pretty good job driving them as well, but my fav is still a vintage SS receiver/amp. Most planars do not work with most OTLs, though there are a few exceptions. Generally speaking if you want tubes for a planar headphone you will want to look into a SET amp design. Currently I have the ZMF Caldera, used to own the LCD2.1 PF, HE 500 and HE6.
@@headkarma Well, then I will just take my old vintage receiver and repair it. That would be much cheaper than buying modern powerful HPA and (better sounding subjectively). I haven't heard about ZMF Caldera but I saw your comment on Head-fi talking about ZMF Verite. From a fast reading, I think ZMF Caldera is more than capable to substitute the HD250
You can correct me if i'm wrong...but i am pretty sure the members of RUSH can all seen wearing AKG K240 Sextetts in their original videos for "Tom Sawyer", and "Vital Signs" , from their album "Moving Pictures"...that were both filmed in "Le Studio". I always wondered just what kind of headphones those were as a kid. Now i know :)
It appears one of the AKG silver badge's had been popped off Neil Peart's set because you can see the screw that's under the badge in one close up shot...and then in one of the two videos his set also looks like the headband has maybe been duct taped or maybe some extra padding added...showing the distinctive headband holes pattern. Anyways...pretty sure this will make Moving Pictures sound better since that's what they recorded it with in the studio....so BUY NOW!! :D
hi monster zero, I have seen your experience with several headphones, according to your experience, which were the headphones with the best voices that you have heard? I like intimate, creamy, soft voices. Among the headphones with the best voices I can confirm that there are HE-500, HD650, AD2000. I don't have the he-500 anymore as I noticed their voices are a bit artificial and it must be because it's planar. the ad2000 is a worderful in voices and i would say that it is unique. I still remember hd650 and it's something I miss and it was also unique and very natural. I hope to buy it again but I need to know what would be the best amp for them with a midrange focus. He had thought of the dark voice or the bottlehead crack. Do you have any recommendation? Thank you
There is someone not far from me selling some for $20. Unfortunately I use a Magni 2 Uber. My stereo reciver is currently a Marantz SR-63 (until I find something better) and I doubt it has the power. Considering grabbing them anyway for when I do get a stronger headphone amp.
Would a 1985 receiver give these good sound from the headphone jack? I am expecting a NAD 3155 (better version of the famous 3120). I also assume my early 2000s sony AV receiver will not power these very well then.
I think so, though I have no experience with not only this receiver, but also with any receiver from the 1980s. Modern receivers don't sound horrid with the Sextetts, but you can tell theyre being held back. The mid to late 80s is right about when things began to change for audio gear, not to mention I find the aesthetics of the 70s gear to be much more attractive, so I always stick to pre-1980 gear, with no digital dials, meters, tuners, etc. The best way to find out is to try it for yourself. Let me know how it turns out!
@@headkarma Okay will do! Yes 70s gear is quite nice. Nad was a bang for buck brand and still is I believe, the 3120 was a phono preamp and amp combo from the late 70s, I don't think the 3155 changed much, just some quality improvements from what I understand. I'll try and comment again once I have tested it out!
Hi, just for fun and better late than never. What do you think for Kenwood KR-710 receiver for AKG K240 Sexttets ? Found it locally for $100 dollars. Should be worth it.
Do you think the Topping DX3 would be adequate to do these justice? The DX3 is supposed to be more powerful than Magni. Man, wish I had those to throw in some Van Halen from their debut of the same era (1978). Great video!
Great video! Just saw several of these for sale on Head-Fi. What headphones under $300 do you recommend for an Audio GD R2R11? (genres would be acoustic rock, jazz, classical - not rap or EDM). Should they be a little bright and have the sound tamed by the R2R? All listening at home. Using Sony V6 and Senn 558 right now.
Hey Scott, yeah the R2R11 is quite warm. It has a pretty nice amp section, but not enough for the Sextetts to really rock. The three headphones that come to mind are: Sennheiser HD6xx- good for rock, not so great for classical due to narrow stage. A bit warm combo though. Serious clamp too. Grado (pick one)- You'll either love em or hate em. Make sure you have a sturdy return policy. ATH AD2000 (non-X version)- The synergy between it and the R2R11 is fantastic. Similar sound to Sextett, wider stage and drier sounding. Bad clamp too. Very, very hard to find, but a dude on HeadFi messaged me today and he's selling his pair. Drop me a PM on Head-Fi (Monsterzero) if you want his contact info. Another good headphone with the R2R11 is the AKG K701. Very nice for jazz and classical. Might be too neutral for rock for you though. Massive stage.
@@headkarma Wow - thanks so much for the reply. I appreciate the honesty about the limits of the R2R11 as it applies to the Sextetts. Other forums where I have PM'd users directly have suggested the Senn HD250 (I know you have reviewed that), HD540, and AKG K553. Only the Sundara was suggested for planar.
@@sscheuri The HD540 didnt do it for me. I found the tuning to be too neutral. The HD250 on the other hand is amazing. It does prefer tubes, but sounds good on the R2R11 too. The 553 and Sundara I havent heard, so I cant comment.
Hey HeadKarma. Excellent video. I actually bought a pair and really like them, except for the shallowness of the ear cups. You mentioned that your stepson found some pads that help mitigate that issue. Do you know which ones he is using? thx in advance
Glad you like them,theyre very special headphones! I will have to check and see if I can figure out what he did. You can also read the Grado'd AKG thread on Head-Fi. I believe theres a few pad options listed on there.
Read through this thread for pad recs "AKG K240 Sextett--Grado'd AKG? | Page 60 | Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org" www.head-fi.org/threads/akg-k240-sextett-gradod-akg.243339/page-60
Great question that I do not know the answer to. They have the radiators same as the AKGs, and the design is somewhat similar as well. Without hearing the n6330 for myself, I simply cannot say. If you havent seen this thread before, its a good read on the topic. www.head-fi.org/threads/vintage-philips-n6330-sextett-look-alike-made-in-austria-by-akg.371753/
I would like to know how would these work with modern external usb soundcards. Do you think it would be difficult to drive them with something like, say, Focusrite sound cards? I am talking about casual mixing or recording with them. Thank you!
Although I do not have experience with that soundcard,I would suspect that while you would get sound out of it,it would sound pretty underwhelming. These are extremely power hungry headphones. Additionally I wouldnt suggest these for accurate mixing. Perhaps look into a Beyer DT880,which is pretty neutral sounding.
hello monster zero I have ath ad2000 and hifiman he-500, the akg k240 sextett have always interested me for their fantastic media, my current configuration is Burson Soloist ha-160 and topping e30, both headphones sound great, you think I go for the akg is a good idea? I mainly listen to vocal jazz, folk, blues and rock.
The AD2000 and Sextetts have a similar presentation, with the AD2000 being a drier sound vs. Sextett. Both have great mids, especially good for rock, blues, jazz, metal, folk Ive not heard any of your amps so I cant tell you for sure which will work and sound the best. I can say that the Sextett will be the hardest to drive of the three headphones, HE500 next and finally the AD2000
@@headkarma I love voices and guitars, the truth is I am a fan of listening to them, surely you will realize by the headphones that I have, do you think the akg k240 have better media than the other two? If so, it would be something incredible.
@@mrtoxico656 At one point in time I owned the HE500, AD2000 and Sextetts at the same time. The AD2000s were sold as were the HE500s. I still have all of my Sextetts. The AD2000s were too uncomfortable for me to use for long sessions. the HE500s were sold so I could buy the HE6. I wish i still had my HE500s, but the mids on the Sextetts are better IMHO
HI! I have an exactly pair of these. I want to know (I live in Buenos Aires, Argentina) how much can i sell this Headphones? Is ive seen, there no one to compare. Could you give me an advice? Thanks you in advance!!!
@@nicktan4530 I didnt check out the specifics of the headphone, nor the seller. If the seller has good eBay feedback, I'd have no problem buying from them, assuming the headphone itself is in good shape. If you find one that you're comfortable with and would like me to look at the auction before buying, send me the link on Head-fi and I will try to help you out.
I have been hunting for a good headphone for metal since a while and now I see your video, would you still considere it today or nice things come up on tiop snce your video ? For approx 200$, I heard good things about Fostex T60rp for exemple but they are above my budget for now. And what you considere a good price for a sextett MP Anyway great review !
A good price for a Sextett is around $100.00 Yes, there are better headphones for metal, but you will be spending a lot more. The main thing about the Sextett though is having a very, very powerful solid state amp. Without it, youre wasting your money.
@@headkarma I will check this out then, there is one aroud my place for 50$ What would be a better headphone even if it's much more expensive juste for my knowledge haha That should be ok I have a couple of vintage speaker amp with decent headphone jack
@@Nelerum based upon my past or current headphone collection, the ZMF Atticus did things better than the Sextett, but couldnt top the mids of the Sextett. The ZMF Verite closed tops the Sextett in almost every single regard, but it is major $$$.
I have no experience with any Grundig receiver so its hard for me to say yes or no. Apparently its from the late 1970s,so thats a good thing,but its only 28 WPC. I tried the Sextetts on a Marantz 2226b (26wpc) and I didnt like the pairing,but it did work,it just didnt sound as good as my other vintage receivers.
Hi, all that means is your sextett has been re-cabled. AFAIK all sextetts were all single ended termination originally. The only way to know which version you have is to check the color of the radiators on the driver. check this thread i did years ago. www.head-fi.org/threads/headphones-for-metal-music-ultimate-solution.715478/page-456#post-13299270
all of those have fantastic mids, except for possibly the HE6, and those werent bad mids, its just other traits stood out more. I would say for female vocals the OG AD2000s are pretty tough to beat, but its not the best overall sounding. Also you need to consider what amp is being used. For example when using tubes on ZMF headphones you can enhance the vocals simply by knowing which tubes have amazing midrange. You really cant go wrong with any of those headphones for mids, and you can add in the HD600, HD650, especially on an OTL amp as well as many Grados have nice mids as well.
Of my six vintage receivers, my favorite for the sextett is the Sansui 881,though all my receivers sound good with them. Check out my vintage receiver video for tips on how to buy one.
what pads did you stepson use on these. I changed my pads and everything sounds a little muddled. curious if he bought a specific pair that works well with the sextetts. Thanks!
all of my sextetts are using the original pads. I'm not sure what pads came with my step sons pair to be honest. He is off to college. Have tried looking or asking here for recommendations? www.head-fi.org/threads/akg-k240-sextett-gradod-akg.243339/page-108
@@headkarma yea I was actually looking at that article because you were referencing it alot in the vid. I was just hoping to see what pads he had since you have such knowledge of the sextetts and you didn't notice a difference, so they must be pretty neutral pads for the sextetts
Monsterzero speaks the truth, he knows his stuff. Veteran head fi'er. Great review Mzero you hit the nail on the head. I'm a proud owner of a pair of Akg k240 sextett (mid pro) and I listen to metal and rock daily too and these are perfect, guitars forward just like you say. Lush mids I just can't get enough. I too use a vintage receiver.
How do you find other music genre to be ?
@@nicktan4530 They are pretty good all arounders but the specialty is metal rock. There are two more types the early and late production that could be better all arounders, I don't know as I have never tried them. If you can afford it it's nice to have all three. The sextett mp, the monitors and the df's. Those will cover pretty much everything.
@@kanelo7046 What are the two more types the early and late production that could be better all arounders ? What are the difference between all sextett mp, the monitors and the df's ? Am interested in Sexttet mp mainly because of that forward mid and treble presentation, those typical classic vocals and guitars centerfold and that quality we are talking about. Add that vintage hifi sound. Thats pretty much it. And these compliment with other headphone of mine.
I have repair about 30 Sextetts over the last years a cheap trick to buy replacement parts get a superlux hd681 maybe I'll do a how to video in the future, I got my first pair at 16 i'm over 30 now still works :D and yes vintage amps are the best way two drive the K240 im my case a marantz 1090 or sansui au-555a Introduce in 1974 discontinue in 1984 for the mass market the very last production for European studios in 1986 great video cheers from vienna :D
I bought mine new in 1977. They are MP and I love them even though they command power. I sent them to AKG and had them refurbished a year ago. I think they will out live me. They are very clean and useful to me in my home recording studio (small scale, but very fun). If you can find them, buy them. You will pay less than I did years ago and you will not be disappointed unless you do not give them the power they need. Thanks for the review, nicely done.
How much you payed for the refurbishing ?
I love these headphones. I used Superlux HD681 EVO, then I had 3.5mm jack on them snap and I repaired them dozens of times. Then when I was searching for good deals on AKG K240 MK2 I came across these. Best money spent ever. They are so good for all types of music I listen to, metal, 80s synthwave, folk music, synth-pop, you name it. I had a cable problem, so I recabled them, and if its needed I'll do that every year, sound is so good its unreal. I power them with Behringer U-phoria UMC22 and they sound sharp and precise, guitars are unreal, just as you explained.
Hey,
I ended up purchasing the MP (Creamy colored drivers and a grey original box). I haven't yet listened to them through a vintage receiver but through an entry level headphones amplifier and I can already tell that these are sp special when it comes to mid-range and guitar-based music. In fact, when I listened to a guitar through them I was blowen away. Will update after I have tried then with a vintage receiver.
An update: So, after I tried them on a vintage receiver (Creek CAS4040 to be more precise, which is cheap yet legendary in its own way), I can confidently say that they are fast, transparent and have exceptional separation. The soundstage isn't that large but it does the job quite well. They are neutral with a great bass but the sub-bass extension is not that great, it is fine. I tried to elevate the bass through the receiver, and they responded well. Overall, they are a great choice for classical music.
i got a MP pair in the box in amazing condition from a junk shop the other week for £20, such a lovely sound
Nice score!
I went through this post searching to find something more about AKG 240 Sextetts because I had these as gift, (used for sure) from a musician and producer in my town. I needed to know something more and started to search few weeks ago about. Great video and talk about these great and rare headphones man. I have done only one mixing and playing with them. Of course I did listen a lot of music with. I have try few days ago a pair of Beyerdynamic DT 770 250 ohm and could not listen for more than 15 minutes. These are absolutely amazing! I have asked him: Do you really know and are you sure about what you gave me? I know!- was the answer. I had to thank him many times. I did a check on your sextett buying guide and looking on the radiators with the help of torch light is that cream color that you say it is on the MP sextetts .
You are using a mixing board to drive them,or an amp?
@@headkarma It is a Behringer U-Phoria UMC 204 HD soundcard that can feed them easy even when the volume pot of the phones reach the 2 o'clock. I am looking around reviews and videos trying to understand if I can get something more in quality not gain or volume if I use them with a headphone amp. Not expensive equipment here. Just playing for hobby and fun.
I wish more people talked about this headphone. Got myself a pair of late productions and replaced the pads with some nice Brainwavz pleather pads. Fuckin insane how awesome these headphones are. With a good dac amp device, they're not AS hard to drive as people think. My FX Audio X6 dac powers these babies and it's around the 60-65 dollar range. And it has the chonker 6.35 mm input by default. Anyways, I know this vid is old, but I just wanted to throw my love out here for the Sextett's too.
OUT Of STOCK.
Little update. I use the stock pads now actually, they sound the best with them as that's the kinda pad they were meant to have anyways. I have replacement pads from amazon that are more comfortable and don't change the sound signature at all. I now have a Schiit stack and I use these on my Schiit Vali 2+ hybrid tube amp and listening to rock/metal/jazz/funk is just so insanely nice. I love the forward presentation they have, while still retaining the relaxed k240 signature sound. What I mean is that, they're forward but they aren't fatiguing or overwhelming. They hit a serious sweet spot between Grado and AKG. Still my favorite out of any headphone I have.
Drivin' mine with a marantz pm-30. Acoustic guitar is such an experience!
Since you are metal head with an affinity for high end audio can you give us a list of your most favorite rock/music bands of all time starting from the very best ?, I have a feeling that you'll give us some great recommendations, Thanks and have a Happy New Year.
Well, I'm old, so a lot of my favs are the classic bands like Priest, Motorhead, Angel Witch, old Metallica, Riot, Krokus, Saxon, Dianno era Maiden Witchfynde, Sabbath, Accept etc....
Newer stuff that I enjoy are Unleash The Archers, Amon Amarth, Falkenbach, Agolloch, Immortal, Ahab, Windhand, Ruby The Hatchet, Kryptos, Opeth, Black Label Society, Alunah, Messa, Sleep, Gygax etc....
Not all sound great on headphones though... :(
I grew up with a pair of these. Sadly, they were thrown away about 5 years ago :(
Great review and guide to these!!!
That's unfortunate.Have you thought about grabbing another pair?
Love the review mate - these sound awesome!! One pair on E-bay in Oz for over $850 AUD so will look to Atriums or similar but thanks for opening my eyes up!!
Look in the classifieds on Head Fi. They come up fairly often and usually under 200 USD
Great review as usual. Upon your thoughts and opinions, I decided to order the pair which I found on eBay. I saw that it has holes in the headband. In fact, the original box comes with it and it is identical to the one on the desk in your video. I couldn't verify which version it is (EP, MP or LP). However, I do enjoy music with light bass as well. Will let you know how do they sound from perspective once they have arrived, it will take 90 days at least as it is transported from Germany.
Have you tried them with one of your OTL amps?
Hey Qusay thanks for the comments and questions:
If your incoming Sextetts havent been modded, they will be the LP version, which has the least amount of bass of the three Sextett versions.
I have tried all of my Sextetts on the various OTLs I've owned over the years and I def prefer them via solid state. The Sextetts are very fast, snappy, incisive, immediate sounding headphones and I feel that tubes tend to take away some of the magic, much the same way as I feel about planars+tubes. It's just my personal preferences at play here and you may love them via an OTL.
@@headkarma Then these Sextetts are not the same the Sennheizer HD540 which benefits from OTL (Elevated low frequencies and slightly recessed high frequencies). It is a pity, especially after my vintage amplifier died two weeks ago. I will have to find a new one.
I believe modern headphones amplifiers (such as Topping ones) won't make Sextetts sing properly.
The thing is, planars, generally speaking, have low impedance and thus don't work properly with OTL. At least this what I have read many times already. Which planar headphones do you have?
@@QusayM91 Correct, the HD540 and HD250 benefit immensely from a good OTL. The Sextett is different, in fact I've only come across one Sextett owner who prefers it on tubes, but like anything in this hobby, YMMV.
If you want a modern HPA for the Sextetts you will want something quite powerful. I've heard good things about the Wells Milo for the Sextetts. Also the Cayin IHA6 does a pretty good job driving them as well, but my fav is still a vintage SS receiver/amp.
Most planars do not work with most OTLs, though there are a few exceptions. Generally speaking if you want tubes for a planar headphone you will want to look into a SET amp design.
Currently I have the ZMF Caldera, used to own the LCD2.1 PF, HE 500 and HE6.
@@headkarma Well, then I will just take my old vintage receiver and repair it. That would be much cheaper than buying modern powerful HPA and (better sounding subjectively).
I haven't heard about ZMF Caldera but I saw your comment on Head-fi talking about ZMF Verite. From a fast reading, I think ZMF Caldera is more than capable to substitute the HD250
I have recently picked up a HE-500 and a AKG 240DF. Both amazing, on their own.
Just bought these from the thrift store for $14
You can correct me if i'm wrong...but i am pretty sure the members of RUSH can all seen wearing AKG K240 Sextetts in their original videos for "Tom Sawyer", and "Vital Signs" , from their album "Moving Pictures"...that were both filmed in "Le Studio". I always wondered just what kind of headphones those were as a kid. Now i know :)
I will have to look and see. I have seen a photo of Magic Johnson wearing a pair while he was spinning vinyl in his home.
Not sure TH-cam will let me link a TH-cam vid...but i'll give it a shot ...
th-cam.com/video/Yh5RSv52g6U/w-d-xo.html
...and Tom Sawyer.
th-cam.com/video/auLBLk4ibAk/w-d-xo.html
It appears one of the AKG silver badge's had been popped off Neil Peart's set because you can see the screw that's under the badge in one close up shot...and then in one of the two videos his set also looks like the headband has maybe been duct taped or maybe some extra padding added...showing the distinctive headband holes pattern. Anyways...pretty sure this will make Moving Pictures sound better since that's what they recorded it with in the studio....so BUY NOW!! :D
Yup,youre correct. Good eye!
hi monster zero, I have seen your experience with several headphones, according to your experience, which were the headphones with the best voices that you have heard? I like intimate, creamy, soft voices. Among the headphones with the best voices I can confirm that there are HE-500, HD650, AD2000.
I don't have the he-500 anymore as I noticed their voices are a bit artificial and it must be because it's planar. the ad2000 is a worderful in voices and i would say that it is unique. I still remember hd650 and it's something I miss and it was also unique and very natural. I hope to buy it again but I need to know what would be the best amp for them with a midrange focus. He had thought of the dark voice or the bottlehead crack. Do you have any recommendation? Thank you
I got a pair myslef, Love'em.
There is someone not far from me selling some for $20. Unfortunately I use a Magni 2 Uber.
My stereo reciver is currently a Marantz SR-63 (until I find something better) and I doubt it has the power.
Considering grabbing them anyway for when I do get a stronger headphone amp.
I think you'd like the akg k712 pro
Would a 1985 receiver give these good sound from the headphone jack? I am expecting a NAD 3155 (better version of the famous 3120). I also assume my early 2000s sony AV receiver will not power these very well then.
I think so, though I have no experience with not only this receiver, but also with any receiver from the 1980s.
Modern receivers don't sound horrid with the Sextetts, but you can tell theyre being held back. The mid to late 80s is right about when things began to change for audio gear, not to mention I find the aesthetics of the 70s gear to be much more attractive, so I always stick to pre-1980 gear, with no digital dials, meters, tuners, etc.
The best way to find out is to try it for yourself. Let me know how it turns out!
@@headkarma Okay will do! Yes 70s gear is quite nice. Nad was a bang for buck brand and still is I believe, the 3120 was a phono preamp and amp combo from the late 70s, I don't think the 3155 changed much, just some quality improvements from what I understand. I'll try and comment again once I have tested it out!
Hi, just for fun and better late than never. What do you think for Kenwood KR-710 receiver for AKG K240 Sexttets ? Found it locally for $100 dollars. Should be worth it.
Do you think the Topping DX3 would be adequate to do these justice? The DX3 is supposed to be more powerful than Magni. Man, wish I had those to throw in some Van Halen from their debut of the same era (1978). Great video!
Im not sure TBH. I have a Magni 2 that I use in my gaming set-up with a pair of K701s. The Magni 2 doesnt come close to driving the Sextett well.
@@headkarma Fair enough. I appreciate you getting back to me. Thanks
Great video! Just saw several of these for sale on Head-Fi. What headphones under $300 do you recommend for an Audio GD R2R11? (genres would be acoustic rock, jazz, classical - not rap or EDM). Should they be a little bright and have the sound tamed by the R2R? All listening at home. Using Sony V6 and Senn 558 right now.
Hey Scott, yeah the R2R11 is quite warm. It has a pretty nice amp section, but not enough for the Sextetts to really rock.
The three headphones that come to mind are:
Sennheiser HD6xx- good for rock, not so great for classical due to narrow stage. A bit warm combo though. Serious clamp too.
Grado (pick one)- You'll either love em or hate em. Make sure you have a sturdy return policy.
ATH AD2000 (non-X version)- The synergy between it and the R2R11 is fantastic. Similar sound to Sextett, wider stage and drier sounding. Bad clamp too. Very, very hard to find, but a dude on HeadFi messaged me today and he's selling his pair.
Drop me a PM on Head-Fi (Monsterzero) if you want his contact info.
Another good headphone with the R2R11 is the AKG K701. Very nice for jazz and classical. Might be too neutral for rock for you though. Massive stage.
@@headkarma Wow - thanks so much for the reply. I appreciate the honesty about the limits of the R2R11 as it applies to the Sextetts. Other forums where I have PM'd users directly have suggested the Senn HD250 (I know you have reviewed that), HD540, and AKG K553. Only the Sundara was suggested for planar.
@@sscheuri The HD540 didnt do it for me. I found the tuning to be too neutral. The HD250 on the other hand is amazing. It does prefer tubes, but sounds good on the R2R11 too.
The 553 and Sundara I havent heard, so I cant comment.
Hey HeadKarma. Excellent video. I actually bought a pair and really like them, except for the shallowness of the ear cups. You mentioned that your stepson found some pads that help mitigate that issue. Do you know which ones he is using? thx in advance
Glad you like them,theyre very special headphones!
I will have to check and see if I can figure out what he did. You can also read the Grado'd AKG thread on Head-Fi. I believe theres a few pad options listed on there.
@@headkarma- Thanks!
I would like to know which earpads would go best with sextetts ? I currently have Dekoni choice suede pads,but is there something better ?
Read through this thread for pad recs
"AKG K240 Sextett--Grado'd AKG? | Page 60 | Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org" www.head-fi.org/threads/akg-k240-sextett-gradod-akg.243339/page-60
hello , is it Philips n6330 also a sextett ?
Great question that I do not know the answer to. They have the radiators same as the AKGs, and the design is somewhat similar as well.
Without hearing the n6330 for myself, I simply cannot say.
If you havent seen this thread before, its a good read on the topic.
www.head-fi.org/threads/vintage-philips-n6330-sextett-look-alike-made-in-austria-by-akg.371753/
I would like to know how would these work with modern external usb soundcards. Do you think it would be difficult to drive them with something like, say, Focusrite sound cards? I am talking about casual mixing or recording with them. Thank you!
Although I do not have experience with that soundcard,I would suspect that while you would get sound out of it,it would sound pretty underwhelming.
These are extremely power hungry headphones.
Additionally I wouldnt suggest these for accurate mixing. Perhaps look into a Beyer DT880,which is pretty neutral sounding.
hello monster zero I have ath ad2000 and hifiman he-500, the akg k240 sextett have always interested me for their fantastic media, my current configuration is Burson Soloist ha-160 and topping e30, both headphones sound great, you think I go for the akg is a good idea? I mainly listen to vocal jazz, folk, blues and rock.
The AD2000 and Sextetts have a similar presentation, with the AD2000 being a drier sound vs. Sextett.
Both have great mids, especially good for rock, blues, jazz, metal, folk
Ive not heard any of your amps so I cant tell you for sure which will work and sound the best. I can say that the Sextett will be the hardest to drive of the three headphones, HE500 next and finally the AD2000
@@headkarma I love voices and guitars, the truth is I am a fan of listening to them, surely you will realize by the headphones that I have, do you think the akg k240 have better media than the other two? If so, it would be something incredible.
@@mrtoxico656 At one point in time I owned the HE500, AD2000 and Sextetts at the same time.
The AD2000s were sold as were the HE500s. I still have all of my Sextetts.
The AD2000s were too uncomfortable for me to use for long sessions. the HE500s were sold so I could buy the HE6. I wish i still had my HE500s, but the mids on the Sextetts are better IMHO
@@headkarma which sextett has the best midrange? EP, MP, LP?
How to tell the difference between new, mid, and late release, and what year did each come out?
www.head-fi.org/threads/headphones-for-metal-music-ultimate-solution.715478/page-456
HI! I have an exactly pair of these. I want to know (I live in Buenos Aires, Argentina) how much can i sell this Headphones? Is ive seen, there no one to compare. Could you give me an advice? Thanks you in advance!!!
Here in the states you can find them for under $150.00 usd.
I know in BsAs electronics are insanely expensive,so maybe more if youre selling locally.
Been looking tooth and nail for the AKG K240 Sextetts 600 ohms for a year now and no avail.
there are three on eBay right now.
@@headkarma am not confident on e bay, afraid of scam and such
@@nicktan4530 fair point, for what it's worth I've purchased all 4 of my sextetts from eBay with no issues
@@headkarma can they be trusted ?
@@nicktan4530 I didnt check out the specifics of the headphone, nor the seller.
If the seller has good eBay feedback, I'd have no problem buying from them, assuming the headphone itself is in good shape.
If you find one that you're comfortable with and would like me to look at the auction before buying, send me the link on Head-fi and I will try to help you out.
I have been hunting for a good headphone for metal since a while and now I see your video, would you still considere it today or nice things come up on tiop snce your video ? For approx 200$, I heard good things about Fostex T60rp for exemple but they are above my budget for now.
And what you considere a good price for a sextett MP
Anyway great review !
A good price for a Sextett is around $100.00
Yes, there are better headphones for metal, but you will be spending a lot more.
The main thing about the Sextett though is having a very, very powerful solid state amp. Without it, youre wasting your money.
@@headkarma I will check this out then, there is one aroud my place for 50$
What would be a better headphone even if it's much more expensive juste for my knowledge haha
That should be ok I have a couple of vintage speaker amp with decent headphone jack
@@Nelerum based upon my past or current headphone collection, the ZMF Atticus did things better than the Sextett, but couldnt top the mids of the Sextett.
The ZMF Verite closed tops the Sextett in almost every single regard, but it is major $$$.
@@headkarma Hahah indeed just ZMF is enough to know it's wayyy out of my range
Thank you for the quick reply !
I just received my pair of sextett and omg they are awesome for rock and anything else really !
And so confortable compare to my beyer i am used to
I saw a pair of K240 sextetts on eBay they cost a staggering 400 dollars I think thats overpriced.
LOL. Yes,by just a bit.
You can get a good pair for under 150.00 if youre patient.
It's an EP in excellent condition, though.
@@tacanacy Still too much IMO. If it was NOS in the box I might do 250.00.
@@headkarma Well, it's the first one I've seen in 7 months.
@@tacanacy contact me on Head-Fi. I might consider selling you my pair. I usually reach for the MP,so it wont kill me.
So i can power my headpones with a Grunding R1000 ?
I have no experience with any Grundig receiver so its hard for me to say yes or no. Apparently its from the late 1970s,so thats a good thing,but its only 28 WPC. I tried the Sextetts on a Marantz 2226b (26wpc) and I didnt like the pairing,but it did work,it just didnt sound as good as my other vintage receivers.
Would they work for R&B music which require some kind of bass ?
I wouldnt recommend them for bass centric genres.
Legit question i haven't found an answer for about the AKG K240 Sextetts just yet. Do you, or anyone know what these cost new back in the 70's?
I dont recall where I read this but I believe it was in the 200-300.00usd range. My memory isnt the best so take that info with a few grains of salt.
Okay. Thanks. That was a rather pretty penny back in the 70's day.
What vintage apm will you recomended?
Most any receiver from the 1970s rock the sextetts,but the Sansui 881 sounds the best of the 6 receivers I own.
HI i have one with DIN 5 plug, is EP MP or LP ? thanks
Hi, all that means is your sextett has been re-cabled. AFAIK all sextetts were all single ended termination originally.
The only way to know which version you have is to check the color of the radiators on the driver. check this thread i did years ago.
www.head-fi.org/threads/headphones-for-metal-music-ultimate-solution.715478/page-456#post-13299270
hello monster, how would you classify the voices of the headphones you have had, I know you have had aeolus, he500, akg k240 sextt, he-6,ad2000
all of those have fantastic mids, except for possibly the HE6, and those werent bad mids, its just other traits stood out more.
I would say for female vocals the OG AD2000s are pretty tough to beat, but its not the best overall sounding. Also you need to consider what amp is being used. For example when using tubes on ZMF headphones you can enhance the vocals simply by knowing which tubes have amazing midrange.
You really cant go wrong with any of those headphones for mids, and you can add in the HD600, HD650, especially on an OTL amp as well as many Grados have nice mids as well.
@@headkarma I am delighted with the ad2000, if I add a hd650 I think I will have the best in voices
@@mrtoxico656 what amp would you be using for the HD650?
@@headkarma Burson Soloist ha-160
Which vintage receiver works best with the Sextetts?
Of my six vintage receivers, my favorite for the sextett is the Sansui 881,though all my receivers sound good with them.
Check out my vintage receiver video for tips on how to buy one.
i have one EP and one MP.
what pads did you stepson use on these. I changed my pads and everything sounds a little muddled. curious if he bought a specific pair that works well with the sextetts. Thanks!
all of my sextetts are using the original pads. I'm not sure what pads came with my step sons pair to be honest. He is off to college.
Have tried looking or asking here for recommendations?
www.head-fi.org/threads/akg-k240-sextett-gradod-akg.243339/page-108
@@headkarma yea I was actually looking at that article because you were referencing it alot in the vid. I was just hoping to see what pads he had since you have such knowledge of the sextetts and you didn't notice a difference, so they must be pretty neutral pads for the sextetts
@@fredrikie1 the pads that he used were attached when he bought them.
He is off at uni, but next time I see him I will try to get a photo of them