Description up, testing almost complete: AKG K540

[Marcus]

http://headphones.com.au/psingle?productID=616

Straight onto our recommended list - these are great, I might have to grab a pair for myself.

Keep up the good work AKG


edit: just a note on the semi open design, this one appears to work very well.
Soundstage is as per a fully open model, bass response is tight and punchy but not overly boomy, so it's hanging around that little longer but not in an unwelcome way.
Leakage levels are very low, but I can hear things like the phone ringing or people talking next to me (although it's muffled, they isolate far less than fully closed models) giving that "I don't want people around me to be disturbed but I still want to hear a bit of what's going on around me" combo that a lot of people are after.

[GougMan]

Very noyce !

Didn't AKG go through a bit of a phase where a lot of the models were quite average without a lot of really good sounding models ? It's good to see them bringing out some better quality headphones now (and they look pretty good too)

[.:Cyb3rGlitch:.]

Tempting. How would you rate these compared to the MS-1?

[warisz00r]

ANOTHER mid-range AKG that don't suck?

[Marcus]

The more time I spend with these the more I like them

Compared to the MS-1, the K540 is more comfortable, has slightly more solid bass, smoother more full mids and not so aggressive treble.
I'd probably go so far as to say the K540 is almost a more refined MS-1, with higher levels of comfort and more contemporary style... Great product!

As mentioned in another thread, they're very comfy and can be adjusted quite a bit for fit, probably not the best for super-tiny-heads (although our smallest headed staff member, who can curl up and sleep inside the AD700, finds them pretty much perfect on the smallest setting) but for mid-large heads there shouldn't be a problem

[Riverback]

The more time I spend with these the more I like them

Compared to the MS-1, the K540 is more comfortable, has slightly more solid bass, smoother more full mids and not so aggressive treble.
I'd probably go so far as to say the K540 is almost a more refined MS-1, with higher levels of comfort and more contemporary style... Great product!

As mentioned in another thread, they're very comfy and can be adjusted quite a bit for fit, probably not the best for super-tiny-heads (although our smallest headed staff member, who can curl up and sleep inside the AD700, finds them pretty much perfect on the smallest setting) but for mid-large heads there shouldn't be a problem

An in-between upgrade between MS-1's and MS-Pro you say?

[beachgardener]

sounds very promising there Marcus, do they have huge cups or are the cups a mid size or compare with the MS-1 size?
Thank you

[Marcus]

They're fully circumaural, but I wouldn't call them huge

[aster]

They're fully circumaural, but I wouldn't call them huge

They're circumaural? I wouldn't have thought that at first, but then again when I think circumaural I think AD900's

[dingostolemyipod]

They're fully circumaural, but I wouldn't call them huge

They're circumaural? I wouldn't have thought that at first, but then again when I think circumaural I think AD900's

AD900s are circumcranial

[basketballfreak6]

so i have a question...if i really like the sound of the MS-1 would this be a worthy upgrade if i wanted to know what something better sounds like :P

[Marcus]

No, not really - while they are a step up it's not a massive step. Something different, sure
I'd maybe consider the 242HD if you're after something different, but up?

[basketballfreak6]

No, not really - while they are a step up it's not a massive step. Something different, sure
I'd maybe consider the 242HD if you're after something different, but up?

haha dang, looks like i'll keep dreaming about getting the ms-pro's one day...XD

[warisz00r]

So, is this worth the $50 markup over the 520?

[Marcus]

Well yeah, the 540 is 20 AKGs more than the 520.

Seriously, though, circumaural vs supra-aural, beyond that personal preference in sound quality (I like both, but would probably get the 540 for myself, as much as I'd love to look like a rap star in the 520s).