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K1000s and amp impedance.

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Doc B.:
I agree that they are different. The K1000s are the kings of getting the music out of the middle of your head. They create a very speaker-like experience. The downside is that you share the experience with everyone nearby, even moreso than open back headphones. The HD800 does a very good job of getting the music out of your head too, I'd say second best of the cans I have listened to. But they do lack a bit of space and air that the K1000s have. The slight downside I find with the K1000s is that you need to pivot them in a bit from the position that gives the best soundstage to get the best bass or they can sound lean. The HD800s have a nice full bodied sound.

They are both rather odd to wear and quite different feeling. The K1000s only clamp on your head, not over your ears, and that creation of a smaller pressure point on the head was a cause of complaints by some folks at the meet. The HD800s have really huge earpads so they really spread the load evenly, but they can feel a bit claustrophobic and overly warm as they trap a lot of the heat coming off your cheeks. I would strongly suggest trying both on to see how they work for you. You look equally silly wearing either one, earning top geek style ratings.

By the way I can't say this on the Head-Fi forum without looking like I'm trying to advertise, but I would hope that folks would consider the amps that were running the K1000s as partly responsible for the comments about the K1000 sound we get at meets. I consider the Paramounts and K1000s a system, and I don't really feel that the Ks will sound the same with other amps.

ironbut:
Yeah,.. that's one of those little headfi mysteries Doc.
I woulda thought that a pair of Paramounts would be on K1k lovers short list of must tries. Instead it's hairshirt sand amps like Alephs/F1-2-3, or big money 300b SET's (which do sound great but spending the cash on a Zanden or AirTight is a little extreme).
Kooky stuff but of course, that isn't exactly exclusive to the K1000 owners.

tdogzthmn:
I appreciate your opinions, as I have only heard these headphones at meets which are not the best circumstances for forming accurate opinions of gear.  I really like the look of the K1000 which is unlike any other headphone ever made, also the fact that it is several years younger than the HD800 but can still keep up says alot for it.  I do see a K1000 in my future, but I have other priorities at the moment so a purchase will have to wait.  In the meantime I will have to make do with its little brother the K500 which is no slouch and does a great job with jazz and classical pieces.

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