| AKG "K3003" |
Speaking of AKG, a long-established manufacturer known for studio monitor headphones and consumer headphones. Some people have the image of a German manufacturer, but it's an Austrian company.
For consumer devices, the K series such as K701 and K601 and the studio monitor-like HIGH DIFINITION series are impressive, but we also handle canal type (earplug type) and inner earphones, and we also have a lineup of noise canceling models, etc. It is also a manufacturer that develops.
The company also has high-end models that cost more than 50,000 yen for headphones, but even the highest-end canal-type earphones, the "K370," sell for 17,800 yen directly, which is a low price compared to the ultra-high-priced models of other manufacturers. Therefore, in the high-end market, the image of headphones is rather strong.
From such AKG, the shocking model "K3003" of canal type earphones will appear from the middle of September. It has two features, it is a hybrid type equipped with both a balanced armature unit (hereinafter referred to as BA) and a dynamic type unit. The other is a high-end price of 138,000 yen, which is expected to be sold.
Earphones that are extremely worrisome in terms of mechanism and price. Let's listen to it.
■ 3-way hybrid technology
| Internal structure. Equipped with BA for high and mid range in front.It has a built-in dynamic unit behind it. |
For earphones equipped with BA units, the trend is for multi-way such as 2-way and 3-way, and the number of models with multiple BA units packed in earphones is increasing. This can be said to be one of the measures to compensate for the weakness of BA, which has a narrow band that can be played by one unit.
The "AK3003" is also such a multi-way type, but the composition is challenging. In addition to having BA units for high frequencies and mid frequencies, it also has dynamic units for low frequencies. AKG calls this "3-way hybrid technology". For speakers, it is not uncommon to use units of different materials and methods for woofers and tweeters, but it is extremely rare for earphones. How does the coexistence of different methods affect the sound? The highlight of this earphone is.
In terms of specifications, the frequency characteristics are 10Hz to 30kHz. The sensitivity is 104dB / mW. Impedance is 8Ω.
■ Simple and high-quality design
First, let's look at the case before designing. It's a big case that doesn't look like earphones, and when you open the magnet closure lid, a beautifully laid-out body and accessories appear. It feels like a jewelry case. Accessories are an aircraft plug adapter and a carrying case made of leather-like material. The carrying case is a type that wraps the cable around the side, and it feels good to the touch.
| Product case.The photo on the right shows the state with the outer cardboard removed. | I opened the lid.It's like a jewelry case |
| Attached carrying case | A type that wraps a cable around the side |
The case is also equipped with a serial number plate. It is said that all quality inspections are carried out at the time of product shipment and it is proof that the inspection has passed. There are only expensive products, and it is a case that tickles ownership.
| Serial license plate on the case | Accessories are also stored in the lower part of the case | The attached aircraft plug adapter is also made of stainless steel |
In addition, four small round parts are accessories that tickle the enthusiast's heart. This is a filter attached to the tip of the nozzle where sound comes from the earphones. Actually, this filter is an important part that changes the sound that you hear in the end, depending on the part and shape, but the K3003 has a thread that makes it easy for the user to remove.
The attached filter is a replacement filter, but the tendency of the sound is changed, one (set of two) is a bass boost type, and the other is a high frequency boost type. In other words, you can customize the playback sound by replacing it. This kind of gimmick is irresistible to enthusiasts. Instead of playing with the sound with a DSP, it is smart to adjust it mechanically.
| A filter that changes the sound quality is also included. | Diagram showing the effect of the filter |
The earphone design is extremely simple. It's compact in size, and I don't think it uses original hybrid technology. The material of the housing is stainless steel. It is said to have the effect of increasing durability and suppressing unnecessary vibration. Although it is compact, it is moderately heavy when you pick it up, and it has a luxurious feel when combined with the metallic feel. The understated AKG logo on the hairlined surface is also cool. Weight excluding cable is 10g.
Not only the main body but also the Y connector of the cable and the input plug are made of stainless steel. Furthermore, the attached aircraft plug adapter is also stainless steel. As expected, it is a luxury machine.
| The housing is stainless steel | Also the AKG logo mark.Hairline finish on the surface | Seen from the side.The size is compact |
| Input plug and Y connector are also stainless steel |
Earpieces come in 3 sizes and spares for each size are also included. It is translucent and the inside is painted gray. It is a coloring that matches well when combined with a stainless steel body. The body is small and moderately heavy, so it is easy to put on and has a good hold.
| I removed the earpiece.The housing is stainless steel | Also the AKG logo mark.Hairline finish on the surface | Spare earpieces are also included |
The cable is Y-shaped and the length is 1.2m. OFC (oxygen-free copper) uses a rubber coating that suppresses noise caused by friction. A cloth coating is used on the lower part of the Y connector to prevent disconnection. The input is a stereo mini.
As a variation model, there is also a model called "K3003i" equipped with a remote control with a built-in microphone in the middle of the cable. In addition to basic operations such as volume adjustment, play / pause / skip / song back, you can also answer when receiving a call, compatible models are iPhone 3G / 3GS / 4, 2nd generation or later iPod touch, 4th generation or later iPod It will be nano, iPod classic, 3rd generation or later iPod shuffle, iPad. However, this model is a limited-edition model at the Apple Store and select shops Nano Universe and Restir. The estimated retail price is around 138,000 yen, which is the same as the regular model.
| "K3003i" equipped with a remote control with a built-in microphone in the middle of the cable |
■ A wonderful fusion of dynamic and BA
| Try listening |
The portable listening environment uses "6th generation iPod nano" + "ALO Audio Dock cable" + "portable headphone amplifier iBasso Audio D12 Hj". As a stationary environment, a Windows 7 (64bit) PC and a USB digital audio transport "RAL-2496UT1" with a built-in headphone amplifier from Ratoc are used. The software is "foobar2000 v1.0.3", a plug-in is added, and 24-bit output is performed in WASAPI mode, which bypasses the kernel mixer of the OS, mainly for lossless music. The borrowed "K3003" has exceeded 100 hours of aging.
Play "Best OF My Love" from "Emi Fujita / camomile Best Audio". It's easy to see that it's a very natural sound. It's an earphone with a rare mechanism, so I'm afraid that it will make a unique sound. However, I noticed that the sound of the metallic strings of the acoustic guitar at the beginning and the sound of the warm sound of the wood generated by the vibration of the guitar housing are perfectly drawn, and I suddenly lean forward. .. This is a little awesome sound.
The voluminous low range of the acoustic bass "Vorn" that enters after 1 minute is undoubtedly a dynamic sound. The volume that vibrates the core of the head is comfortable. Even BA produces a low sound, but it is difficult to create a "feeling that a large amount of air is moving", which is an advantage of the dynamic type. On the contrary, it is not buried in this abundant low range, and the mid-high range is clear one by one, and the part where the outline is clearly drawn, I feel the high resolution like BA. It can be said that it is the "good point" of both unit characteristics.
Up to this point, it simply ends with "the dynamic type is in charge of the low range and the mid-high range is reproduced by BA", but the great thing about the "K3003" is the high-pitched sound that does not make you feel the difference in the unit method. And the bass character is unified. In this case, what is surprising is the neutrality of the mid-high range.
| Sony MDR-EX1000 |
Returning to the "K3003", I can't feel such a character at all in the mid-high range where "BA hardness" can be seen. This is the reason why the dynamic low range and the mid-high range of BA are beautifully unified and connected.
At the beginning of "Best OF My Love", the sound of the strings of an acoustic guitar has a hardness that makes you feel the material, but the sound of the sound of the housing of the guitar firmly feels the warmth of wood. The high range of the female vocal that follows is also extremely natural, and there is no unnatural hardness. The vocals are bloody, and although it is a strange expression, the sound is exactly "skin-colored".
"The Rose" is a simple song in which the sound of vocals and accompaniment piano spreads endlessly in a vast space, but when you listen to it with Shure's "SE535", Aoi Teshima's hard in a cold space It sounds like the vocals are spreading forever. Visualizing this sound with an image, it seems as if singing in the center of a lake covered with ice in winter, and the expansive space is also cold.
When played on the "K3003", the vocals are warm and emotional. The expansive space is as hot as human skin, and it is not cold. Certainly, there is a part where the "SE535" can be heard more clearly when compared in terms of the sharpness of the outline of each sound, the overhang of fine sounds, and the intelligibility. However, the "K3003" is close to the human voice that we hear in our daily lives. It's raw, and you can hear the amount of information that makes you surprised. It's a matter of taste whether this sound feels "neutral and natural" or "it's boring because it's not sharp and extruded for BA". Some say I like the dynamic sound, but I personally feel that the "K3003" is the preferred sound.
| Size comparison with SE535 |
"Maaya Sakamoto / Triangler" has a lot of high-pitched sounds on the whole, and the vocals are squeaky. It sounds like a "painful song", but with the "K3003", even if you turn up the volume, your ears don't hurt at all. Then, if the high range is not extended, it penetrates like a demon, and the resolution is high. This is probably because the tone is not too hard. At the same time, the sound is thick, so you can't even hear a thin and rough sound. If you turn your attention to the bottom, the low-frequency bassline from the middle stage is rich in volume, and the thick and sharp baseline is carved into it. It's a very pleasant sound.
The point that is a little worrisome is that the overhang of the mid range is weak, hidden behind the well-made high and low frequencies. Depending on the song, the top and bottom are full of energy, and the sound in the middle may be difficult to get into consciousness. However, if the midrange is overhanging too much, it may lead to a decrease in the intelligibility of other bands, so it is difficult to balance this area, and it depends on the taste of the song you listen to.
■ Challenge to customize sound quality
In anticipation of such needs, a filter that allows you to enjoy changes in sound quality is included. At first glance, they all look the same, but the low-frequency boost is colored black around the filter, the high-frequency boost is colored white, and the normal (reference) version is colored gray. It's safe to distinguish even if it gets messed up, but it's a very small part, so I'm afraid that if I sneeze it, I'll go somewhere. I want to keep the attached case.
Filter replacement is easy as it is just turned like a screw. When removed, the BA unit inside appears, which is also interesting in terms of knowing the structure.
| Filter for sound quality customization.From left to right, for reference, low frequency boost, high frequency boost | I removed the filter.You can see the internal BA unit | When the low frequency boost filter is installed |
When the low range boost is installed, the depth of the lowest sound subduction does not change, but the volume of the entire low range increases. It will be suitable for playing powerful songs such as rock. The movement in the low range is difficult to see, but the resolution does not decrease so much, and since it is changed by the acoustic filter, there is no unnaturalness in the sound after the change.
If you replace it with a high-frequency boost, it will change to a "just BA" sound. The outline of the treble becomes crisp and clear, and it goes to the point where it is too tight and the ears hurt. It seems to match with songs that are driven in or songs that you want to hear the fine sounds of stringed instruments, but as the high-frequency claims become more intense, the appearance of the afterglow of the previous sound spreading in the space is coming out next. It becomes difficult to see because it is hidden by high-pitched sounds. The ideal balance between wide sound field and high frequency range can be said to be a reference filter. It is an interesting feature that you can experience not only the difference in sound itself, but also the change in sound with a filter.
■ Expectations for model development using hybrid technology
It is a highly complete earphone that is neutral in tone and has both the goodness of dynamic type and the goodness of BA. If you are already using a high-end model of multi-way BA earphones, or if you like the dynamic type, "I'm not familiar with the sound of BA", I would like you to listen to it once.
After all, what is worrisome is the price of around 138,000 yen. The price of over 100,000 yen has entered the world of custom in-ear monitors made by taking an ear shape, and the "K3003" will need to be armed with a sense of luxury including design.
The skill of putting together the sounds so far while cohabiting different methods of dynamic and BA can be highly evaluated. It can be said that it will be in production after the lineup of low-end models that adopt this hybrid technology, such as 100,000 yen or less and 50,000 yen or less, has been enhanced. The K3003 can be said to be a model that played a role in showing AKG's strong message that "not only headphones but also earphones are amazing."
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