The AKG K240 Sextett Is A Classic That Has Stood The Test Of Time
This is my first pair of AKG headphones. I was going to purchase
a modern pair when I read a review about the K240 Sextett which
was so impressive, that I decided to see if I could locate a pair.
Having found a used pair on E-bay for a very reasonable price ($79 shipped), decided to purchase them, since I was interested in seeing how well these cans would match up with some of my headphone amplifiers; including a Schiit Magni 3 and Little Dot MK2.
First off, the physical condition of these roughly forty year headphones is quite good. And they are well constructed.
Moreover, the leather ear pads appear to be original, yet, are in very good shape as are the headphones themselves; the only thing needing replacement here being the tiny rubber bands that allow for the adjustment of the AKGs. A nominal expense.
As for the sound, this is a headphone that concentrates on the midrange, and whose clarity here is remarkable.
There were three versions of the K240S designated EP, MP and LP
for early production, middle production and late production.
The earlier K240S has 6 orange colored passive radiators per speaker, and the MP and LP models are said to have white colored passive radiators.
The EP version is said to be the most desirable of the three because
of its ability to produce strong bass, while the latter two versions are
said to be a bit shy in bass. The other attributes of the K240S are said to be similar in all three versions.
I am not certain how to distinguish between the latter two models,
however, the K240S that I purchased does have white colored
passive radiators so it would have to be either the MP or LP version
of the K240S.
As for my K240S I have noticed the following:
The midrange is glorious. The bass of this particular K240S is, surprisingly, *not particularly subtle, while the treble, while good, can become a bit shrill with a solid state headphone amplifier like the Schiit Magni 3 (the Magni 3 has been called a giant slayer and for good reason, since it offers Hi-End audio performance and excellent
construction for a pittance -$99).
*Some reviewers have claimed that the EP version has excellent
bass, while the MP and LP version were lacking in this area.
I have used the Magni 3 with several newer headphones from Sony,
Grado, Koss, and Sharkk, and found it to work quite well with them.
In fact, the Magni 3 is so popular that Schiit is constantly trying to meet the demand for this little gem - which often results in a waiting time of as much three weeks from the time it's ordered on their Website to the time it's shipped.
While the Magni 3 did not match up quite to my expectations with the
K240S, I've found that the Little Dot MK2 - a singled ended triode design - and the K240S are the proverbial match made in heaven; there is a synergy between these two components which results in a wonderful outcome.
The warmth of instruments and voices through this pairing is not only
palpable, but it also allows for hours of listening without listener fatigue.
Moreover, in spite of its 600 ohm impedance, the AKG K240S is easily driven to very loud levels by the Little Dot, which bespeaks
how well these components complement one another.
*Of course with headphones one must be very careful not to damage one's hearing, so it is easier to start off with the headphones at a lower
volume, and then gradually increase to a volume which is comfortable
for you.
I could continue to wax poetic about these AKGs, however, that would take away time from my listening sessions and enjoyment of them.
So in closing I can say this much: If you can find a pair of Sextetts that are in good shape and being sold at a reasonable price, you might want to consider purchasing them before someone else does.
Check E-bay's listing of sold items by typing AKG K240 Sextett into the search area, in order to get an idea of what these headphones are selling for.
This way you can get an idea of what they are worth based on their
condition, before you decide to bid on or purchase a pair.
Keep in mind that relative to other versions of the K240, the Sextett is fairly rare and really is a special piece of Hi-Fi gear that has stood the test of time.Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
