DL: Beyerdynamic_1974

Products covered, with text, specs, and photos, include ribbon microphones M160n, M260n, M500c; moving coil mics m 55 LM, M 550 LM, M550, M 101 N, M 111 N, M 67 N, M 69 N, M 88 N, M 201 N, M 81 LM, M 818 LM, Soundstar X1 N, X1 HL, M 810 N, M 57, M 64 SH, M 410 N, M 411 N, M 412 N; a full line of accessories including stands, clips, bases, transformers, and windscreens.

Headphones covered include DT 100, DT 100 RR, DT 900, Sound Juwel DT 480 DT 100 V Induction headphones, DT 204, DT 48, DT 96A, DT 98, DT 109, DT 49, DT 109V, DT 302, DT 301, 302, 303; and various headphone accessories.  Wireless mic systems TS 73, TS 83, SM 84, NE 75, NE 84, TE 20 are also covered.

We have a pair of older M 260 ribbons at Gold Coast Recorders and they hand above the drum kit at all times. I love them, and I’ve never wanted for other overheads.  Even recording to analog they sound wonderful.  We also have three of these M69 dynamics, and while I can’t say they are any better at anything than an sm58 or sm57, they certainly aren’t bad mics.

Beyer M 201s have always intrigued me but I’ve never come across a ‘deal’ and $300 new seems a bit rich.  Anyone?

I am a big believer in Beyerdynamic headphones.  Their DT 770 M is a miracle product, esp. for tracking rap vocals when the vocalist is not very loud and they like the track loud in their cans.  Highly recommended for any situation where bleed is an issue.

K

DOWNLOAD: Headphones

I have not owned any of these other than the Superex (which were fkkn terrible), but damn these things had style…  which is interesting when one considers that this was all pre-walkman, IE., these were not fashion items; no one other than yr S.O. would have seen you wearing them.  Any opinions, L U K…

Altec Model 15 and Model 19 loudspeakers

Empire Phono Cartridge

Hitachi metal-cone speaker drivers. Who knew?

Jennings-brand Hi Fi speaker systems

Experimental binaural headphone system by JVC.  500-cycle crossover point; highs originate in front of the face, lows from above the ears.

Above: KOSS headphones, for both pop/rock and classics

NIKKO Hi-Fi components

]]> https://www.preservationsound.com/visual-culture-the-late-1970s/feed/ 3 https://www.preservationsound.com/akg-k-340-electrostaticdynamic-headphones-c-1979/ https://www.preservationsound.com/akg-k-340-electrostaticdynamic-headphones-c-1979/#comments Thu, 21 Apr 2011 14:14:34 +0000 http://www.preservationsound.com/?p=2274 Download the six-page color product sheet for the venerable AKG K-340 headphone of 1979:

DOWNLOAD: AKG_K340

The AKG K-340 (not to be confused with the modern AKG K 340 earbud) was AKG’s top of the line headphone of the 1980s.  Introduced in 1979, the K-340 took the basic design of the classic K-240 (which was very sophisticated in and of itself) and added the additional complication of a separate Electrostatic driver and associated crossover network.

Wikiphonia has a detailed entry on these unusual headphones, so no need to re-tread those waters; the six-page document I post here is some new material for the web, though, AFAIK.  Check it out…  and if anyone uses these cans, LMK yr thoughts…

Click here for previous vintage AKG headphone coverage on PS dot com

DOWNLOAD: FostexHeadphones1977

Models covered, with specs and photos, are: Fostex T50, T30, T20, and T10 headphones.

On-the-go music-listening is more popular now than ever due to the convenience and features offered by devices such as the Apple iPod.  This new technology has also driven the demand for quality headphones.  When asked for headphone recommendations,  I generally steer people towards the Sony MDR-7506, due to their relative portability, extremely low impedance (translation: even an iPod can make them very loud) and very present sound.  Plus they have a 1/8th-inch jack, so they mate properly with your iPhone iPod or whathaveyou.

This all being said, I always also tell folks that I personally do not listen to music on the MDR-7506.  They are too hyped and unrealistic-sounding to me.  I am not sure exactly what they do to the sound, but they make everything sound ‘better’ in a way that i don’t really find ‘better’ but instead somewhat cloying.   Regardless, if you want headphones that will play loud, shut out the outside world, and last forever, the 7506 is a great bargain.  This is also why almost all musicians prefer the 7506 in a recording-studio-tracking situation.  I own several pairs for this reason.

What I use personally for monitoring in the studio is the Fostex T50RP.  When I am tracking I find the 7506 to be the best choice, but whenever I am behind the desk and need to monitor with headphones for one reason or another, I put on the T50s.  Likewise, they are good for music listening at home.  They give a good, accurate sound, and they are just so robust and well made.  These things really are the best value in audio today.

Turns out that the Fostex RP line goes all the way back to 1977.  The components have changed a couple of times over the years, but the basic printed-diaphragm technology which distinguishes the RP line from most other headphones has remained the same.

According to the excellent ‘Wikiphonia’ headphone web database, the RP line was originally introduced as a less-fussy (IE, no power supply needed) alternative to the then-novel and popular Stax Electrostatic headphone line.

Pictured above is the Fostex T20 as it first appeared in 1977.  The T20, like the T50, is still be manufactured today in a slightly varied form. The T20 seems to have undergone the least cosmetic change since its introduction.   I do not recommend the T20.  I have owned a few pairs and I find the very dull and chalky.  My advice: spend the extra 20 bucks and get the T50 instead.