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Add to SafariWhen comparing AKG K550 vs JVC HA-RX900, the Slant community recommends AKG K550 for most people. In the question“What are the best over-ear headphones under $200?” AKG K550 is ranked 7th while JVC HA-RX900 is ranked 17th. The most important reason people chose AKG K550 is:
These headphones have a really flat sound to them. The bass is not overbearing yet does make its presence felt in the music. The mids and highs also share the same character of accuracy and neutrality, with some users reporting that the highs are boosted by just a very tiny bit. This makes the headphones a great option if you want to mix music using a closed back pair of headphones.
Specs
Question Ranking
Pros
Pro Neutral sound signature
These headphones have a really flat sound to them. The bass is not overbearing yet does make its presence felt in the music. The mids and highs also share the same character of accuracy and neutrality, with some users reporting that the highs are boosted by just a very tiny bit. This makes the headphones a great option if you want to mix music using a closed back pair of headphones.
Pro Great build quality
These headphones are built really well. When holding them, you can tell that you have a premium product in your hands. The build features a mix of high quality plastics and metal. These headphones also have a hefty feel to them which certainly reinforces the impression that this is a premium product.
Pro Comfortable
These headphones are very comfortable to wear. The comfort is achieve through the use of high quality synthetic leather on the ear pads and headband which make the headphones' contact points with your body feel nice and smooth. The ear pads also feature memory foam material which provides a lot of cushioning.
Pro They compete with headphones that cost twice or thrice as much
Many people prefer these headphones to giants in the market like the Sehneiser HD 600, HD 650, HD800, Beyerdynamic P70, or even the T1.
Pro Good sound isolation
Being closed back headphones, the AKG K550 are able to effectively keep the sound from leaking out. This makes the headphone great for use in quiet environments.
Pro Spatial representation
They have a spatial representation unheard of before in closed back headphones.
Pro Bass extension
These headphones extend the sound reproduction to frequencies lower than most.
Pro Produces good sound with a nice bass thump
These headphones produce great bass which, while not very powerful, still has some thump and goes deep. This bass quality of these headphones makes them great for listening to hip-hop, EDM, trance, and genres which put a lot of emphasis on the bass. The mids and highs may not be the best, but they do bring some life to the overall sound.
Pro Works well for gaming because these have great sound stage for a closed back pair of heapdhones
These headphones may have a closed back design, but the sound stage is very good. There is a sense of width to the sound, with nice instrument/sound source separation. This quality of sound makes these headphones a nice option for gaming use.
Pro Has great sound isolation thanks to large and closed ear cups
The HA-RX900 is able to keep the sound it produces within the cups, while at the same time effectively blocking ambient noise. This is primarily achieved through the headphone's large and closed ear cup design which cover the ears entirely. Also, the use of pleather material on the ear pads creates a good seal which prevents sound leakage.
Pro Comfortable to wear due to ample cushioning on the ear pads and head band
There is a lot of padding present on the ear pads and headband. This means that the contact points of these headphones to your head is well-cushioned and should minimize pain, even if these are worn for extended periods of time.
Pro Large ear cups comfortable for big ears
The ear cups easily accommodate big ears without pinching or cramping.
Cons
Con Has some ear pad-sealing issues
Some users report that these headphones do not seal well on their ears, which makes the sound come off as lean and lacking in power. This issue can be attributed to the softness or size of the ear pads. It would be best then for you to try these headphones first before buying for you to ascertain if these seal well on your ears.
Con Large and heavy
While the weight can give these headphones a premium quality feel, this also can put a lot of strain to a user's head. If you prefer really light headphones then these may not be the ones for you.
Con Hard wired cable
You cannot detach the cord.
Con Mids and highs may sound muddy
These headphones may not give you the best detail and clarity in the mids and highs. While they are definitely present, the quality is not great which can make the overall sound come off as a bit muddy for some.
Con Extended use can cause uncomfortable warmth on the ear-area
These headphones can trap heat on the area of the ears, especially when you wear these for long periods. The pleather material may be soft on the skin, but it also does not allow enough airflow to the ears. You may want to consider taking these headphones off periodically to prevent the heat buildup.
Con Difficult to use at times because of the very long and non-detachable cable
You may experience some hassle dealing with the cable used for these headphones. They are quite long which can be a good thing, but this also means that the cable can get in the way if you tend to move while using these headphones. Also, the length of the cable can make it quite difficult to organize. It also does not help that the cable is non-detachable from the headphones.
Con May become tiring to wear as these headphones are quite bulky and heavy
If you decide to wear these headphones for long periods of time, then it is possible that these can tire your neck. The HA-RX900 are quite large and heavy even when compared to other full sized headphones.
