dalethorn 0 Report post Posted May 20, 2015 Here's an interesting coincidence, or maybe synchronicity: My last review, of the open-back Philips SHP-9500, described what to me is a near-perfect headphone at a low price, lacking only a little in the low bass but having a neutral overall sound with a great soundstage. This review, of the closed-back AKG K-553, is complementary in an interesting way. This headphone has a very similar neutrality and great soundstage (for a closed headphone), but where the Philips has a rolloff in the deep bass, the AKG bass is full-up and the overall sound is warmer and slightly darker than the Philips. If ever there were 2 headphones representing my ideal signatures (neutral-light and neutral-dark), with little to no coloration and good soundstage, open and closed, and very low in cost, these 2 are it. I present the AKG K-553: http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=4246 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites