AKG K702 headphones

My old Sennheiser HD495 cans were starting to show their age – mainly through the earpads’ and head pad’s disintegration – so I decided it was time to semi-retire them and get something new. I also wanted to take the opportunity to replace them with some higher class headphones and so my search began, albeit without the opportunity to actually hear any.

Before long I had shortlisted a few and kept coming back to the K702, being described as revealing, flat-response reference class headphones. Although the K702 is aimed at studio recording/mixing use, its sibling, the K701, is aimed more at audiophiles and it’s said that the sound is practically the same. Basically, the descriptions of the sound appealed to me (I was instantly put off by any comments from obvious “bassheads” who raved about their cans) even though some said that the sound was a bit uninvolving. Opinions seemed very polarized and, knowing which way I lean, I took my chances.

It’s said that the K702 needs around 1000 hours’ running-in time before they really shine. Some say that the sound has settled nicely by about 200 hours. My initial impression was disappointment – the sound seemed distant and light.

Approximately one hour later my opinion had reversed totally and I could hardly believe  what I was hearing. What I hadn’t taken into account, clearly, was that I needed a little time to get used to this sound – which is utterly amazing. All of my music sounded – sounds – different, hence the initial disappointment. It’s night and day. My 595s sound as though they are being pushed into my ears via a pile of old socks, in comparison. There’s just no real detail there. The K702, by contrast, is so revealing, so spacious, that it’s the closest I’ve come to sitting in a hifi speaker audition room without actually being there. I have half decent speakers on my home stereo system but the sound is inevitably coloured by walls, corners, etc. due to the compromises made in the home with regard to placement.

I’m hearing things I never knew were there and everything has opened up considerably. If they are this good virtually out of the box, then I am very happy indeed as I’m having trouble imagining how they could improve with running-in. But that’s what everyone who owns these seems to say, so we’ll see what happens. Incidentally, it’s often said that a decent, dedicated headphone amplifier is pretty much a requirement for these in order to get the best out of them. That I can understand, especially since their sensitivity is lower than all my other ear/head phones, but so far I’ve only used the K702 with portable music systems (iPod, minidisc, etc.).

If there’s one niggle then it’s this: when I first put them on and for a few minutes afterwards, the pads seem to put a little too much pressure on the areas directly below my ears so as to restrict saliva flow. It starts to feel uncomfortable so I need to pull them away a few times until I get used to them. It’s at its worst when I’ve just eaten or am hungry

Other than that, I am extremely happy with them and, if they improve with running-in and/or a headphone amp, then happy days.

Apostrophe crimes

Yes, that’s “crimes”, not “crime’s”! Come on; the rules are so simple! Think possessive and contraction: these should enable anyone to get it right the vast majority of the time. I have to follow the makeshift sign for “car’s” on my way into the office car park; I see advertisements for “orange’s and clementine’s” in the canteen; there’s a massive sign over the furniture shop in town, simply stating, “BED’S”… is it my imagination, or are these crimes on the increase? Look, just because you write the plural form of a word, that doesn’t mean it needs an apostrophe. Heck, just because the word ends with an “s” doesn’t necessarily mean it needs an apostrophe! Example: the dog’s paws. There’s more than one paw and they belong to the dog. The plural of paw – paws – has no apostrophe. We’re (that’s a contraction of we are, by the way) talking about the paws of the dog, so the dog possesses the paws, hence the apostrophe in dog’s. Get it?

Time off

I’ve had this week off work and, of course, along comes the cold/sore throat . I’m trying my hardest not to handle or breathe too much on Snortman but it’s difficult – especially when he’s being all cute. Which is all the time he’s not crying. So, anyway, Mrs. H., the Snortmeister and I have been out every day this week and it’s been really nice to have lunches and walks and a bit of shopping, all the time getting more confident with being out and about with someone who can go from grinning to wailing in two seconds. It’s not as easy as we’d perhaps thought it might be, but as long as we’re somewhere where he can be fed and changed, we’re OK if not slightly on edge.

We decided to go to IKEA yesterday to get a cheap-and-cheerful rug to help protect the carpet in the nursery. Too little too late, perhaps, as the third, and as yet most powerful, jet-poo covered Mrs. H. before shooting around 1.5m across the room and trashing the carpet once again. It went beyond the current protective rug (which covers the previous jet-poo damage) and ruined another large section of carpet! What timing – just as we were about to leave to get a bigger rug! Well, in fact, we ended up getting two so I’m hoping that I won’t have to spend many more hours mopping up bright yellow mustard from the carpet. It’s like lumpy, fluorescent dye. Perhaps I could bottle and sell it to manufacturers of high-visibility clothing.

Disappointed

I have bought three new CDs within two days. This is fairly unusual, I suppose, but it so happens that three of the outfits that I follow have recently released new albums. These are Air – “Love 2″, David Sylvian – “Manafon” and Zero7 – “Yeah Ghost”.

I have loved Air’s stuff since I discovered “Moon Safari” years ago. I bought “Talkie Walkie” when it was released, sound unheard, then bought their two previous releases on the strength of my reaction to that. “Premiers Symptomes” is an EP released originally before “Moon Safari” – their first full album – and “10,000 Hz Legend” came after. Although “10,000 Hz Legend” is a bit weird and experimental in parts, I do still like it, although I’ve always felt that it was a deviation from what they did best. Thankfully, “Talkie Walkie” showed the duo building on the strengths of “Moon Safari” with a more refined air (pun not intended but I’ll leave it in anyway). Then “Pocket Symphony” was released and, again, I purchased it sound unheard. Their finest album, in my opinion, with parts that can only be described as gorgeous. Yeah, Air’s stuff can be described as ’70’s inspired, laid-back, trip-hop, lounge music but “Pocket Symphony” needs to be chilled-out to to be believed. And now we have “Love 2″.

Oh dear. Many reviews say that this album is Air being back to their best, but I just don’t get it. This one goes to the bottom of the pile for me; below “10,000 Hz Legend” and confined to the doesn’t-quite-work shelf. I was expecting something on-par with “Talkie Walkie” or maybe even “Pocket Symphony” but this is something entirely different. At least, that is how it sounds to me at the moment. Some reviewers are saying it needs multiple listens, so I’ll reserve further judgement until I’ve had a bit more time with it. (Later edit: OK, it’s beginning to grow on me ). (Even later edit: yeah, all right – I like it).

The second album is David Sylvian’s “Manafon”. I’ve been following Sylvian’s work (and that of his ex-Japan bandmates) since the mid 1980’s and can honestly say I’ve really liked most of it even though he does change direction more often that I have hot dinners. He has collaborated with a diverse set of musicians over the years, from Holger “tune that shortwave radio” Czukay (Can) to Robert Fripp (King Crimson). Most recently Sylvian worked with his brother, Steve Jansen, and Burnt Friedman on the Nine Horses project which had a big thumbs-up from me. Just prior to this, Sylvian recorded “Blemish” where he decided to use his voice as the only melody and have improvised noises and minimalist “free jazz” going on in the background. “Blemish” received very polarised reviews and I am still in the camp of people who just don’t feel comfortable with it. This isn’t the first time Sylvian has experimented with improvisation – the most notable perhaps being Rain Tree Crow which is supposed to be a set of improv sessions with his ex-Japan bandmates but instead sounds like a polished and well-rehearsed set – but it is unique, all the same. Some people feel that a solemn voice with plinky-plunk random guitar-picking in the background sounds great and others do not; you either love it or you hate it. I had thought that Blemish was a blip and that maybe, one day, it might grow on me – but never mind as Nine Horses is the way it’s going now. Not so. Manafon is more Blemish than anything else Sylvian has done, though it’s not quite as raw; perhaps because Blemish was writen and recorded whilst Sylvian was breaking up with his wife. More “free jazz” melody-free noise accompanying the voice here, which I just don’t get on with. Perhaps another for repeated listens before I pass final judgement. (Later edit: nope).

Finally, “Yeah Ghost”. This one I have listened to three times already and I can say that I am thoroughly disappointed in Zero7’s latest effort. What on earth have they done? “Simple Things”, “When It falls” and “The Garden” – all brilliant, luscious, smooth chill-out with some goosepimple-inducing stuff. What the heck is “Yeah Ghost” all about? They may have replaced their primary guest vocalist but they may as well have called themselves something else; in fact, I wish they had done so that I would have missed this out. It seems Zero7 have decided to experiment and I’d say the experiment is a success – in proving that they should stick to the kind of thing that they do best. This is incoherent noise with a smattering of the occasional catchy piece and an even rarer glimpse of Zero7. I’m all for bands trying different things, otherwise there would be too much pointless repetition, but I feel Zero7 have done themselves an injustice here. (Later edit: it’s grown on me somewhat, but I still prefer the older style).

Wee

Yesterday I was weed on whilst changing a nappy. OK, I probably asked for it by taking too long and not being prepared. This wasn’t the first time it’s happened but it was pretty spectacular as it was all directed at my crotch, making it look as though it was I who had weed myself! Perhaps it was this careful aiming that made him a “clever boy” (according to Mrs. H.) or perhaps it was just the fact that I was getting my fair share of being covered…

Changing nappies is hard now because Samuel tends to like it on his changing table and decides to have a good snort around, play, smile, coo and generally take interest away from the task at hand. Hence taking too long and not being suitably shielded. This is the kind of innocent look following such an event:

Mr. Snorty

Well, Mr. Snorty is now four weeks and a day old and has apparently put on a pound since birth. He does snort an awful lot (hence the name) which is quite endearing if not a little worrying. He’s been very spotty, too, which is better now than it was at its worst, and we’re told it will just clear up in time. I haven’t taken any pictures for a while but I was sent this from Mrs. H. when I was at work the other day:

which did make me chuckle. He has provided some positive feedback re. his pram (by falling asleep) recently and smiled at his Grandma yesterday. Last Sunday he met his Aunty P., Uncle D. and cousin E. for the first time and was unfortunately a bit grumpy, but it was very sweet how his cousin (not yet two) offered his toys to him when he was squawking. He took no notice, of course, but the thought was there. This weekend he will be seeing his Granny, Grandpa and Aunty N. who are stopping by on their way back to the Westcountry; unfortunately he won’t see my side of the family very often so let’s hope he’s on his best behaviour!

Adventures on wheels

Today we had a major adventure. To celebrate Samuel being two weeks old today (and it also may have had something to do with the fact that we’d run out of bread and milk) we decided to walk him into town. Now, where we live, “town” consists mainly of funeral directors, mobility outlets and pound shops but there is a bank, a supermarket (not so super, really, especially as Pringles are never on offer there) and a Post Office, too. We’d previously had two outings in the pram; just around the block and both ending in tears but, nevertheless, we decided to brave it for the longer journey into town. So, cowards that we are, we waited for Sam to fall asleep before bundling him in and heading off, both quietly terrified that he may start wailing at any time. Unfortunately, Sam’s inherited my appetite which means a constant need to feed during waking hours; this is fairly easy for me to deal with but for him, well, let’s just say the town isn’t exactly equipped and we could end up temporarily increasing business for said funeral directors.

As it turned out, it was all fine. He slept pretty much all the way through and it gave us new confidence that he doesn’t hate his pram, after all. We were able to get our supplies and post back the TENS machine Mrs. H. hired but never had the chance to use. Next outing: seafront, I reckon.

It’s a boy!

Well, it’s all happened and I have a few minutes to breathe, so here’s a quick update.

We went in last Monday and were finally kick-started at about 11:30 am. Basically this meant the insertion of the necessary magic compound and the instruction to “walk around the hospital grounds until something happens.” They also warned that nothing may happen, so it was good to be prepared, and that it could take up to 24 hours if it works.

Over the next seven hours we walked, sat, had a drink, walked again… (the hospital grounds aren’t very expansive nor especially interesting, so this was fairly tedious) and waited. And waited. Nothing.

We returned at about 6 pm to find a girl opposite us, who’d had the induction treatment at about the same time as we did, in the full throes of labour. Which was nice. We sat on the bed, shrugged our shoulders and prepared for an uneventful night and further treatment the next day. We went to the canteen, had some food and wandered back. The girl opposite was probably going to give birth within the hour, we thought, and then something happened. Small, but fairly regular, pains every five to ten minutes quickly turned into much more intense pains with increasing frequency. We noticed the girl opposite seemed to have eased off a bit as we rapidly overtook, with Mrs. H. now gripping the bed bars and grimacing – mostly silently but there was the odd expletive – every three minutes on the dot.

At 11 pm we were both thinking that it was full-on. The midwives and nurses came around to check on progress but only said that it may perhaps be starting and that we should get a good sleep in to conserve energy for the morning. Sleeping tablets were dispensed and we wondered how on earth we’d sleep through this, but by midnight it was very clear that we wouldn’t. Fast forward through a very unpleasant experience to 2:29 am and our baby had arrived! He was born naturally with just gas & air as pain relief; the only option, as it turned out, since it all happened so quickly in the end. Incidentally, the poor girl referred to above finally gave birth 27 hours after our new arrival!

Very soon after the baby was given to us the midwife suggested I put a nappy on him and clothe him. Until that point it hadn’t crossed my mind that I’d be doing this, so soon, and whilst being watched by an expert. It’s strange how something so simple can instill a feeling of total incompetence but I eventually managed it in the end. An there we were: a family. It hadn’t sunk in then and I’m still not sure it has, but I do know that being a father is both a strange and wonderful feeling.

Nervous

Hmmm. So, it looks as though we’ll be calling the hospital early tomorrow morning to see whether we’re supposed to go in. I guess we’re both a bit edgy but at least we know everything is OK, since the midwife came today to have a rummage around and measure the heartbeat. Following that we went for a walk along the coastal pathway near home and discussed our “last supper” which was going to be a hot curry. Mrs. H. has had second thoughts about that, though – sensibly, perhaps – and so I’ll either cook up my signature dish* or we may have fish and chips from the chippy on the seafront.

Unbelievably, when I was packing my hospital bag (yes, I’m supposed to have a bag, too, you know!) I had left out a camera. Sacrilege! Thankfully, a general camera-fondle (this happens often) set off an alarm and now there’s one in place. There would have been SUCH a rumpus if I’d neglected to bring the one thing that I feel truly naked without** and I’d have never forgiven myself. Other items include a change of underwear and t-shirt, toothbrush, PSP (yes, really), lots of snacks and my swimming trunks (don’t ask).

* Boil wholemeal pasta (fusilli, penne or shells) in a pan. Drain and add a tin of tuna, half a jar of green pesto and some grated cheese. Mix in the pan. Eat from the pan after offloading some to wife, as necessary.

** This is not strictly true.

Waiting…

Junior is now five days overdue with no obvious signs of emergence. Poor Mrs. H. is feeling very uncomfortable but vast supplies of chocolate and gossip mags seem to help here. It’s almost embarrassing to keep telling people that no, there’s no sign yet, but we’re not especially worried as junior is obviously not ready yet. There may be an induction on Monday but we’ll see what happens between now and then…