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Saw the email talking about testing HD800 style connectors. I’d say although they’re familiar and simple, third-party versions aren’t very tightly standardized, and small tolerance differences often result in plugs fitting either too tight or too loose. Over time, this can lead to wear, intermittent contact, or inconsistent user experience—especially when different cable brands are involved. As an alternative, it might be worth looking at other Lemo connectors with locking mechanism such as the one used on the Focal Utopia. Those are much more consistent. Thoughts?
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the K1K.
We did consider Lemo connectors as an option but wanted to stick with something that is a little more popular and easier to source. If we do settle on an ODU style connector we will make sure to evaluate their tolerances to ensure they maintain a proper fit.
Having spent a lot of time with the originals, I can’t wait for these. Not a headphone I thought I’d see someone run again honestly.
As someone who never got the opportunity to try the original I’m pretty stoked to see this project. Is there a particular sound signature that the Apos team is aiming for with this?
The overall tuning goal has been to keep it closer to the original “bass heavy” tuning of the K1000.
I agree. Those Sennheiser HD800 connectors are terrible. Just because they are quite common and used by Sennheiser doesn’t make them a good choice. I’ve known a few people who broke their HD800s when replacing the original cable with a custom one.
I understand that no one wants to use Lemo connectors since they are so expensive, but they are head and shoulders above those ODU connectors. Actually, the small ones that were used for the AKG K812 would fit the K1K pretty well since the diameter is smaller than the ODU used for the HD800. I believe the number is FGG.00.303.CLAD35 (or FGG.00.304.CLAD35 for four pins).
I don’t know about other people, but I would pay 100 dollars more for the headphones having excellent Lemo connectors. They are really worth it.
It would be cool if there were multiple color schemes. I would buy 2 pairs then for sure in different colors (might still buy 2 anyways regardless). I really like these types of speakerphones and own a pair of MySpheres so I am excited for this launch.
Wow.. Just wow. I never thought I’d get to try these. Believe me, I’ll be first in line to buy a pair. I’ve always wanted a K1000, but finding a vintage pair is hard, and harder still to find BH models. I never thought I’d get the chance.
Definitely in for a pair. I’ve wanted the “bass heavy” variant of the AKGs for a long time but I’d want to use them on the daily and feared the upkeep/irreplaceable factor. This is an exciting time! Really hope these can arrive in 2026!
So glad to see the K1000 getting an unexpected revival - Are there any possibilities for a customizable and detachable frame above the headband? The original K1000 frame isn’t the most user-friendly for someone having a wide cranium.
Are you referring to the spring steel arc used in the headband? That is the part that is colored red in the original K1000? I do think it’s worthwhile to see if those dimensions can be altered slightly to improve the fit for those with larger heads!
My K1000s have a dead driver in one ear. I’ve been considering off and on trying to repair them myself and have managed to track down drivers from the EU (I’m in the US). If this project gets off the ground it would be truly wonderful to have something that could last a little longer, given the last run of these was in 2004 (IIRC). Truly incredible idea. I honestly can’t fathom why there are so, so few products like the K1000, even as high end headphones have become more popular than ever before. No one I ever played mine for failed to be utterly blown away by them. I miss them dearly.
The developer of the HD800 has made new models:
Jlab has a much more affordable alternative:
Hate to rain on your parade but those Jlabs are a up-priced Chinese product of a very cheap and poorly made product you can get for like $20 bucks from AliExpress. There’s been a recent uptick in the repackaging of these as well being put into kickstarters and the like. It’s all the same junk 
Damn. That’s a shame.
Do we have any updated timeframe/estimate when to expect these headphones? Besides the OG being an absolutely legendary headphone, this is on the short list of headphones that play nice with wearing glasses.
Currently we are aiming to have a new pre-production sample ready by early March for the CanJam NYC show. If all goes well we should be able to launch for pre-order with a reliable ship date.
There have been several other attempts at at K1K replacement. Notably MySphere and the RAAL Requisite SR1a. While both of these are excellent headphones, I don’t think either one really captured the K1K sound. I would be interested to know how this project plans to get it right where others have not?