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Member Reviews: AKG K701 Studio Headphones

Positive Reviews

JeckyllAndHyde

Truly audiophile

Posted
By JeckyllAndHyde

Pros: SQ!, build quality, design, comfort*

Cons: comfort* and sometimes bass

Lets start with:   Design, build quality & comfort:   They are white - thats what people notice on the first look. I must say I really like the design and the "feel" - The leather headband is a nice addition to the white and gray colors. Build quality is very very good - they are very sturdy and don't feel like breaking apart after a month. I dropped them incidentally few times, rolled with my chair over the cable and they are still in prefect condition. 4 Stars   *Comfort - before I bought them I read alot about the comfort (haedband) issue and when I put them first time on my head I was sure that the rumors were true - the bumps were digging a hole in my...
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Ceja-Blu

AKG701's the black sheep of classical headphones

Posted
By Ceja-Blu

Pros: Noticeable detail and placement definition

Cons: Midrange shy and bass shy when driving rock & metal

Out of contrarian rage, I ended up getting another  pair of 701s just to see why everyone is so intent on bashing these cans.  All my silver-haired classical mastering guys love these cans and go on about their ability to open the soundstage and layer it with subtle and rich detail .  Indeed, Vocal, jazz groups , piano solo, acoustic jazz, Guitar and plucked instruments, and ethnic music sounds exemplary through these cans.  They are noticeably cleaner and better defined when generously amped.   The build quality is above average for this pricepoint.  The design feels solid, well balanced and well thought-out. It's a relatively "big" assembly but never...
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poikkeus

A classic for classical/chamber

Posted
By poikkeus

Pros: Maybe the best phone for classical, lean, clear sound

Cons: Not ideal for rock

Although I also own a HD800, I'm keeping my AKG K701 for its combination of comfort and performance with classical music - in which it excels. Aside from the Beyer DT-880, the most comfortable headphone currently made, the K701 has plush velour pads (though users with bigger heads may prefer a larger phone). And the illusion of head space is equal to that of the DT880 and Senn HD800, making this phone easy to wear for extended periods of time.    The bass (or rather, the relative absence) is the sticking point for many. I believe that the sound is nicely balanced, but there's no question that it struggles to manage music with a more assertive bass presence. The phones have a ribbed top,...
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Negative Reviews

Uncle Erik

The only headphone I regretted buying and was happy to sell.

Posted
By Uncle Erik

Pros: Comfortable, attractive, priced reasonably.

Cons: Godawful mids that sound artificial and plastic.

This is the only pair of headphones I bought that I was never able to warm up to.  The reason for this is that the mids - especially vocals - take on an unnatural, artificial and plasticky sound.  They never sounded true to life and began to grate on me after short listening periods.  They were OK for instrumental music, but even then, the tonality was off in the mids.   What's disappointing is that AKG dropped the K-501 and K-1000, and gave us this.  The K-701/2 is nothing like AKG's previous efforts.  I have the K-1000, K-340 and K-240DF, and used to have the K-501.  All of those got the midrange right.  I was expecting to love the K-701 as well, but like I said, the artificial...
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The Monkey

Yuck

Posted
By The Monkey

Pros: Detail

Cons: Flat and boring with one exception

LISTENED AT MANY MEETS   I never did get it about these phones.  I think they sound tinny and boring.  The only time I have ever heard them sound somewhat decent has been out of the big HeadRoom amps.  There's something to that combo.  Otherwise a real snore.
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PointyFox

Expect and receive overpriced bathroom hardware

Posted
By PointyFox

Pros: Detail, clarity, soundstage width

Cons: Unnatural soundstage, unnatural lack of bass, supremely uncomfortable, looks like bathroom hardware

Audio Quality: This is a very detailed and fast headphone.  Soundstage is very wide, but unnatural sounding.  Lack of bass makes the overall sound very plasticky and artificial.  My BOSE triports sound better overall.   Comfort: The pads are about as comfortable as the Beyerdynamics', however, the bumps on the underside of the headband dig into your skull.  I couldn't wear them for more than 20 minutes without having to reposition them.   Design: Other than looking like bathroom hardware strapped to your head, there are elastic bands which help adjust the earcups which will inevitably degrade over time.   Value: I've heard better headphones for this price, namely the...
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More Reviews

Happy Camper

They have their place.

Posted
By Happy Camper

Pros: Wide but balanced presentation, details without loudness,

Cons: finicky to amp

When I first got the K701, I had been using the Ety 4s so the bass was actually better on the 701s. They did sound tinny and shallow. I read that they needed about 400 hours of play to settle into the final character they will provide so I left them on along with a new tube amp for three weeks non stop. If they were going to fail, I wanted them to do it early in the warranty.   They did indeed respond both to moderate volume material and a more powerful amp. As I became more knowledgeable of the nuances of the sound, I started tweaking the cables, tubes and power cords.   I can say that while other headphones in the $250 range may have looks or a "wow"sound initially, I have...
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slowpogo

Fantastic - with proper break-in

Posted
By slowpogo

Pros: Detail, soundstage, looks

Cons: Comfort, extended break-in needed

I'll first say that when I initially got these headphones and plugged them in, I was pretty disappointed.  The sound was thin, plasticy and terribly rough on my ears.  BUT I had read enough about the K701's to know that people recommend an extended break-in period of at least 100-200 hours.   I made a temporary setup in the laundry room: old iPod plugged into old Onkyo receiver, K701's plugged into receiver's headphone output.  I put a varied playlist on repeat, and kept the volume quite low at first.  I let it run 24/7, each day raising the volume some until it was at a decently loud listening level.  After about 11-12 days I had a listen - WONDERFUL!  There was now a deep liquid...
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MadJackalIto

AKG 701 very nice headphone

Posted
By MadJackalIto

Pros: very detailed, good bass (not bassy ) very nice sound

Cons: a bit unconfortable the headband, problem with bigheads, need a Home/desktop amp not the best choice for portables amps

Greetings   well... how to describe this headphones?...  VERY NICE pair of headphones, very detailed, analitical, good response and bass enough. Very nice on classical and jazz music. Ideal for CDs or Vinyls of symphonic music.   Looks very well and need a good amp and DAC, but still unamped sound very nice. Cheers.
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Audiopro

fantastic pleasure at a bargain price

Posted
By Audiopro

Pros: Dynamics, fun, comfort, definition

Cons: nothing at this price

I have owned a few headphones including Sennheiser HD 600 and Grado SR80i. I simply sold the Grado when I heard the AKG701, not because the Grado is bad, but simply because of the level of fun and excitement the AKG gives me when I listen to classical. At this price it simply unexpected. The bass is not too present by more than enough for any experienced hifi enthusiast who likes classical and Jazz (maybe not rap  or other boomy music) I will not write many lines about the bandwidth, midrange etc which is absolutely perfect. The most important things for a headphone is how much fun it brings you and its capability to virtually disappear from your head. Its comfort is top....
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bedlam inside

Make listening to music Fun, great headphones for a sensible budget,

Posted
By bedlam inside

Pros: Overall Balance, ability to play clean and loud

Cons: Attenuated bass requires EQ or an Amplifier with suitable bass boost, cannot match the best for airyness and 3D presentation

Conclusion   Sonically well above average, decent build quality and excellent ergonomics AND a real world price that is not mad price, these ‘can’s are ‘bad’, but in a good way. In absolute terms they are no match for the best Headphones I have come across, but they do so much right for relative sane money and are so much fun to listen to, these go for now to the top of my shopping list. Jack Wolfskin coat or these headphones? I’m gonna say sorry Jack, hello Quincy. I’d still like a pair of ‘can’s with ergonomics like these but with planar drivers and for less than a monkey, (<£500) please, but that failing, these I can live with on all fronts… Let me see if I can keep...
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BK201

Despite all the hate, I love these

Posted
By BK201

Pros: nice mid-treble ratio, soundstage

Cons: bass rolls off

Similar sounding to the HD600, but is a bit brighter. Not as bright as the DT880. One thing that I like about these headphones is the out-of-head experience that it provides. It's like hearing the music in 3D and you can easily pick apart the instruments. I think the weakness is the lack of bass (similar to the HD600) and maybe that it can get a bit harsh in the 2-3kHz region at times leading to a somewhat honky sound. But the soundstage is fantastic, very similar to the HD800 in terms of presentation of sounds. Oh and those headband bumps... glad they got rid of them in the limited edition 65th edition K702s. Maybe the K703's or whatever the next variation in the line-up...
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muxamed

Another legendary headphone from AKG

Posted
By muxamed

Pros: Airiness, resolution, mids, musicality

Cons: can be a little uncomfortable on the crown

I have had these headphones for some time now and would like to write a simple review. They sound absolutely fantastic. I also have a Sennheiser HD 650 which I immensely like for all their virtues but after purchasing k701 I rarely reach for my Senns. k701 is a better allrounder and particularly fits the music styles I love the most, classical and jazz. That big and airy sound is simply magical. Every note and every small detail is so clearly reproduced and presented. The tone is very balanced and quite natural. 
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6dublefive3two1

Clean.

Posted
By 6dublefive3two1

Pros: True flat response.

Cons: I don't have a mellon head.

Some have said that these are more suited to classical. I understand why. Personally, I knew I had a keeper after my first session with my Lo Fi blues collection. Hard to admit, but better than my cherished k280. I have number 29222. Funny thing, mine has the "akg" swivels on the headband. Not lower near the driver. Thats where the left and right identifiers are.
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szoze

One of the best

Posted
By szoze

Pros: Detailed and natural sound, flat frequency response, glorious mids, nice-looking, somewhat comfortable

Cons: Need time to soften up

These are one of the best headphones I have ever heard, and I have heard a couple. I undoubtedly prefer them to Senn HD650, like them slightly more than Senn HD600 and Beyer DT880. Why? Because they have more natural sounding midrange and airier soundstage, characteristics that fit the music genres I prefer (classical and jazz). In terms of neutrality these are as good as Senn HD800. The bass is nicely extended and precise. Mind you, they need proper amplification. Don't expect them to sound great right out of an iPod. I have heard mine with MF x-can v3 and there is no synergy between the two. A better match is the cheap Pro-ject headphone amp. They sound even better if you drive them...
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Where to Buy It

EarphoneSolutionsAKG K701 Studio Headphones at EarphoneSolutions$399.00See It »
Amazon.comAKG K 701 Headphones (White) at Amazon.comToo low to displaySee It »
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