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K701 vs MS2(i), Need Purchase Advice

post #1 of 15
10/26/06 at 11:37am
Thread Starter 
I want to purchase some new cans since I just got rid of my K501's and I'm going crazy not having anything to listen to. I really like both the AKG and Grado sound signature. However my K501's just didn't have enough bass and I love the slam that Grado's provide. Does the K701 improve much on this? From what I've read the MS2i is considered a side grade to the K701. I listen to alot of jazz, vocal music and the occasional classic rock so I am looking for an all around performer here. Anyone here own both, which do you prefer? I would like to make my order today so please help. Thanks.
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post #2 of 15
10/26/06 at 12:06pm
I've never heard the K501, so I don't know how the K701's slam compares to it. However, I do know that my 325i blows the K701 away in the slam department .
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post #3 of 15
10/26/06 at 1:03pm
k701 might sound a bit dry compared to ms2
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post #4 of 15
10/26/06 at 1:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by watchluvr4ever
However my K501's just didn't have enough bass and I love the slam that Grado's provide.
Except for the airy sound stage of my K501's, I've found my SR325i's to fit the bill quite nicely in adding that bottom octave.
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post #5 of 15
10/26/06 at 2:20pm
There is a fuller and more promenent presentation of the lower octaves with the 701 vs 501 and the balance does bring their bass more forward with an apparent lessening of the 501s midrange with an increase also of the HFs on the 701... However, to answer your question; No, there is no impactful bass to be had with the 701s! Of course, this quality will also be amplifier dependant because we are speaking in terms of mild degrees of difference. Yes, there is more LF energy transposed with the 701s; However, it is NOT impactful, enough so as not to be a ROCK genere HP by some, relative to other better choices! For which (Rock) I enjoy the presentation and the bass energy of the DT-990s! IME
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post #6 of 15
10/26/06 at 2:53pm
Thread Starter 
I called NS&L today and the K701's are still on backorder due to the heavy demand so I think I'm going to order the MS2(i).
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post #7 of 15
10/26/06 at 3:09pm
I probably shouldn't post as I've only heard the K701 for a few minutes. But I will anyway! They (K701) are usually mentioned on Head-Fi in the same breath as HD600/650, DT880 etc. Well FWIW, I owned DT880, HD600 and MS2i all at the same time to see which I liked best. I much prefered the MS2i to the Beyers, and I liked them a bit more than the HD600 although it was close, as they sounded surprisingly similar on my set-up - the MS2i being more forward. They certainly do have bass slam (just the right amount to my ears) and I personally love 'em - to me they are almost a musical instrument whereas the others are headphones. If you know what I mean. One thing I would say is that the MS2i are more picky over source/amp than I am led to believe other Grado's are. It took finding the right set of tubes to make mine really sing.

Good luck which ever way you go!

Pluck
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post #8 of 15
10/26/06 at 3:21pm
If you go with MS2i, make sure you get some good tubes somewhere in the system. Even very good SS system will sound WAY Too bright and hard.
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post #9 of 15
10/26/06 at 4:47pm
If you want a musical sound, avoid the K701.
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post #10 of 15
10/27/06 at 12:41am
Thread Starter 
I didn't order any new headphones today because I still find myself torn between the two. I like Grado's but there were things I liked about my K501's. This is not as easy as I thought it would be.
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post #11 of 15
10/27/06 at 12:56am
Quote:
Originally Posted by watchluvr4ever
I didn't order any new headphones today because I still find myself torn between the two. I like Grado's but there were things I liked about my K501's. This is not as easy as I thought it would be.
Ah the moments in life where you wish you were so rich you could blow all the money on all just so you know what its like
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post #12 of 15
10/27/06 at 2:27pm
Thread Starter 
Unfortunately I'm far from rich, or am I?
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post #13 of 15
10/27/06 at 5:06pm
No amp?
Go for the MS2i.
I have both K701 & SR325i (modded, comparable to MS2i), in the musical department you mention the SR325i beats the K701 hands down. The Grado does a lot better without an amp than the K701.
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post #14 of 15
10/27/06 at 5:32pm
I had both K701 and MS2i. I think AT AD2000 is what you want. It's not amp dependent as K701 and it has the slam that you enjoy. AD2000 is like hybrid between K701 and MS2i...plus it's not as amp dependent as K701 or MS2i.
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post #15 of 15
10/27/06 at 7:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ferraro25
If you want a musical sound, avoid the K701.
This is false. k701 is very musical in the right setup.
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