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Audio Technica AD700 vs AKG K501

post #1 of 11
2/23/08 at 5:06am
Thread Starter 
I was hoping the "Can-gods" could help me on this one... I haven't really had the opportunity to listen to many good headphones (the only references I have are the AKG 501, HD280, and lowly KSC75). I love my ksc75's but was looking for a step up for local listening.

I'm interested in open headphones in the ~100 or less range. I listen to everything, but primarily primarily listen to acoustic (with vocals), classical, and jazz. I borrowed the 501's for a couple of days, but they felt a little tight (they were new, but honestly--it may just be my big head-- Note: my wife thinks its the head )

Long story short: Compare sound signatures and comfort between AKG 501's and AT AD700s... it will be going unamped, for now. (other suggestions welcome)


P.S. I think you headphone guys are right-- I could not believe my ears when I first heard the 501s... I have a very respectable stereo setup and for a ~$100 bucks it the 501's near knocked it flat...

Sorry about the length of this thread--you guys really are awesome...
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post #2 of 11
2/23/08 at 6:36am
I'm far from can-god (more like a can-pedestrian) but I'll try to help.
AD700s run great unamped and they have pretty balanced sound with slightly colored midrange - a great all-rounder.
K501s benefit greatly from amping, with their high impedance rating, it's almost necessary to get a dedicated amp. You could run them unamped from an ipod, but they will not be loud enough for music listening in most cases ( think of ipod on volume level 6-7 at most)
K501s excel on classical music and acoustic guitar-stuff, also with new age. AD700 do almost every genre of music well, save for hardest rock IMO.
K501 is very mid-high centric, with lean bass (it's still a good quality of bass, but there's very little of it) AD700s are fairly balanced across all ranges.

so I would recommend AD700 if you're looking for all-rounder.

I hope that helps!
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post #3 of 11
2/23/08 at 6:53am
yeah, in my experience the AD700 is much more comfortable if you have a larger head

the AD700s i find are more balanced across the range, with their strength being their mids i feel. some consider it a little honky but i find it does vocals and jazz great - nice big soundstage too. not as detailed as the K501 but still ok.

that being said the K501s are very detailed with a huge soundstage, their forward mids are also a strength, but their lean bass may deter some. amping is a must and maybe a source on the warm side to even things out.

so these headphones share many similarities as far as their strengths go, but their weakness are quite different.
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post #4 of 11
2/23/08 at 8:36am
I'd seriously consider at least a basic headphone amp and if necessary sorting your source. The first time I tried out a few different models of headphones, it was from the 1/8th headphone socket of a CD player, which was a big mistake, as I felt I couldn't hear any significant difference and certainly not one justifying the price of HD650's over what I already had.

What I see you doing is going through a bunch of different headphones then later once you have a proper amp, going back and rediscovering them, especially considering the difference a proper amp makes to AKG's.
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post #5 of 11
2/23/08 at 8:49am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Currawong View Post
I felt I couldn't hear any significant difference and certainly not one justifying the price of HD650's over what I already had.
This is an interesting observation. When I still had primitive gear: Chaintech AV-710 combined with a portable amp, differences between my headphones at the time - MS-1, DT770 and AD700 - were there, but nowhere near as pronounced as when I upgraded my source and amp.

With each source upgrade and to some degree each amp upgrade, for those headphones that are more amp dependant, the differences between headphones becomes more pronounced and more obvious.

I *nearly* wrote off this hobby as not being for me because each headphone sounded so similar to the next, but thankfully this forum saved me. Or did it??? (hears wallet crying)
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post #6 of 11
2/23/08 at 9:37am
Quote:
Originally Posted by d-cee View Post
This is an interesting observation. When I still had primitive gear: Chaintech AV-710 combined with a portable amp, differences between my headphones at the time - MS-1, DT770 and AD700 - were there, but nowhere near as pronounced as when I upgraded my source and amp.

With each source upgrade and to some degree each amp upgrade, for those headphones that are more amp dependant, the differences between headphones becomes more pronounced and more obvious.

I *nearly* wrote off this hobby as not being for me because each headphone sounded so similar to the next, but thankfully this forum saved me. Or did it??? (hears wallet crying)
X2
AD700s AD900s improve very slightly with an amp, but it's hardly a necessary such as K701s. AT produces low impedence 'phones that are easy to drive.
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post #7 of 11
2/23/08 at 11:02am
For jazz, classical and other acoustic venues, the K501--properly amped--are difficult to beat. Vocals, in particular, sound spectacular. : )
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post #8 of 11
2/23/08 at 11:41am
Luckily, you've picked 2 very comfortable phones. The AD700 has big, soft pads that distribute its weight lightly and evenly around the ear. For some the plastic shield in front of the driver touches the ear but this is easily remedied by placing plastic tubing under the cushion to lift the driver off the ear. Like the AD700, the K501 has big pads that lightly distribute their weight around the ear but the K501 is less comfortable because its pads are more rigid and each time you put them on it takes some time for your body heat to soften them up. Both phones sound very good but the K501 is more of an adult phone since many people under thirty find it very difficult to appreciate its subtly sublime sonic signature.
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post #9 of 11
2/23/08 at 10:52pm
Thread Starter 

Thanks

Thank you to all who responded... guess Ill be giving Audio Technica a shot after all. - E
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post #10 of 11
2/25/08 at 10:07am
Grab a tube amp for the K-501, they sounded really great with even a Little Dot II+. Sort of close your eyes and sit on the floor and get chills all over great.

It kept me happy for ages until them amp started playing up!
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post #11 of 11
2/25/08 at 2:26pm
AD700 is a much better phone all around IMO. More extended top end, quicker, more exciting, but still smooth. Needs a good run-in though. And the most comfortable phone I have worn.
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