K701 appreciation thread! - Page 143

Quote:

Originally Posted by kramer5150 

Fi-ers have been hearing differences in K701 batches for a very long time, well before the Q701 (and even K702).  Heres a pic from ~2006 and a mini meet where the owner of these stated they were very different sounding from one to another.  I don't recall hearing anything vastly different between the two on a 100% blind A/B test.  Probably because the owner was very familiar with them and knew exactly what to listen for.  It was only AFTER he told me what to listen for that I could hear anything significant.  I think these were about 1.5 years apart form each other, with accordingly different burn-in levels.

 

I'm trying to track down an old K701, from the earlier "bass-lean" era.

 

I think it is great that you tried this with a blind test initially. I note that you write "It was only AFTER he told me what to listen for that I could hear anything significant".

I feel like it might be a reasonable time for me to mention my article:

Suggestion and Autosuggestion in the Assessment of Audio Products

It might be that there have been changes in the sound over a 1.5 year period. I have had a pair of K702s for two years and I suspect that the treble has softened a little bit in that time. However I would need to try this out in a double blind listening test with a brand new pair before I would state that it was certain. Another problem of course with assessing this is that inconsistency in the headphone manufacture over time may be the reason for a difference if there is one. However to ascertain difference in the first place imho it means double blind test is essential.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kramer5150 

Quote:

Originally Posted by miceblue 

Though I'm not 100% sure about it, some people say that when the Q 701 came out, the K 701 got a slightly different driver as well and supposedly the newer K 701's sound very similar to the Q 701, which is slightly warmer-sounding than the K 702 and older K 701's.

 

If someone brings the K 702 and Q 701 again to a local Head-Fi meet, I'll try to compare them with my newer K 701.

Fi-ers have been hearing differences in K701 batches for a very long time, well before the Q701 (and even K702).  Heres a pic from ~2006 and a mini meet where the owner of these stated they were very different sounding from one to another.  I don't recall hearing anything vastly different between the two on a 100% blind A/B test.  Probably because the owner was very familiar with them and knew exactly what to listen for.  It was only AFTER he told me what to listen for that I could hear anything significant.  I think these were about 1.5 years apart form each other, with accordingly different burn-in levels.

 

I'm trying to track down an old K701, from the earlier "bass-lean" era.

 

Wow, that's interesting to hear. I wonder if AKG will give a meaningful reply if I send them an e-mail about it. *I have doubts though*

At the last Head-Fi meet I went to (which was at the end of last year), I definitely do recall hearing more warmth in the Q 701 versus the K 702.

I was looking through Mad Lust Envy's gaming thread and I saw this:

Quote:

AKG K701 (K702)



update: my impressions are for an older K701 (7 bump version). New K701s (8 bumps on headband) MIGHT sound close, or the same as the Q701. Too many conflicting reports to say who is right, and who is wrong. All I know is that my old K701 sounded different enough from the newer Q701s.

Sells for around $250-300.
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

Remember how I felt the AD700 did something to me? How it completely change my view on headphones and Dolby Headphone? Well, I got that same feeling again with the K701. In fact, I felt like god had given me the secret to just out right smite my enemies with the hammer of justice. The K701 to me, is pure, unadulterated, SMACKDOWN inducing OWNAGE. The very first time I used them (Modern Warfare 2), I went 2 straight 25-0 games in Free For All. I mean, holy smokes. The K701 was like wearing x-ray vision goggles for my ears. Depth, width, imaging, complete detail retrieval... it had it all. These to me, are the very vision of the perfect gaming headphone (with Dolby Headphone). I'd still place the overall positioning behind the DT770 Pro 80, and AD700, but it's on par with the HD598. We're talking about them being maybe a 9.9 instead of a 10 (which is what the 770s and AD700s are to me). Those two have NOTHING on the clarity and detail-whoring the K701 has. The bass is light, but present enough for it not to be anywhere near a complaint for me. It just works. You want my top pick for a purely godlike hardcore gaming headphone? The K70x is it. Now if only they were easy to drive. Believe it or not, the Mixamp does a good job driving the K70x, as long as you don't mix in voice chat whatsoever. Talking about leaving the game/voice balance completely on the game side. Once you nudge the balance away from game, the volume takes a steep dive, and you will note how badly the things need an amp.

Now I already know how volume =/= driving force, but for gaming with dolby headphone, you WON'T think about that or notice. Trust me, the Mixamp is enough for the K701 if again, you don't add voice chat. If you do, you WILL need to attach an amp to the Mixamp's headphone out, just to juice the K70x and voice chat audio. Yes, they do scale with good amping, but for the purpose of gaming, I don't deem it necessary, asides from when you're in need of voice chat.

Comfort-wise, quite polarizing. A lot of people have issue with the headband's bumps. I won't lie, they take getting used to. However, once you've beared with it enough, your head will get desensitized by that particular sensation. The bumps no longer affect me in the least. I find them extremely comfortable. My only complaint now is that I wish the headband extended just a little more. I have to fully extend them to fit me properly, and it's quite noticeably felt, though it's not a real discomfort.

Fun: 6/10 (Decent. There is SOME fullness to the old K701, though it is ultimately a sterile, and highly analytical headphone unless paired up with a very warm amp.)

Competitve: 10/10 (Basically Perfection. The meaning of God-mode is strong with this one. If you want a headphone to pick apart details from everything arround you, this one is pretty hard to pass up.)

Comfort: 7.5/10 (Pretty Good. The bumps may be a factor for a lot of people.)

hmm, maybe thats why when i owned my K701, i didn't find them as bass light as other people described them, they also seemed to have a slight warmth to them. they sounded absolutely fantastic out of the WA6-SE.

EDIT: just checked some of my older pics, i had the new 8 bump version.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dubstep Girl 

hmm, maybe thats why when i owned my K701, i didn't find them as bass light as other people described them, they also seemed to have a slight warmth to them. they sounded absolutely fantastic out of the WA6-SE.

 

EDIT: just checked some of my older pics, i had the new 8 bump version.

Yeah that's really weird. That's the first time I've heard of the difference in "bump" count.

Mine has 8 bumps as well.

7 bumps

^ Also, I just noticed how thin those earpads are. Maybe it's due to break-in/wear over time, but my pads look substantially thicker than that.

wow, that is a massive difference in pad thickness. Can it be like that only because of wear time?

Quote:

Originally Posted by dragan85 

wow, that is a massive difference in pad thickness. Can it be like that only because of wear time?

Actually I realized my photo was of the back of the earpads, which are supposed to be thicker than the front.

^ this looks more like that other photo, and the thinness of that one might have been due to prolonged use

^ 7 bumps right there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by adgaps 

here's mine, serial no. 14xxx, seven bumps



already ordered replacement pads, since i got my K701 pre-owned, and pads haven't been replaced for almost 2 years already..

sounds cold but very detailed, wide, and somehow full when properly driven.
best for acoustic, jazz, and classical.

Hey where are you getting your replacement pads from?  I have a used K701 incoming, serial number ~11k range with at least a few hundred hours on them.  These are of the bass-shy vintage and might need new pads.  I'll know when I get them. But the replacement pads are around $35 each!!!  are there any places selling for less than that?

Quote:

Originally Posted by dragan85 

wow, that is a massive difference in pad thickness. Can it be like that only because of wear time?

That's because one picture is taken from the rear and the other from the front. The K70X pads are thicker in the rear to angle to the cup lightly backwards. I noticed this when I once put my pads on at different angles unknowingly, and got a really weird fit on my head.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kramer5150 

Hey where are you getting your replacement pads from?  I have a used K701 incoming, serial number ~11k range with at least a few hundred hours on them.  These are of the bass-shy vintage and might need new pads.  I'll know when I get them. But the replacement pads are around $35 each!!!  are there any places selling for less than that?

i just had a local headphone store here in Manila order a pair for me. i'm getting it for approx. $78 including taxes, which makes it about $39~ each pad.

i know Moon Audio is selling them for $32.50 each pad. can't think of other online sellers that have them for less.

solid thanks!!

# 14318

Man, I'm really loving my K 701's.

I find the mids to be a bit lacking in weight, but the overall clarity and transparency is very good.