K701 appreciation thread! - Page 146

Quote:

Originally Posted by miceblue 

Wow, that's quite the compliment for the K 701. Usually people would prefer the HE-500 I think due to its awesome bass response.

Yup in all seriousness I wouldn't swap back to the HE500's. The 500's are brilliant at what they do, but they just don't have the imaging and soundstage for big complex peices. Same goes for the LCD2's for that matter. The K's are really special in that respect, the way that you can pin-point instruments in an orchestra for e.g. The newer K's don't seem to have that thin-ness in the mids that my 702's used to have. Not bashing the 702's here either because I had them for a year and thought they were brilliant too. Only I seem to be enjoying the AKG sound a lot more this time round. And I suppose that has to say something when I've spent the last 8 months listening to 2 high-end orthos. I thought that I would never be able to step down with headphones again. But the K701's are not a step down, no way. They are only a lot cheaper!

The orthos have a certain charm that makes pretty much any recording sound good. This is almost like wearing rose tinted lenses, you know its gonna sound good before you put them on your head. But its not realism. A headphone such as the k701's gives you the true picture, good or bad. Admittedly it makes you more selective in regards to recordings, but when the recording is good then the sound is a true hifi experience.  

I've read quite a bit of this thread today and one poster stated to not use a warm source with these and to let the music provide the warmth if it is there. I couldn't agree more! I think the whole point of owning a headphone such as the K701 is to appreciate the linearity. It was designed for accuracy, so don't colour it!

Cheers everyone!   

Quote:

Originally Posted by LugBug1 

Quote:

Originally Posted by miceblue 

Wow, that's quite the compliment for the K 701. Usually people would prefer the HE-500 I think due to its awesome bass response.

Yup in all seriousness I wouldn't swap back to the HE500's. The 500's are brilliant at what they do, but they just don't have the imaging and soundstage for big complex peices. Same goes for the LCD2's for that matter. The K's are really special in that respect, the way that you can pin-point instruments in an orchestra for e.g. The newer K's don't seem to have that thin-ness in the mids that my 702's used to have. Not bashing the 702's here either because I had them for a year and thought they were brilliant too. Only I seem to be enjoying the AKG sound a lot more this time round. And I suppose that has to say something when I've spent the last 8 months listening to 2 high-end orthos. I thought that I would never be able to step down with headphones again. But the K701's are not a step down, no way. They are only a lot cheaper!

The orthos have a certain charm that makes pretty much any recording sound good. This is almost like wearing rose tinted lenses, you know its gonna sound good before you put them on your head. But its not realism. A headphone such as the k701's gives you the true picture, good or bad. Admittedly it makes you more selective in regards to recordings, but when the recording is good then the sound is a true hifi experience.  

 

I've read quite a bit of this thread today and one poster stated to not use a warm source with these and to let the music provide the warmth if it is there. I couldn't agree more! I think the whole point of owning a headphone such as the K701 is to appreciate the linearity. It was designed for accuracy, so don't colour it!

 

Cheers everyone!   

Yeah, the LCD-2 has one of the smallest soundstages I have heard in an open back headphone.

Thinness of the mids? Certainly not, at least I think so. I do find the mids to have a slight metallic kind of sound to it though; I still like the mids nonetheless. :D

I don't know if it's due to the K 701's soundstage, but I find that a good chunk of my music doesn't sound very natural with the K 701. Maybe it's because it's open-back? Maybe it's because the K 701's strong L/R imaging leaves the center kind of lacking a bit to me? I didn't hear this kind of sound with closed-back headphones, such as the Shure SRH940.

Not to say the K 701 sounds bad, it's currently my reference headphone.

Quote:

Originally Posted by miceblue 

Yeah, the LCD-2 has one of the smallest soundstages I have heard in an open back headphone.

 

Thinness of the mids? Certainly not, at least I think so. I do find the mids to have a slight metallic kind of sound to it though; I still like the mids nonetheless. :D

 

I don't know if it's due to the K 701's soundstage, but I find that a good chunk of my music doesn't sound very natural with the K 701. Maybe it's because it's open-back? Maybe it's because the K 701's strong L/R imaging leaves the center kind of lacking a bit to me? I didn't hear this kind of sound with closed-back headphones, such as the Shure SRH940.

 

Not to say the K 701 sounds bad, it's currently my reference headphone.

I think you're right with the strong L/R imaging maybe giving the impression that the center image is lacking. But this can only be in comparison to other hp's with a more intimate soundstage where the center image is being kind of 'forced' on you. I personally think that the center image is good. The K's are my prefered hp for piano now, and they used to be when I ownded the 702's too. And you have to have a good solid center for solo instuments. Especially piano, for me its one of the hardest instruments to replicate with speakers and headphones. The dry and free sound of the K's for some reason is brilliant at this. Any colour in a headphone can affect the speed/decay and congest complex keyboard peices. There seems to be not much added and not much lost with the AKG's.

What is the favoured amp with these with everyone at the mo? They sound great with my Audio gd c2.2 which I have for my LCD2 set up. But I'm looking for the best cheaper amp for my bedside rig, as thats when I use my K's for classical and ambient (nice relaxing music to get lost in the K's massive soundstage). I currently have the Magni and I'm enjoying it, but I can't help thinking that it may be giving me a more agressive sound than is ideal for those music genres. Anyways I've ordered an M-stage and LN4562 opamp to see how good that is in comparison. I'll probably do a mini review of both as they are both entry level amps and the M-stage has a loyal following with the AKG's and I want to hear what the fuss is about. However, the Magni powers the K's very efficiantly so I'd be surprised if the M-stage is much, if at all better, since it is less powerful. Having said that, I have been surprised by less efficient amps in the past and I know there is a lot more than just current/voltage needed for quality and refinement. Anyways, I'll see which I prefer and then keep the winner.

I'll keep you guys posted.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LugBug1 

What is the favoured amp with these with everyone at the mo? They sound great with my Audio gd c2.2 which I have for my LCD2 set up. But I'm looking for the best cheaper amp for my bedside rig, as thats when I use my K's for classical and ambient (nice relaxing music to get lost in the K's massive soundstage). I currently have the Magni and I'm enjoying it, but I can't help thinking that it may be giving me a more agressive sound than is ideal for those music genres. Anyways I've ordered an M-stage and LN4562 opamp to see how good that is in comparison. I'll probably do a mini review of both as they are both entry level amps and the M-stage has a loyal following with the AKG's and I want to hear what the fuss is about. However, the Magni powers the K's very efficiantly so I'd be surprised if the M-stage is much, if at all better, since it is less powerful. Having said that, I have been surprised by less efficient amps in the past and I know there is a lot more than just current/voltage needed for quality and refinement. Anyways, I'll see which I prefer and then keep the winner.

I'll keep you guys posted.

I use an Objective 2 and the K 701's sound fine with it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LugBug1 

What is the favoured amp with these with everyone at the mo? They sound great with my Audio gd c2.2 which I have for my LCD2 set up. But I'm looking for the best cheaper amp for my bedside rig, as thats when I use my K's for classical and ambient (nice relaxing music to get lost in the K's massive soundstage). I currently have the Magni and I'm enjoying it, but I can't help thinking that it may be giving me a more agressive sound than is ideal for those music genres. Anyways I've ordered an M-stage and LN4562 opamp to see how good that is in comparison. I'll probably do a mini review of both as they are both entry level amps and the M-stage has a loyal following with the AKG's and I want to hear what the fuss is about. However, the Magni powers the K's very efficiantly so I'd be surprised if the M-stage is much, if at all better, since it is less powerful. Having said that, I have been surprised by less efficient amps in the past and I know there is a lot more than just current/voltage needed for quality and refinement. Anyways, I'll see which I prefer and then keep the winner.

I'll keep you guys posted.

I used the 701s with the Magni before for a very short time.  IMO the gain is set to high on the Magni.  If it matters I have the 7Bump pair. However, they don't pair very well together IMO.  The Magni is to forward tilted or bright for the 701s   It sounds better with the 702.65th though.

Well IMO they sound their best balanced.  Just IMO..  You know me.  I go Big or I go Home  They sound good on my B22

Quote:

Originally Posted by preproman 

Well IMO they sound their best balanced.  Just IMO..  You know me.  I go Big or I go Home  They sound good on my B22

 

 

 

 

Bluddy hell you've got them cabled up aswell!! Nicey!

Yeah I've got the Magni paired with my old and very warm Arcam NOS dac, plus the newer K's are a little warmer. Even so its the forward presentation that the Magni has got thats maybe a bit much for relaxing ambient/classical. Probs great for rock n stuff though.

Is there anything in your house that hasn't been recabled and balanced up to the max..? Your Hoover or kettle perhaps?

The clock radios are next.  I heard when it's re cabled the time is always correct..  Can't wait..

Just got the M-stage (LN4562 opamp) for my K701's and its working a treat. Really nice bass and soundstage. Although I do still rate the Magni highly with the K's, the M-stage is proving to be a more engaging listen. There is an added warmth and refinement that I'm noticing, also a lot more freedom with the volume control. Got it hooked up to a Vdac mkII and its a winning combo!

Magni is going up for sale tonight on fleabay uk.

mine sound noticably better with the Xcan v8 hybrid that my asguard.  The asguard made them sound thin as others have said.  I have also tried them with a hybrid made by Music Hall(forget the model) and they did quite well.  Not sure if this is a solid state vs. tube or partial tube issue.  Maybe I'll find out some day.  

I used to have an Xcan V3 paired with my K702's and it really brought out the soundstage, but it was biting in the treble. The V3 is a bright amp though

I can't seem to find a K702 appreciation thread. Is this one consolidating all K70x talk?

Quote:

Originally Posted by roguegeek 

I can't seem to find a K702 appreciation thread. Is this one consolidating all K70x talk?

Yeah sure why not? The older K 701 had a similar sound to the K 702. :)