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iPhone/iPod with K 701s?

post #1 of 11
9/13/08 at 11:24pm
Thread Starter 
I've been using In-Ears for a few years. I've been with Shure, Sennheiser, Bose, and others. I think I finally want to make the move over to cans. I think I have narrowed it down to the AKG K 701's. I will be using either an iPhone3G or a 5th gen. iPod video. If I am using my iPhone the music formats will either be .flac or aiff. If I am using my iPod, it will be standard aiff. Now what type of portable amplifier will I need? I don't know much about this because my In-Ears didn't require one ( I Thought). I would like the price range to be under $300. I have read that you guys say you need a good home amplifier to get their full potential. I would like to get their full potential, but I don't have to. I can also make a DIY amp. I've made many DIY electronic components.

Oh yeah. I mainly listen to acoustic (DMB, Black Crowes, OAR, ...) A little rap now and then. If that helps.

Finally, if you took the time to read that all the way through, lol, I am open to other headphone suggestions.
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post #2 of 11
9/13/08 at 11:38pm
When I was first getting into this hobby, I was very naive and first listened to the K701 through a 5G iPod. Very airy, no impact, but it sounded decent. I used portable amps on it (PA2V2 and RSA Hornet), and it honestly really didn't do it any good.

A few months of owning the K701 and me still "meh" about it, I bought the KSC75, and immediately knew it was better than the K701. So I sold the K701, kept the KSC75.

I have since then listened to the K701 at meets through high-class home amplifiers, and it sounds even better, but still too airy and bass-light for my taste.

So, my experience would tell me to tell you:

1.) Don't buy a K701

2.) Never try portable amps with "home" headphones

3.) Buy a Sennheiser HD600 instead.

4.) You could be like me and have a setup like this: [iPod] - [LOD-to RCA cable] - [Home amp] - [Headphones]. It worked out really well actually when I did it. The iPod was an iMod, the amp was a Little Dot MK IV SE, and the headphones were a Grado RS-2.

Good luck with your journey!
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post #3 of 11
9/13/08 at 11:53pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheMarchingMule View Post
When I was first getting into this hobby, I was very naive and first listened to the K701 through a 5G iPod. Very airy, no impact, but it sounded decent. I used portable amps on it (PA2V2 and RSA Hornet), and it honestly really didn't do it any good.

A few months of owning the K701 and me still "meh" about it, I bought the KSC75, and immediately knew it was better than the K701. So I sold the K701, kept the KSC75.

I have since then listened to the K701 at meets through high-class home amplifiers, and it sounds even better, but still too airy and bass-light for my taste.

So, my experience would tell me to tell you:

1.) Don't buy a K701

2.) Never try portable amps with "home" headphones

3.) Buy a Sennheiser HD600 instead.

4.) You could be like me and have a setup like this: [iPod] - [LOD-to RCA cable] - [Home amp] - [Headphones]. It worked out really well actually when I did it. The iPod was an iMod, the amp was a Little Dot MK IV SE, and the headphones were a Grado RS-2.

Good luck with your journey!
By KSC75, do you mean the $20 pair of Koss headphones? They outperformed a pair of K701s? Anyways, I need something portable, not a home amp. Any more suggestions? I looked into the pair of HD600s, their ohm rating is way higher than a pair of K701's. So they would need a good amp right?
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post #4 of 11
9/14/08 at 12:07am
Yes, the $20 pair.
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post #5 of 11
9/14/08 at 12:12am
I'm not sure how the iPhone/full size iPod would fare, but my nano can't even get my K701s to adequate listening levels, much less reveal all the details that make the K701s good cans. If you want to go straight out of an iPod, look elsewhere.

That said, my experience has been opposite that of marching mule's... such is subjectivity I think the 701s, when properly amped and sourced, are amazing for acoustic and electronic, and try as I might I can't find a Sennheiser I would consider buying after listening to the K701s (I was about to buy 650s based off recommendations but backed down when I heard them). I like brighter sounding headphones, so the Sennheisers just sound very "off".

You would probably like the K701 for acoustic, but they're not at all rap cans. I also find them irritating with some rock.
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post #6 of 11
9/14/08 at 12:16am
Thread Starter 
What type of portable amp would get the K701s sounding adequately? Also, how much money would needed to be invested besides the phones themselves.
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post #7 of 11
9/14/08 at 12:26am
My mini^3 does alright with them, and if you don't mind soldering you can build one for ~$80-90. That'll probably sound about 90% as good as a decent desktop amp.

Your BIG bottleneck will be your source. If you're just amping the iPod, you're still getting iPod quality sound, just properly driven. You will need a better source to use them to their potential. After you pass the threshold where you have enough juice to get them going, upgrading your source gives you a much bigger improvement than upgrading the amp.

From where you're starting, I would recommend getting something like a mini^3, iBasso or PPA so that your K701s can actually be driven, then spend the rest of your budget on the best source you can afford. Look into Keces, Zhaolu, and Zero DACs as solid, affordable source options. The Zero has the added benefit of a decent built-in headphone amp. Total, you're looking at ~$200-$400 in hardware to get the K701s going properly.
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post #8 of 11
9/14/08 at 12:34am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by dgbiker1 View Post
My mini^3 does alright with them, and if you don't mind soldering you can build one for ~$80-90. That'll probably sound about 90% as good as a decent desktop amp.

Your BIG bottleneck will be your source. If you're just amping the iPod, you're still getting iPod quality sound, just properly driven. You will need a better source to use them to their potential. After you pass the threshold where you have enough juice to get them going, upgrading your source gives you a much bigger improvement than upgrading the amp.

From where you're starting, I would recommend getting something like a mini^3, iBasso or PPA so that your K701s can actually be driven, then spend the rest of your budget on the best source you can afford. Look into Keces, Zhaolu, and Zero DACs as solid, affordable source options. The Zero has the added benefit of a decent built-in headphone amp. Total, you're looking at ~$200-$400 in hardware to get the K701s going properly.
so:
[iPhone playing .flac & AIFF's]--[SiK White ram din]--[mini^3 amp]--[K701s]
wouldn't put the K701s going properly? I'm pretty new to this and I'm still tying to learn as much as I can.
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post #9 of 11
9/14/08 at 12:43am
It'll get them going, and it'll sound pretty good with acoustic music, but it won't be anything jaw-dropping and definitely not what you would expect based on their reputation (from the people that like them). I think you might be happier with other headphones though if that's the setup you want to keep.

To give you an idea, I used to listen to an ipod with my MkIII and Mini^3 amps. My K701s got a LOT less playtime than my Grado SR225s and Atrio M5s. Then I built a good DAC to take the iPod's place, now I listen to the K701s about 80-90% of the time.

They are extremely revealing of less than stellar sources, so the iPod's average SQ is harsh and fatiguing through the K701. But with a good source they become very smooth and engaging.
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post #10 of 11
9/14/08 at 3:54am
Thread Starter 
ok, Grado SR's vs RS's? What's the main difference besides the wood (obvious).
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post #11 of 11
9/14/08 at 10:12am
Besides the price?

Overall refinement. RS tend to be smoother and clearer with a pinch more soundstage. They are great for acoustic and electric guitars, but price/performance starts to take a hit.

I use ipod>bithead>k701s right now. While i am looking to upgrade, i was VERY happy for years and to be honest still am. Especially since you are so new, all those amazing refinements in source or amp differences will be largely lost on you, in all likelihood.
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