I am getting K701s but I keep hearing about portability issues, so I will probably need another pair for carrying around, I love big cans that are at least semi-open because I live in NYC and I feel like not being able to hear around me can be very dangerous. I am in the process of getting one of these little amps Biosciencegeek Headphone Amplifier cMOY Premium Amp - eBay (item 130257193988 end time Sep-28-08 15:30:17 PDT) while a friend of mine is going to take a few months making me a custom full sized amp for my k701s

or is everyone's portability issues with the k701s that they are open?

I really love the look of the AKG headphones but if anyone thinks another brand makes more sense I am open to anything.

You may take a look on upcoming AKG k430, 420, 450.

A lot of closed cans don't even isolate that much, so you may not have the problem about not being able to hear around you. I can tell you that even with the Sennheiser HD25s which are probably one the highest if not, the highest isolating closed portable headphone, you can still hear some stuff around you with music at normal volumes (well I could anyway, but then again I listen at moderately low volumes, and am in public transport all the time), so it may be in your best interested to also look into closed headphones

K701s aren't portable, because 1. they are open just as you said, 2. they are huge, 3. they are very hard to drive.

Rather than looking into a brand of headphones, you should be looking into specific models :x + afaik AKG's don't have a whole lot to offer when it comes to decent portable headphones.

More info on the sound signature you're after and $$ you're willing to spend is needed!

Things have changed since I started this thread but while it's here, I'm getting my boyfriend a nice set of cans for christmas, he wants semi-open, he listens to rock, classical and some electronic. I don't want to spend more then 150 with an amp since this would just be his starter. He is also very picky about looks, does not like the way grados look (I think he's nuts) and he is also a big fan of the AKG look. any suggestions?

as for portable akg my thoughts go to k-181dj
simi-open k-240 gold or k-141 gold and k-280

edit: almost forgot 240sextett if you can find.

Yeah, the 81DJ would probably be your best bet, although I think they sound really off with stuff; made Coltrane sound like he was playing in the wrong key signature.

yuck ^ I really wish he liked grados, then it would be easy