Waiting for New AKG Flagship Headphones - Page 9

I am so disappointed... I knew it, but still I got my hopes up.

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulb09 

The AKG site is pretty much at a stand-still, but from what I can see, it looks like they've sealed their position as the kings of re-branding. Should have seen the Quincy Jones re-brands coming considering we've seen pictures of him wearing the Q701.

Have they even developed any new drivers in the last 5-10 years? Not sure when the K701 was released, but it must be about then.

 

At least people will stop complaining about the toilet-bowl white; the Q701 is available in black too.

 

[edit]Here are some screenshots someone took, for those that can't get to the site: http://www.hifisentralen.no/forum/index.php/topic,50263.0.html

So now Quincy Jones has his own headphones...take that Dr. Dre.

Major disappointment!

Well I haven't actually heard it said about the K701 directly, but I was surprised to learn the K601 is now made in China (more recent buyers mentioned this in a topic somewhere), so I wouldn't be surprised if they've started doing the K701/2 there too. Especially considering they share a fair few parts, so it would seem strange to manufacture the K601 in China, and the K701 in Austria when they could just do both there and scrap the Austria factory, saving a good deal of money.

And I know most headphone companies do their lower end models in China, but as for the K601, we're talking about a second-in-line model. As far as I am aware, Sennheiser still do the HD600 and HD650 in Germany, as do Beyerdynamic with the DT770, DT880 and DT990, not to mention the new high-end offerings from both.
 

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Originally Posted by dcpoor 

They build K701/702's in China now? I find that highly unlikely. And Sennheiser's lower end models are built in china as well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcpoor 

They build K701/702's in China now? I find that highly unlikely. And Sennheiser's lower end models are built in china as well.

They don't. On the K701/702 as well as the new Q701 it still says 'Made in Austria'.

Otherwise: Damn, I had almost gotten my hopes up for some real news after all the rumors (even partly by AKG themselves) of a successor to the K701.

AKG does state as follows on their website,

"Now, we've engineered it into the most accurate and responsive reference headphones we've ever produced."

Maybe they have made some changes.. Maybe improved efficiency. But that is a very bold statement to make if they are just rebranding the K701.

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulb09 
As far as I am aware, Sennheiser still do the HD600 and HD650 in Germany

My HD650 was built in Ireland, but my DT770/600 was built in Germany.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bastet 

Quote:

...as well as the new Q701....

Yikes.  Is this a new version for crossing guards, bicyclists and firemen?

Let me guess...   white=K701 +  Black K702 = Green Q701  Hopefully my equation is correct 

AKG fan should be happy, now we have 3 color options!!!  I would love to have the white one. Maybe soon will have Blue and pink available.

Freaking headband bumps again... why the hell do they insist on keeping those?  unless they soften those up and space those out significantly more (note: nothing in the middle parts and more padding on the sides) then those are just going to drive into people's skull like the K701/2's.  Ah well, at least the K601 pad is known to be swappable now...

Green? Hopefully it isnt a waste of green to get them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ztsen 

Let me guess...   white=K701 +  Black K702 = Green Q701  Hopefully my equation is correct 

 

AKG fan should be happy, now we have 3 color options!!!  I would love to have the white one. Maybe soon will have Blue and pink available.

I thought blue was already available

Quote:

Originally Posted by K_19 

Freaking headband bumps again... why the hell do they insist on keeping those?

Because to remove them they would have to change the headphones!!!  That's not their style. 

AKG hasn't created anything new since the 80's.  Unless tweaking the K400 for 30 years or cheapening the K240 counts as innovation.  They have very innovative marketing though!  I don't think AKG is any better than BOSE at this point.  The only difference is that AKG/Harman started off with better designs, inherited from the real AKG and Bose had to start from scratch.

Edited

I will be flamed for this but I did enjoy the sound signature of the K701/k601, while I would be slightly dissapointed if it's just a rebranding with a minor tweaking, but a slight adjustment (soundwise) could be sufficient for my personal preference. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fantoon 

I will be flamed for this but I did enjoy the sound signature of the K701/k601, while I would be slightly dissapointed if it's just a rebranding with a minor tweaking, this slight adjustment could be sufficient for my personal preference. 

Minor tweak is paint job. if you like lime green order it

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frank I 

Minor tweak is paint job. if you like lime green order it

Maybe I will