AKG Q701 disappointing? Help on deciding please

Q701 are headphones that require headphone amps that are even more expensive that Q701 price. If your using Macbook, DAC is also mandatory for audiophile level realism. Q701 needs serious equipment around not just Macbook.

 

Try this one: http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/schiit/9.html

Edited by VALIENTE - 6/17/11 at 11:16pm

Yes, running them through the onboard sound of a Macbook.

 

Quote:

 

Yes that is right experience. For example, I tried Grado SR60 with my PC onboard, it sounds greater than my K701. But try K701 with an amp, it will sound greater than SR60. So you now see the difference of owning audiophile equipments.

 

Your Macbook's onboard sound is struggling to provide sufficient power to the headphones and is causing distortion.
 

 

That might be your source that's causing the distortion.

 

An external DAC/amp essentially serves the same function as a soundcard - in fact, that's basically an external soundcard. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the Duet was more of an audio interface rather than a device designed for music listening.

 

To be honest, it's pretty naive to buy a pair of headphones such as the Q701s without doing any prior research.

The Q701s (and their non-lime-green counterparts, the K701s and K702s) are great headphones when you feed them enough power. But when there's not enough juice, the sound is rather unremarkable. In fact, the Q701s may not even be suited for the genres you listen to. I would recommend you return the Q701s and buy a headphone that suits your music interests and equipment on hand. I'm sure if you post what genres you prefer and your budget, people will be more than happy to give you recommendations. Finally, audition the headphones first if possible, so you can avoid these kinds of situations.

 

 

Edited by 12345142 - 6/17/11 at 11:52pm

No, just connect the cans straight to the amp, amp to DAC, DAC to macbook via USB.

 

Also, the Q/K701 might not be for you at all depending on your tastes.

Edited by Alghazanth - 6/18/11 at 12:06am

Hi!

Am a happy Macbook Pro user as well.

Am using Ultrasone Pro750 and Sennheiser HD598. Both are easier to drive directly from the MBP.

Anyhow, a DAC is an external "soundcard" of sorts. so if you have a DAC it either connects via optical (your macbook has optical out in the headphone jack, you need a mini-toslink cable for that and it automatically switches to optical) or USB.

The DAC or DAC/Amp connects via USB and you have a headphone out on the device. The question you have to ask yourself is if you want to use a stationary (desktop) setup or mobile one.

If you ask me, I would prefer something that can be used modular. The NuForce icon HDP for example is an excellent DAC and amp, has plenty of inputs and outputs. Currently I use it as an amp only and use a Schiit Asgard as amp.

In your case an amp is what you should buy first. Schiit Asgard would be a good choice as this amp has lots of power and is very nice sounding. It comes with all cables you need to directly connect to the headphone out of your Macbook and you are good to go.

If you then feel that your onboard soundcard DAC is the weak link, you can go for an external DAC as described before. However, listen to it first. I do witness a better sound with my external DAC but the difference might not be "worth it" for you.

so I think: buy amp first, then DAC. If you need a portable setup I would recommend the E7/E9 combo. Plenty of power to drive your headphone and you can use the E7 on the go too as DAC/Amp. In combination(docked) with the E9 the E7 will only use the DAC part and let the E9 do the amping. Both products are from Fiio.

A good amp will make a world of difference with your headphones for sure.

If you want to make your search a little easier you could try a DAC/Amp Combo. Now though this may seem like a good idea, you need to be careful. When I began searching for this type of combo I needed something that was small in size, had a powerful amplifier, a great DAC, a neutral sound signature, full of useful/convenient features and needed to be well priced. For me, this  package came in the form of an Audinst HUD-MX1 USB Headphone Amplifier and DAC. I can guarantee you joker69 if you want something that can power your Q701's, have little to no affect on the sound signature, serve your ears and wallet well, try the MX1 with your Q701's after a full burn-in and it will not disappoint you. I bought one and it has not disappointed me once.  

Here are a few links: 

- http://audinst.com/en/bbs/board.php?bo_table=HUDmx1&wr_id=5  

- http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/484235/review-audinst-hud-mx1-usb-dac-amp

- http://www.headfonia.com/audinst-hud-mx1-dac/

(The two Reviews above are not mine) 

Thanks.

 

Edited by Audiophile1811 - 6/18/11 at 1:47am

I think you should get a relatively inexpensive dac/amp combo and see how you like it with that.  Not much point on spending tons of money on an amp for a pair of headphones you might not even like amped.  I tried the K701 with a nice amp once, and I honestly didn't like the way they sounded much at all.

 

I'd recommend the E7/E9 combo, it's ~$200 and comes with a portable amp too, so it's a pretty good deal.  You should contact the store and see if they accept returns though.  They really should, since I honestly think the salesperson was a bit deceptive with marketing...he shouldn't have sold you these headphones without an amp.

I think on this level the Kontrol 1 will be a good option as well, The Apogee Duet will be even better (only for Mac users). The new one from Apogee is the Duet 2 with USB (still for Mac users). Here is more info: http://www.apogeedigital.com/products/duet2.php

Edited by Acix - 6/18/11 at 3:55am