Q701 appreciation thread - Page 178

I'm so very torn on whether I like my Q701 more or my new modded Fostex T50rp more. 

They don't sound all that radically different, so it's not even that I prefer one over the other for certain genres. They both sound great with everything I listen to them with, but just different. The modded T50rp has a slightly bigger/flatter bass, a more full lower mid-range, with a more gentle treble, but it still has plenty of sparkle and top end detail for cymbals. The soundstage on the modded T50rp isn't even that bad in comparison either. It's obviously not as wide, but it's not ridiculously narrow either. The T50rp seems to have a deeper soundstage placing things more in front(further away). I feel like I can pick out more detail in the mid-range with the T50rp, but I may be wrong. The T50rp also wins big time in terms of isolation, which doesn't really matter all that much since most of my listening is done in an almost dead silent room. I guess it will be a bigger help when it warms up and I have to use my window A/C unit. After padding the headband on the T50rp comfort is great, but I have no complaints about the comfort of the Q701 either.   

I still need to get around to doing some A/B comparisons, but this is how I feel after using the Fostex now all week instead of the Q701. 

My original goal with the T50rp was to make them sound the opposite of the Q701 and have above average isolation. I originally wanted them to be bass heavy and dark, like an HD650 on steroids. I haven't been able to get the bass quantity I had wanted out of them, so now they ended up being how I describe them above. Now they are pretty much just a little bit different sounding from my Q701, but are more portable. They are different sounding than the Q701, don't get me wrong, but it just isn't as big of a difference as I was originally hoping for. 

Just day before yesterday I got my Q701! In lime green btw. I have to say they are awesome. Straight out of the box plugged to my laptop and they sounded great and played sufficiently loud. I really didn't seem to notice any difference plugged into my Yamaha receiver. Hope the amp brings something to this so I haven't bought it for nothing. :D I think they do pretty well with lower quality tracks too, might not be the case with the new amp though. Now I have maybe 10 hours on them.

Only thing I have to say is that I think they haven't opened up yet. The sound is maybe ever so slightly restrained, which might be too much to say. Anyway I wouldn't describe it in any way mellow or soft or lush. Maybe more like tight. I guess they become livelier as I play them. Any experience about this?

I really like them and they are a significant improvement over the K501. I feel the bass is just nice already. Its very present and indeed well extended but not in any way overpowering. And boy are these articulate. I hear every nuance of every note and cymbal hit (don't know of any better :D ). The work great with every kind of music, just very pleased with them. I think they are more revealing and articulate than the K501. Not by much, but noticeably. There might be some very slight tiring treble at rare occasions. Nowhere near the amount of my Nocs NS 400 at the same sound. Its this one sound in one game so I'm starting to think its the game and not really the headphones.

I also had a nice experience in a song I can't recall but the drums felt like I knew where they were in front of me. I could position the sticks running through the drums. Was quite nice. Haven't had any spectacular overly left right sound stage experience yet, this might change with the amp.

They are very comfortable but I, too can start to feel the pressure of the bumps on my head. And I do have pretty thick hair. I think that if you have a flat top of the head they are fine, but if its a bit pointy at the top the pressure isn't distributed wide enough but on the "tip" of your head, hence the pressure. I also have found it helps somewhat if you lift the band (from the sides with your forefingers) as you put them on, resulting in a lighter touch. Also, it helps doing the opposite. Pull the band from the sides so it gets more ground to rest on. If I could get a little cushion in between the two middle bumps, I would be set.

What amp do you have on the way to you?

They do open up and definitely sound better with at least a decent amp. I've played mine out of just my iPhone 4 and they do sound good, but they sound a great deal better out of my Fiio E17. I've never plugged them straight into my laptop though. You should start to notice that bad recordings are less tolerable though on a better amp. As long as you don't listen to loudly they should not be tiring though. I very rarely exceed 85db with mine and I can listen to them for hours at volumes under 85db. Also, a very slight (like 2-3db) bass boost makes them sound niiiiice if you think they are just a touch bass light. 

Can anyone compare the bass to anything? Like an analogy or compare it to maybe an M50 or HD25-ii. Just wondering how bass light is light :) I'm planning on getting these for mainly games (honestly mainly skype, though I do want to get into FPS games again) but I'd also want to use it for mixing/mastering along with listening to vocal trance (mostly female vocals) and new age / piano music / instrumentals. Always wanted an AKG headphone too because I love how they look, especially the Q701 white/black and the K702 LE. And they seem like I'd be able to wear for hours, which I haven't been able to do with any headphone I've owned thus far asides from my CIEMs.

And how is the treble? I'm sensitive to treble (headaches).

Asking because I have searched around but I can't make any sense of how these sound as all the ones I've been using have been described either the opposite (e.g. bass is obviously present) or are mostly neutral (e.g. ES3X, which I love if anyone can compare it to that). The only open headphone I've used is the FA-011 and that is like the polar opposite to the Q701 from what I can make sense of.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasonb 

What amp do you have on the way to you?

 

They do open up and definitely sound better with at least a decent amp. I've played mine out of just my iPhone 4 and they do sound good, but they sound a great deal better out of my Fiio E17. I've never plugged them straight into my laptop though. You should start to notice that bad recordings are less tolerable though on a better amp. As long as you don't listen to loudly they should not be tiring though. I very rarely exceed 85db with mine and I can listen to them for hours at volumes under 85db. Also, a very slight (like 2-3db) bass boost makes them sound niiiiice if you think they are just a touch bass light. 

Epiphany Acoustics EHP-O2D dac + amp. Nice to know. :D So excited. They are so good now, I can't even dream how good they will be. My laptop is known for being good with the audio stuff, its a gaming laptop. How do you know how loud you are listening them to? I will get to know my phones first and burn them in (I have first hand experience that burn in does exist by comparing same headphones with burn in and no burn in ;) ) before EQ'ing them. I will try it out though, have played with the eq some already. Just don't know what kinda graph to draw... If you don't mind asking what you use for eq? I have aimp and foobar which I haven't used yet. I can get a great eq for foobar I hear.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AyeVeeN 

And how is the treble? I'm sensitive to treble (headaches).

I think you'll have to EQ it out if you are, like me, sensitive to treble; personally I find the uncut treble "detail" unbalances the music in many cases. You'll see there are quite a few references to EQ in this thread but not in HD650 thread for example (that's all amps and cables :) ). They are reasonably comfortable but I find I can't listen for long periods with Q701as I find them fatiguing.

Has anyone ever had to order replacement earmuffs? Like, all the way to where they screw in?

Where? So it's the entire muff w/ the screw connector piece? Here's what my pair looks like:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/jodiuh/20130309_233021.jpg

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jodiuh 

Where? So it's the entire muff w/ the screw connector piece? Here's what my pair looks like:

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/jodiuh/20130309_233021.jpg

Not sure what you mean but the pads come with the plastic ring thats attached to the pad. The pads are attached to a plastic locking ring.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasonb 

Not sure what you mean but the pads come with the plastic ring thats attached to the pad. The pads are attached to a plastic locking ring.

Perfect! That's exactly what I'm looking for. Did you just call AKG? How much did they cost including shipping?

THANKS!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jodiuh 

 

Perfect! That's exactly what I'm looking for. Did you just call AKG? How much did they cost including shipping?

 

THANKS!

Contact Frank Rodriguez, and tell him you'd like to order a pair of AKG K702/Q701 pads, part number 2458M12020.

Cost should be between $10-15 per pad.

Anyone using his Q701 without the foam under the pads? 

I think without the foam it sounds a little bit too harsh/bright. Less bass, more treble. But I might get used to it, When I got this headphone, i thought it sounded thin, whereas now i think it has too much bass sometimes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheik Yerbutay 

The new Schiit Amp/DAC is looking enticing! Anyone pick them up and use with these cans yet?

FWIW, Ive really been enjoying the Q701's/Schiit combo! I noticed with more usage that the treble harshness has mellowed quite a bit without loss of the low end ranges.

Thanks to all who answered my n00b questions before pulling the trigger on this setup!