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Q701 or K550??

post #1 of 30
3/30/12 at 5:19pm
Thread Starter 

I have the fiio e17 for an amp/DAC. I can't decide which of the 2 headphones to buy, quality over portability or vice versa? I want to use them on the go, but I also don't want to sacrifice too much SQ.


Edited by 00MusicLover00 - 3/30/12 at 5:22pm
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post #2 of 30
3/30/12 at 5:20pm
Thread Starter 

I can get them for around the same price, Q701 from ebay for 287 and k550 at headphone bar for 289.

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post #3 of 30
3/30/12 at 5:30pm
Between those two, go the K550. The E17 isn't going to be cut out for driving the Q701.
Edited by theeyealtering - 3/30/12 at 5:35pm
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post #4 of 30
3/30/12 at 5:54pm

Well, what kind of signature do you like? What kind of genres?

 

The E17 can't drive the Q701? I don't know if I believe this. Haven't tried it, but some say even the E10 does a decent job.

 

I'd personally take an E5 driven Q701 over the K550 biggrin.gif

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post #5 of 30
3/30/12 at 5:59pm
Thread Starter 

I like jrock/jpop songs, in my previous threads most people only suggested headphones that were good for jpop, they left jrock out :(.


Edited by 00MusicLover00 - 3/30/12 at 6:13pm
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post #6 of 30
3/30/12 at 6:17pm
Thread Starter 

I like balanced headphones or headphones slightly more focused on mids and lows, I know that the Q701 may not have the best low end sound but I can fix that by using the bass boost on the e17.

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post #7 of 30
3/30/12 at 7:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tdockweiler View Post

The E17 can't drive the Q701? I don't know if I believe this. Haven't tried it, but some say even the E10 does a decent job.

I'd personally take an E5 driven Q701 over the K550 biggrin.gif
Believe what you want, but all I know is what I've heard myself. Namely, from things like the E7 and STX amp it gets loud, but it sucks. From a decently powered dedicated amp is sounds really good.

I actually think it is part of the reason why so many people on this forum say they hate the K701/K702/Q701, because they believe people when they say a Fiio will drive them properly when it actually won't and are ultimately disappointed in the sound.
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post #8 of 30
3/30/12 at 7:11pm
Thread Starter 

So I should go for the k550 after all?

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post #9 of 30
3/30/12 at 7:28pm

Most of the Jpop I listen to is with female vocals. Mostly slow boring stuff. For any kind of female vocals, the K550 doesn't get the pass from me.

I'd much rather get the KRK KNS-8400 or SRH-940 over the K550.

 

K550 might do ok for Jrock, but I don't listen to that. I'd probably even suggest the K601 for that over the Q701, but I don't know if the E17 is enough. Only because I haven't tried it.

 

Sorry, but K550 is too expensive for the sound you get. Just my opinion. That thing almost makes the $250 SRH-940 look like a deal.

 

 

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post #10 of 30
3/30/12 at 7:30pm
Honestly, if you are running from something like an E17 I personally wouldn't really recommend either of those headphones. It's a bit of an unbalanced system, i.e. mid-high end headphones with a fairly low end source/amp.

You'd be better off, I think, looking at something at the level of the say the K540. Especially as you were talking about using the bass boost on your amp. If you buy slightly bassier headphones (though not excessively so) you won't need to use the bass boost and the whole rig will sound better for it.

EDIT: I also concur with the above, that a SRH940 might be a good option.
Edited by theeyealtering - 3/30/12 at 7:33pm
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post #11 of 30
3/30/12 at 7:52pm
Thread Starter 

I just went off and looked at a few reviews and the hifiman he300 seems like a pretty good headphone, would they be a better choice than the Q701 and the k550?

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post #12 of 30
3/31/12 at 2:38am
Quote:
Originally Posted by 00MusicLover00 View Post

I just went off and looked at a few reviews and the hifiman he300 seems like a pretty good headphone, would they be a better choice than the Q701 and the k550?

I don't really know much about them, but on the website they say that they can be run off a smartphone. So sure, if they sound like what you are looking for, go for it.

If you want my 2c, for balanced, detailed sound with the emphasis on the mids and lows from a Fiio, I'd probably recommend the DT250. Or maybe those Shures.
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post #13 of 30
3/31/12 at 2:42am

If you're going to be using them on the go, are you sure you want open headphones?

 

If you do, I recommend going with the Q701 over the K550.

K550 is a very good closed headphone, but IMO it doesn't compare with the Q701,

 

 

 

 

 


Edited by zazex - 3/31/12 at 3:24am
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post #14 of 30
3/31/12 at 2:56am

If you are using them on the go then K550 no question. I can't imagine having an open back headphone being a good idea for that purpose. I think you may want to check amazon over ebay though because I definitely saw the q701 for $268 on amazon yesterday. Not sure about K550 pricing on amazon.

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post #15 of 30
3/31/12 at 3:25am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mc21 View Post

If you are using them on the go then K550 no question. I can't imagine having an open back headphone being a good idea for that purpose. I think you may want to check amazon over ebay though because I definitely saw the q701 for $268 on amazon yesterday. Not sure about K550 pricing on amazon.



I got a very good price on the K550's from J&R when I phoned them and spoke with a sales rep.

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