Another note on Audeze (2.2f's) vs. The Q701's... They're more similar than I expected, really. Tight, extended bass, quick mids, smooth extended treble... The only difference being the Q's treble is higher in presence, and drier. I'd look to a closed, super wet can next.

You NEED to audition cans once you've decided to move past mid-fi... You'll learn infinite amounts. I'm young to this hobby and forum, but I've heard more cans than many older members, and driving through traffic for an hour for a ten minute audition even will teach you more than probably 20 hours of reading. DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO GET CANS ON YOUR HEAD!!!

Have you thought about The bass mod?

http://www.head-fi.org/t/660408/reversible-akg-k701-bass-mod

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IMO good advice about trying HPs for yourself and the bass port mod (measurements here: http://www.head-fi.org/t/582276/q701-impressionsthread)