AKG experts - K501, K601, K701
Aug 10, 2008 at 10:37 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 39
Tom Drinkwater

Tom Drinkwater

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I use K271 closed headphones in the studio, and I love them.

I'm curious about the AKG open phones.

Can someone outline the differences between the 501, 601 and 701 and ideally compare them to the K271 closed headphones which are my most familar set.

I'm also curious what similar but different other headphones there are out there that I might enjoy, given that I seem to like the K271s
 
Aug 11, 2008 at 8:24 AM Post #2 of 39
bump anyone? I've read a fair bit on this, but its really unclear from the posts.

seems like almost every time someone here compares a earlier model to a later one they prefer the earlier one! is this just perversity or what?

are AKG really so incompetent that their headphones are getting worse?

sounds like maybe AKG are moving steadily to more detail at the expense of a relaxed listen...

anyone who has 2 or more of these phones I'd love to hear your comparisons!
 
Aug 11, 2008 at 8:51 AM Post #3 of 39
I'm planning to do a comparison of the K501, K500, K400, K401 and K701 probably somewhere next week with a friend of mine.
 
Aug 11, 2008 at 9:23 AM Post #5 of 39
I'm doing the comparo mini-meet with Agnostic. I don't think we'll be able to obtain a K601 for the meet. Both our wallets are out of headphone money...
frown.gif
 
Aug 11, 2008 at 9:33 AM Post #6 of 39
If I recall correctly, the K601 is slightly more weighty low down whereas the K701 is more balanced and flat. K501 has a sparkling treble, sweet mids and a huge soundstage so it's great for classical and vocals. (not to say that the others have small soundstages..) I find the K701 a little dry but it sounds really clean and clear. I just find the K601 boring, but that's my opinion.

The K601 and K701 uses valor pads which isolates but causes heat to be trapped easily. The K501 uses some sort of nylon mesh which is light but may cause itchiness.

Just a quick outline. Can't for Agnostic's Review.
 
Aug 11, 2008 at 11:37 AM Post #7 of 39
Quote:

Originally Posted by That dude /img/forum/go_quote.gif
If I recall correctly, the K601 is slightly more weighty low down whereas the K701 is more balanced and flat. K501 has a sparkling treble, sweet mids and a huge soundstage so it's great for classical and vocals. (not to say that the others have small soundstages..) I find the K701 a little dry but it sounds really clean and clear. I just find the K601 boring, but that's my opinion.


I would agree with the above, except that I really liked the K601 the best. I am mostly a classical listener. The K501 is sweet for sure, but the K601 has a fuller sound and nicer bass. The K701 sounded perfectly unremarkable to me.
 
Aug 11, 2008 at 11:46 AM Post #8 of 39
so you are saying:

K501: sweet/gracious, nice soundstage
K601: full, most bass
K701: dry, detailed

anyone want to add to or revise that?

are all 3 quite similar compared to other brands? ie what is the scale of the differences?

I'm coming from a musician/ studio engineer background, so i'm used to, and value, accurate, detailed, flat and unflattering... but these phones will be for personal listening rather than work, any suggestions which is most suited given my background?

can anyone compare with the closed K271? (which I use daily so am familiar with)
 
Aug 11, 2008 at 12:15 PM Post #10 of 39
I only heard the K501 and the K701.

Treble: K701 might have a warmer treble, while K501 is more neutral.

Midrange: To me the midrange of K701 sounds weird and make voices and instrument sounds different, I can't put a finger to it, but IMHO, not accurate. K501 is more accurate and realistic. I could be wrong on this but I get the impression that K701 sounds flatter (sort of less dynamic).

Bass: Similar, i don't find the K501 to have lesser bass to a significant extend.

However, since both of them are close siblings, in the grand scheme of things, they are more similar than different. Both has huge sound stage, dry and airy sound.
 
Aug 11, 2008 at 4:16 PM Post #11 of 39
Quote:

Originally Posted by Agnostic /img/forum/go_quote.gif
I'm planning to do a comparison of the K501, K500, K400, K401 and K701 probably somewhere next week with a friend of mine.


I'm puttin' my money on the K500's.

Please post your results when you're finished.
 
Aug 11, 2008 at 4:22 PM Post #12 of 39
Quote:

Originally Posted by AudioDwebe /img/forum/go_quote.gif
I'm puttin' my money on the K500's.

Please post your results when you're finished.


The K500s and the K501s weren't too different. The K500 just being a tad bit darker.
 
Aug 11, 2008 at 4:47 PM Post #13 of 39
k701: sparkle sparkle

k601: felt the highs were a little rolled but maybe it was the flat pads or something that placed the driver closer to your ear, boosting the bass....so SParkl SParkl I guess

k501: I actually really miss having a pair of these to listen to, my first good "hi-fi" headphone, purchased it for 120$ after some over-agressive bidding right before they stopped selling it

I owned all three at one point, I really wanted to like the k701 but it was a lot easier to listen to the k501s for long periods of time. k601 was in a tough spot for me: whenever I listened to it, it always seemed so...dirty? Everything just felt muddy. I'm not a basshead, so I never felt the k501s were lacking enough to form real complaints about it.
 
Aug 11, 2008 at 6:30 PM Post #15 of 39
Quote:

Originally Posted by AudioDwebe /img/forum/go_quote.gif
I'm puttin' my money on the K500's.

Please post your results when you're finished.


x2, though I haven't heard the K601.
 
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