Regarding the inadequate soundstage - maybe it's the source. I'm using the 702's (so basically the same thing) driven by a Graham Slee Novo, and at first was using a Sansa Clip+ loaded with Flac files as a source. It was  good, sound quality wise, and the soundstage was typically wide, but the...

Solid State matches well to the AKG's  My 702's sound fantastic with the Graham Slee Novo.  Perhaps it is in your budget where you are.

KouzeIna:   Do let us know what your impressions are. I especially would like to hear your impression of the Graham Slee mated to the K702.

KouzeIna:   Regarding the Graham Slee....      The GS adds no harshness at all, conversely, I think it makes the treble as airy as can be. BUT...  if the recording is bright the GS does nothing to tone it down.

The Graham Slee Novo works well with the AKGs. Drives them effortlessly. I know, it's solid state, but it's designed to work with low impedance headphones and also does not add any 'warmth' to the rather nice treble of the AKG's (at least I find it nice).  I picked one up used for 350 USD.

Remove your SD card and with a kleenex give the contacts a cleaning (i've never corrupted the card, or lost data doing this). Then re-insert the card and remove it a couple of times and re-clean the card's contacts again. I find this has solved all the weird symptoms my Clips have ever exhibited.

I'm using the Graham Slee Novo amp my K702's and think they sound very nice together.  The GS drives them very well - but it's a bit on the expensive side.

They look like something you wear to protect your hearing while driving a tank!

I read the Headphonia review, and the comparison was made only using the headphone output of the QA-350, which is arguably its weakest performing part. I think it performs better used as a transport, using the line output from the unit's DAC, but then it's not portable chained to an amp (I use...

... Or change your music collection to flac. I'm sure with a subscription (7-10 bucks a month) to a couple of file hosts (fileserve, rapidshare), and some methodical work with google, you could replace 90% of your collection within a month.  Lossless DOES make a difference.

Grado SR60i, or SR80i is well within the budget yet has kick-ass sound and are also efficient enough not to need a separate amp. Best bang for the buck.

Akg702 here powered by a GS Novo and the source is the crazy QA-350 wav player. Sounds awesome, though.

Lets just do the math. 16gb hold "4-5" cd's worth of 24/196 music, so 32gb hold "20+" ???   Me thinks not!

I love my 702's. They are stunning for vocal jazz, soul, anything where the vocals are the focal point of the music. They are stunning for atmospheric music like some Trance, Trip-Hop or solo instrumental classical where the 701/702 soundstage shines. For everything else I have my SR80i's with...

I'm running my K702's through a Graham Slee Novo and it sounds fantastic. Using the quirky QA-350 as a source. The Slee is very clean sounding (all discreet - no op amps), and coupled with the minimalist design of the wav player the combo is punchy with zero background noise.  The Slee cost me...

Well, I'm kind glad that there is a general consensus that the 701/702s are rubbish, 'cause I got mine (K702) used at a bargain price and couldn't be happier. They're at least third hand, passed on from one 'unhappy' lad to another (sold once on Headfi, I was told), who thankfully spent many...

Grado SR80's with taped bowls will go mega thumpety-thump (and you'll save some dough).

Hi all;   I've just joined, so, hello everyone and I have found this site very informative (and opinionated!) and have lurked here for some time.   I just got a QLS QA-350 for $120 on Ebay and would like to share my opinion on it's sound quality versus the Sansa Clip+, which is a common...