I purchased these secondhand for $80 so they were already broken in and the sweetest deal ever, I always wanted to try them out because I read that they were more detailed than the HD650.
Audio Quality:
The AKG K701 has the most detailed highs I have ever heard, I am a fan of treble and prefer crisp detailed highs with a bit of sparkle. They sound very similar to the Ultimate Ears Triple Fi.10's, especially in it's clarity and seperation. Of course the K701's have a much bigger headstage and soundstage and also not as sparkly as the TF10's.
The mids sound exactly as they were recorded, the vocals are presented a bit further back, not as forward as the HD650 and not as warm either, I would say the vocals are a bit dry and airy (analytical).
The lows caught me offguard coming from the HD650, they sounded a bit thin and lacking punch but after several hours of getting my ears adjusted to the K701 sound sig, I tried on the HD650 and felt the bass was too heavy and muddy. This could very well be because I don't have the BEST amp to work with the HD650 but the HD701 are definately much clearer and detailed in my setup. Also the K701 sound quicker than the HD650 for some reason, less bloated.
Comfort and Design
I find the them a little less comfortable than the HD650, I can wear them for about an hour before the leather band on top gives me some discomfort. I have been stretching and pinching the leather band and they seem to be getting more and more comfortable. The cups on the other hand are perfect, just enough pressure and just enought softness from the velour pads.
The design is a bit intimidating when you first look at them, they look heavy, big, and they have so many pieces and string everywhere, they look like a spaceship. Once you touch them, you realize they are very light but yet well made. I was surprised how much they don't weigh, they look very heavy. I love the stormtrooper white color with the gray and chrome around it, as well as the red/brown leather headband. It is a love or hate design I feel.
Value
As I said I purchased them for $80 so I could never complain, I would not pay more than $300 for these headphones though. I think price of $150-250 is fair for a used pair and $250-300 for a new one if you can find it.
Audio Quality:
The AKG K701 has the most detailed highs I have ever heard, I am a fan of treble and prefer crisp detailed highs with a bit of sparkle. They sound very similar to the Ultimate Ears Triple Fi.10's, especially in it's clarity and seperation. Of course the K701's have a much bigger headstage and soundstage and also not as sparkly as the TF10's.
The mids sound exactly as they were recorded, the vocals are presented a bit further back, not as forward as the HD650 and not as warm either, I would say the vocals are a bit dry and airy (analytical).
The lows caught me offguard coming from the HD650, they sounded a bit thin and lacking punch but after several hours of getting my ears adjusted to the K701 sound sig, I tried on the HD650 and felt the bass was too heavy and muddy. This could very well be because I don't have the BEST amp to work with the HD650 but the HD701 are definately much clearer and detailed in my setup. Also the K701 sound quicker than the HD650 for some reason, less bloated.
Comfort and Design
I find the them a little less comfortable than the HD650, I can wear them for about an hour before the leather band on top gives me some discomfort. I have been stretching and pinching the leather band and they seem to be getting more and more comfortable. The cups on the other hand are perfect, just enough pressure and just enought softness from the velour pads.
The design is a bit intimidating when you first look at them, they look heavy, big, and they have so many pieces and string everywhere, they look like a spaceship. Once you touch them, you realize they are very light but yet well made. I was surprised how much they don't weigh, they look very heavy. I love the stormtrooper white color with the gray and chrome around it, as well as the red/brown leather headband. It is a love or hate design I feel.
Value
As I said I purchased them for $80 so I could never complain, I would not pay more than $300 for these headphones though. I think price of $150-250 is fair for a used pair and $250-300 for a new one if you can find it.
