701 Dilemma

[kool bubba ice]

When I first got my 701s I really liked them. I thought they were the best out of my SA5000/650.. After using them for 25 hrs or so, I really can't listen to them anymore. They sound lifeless, boring, & the bass is simply pathetic. Does this change after longer burn in hrs? I'm seriously thinking about selling them..

 

[Killercrush]

They need at least 300 hours to shine I think but they will not turn in bass monsters like some DT770's.

 

[user18]

I've read several threads that stated during burn-in, the bass goes anemic. It comes back though. I don't have too many hours on mine, so I haven't reached that point. I'm waiting for a better amp to arrive. I only have the Hornet at the moment, so I've put it away. From what I remember reading, it goes from sounding good, to sounding horrible, then back to sounding good. Just give it some more time. No use putting all that money into buying it and selling it before it reaches its potential

 

[epaludo]

I agree that you shouldn't sell them. I'm slowlly burning in mine K701 and didn't notice any sound quality (bass) dicrease. Hopefully it'll get better after this 300hr burn in people stated for it.
You can have a giant in yours hands. Wait the burn in to prove it if you really don't like them ...

 

[newguru]

I'm kind of on the fence on mine as well.

They are comfy though. I will give them that much. Not quite the comfort of my Senn HD650's but close. You certainly won't mistake them for Grado's, that much is certain.

As far as the sound goes, it almost feels like they are so neutral, they don't really excel in any area at all. It's like they are the jack of all trades, master of nothing.

The 300 hour burn in seems quite ridiculous as well. I have had mine playing non-stop for about 7 days now and they sound quite the same to me. I have my doubts that they are going to be remarkably different sounding in 4 more days of play. I bought mine used as well so they had some hours on them prior to me receiving them as well.

It's not like if you buy a Ford Mustang and put 20,000 miles on it, it suddently drives like a Ferrari or something. I think we need to temper our expectations from the burn in process.

Any improvement or change in sound at all will be a slight change at best.

To each their own on this subject but thats my 2 cents.

 

[kamal007]

i bought a used k701 with probably 700hr burn in time..

im pretty much in the same boat as OP, less bass compared to my grado and senns..

i havent tried any beyer yet..i might trade that k701

the amp that im using is ld2++ and pa2v2..im waiting for mr.x Xp to see whether that will make a difference or not

 

[milkpowder]

They've always been more of a classical music and jazz headphone more than hip hop 'n rock. They sound a bit too tame for jumpy music.

 

[Roam]

Does it change? Yes. How much? In my opinion, not nearly enough. No matter how many hours are put on them, no matter which amp is used, they will always sound bland & lifeless. The bass will remain overly tight and devoid of weight & impact compared to a Senn 650. Some say this is accurate & true, however I'm not of that opinion since I own a K1000 and HP-2, that's accuracy, the K701 doesn't have it.

Give it another week or two at most, if you still don't like it chances are it's not going to grow on you.

 

[kool bubba ice]

I'll see how it goes..

 

[Morph201]

Hang in there Bubba! From personal experience and from what others (who hung in there) reported! These phones are THE MOST FRUSTRATING of the bunch! Just like a woman! One day they're HOT next they're cold as a dead fish! It appears as though when the drivers are breaking in the go through periods like that, but once settled in they stabilize and really open up! I'm still going through my rollercoaster ride with them and I can say that at this point, they're back in the HIGH period.. Most people who own these cans dont understand that and wind up selling them way too early! It's up to you, but my advice is to hang in there and reap the benefits!!

 

[user18]

I assumed you had bought it new. It's probably fully-burned in. I'd say wait a week and use your other cans instead; don't use the K701. Then try the K701 for one more week and if you still think it sucks, then get rid of it.

 

[Mr_Penut]

go akg 340

only option

 

[theBigD]

i had the same experience when i purchased my akg 701s 2 months ago. the first week left them plugged in 24/7 and i was a skeptic about burn in, but so many owners of this headphone said they require 300+ hours. i almost returned after 100 hrs because they had changed, but for the worse!(to my ears anyway) but i hung in there another week and they settled in nicely. the mids and highs became more detailed and interesting and the bass became really punchy. ive never heard really clean percussion from a headphone before! i absolutely love the depth and soundstage of these headphones. i just wish i could love my grado sr 125 as much as i used to though, grado seems to pale in comparison. im still not much of a believer in burning in cables but absolutely believe it with these headphones!

 

[Lad27]

I had a chance to listen to couple of pairs of K701 on recent meet. All well burned-in. These were most bass anemic phones of all of them - putting them on felt to my ears like bass guitar player had exited the stage...

 

[cotdt]

it's the amp maybe?