A headphone shoot-out from a speaker listener - Testing eleven headphones from £ 80 to £ 1,200

[nicholars]

Quote:

Truth be told, the general consensus has shifted that the only difference between the Annie and the other k70x series headphones is the pads. And the pad difference isn't huge. I would save some money and buy the Q701. You could always later buy the Annie pads if you really want them. That is my opinion on it.

 
Hmmm I see, so effectively you are paying £150 for some different pads and a new paint job... There was me thinking they had actually released a new pair of headphones lol.

 

[Shazb0t]

Quote:

 
Hmmm I see, so effectively you are paying £150 for some different pads and a new paint job... There was me thinking they had actually released a new pair of headphones lol.

 
It wouldn't make sense to design and manufacter a new driver for a special edition headphone.  They use the same driver from the same manufacturing line and added special pads/headband and paint scheme.  That does make sense.

 

[nicholars]

What doesnt make sense is almost doubling the price of the K702's..

 

[davidsh]

IMO what AKG is doing does not allways make sense. K702 costing 100$ more than K701 in my country. Same sound. Then the Annie costing way more than K702.
 
Also the same with the k167/267. The sound is said to be the same. The k267 cost almost 200$ more.

 

[nicholars]

So the AKG k701, k702 and k702 65th all basically sound the same?

 

[davidsh]

The  65th is said to sound better

 

[nicholars]

But they all have the same drivers?

 

[Shazb0t]

Quote:

But they all have the same drivers?

 
Yes

 

[nicholars]

Seems to be a common trend with headphones....
 
Develop a good driver.....
 
Repackage it in various different colours, editions, names, variations etc. at wildy varying prices....
 
I think they should be less lazy and actually release improved drivers for the money!

 

[Flisker]

Quote:

I dont have any but I was thinking of getting some HE400...
 
After reading your reports on build quality and weight I am having second thoughts....
 
Personally I thought the HD650 were well made except for the chipping paint....
 
Are the hifiman really THAT bad? like literally fall apart? What is actually wrong with them specifically?

 
I have to react ... I have HE-400 for quite some time now and they are absolutely fine. It's definitely not midevil torturing machine! Ofc HD650 are lighter are you forget about them in few minutes, but it doesn't mean HE-400 suck and that u can't wear them for longer than 30minutes. I have no problem using them for let's say 6 hours straight. Guess I had them even longer when I spent last weak listening to music while gaming 

 

[Nirmalanow]

I just posted my own review of the iCAN headphone amp that Bedlam Inside used in this shootout:
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/654405/ican-amp-review-a-new-amp-that-gives-you-more-more-bass-more-soundstage-and-more-detail
 
I am loving it!

 

[bedlam inside]

Nirmalanow,
Quote:

I just posted my own review of the iCAN headphone amp that Bedlam Inside used in this shootout:
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/654405/ican-amp-review-a-new-amp-that-gives-you-more-more-bass-more-soundstage-and-more-detail
 
I am loving it!

I just finished reading this on the 8:30 to Paddington and I am in awe. You write excellent. I can learn much.
 
If I did not have the Amp here myself (now playing "Q essential Dance") I would have a bloody good idea what to expect.

Brilliant Mate.

Cheers Rich

 

[Nirmalanow]

Quote:

Nirmalanow,

I just finished reading this on the 8:30 to Paddington and I am in awe. You write excellent. I can learn much.
 
If I did not have the Amp here myself (now playing "Q essential Dance") I would have a bloody good idea what to expect.

Brilliant Mate.

Cheers Rich

Thanks! I really enjoyed writing it.

 

[bedlam inside]

Folks,

Still trying to get me grubby mitts on some of the others, but very occasionally fortune smiles and she smiled a full functioning, pukka set of 35 - 40 Year old Micro Seiki MX1 EL Headphones with Battery Box for 20 Quid down the charity shop.

No idea if these just have been cared for super or were rebuild before, but as I said elsewhere, I'm chuffed to buggery with them! Best headphones I ever had on me noggin for any length of time. The biggest bargain too.



A wee bit more:

http://www.head-fi.org/t/655335/incredible-esl-headphone-experience-was-incredibly-stupid-question#post_9262228

Cheerio Rich

 

[Nirmalanow]

I just posted about a new battery I am using with the iCAN. It cleans up and smooths out the sound:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/654405/ican-amp-review-a-new-amp-that-gives-you-more-more-bass-more-soundstage-and-more-detail/195#post_9628605
 
Pictures are further down in the other thread.