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Here we are, 7 years after the thread was started. Has k501 become a classic already?

 

[FritzS]

I think K501 is a classic

 

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Quote:

I think K501 is a classic

I agree. These days It has a bigger classic status than any other AKG model, save the k1000, IMHO. 

 

[FritzS]

The only objection - the new K712 outrank him, for some kind of music the K501 is very good, but the K712 offers more natural ringing bass and more audible silky highs.
 
In some years the AKG K/Q 7xx family are a classic too.

 

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The only objection - the new K712 outrank him, for some kind of music the K501 is very good, but the K712 offers more natural ringing bass and more audible silky highs.
 
In some years the AKG K/Q 7xx family are a classic too.

 
But how is the tonality of the k712? I find the tonality of k701 a little bit awkward. It is not as "real" sounding as k501. 

 

[FritzS]

Quote:

 
But how is the tonality of the k712? I find the tonality of k701 a little bit awkward. 

 
 Awkward in what direction? I find the tonality of the K712 correct. The K501 is at some kind of music a bit thin in the direct comparison with the K712.
 
Please look at my K712 test reviews
http://www.head-fi.org/t/659251/the-akg-k712-pro-support-and-appreciation-thread/405
 
At his time the K501 was a very great headphone - so he is a classic for me. The K501 remember more to the sound balance of a K1000 as to an K701/Q701/K712. I had the chance to compare K501 and K1000 direkt - so as K1000 with K701, Q701, Denon AH D7000 too
 
D7000 and K1000 are Yin and Yang on a high level.
 
At the moment I hear "Max Lässer & Das Überlandorchester, Überländer" with my K712 - a very infectious rhythm.
http://www.maxlaesser.com/?Discographie
http://www.swiss-music-news.ch/welcome.html?/cd/reviews/laesser_01.html

 

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In direct comparision with k501 I find k701 to have too forward mids. Not only that, the mids have very strange tonality. Acoustic instruments on k701 don't sound as "real" as on k501 to me. It is the timbre of the instruments that is somehow off. k701 seem to have a better separation of instruments and better imaging but everything sounds less natural and real, less engaging. k701 is still a great headphone but I enjoy k501 more. I haven't heard k712 yet. 

 

[vid]

The K 701 I heard didn't really have any coloration in the mids - no 2 kHz peak - except for the overall shape of the response in the mids being tilted towards the bass. Would not call them a great headphone, though, for sure.

 

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The K 701 I heard didn't really have any coloration in the mids - no 2 kHz peak - except for the overall shape of the response in the mids being tilted towards the bass. Would not call them a great headphone, though, for sure.

 
Have you got the HD600 yet? 

 I am not really sure you are going to like it.

 

[vid]

They're somewhere in Germany at the moment. I might have liked the 701 without the massive treble peak that my pair had, and maybe a bit less of a 100 Hz bump as well would've been nice, which is something I guess the HD 600 have, too. But I'm generally interested in how the Unipolar do against what are today considered good mid-fi cans, and the 600 count towards that.

 

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They're somewhere in Germany at the moment. I might have liked the 701 without the massive treble peak that my pair had, and maybe a bit less of a 100 Hz bump as well would've been nice, which is something I guess the HD 600 have, too. But I'm generally interested in how the Unipolar do against what are today considered good mid-fi cans, and the 600 count towards that.

I see. Have you heard DT880 and HE400? Maybe something to consider?

 

[vid]

Could try the HE-500 at some point, but I think vintage Stax might win out...
 
I do like the vintage DT 990, which, from what I gather, should be similar to the DT 880 without the treble emphasis, so I might just leave the Beyers at that.
 
The K 500 for sure is something I'll be having.

 

[tdogzthmn]

I have the K400 and used to own the K500. The K501 has always eluded me but I'll have to get one at some point in the near future.