[Seamless Sounds]

I've extensively compared both the AKG K70x and Beyerdynamic DT880 (250ohms) at Canjam. The K70x are brighter than dt880's imo. If you're looking for that warmth and musical sound for those genres, I would recommend the DT880's (600ohms is said to be better) over the K70x. I bought the K70x for its revealing and analytical sound characteristics because I transcribe music, but the problem is that I sacrifice musicality for analytical (I'm gonna need another pair of headphones for that). DT880's are also more comfortable than K70x. So if you're just going to sit back and let the music immerse you, then DT880's is the pick.
 
DT880's also mates well with the LD MK3 than the K70x.

 

[dcpoor]

Keep in mind that just because Uncle Erik says the k501's are better doesn't make it so for everyone. There are plenty of people around that prefer the k701 over the k501 as well.

 

[freeskisquaw]

The AKG 701 has no bass anywhere to be found with any of my tube amplifiers.

 

[Kevin Brown]

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Keep in mind that just because Uncle Erik says the k501's are better doesn't make it so for everyone. There are plenty of people around that prefer the k701 over the k501 as well.

Not me.    I prefer the 501s over the 601s, and I prefer the 601s over the 701s. 
 
And I prefer the ~25 year old K240 Sextett to all those.  There is just something freaking magical about that oldie but goodie ...

 

[Trysaeder]

Are there ANY flaws to the DT880?
I find that it suits my hearing curve extremely well.

 

[Uncle Erik]

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Keep in mind that just because Uncle Erik says the k501's are better doesn't make it so for everyone. There are plenty of people around that prefer the k701 over the k501 as well.
 

Very true.
 
But I encourage you to compare the K-501 to the K-701.

 

[FritzS]

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Very true.
 
But I encourage you to compare the K-501 to the K-701.

I own a K701 and since some days ago a K501 too and I got a Q701 for a while to test them.
If a had more time I will report a comparison.

 

[stang]

Just from brief comparisons, but I would rate the K701 more for what I like to term as 'audiophile' music. Music like your well recorded acoustic and jazz, as opposed to the DT880 which I prefer with genres like rock and metal. DT880 are definitely more comfortable and seem to do well with a larger list of genres than the K701s. For me, DT880s are like a necessity, K701 would just be a luxury. 

 

[lejaz]

The k702 definitely seems tilted up in the high end compared to anything else I've ever listened to. My k240DF and Event monitors sound more neutral to my ears...and both of those got, and continue to get, very high marks for their accuracy/neutrality from reviewers. I've not compared them to any real high end gear though. Would love to hear the dt880's one day

 

[Acix]

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Very true.
 
But I encourage you to compare the K-501 to the K-701.

Encourage yourself and compare the K-501 to the K-701 on some SPL amp, and you can add the K-1000 too.

 

[Acix]

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Are there ANY flaws to the DT880

Not so many flaws, mainly the 880's sounds like a smile EQ preset, boomy with annoying treble.

 

[Kevin Brown]

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Not so many flaws, mainly the 880's sounds like a smile EQ preset, boomy with annoying treble.

That's not what I hear.    Yes, the 880's are slightly smiley faced vs what I hold as neutral, accurate, and transparent,  but annoying treble?  That's the K701/702's for me.  The 880's at least have some bass, a fair amount of bass, and I think quite nice bass in fact, to balance the boosted highs.  The AKG's?  Not nearly enough low end to balance those highs.

 

[dcpoor]

on my setup k701's have adequate amounts of bass for my taste, while dt880/250's have a bit of a problem with sibilance.

 

[Acix]

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That's not what I hear.    Yes, the 880's are slightly smiley faced vs what I hold as neutral, accurate, and transparent,  but annoying treble?  That's the K701/702's for me.  The 880's at least have some bass, a fair amount of bass, and I think quite nice bass in fact, to balance the boosted highs.  The AKG's?  Not nearly enough low end to balance those highs.

What balanced? Balanced is flat frequency response. The K702 sound balanced compere to the 880's, maybe you need to try out the Ultrasones Pro-750/900 if you like the 880 so much.

 

[milosz]

I have DT880s and K701s (also HD800s, LCD-2, AH-D7000...)
 
The DT880s are my favorite "affordable" 'phone. That said, the K701s have some merits, too. I REALLY like the K701 on classical music.
 
Go to the Headroom site, they have curves for the K701 and the DT880s.  Like these:
 
Bass is somewhat better on the Beyers. Upper midrange / lower treble range on the AKG is elevated. This may be why some people say the AKG K701's sound somewhat "thin."  
 
AKG K701's need at least 200 hours of playing to "break in" the bass / midbass. I was very skeptical about break-in for audio gear, but after I ran my K701's for about 300 hours the bass did improve, though still not as nice as the bass on the Beyers.