AKG K701/702 vs. AD700

[1audioz]

As the above title would suggest, I'd like to know what the community thinks of the AKG K701 / K702 in comparison to the AD700.
 
I currently own AD700 and since another member of the family needs to actively use the AD700 now, I was wondering what the comfort levels and sound signature of the AKGs are like.
 
To me, AD700s have a rather good soundstage, tight bass and sparkly treble. The cups also don't vice grip my head like some Sennheiser headphones my college friends have.
 
Furthermore, the AKGs I'm looking at are refurb'd models on eBay.
 
Sources: Essence STX, amped sflo2

 

[JayB18]

 The K701/702 are a step up from the AD700 but the amp on the STX isn't going to perform nearly as well as a dedicated desktop amp would.  You'd be better off with something like the AD900 or DT440.

 

[1audioz]

The funny thing here is that I can get a refurbished K702 for less than a new AD900.
 
How powerful a desktop amp are we talking about here?

 

[MomijiTMO]

Yeah... they are pretty hard to drive buggers. Off an STX, they didn't sound particularly good. In fact, it sounded bad. It was sluggish and had next to no bass impact. 
 
I say get the AD900.
 

 

[JayB18]

Quote:

The funny thing here is that I can get a refurbished K702 for less than a new AD900.
 
How powerful a desktop amp are we talking about here?

 
It will sound worse than the AD900. Talking about at least $300 for an amp (eg corda swing for bare minimum) but that is even pushing it.  Your really looking at a corda cantate or better yet the corda concerto to really get them to their potential.

 

[dcpoor]

my personal minimum for the k701 is a dynalo/gilmore lite. and the M^3 is a step up from that satisfies my upgradeatitus, at least in the dynamic realm of things.

 

[1audioz]

How do closed cans such as the A900 match up to the AD700 / AD900? Is it significantly more bassy?

 

[TheMiddleSky]

With proper amp (say like Matrix M-Stage at least), K701 will offering bigger soundstage and more spacious sound than AD700.
 
K701 has more laidback vocal, so I think you have to prepare about it too.