AKG K701 Review Thread

[Jap]

Quote:

Originally Posted by elrod-tom Gordo, Thanks so much for taking the time to review the K701. I've been fighting the urge to go ahead and buy a pair of these...but I'm not sure how much longer I can hold out!!

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Resistance is futile, my friend. You shall be assimilated into the collective.

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[warpdriver]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yikes If the 601’s are on a par with the other cans that Tyll listed, and the 701’s are better than the 601’s then can we infer that the 701’s are the best dynamic full size headphones made?

That's what I inferred.

I love my 880's but they are not a headphone that does everything well....so I think the 701's will be a nice complement to them.

 

[Dhw]

I'm on about my 30th hour of burn-in with my K701s...no complaints from me! Was listening to Massive Attack (Mezzanine) and the dynamics/spacial sense was wonderful (and no complaints as to the bass...very precise with more than enough quantity for me...)...now I'm listening to Ashkenazy's playing of Beethoven's 5th piano concerto...handles both well

Probably won't be trumping Grados for hard rock, but for the jazz, classical and indie rock I listen to (Wilco, Radiohead, Flaming Lips*)...I think I've found finally found my cans! I'd be curious as to how these compare to the DT880s, as I've never had a chance to hear those, and never ordered them out of a fear of lack of bass. These definitely have more forwardness than my HD580s (I won't fall asleep with these on!).

-Doug-

*I checked out "Suddenly Everything Has Changed" off The Soft Bulletin because of the low bass rumble at the "refrain"...it's there! Maybe not DT990 there, and I haven't done a depth comparison with the HD580s, but was I ever happy to hear it

 

[Yikes]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom L I think that at this level, "best" is determined by a number of factors that are personal: how comfortable they are for you, what your listening conditions are, what equipment you will be using them with, what types of music you listen to, which audio characteristics do you value most highly, and whether the phones in question have a fault that will bother you over time. I suspect that many will continue to prefer their Sennheisers or Grados over the 701s.

I agree absolutely. Read the small print in my signature. I actually liked the K701’s better after 50 hours than I did after 120 hours. After 50 they were perfect. After 120 they smoothed out a little more than I wanted them to. That being said I still think that they are the Best (read my signature) can available this side of an Orpheus.

Honestly I think this Headphone will end up wooing many away from the dark side (Sennheiser HD-650’s). Now if everyone can send me their new K701’s after they have 25 hours on them. I’ll use them from 25 to 100 hours and then return them just about broken in. Think of the savings on all of your electric bills.

 

[chris719]

How is the low bass compared to the HD650? The problem I have with nearly every "HD650 killer" is in this area.

 

[KZEE]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyll Hertsens I spent a lot of time this week with my K701s and have fallen in love with them. I compared them to 650,880,601,595, and 600, during my listening tests and they competed handily in this arena. They really do everything pretty well, with a particular emphasis on beautiful dynamics.

Thanks for posting your impressions of the 701's - I have a pair of the 701's on order, and I was concerned about how the 701's do dynamics. Dynamics are at the top of the list of things that I consider important in my audio gear, and although my DIY cabled Senn 580's are excellent in the dynamics department, they're a bit lacking in other areas, mainly they're just a bit grainy and dry sounding, and just a bit rolled off on the top end and lacking in transparency.
So your observation that your 701's are real good in the dynamics department is good news to me, and if the 701's have that extra little bit of top end end that extra little bit of smoothness and liquidity that my 580's lack then I'll be a happy camper indeed.

 

[kenneth11zz]

Reading from various reviews, the K701 sounds like we finally have a winner that have a similar sound singature overall to the world class Sennheiser Orpheus System. As someone in this thread point out, it's baby Orpheus.

It will be very interesting to compare this with HE60.

-Kenneth

 

[Voodoochile]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyll Hertsens They did, in fact, take quite a while to break in and as Gordo noted, were somewhat strident at first. After maybe 100 hours this harshness was pretty much gone.

Thank god for that. Mine have about 35-40 hours on them, and they are still quite strident. They eased up a bit after about 20 hours, but things are changing at a more gradual pace now.

I spent a good amount of time this weekend with them and the 650s, and they definitely seem to have a strident effect on most discs I played. Pretty harsh, but I realize that they are still newborn. I can't wait for the next 100 hours or so.

 

[Rolen_it_Up]

"and indie rock I listen to (Wilco, Radiohead, Flaming Lips*)...I think I've found finally found my cans!"

This sucks. Now I have to buy a K701.

 

[Ayreonaut]

Quote:

Originally Posted by KZEE Dynamics are at the top of the list of things that I consider important in my audio gear...

Me too. Its the one thing that has me desparate to upgrade from these HD555s. Now there is no way I can not buy the K701s. It's going to keep me up nights.

 

[Romanee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Voodoochile Thank god for that. Mine have about 35-40 hours on them, and they are still quite strident. They eased up a bit after about 20 hours, but things are changing at a more gradual pace now. I spent a good amount of time this weekend with them and the 650s, and they definitely seem to have a strident effect on most discs I played. Pretty harsh, but I realize that they are still newborn. I can't wait for the next 100 hours or so.

My guess (don't hold me to it) is that, based on my experience with burning in 2 pairs of 501s, that like the 501s the drivers are very stiff out of the box and that they will continue to improve for some time past the 100 hours mark. Of course I don't know how much. Yikes states that after 120 hours of burn in the pair he was auditioning seemed to have settled down, but then he doesn't have them in his possession any more so we don't know. [If I've "misquoted him, my apologies.] Poor Yikes is already suffering the agony of 701 withdrawal.

The pair I heard at the meet sounded quite harsh and strident to me as well. The sound stage — though somewhat holographic — was obviously not developed, the sound was gritty and veiled, the spectrum discontiguous, and it was obvious that we were just hearing hints of what it might sound like — but the hints were definitely there and some of us, Tyll included, agreed. Of course some people, not understanding how much burn in the AKGs can require, were turned off and may not try them again … too bad.

I also had an impression that a few other members have echoed when I mentioned it — that there is something about the 701s that is reminiscent of the Sony SA5000s (only in some respects of course, but it's there). Perhaps it's the deep but very tight bass and extended highs, perhaps the crisp, clear and detailed sound — or perhaps it's overall character. Won't know until I/we hear a fully matured pair.

I am really hoping to get a pair to thoroughly burn in and audition, and I expect that these may well be the phones I've been looking for (short of the full Orpheus system, which is my ultimate headfi experience and beyond my current reach).

 

[Romanee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by spacemanspliff the 701s are my next cans. if they are way better than my 501 well....yay

They are WAY better than the 501s. Every headfier who knows me knows that I've been a longtime advocate of the virtues of the 501s, and they are still my favorite as a "neutral" reference phone. The 701s offer huge improvements over the 501s deficiencies — although it is a different sound.

It's what I crave.

{sorry … couldn't resist}

 

[muzikluver83]

I just updated my Senn HD580s with the Stefan AudioArt Equinox Cable and MF X-Can V3. Otherwise I would definitely splurge on the 701. Maybe as a Christmas present... must... resist... AAAAAAAH




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Main Rig - Sennheiser HD580 / Stefan AudioArt Equinox Cable upgrade / Musical Fidelity X-Can V3 / Kimber Kable GQ-Mini CU
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[halcyon]

Anybody want to give comments on the cable? Does it look like it could benefit from being upgraded?

Of course, the only way is to find out by testing

I know you first adopters are just fighting over who gets to splice up their original cable first and provides us with photos of the innards

 

[Voodoochile]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Romanee They are WAY better than the 501s.

The 501s I had for a while were actually Todd's own pair, and had a lot of mileage on them. Man, they were as smooth as silk. So if the 701s smooth out and settle down, life will be GREAT once again!

As for the cable, it has a nice finish, or feel to it. But it's otherwise rather flimsy. I'm not touching it until breakin is over, at least.

They are BIG. I've been fiddling a lot with finding a good position for them, it's a little more tricky than with Senns or even Grados, and they retract every time you take them off.

Quote:

Originally Posted by muzikluver83 I just updated my Senn HD580s with the Stefan AudioArt Equinox Cable.

I have the Equinox on my 650s... it makes a remarkable difference, IMO. Beautifully clean detail.