Weeee! I just got my annies, and we all know what that means! ( especially given this very "controversial" headphone, if you'd like to call it that)
REVIEW TIME!
K701 (8-hump) vs K702 65th
Some background first:
Warning: I will label this as my FIRST "in-depth" review. I hope that you don't assume that means I have no experience, and still weigh my opinion as much as you would those who have written many more reviews. I know this happens, because I use to do it
. I mean, I can't be the only one, right?
Though I will be honest in saying that I don't have
as much experience as said people, However, that shouldn't be a concern for this review, since I will be directly comparing my opinions on the K701 to the 65th.
So, As I have been avidly lurking this thread, It seems many are at odds concerning the sound-signature, and the perceived difference by users, and the threat/ fear of over-hype/hyperboles. Considering the lack of scientific analysis, as well as the lack of (in-depth) reviews on a non-65 vs 65, I thought I'd throw my 2 cents in. Of course, I boarded this train due to the hype, but as soon as some one presented a logical refute to some one elses opinion (not naming names here), I thought that the best approach would be a skeptical one(we know how crazy placebo can get here), though I was bordering on pessimistic (especially after initial looks). Basically, I was fully prepared to return/sell these off, instead of justifying my purchase. That was my mindset going in.
Test Rig ( if you can call it that):
PC->NFB-12-> HP
I understand the lack of "High-quality" gear, but once again, that shouldn't be a concern since it will only mean that my variables are limited(non-existent). And to my knowledge, amps don't/shouldn't change signals in an exponential pattern. I think it would be safe to assume that my amp is not playing magic tricks and increasing a certain frequency on one headphone than the other.
PICTURES! ( Physical impressions
POW! Out the box, I had to immediately compare the looks to the K701.
"Huh, they look nice...buuuuut.....I don't know."
So, I was pretty underwhelmed. The 3D render, as well as the professional photographs of the 65th made it look like it was made of aluminum or really nice plastic or something. Turns out, it's a lot of plastic, and very cheap feeling too. The K702 label on the side isn't even metal, I had imagined they would at least coat it in some kind of metal then glue that sucker on, but it's literally just painted over with silver. It's not even shiny...it's like a matte silver. I mean, come on, you can't blame my expectations considering these are supposed to be
Limited 65th anniversary editions. Heck, Grado had Gold cups for their anniversary, and I can't even get a chrome badge.
And then, I thought I could lift my spirits with the
*ahem* new *ahem* comfortable headband. Once again, slightly disappointed. I was anticipating the odd "wave" shape, but was expecting it to be roughly the same size, but man, that's quite a bit thinner.
My last gripe is the cable thickness. The cables are a lot thinner and flimsier than the Originals. Now I don't have any good way of accurately measuring the thickness, so I tried my best with this ghetto comparison using lined paper. They key thing is to look at the distance from the top blue line to the wire. Hopefully, you can see the difference. Either way, they are thinner than the originals, enough to be disappointing and noticeable.
At this point, disappointment is an accurate portrayal for what I was feeling. A good way to start a sound review, if I don't say so myself.
SOUND!:
Enough of what I thought about the headphones! That doesn't matter at all! This is what you have been waiting for! Everything else was just a lengthy prologue of irrelevant mumbo-jumbo!
Prologue: ( You thought it was over, didn't you)
So as I entered the 65th anniversary abyss, I walked without fear, for I was prepared for any possible outcome. Or so I thought. As I put them on and began listening, These were my thoughts:
(Note that there was no burn-in. This is fresh out the fish market.)
"
*internal giggles* Man, I love AKG. These sound really nice. But from my memory, I would say these are the exact same as my K701's."
Of course, I couldn't leave it there. So I began my strenuous, Heart-wrenching A-B testing. Tears were shed. As was blood. The day grew long and dark. My family began to fear what I had become. A fiend. A beast. A Monster.
I jest. It happened instantly.
"OH MY GOD WHAT IS GOING ON? SOMETHING'S WRONG WITH MY EARS. WAIT, WHAT. NO SOMETHINGS-WHAT AM I-WHO IS- WHERE-"
That one isn't a joke. I was freaking out. It was different.
Too different. No. Must remain skeptical.*
cue rapid A-B testing on many favorite songs*
Now I'm freaking out, wondering if it really is different, or my brain placebo is too strong. Here enters the secret weapon. My Dear Mother.
Seeing as she is not an audiophile in the least, has little experience with headphones and Hi-fi systems in general, but a great love for (classical) music, I thought she was a perfect candidate. I sat her down, picked her a song, she went to her CD player, played some classical, and lo' and behold, we came to the same conclusion.
Impressions:
So here it is, the final impression. There's definitely, positively, more low-end. Let's get into details, before I start some controversy myself. Also, remember these are all COMPARISONS.
I'd like to specifically note the song I listened to:
Blind guardian - The Bard's song( In the forest). Here's a link to the best video I can find on youtube:
http://youtu.be/FE8EyKpyodw
I listed this song so maybe others later, or now, can see what I mean if they have both headphones. Both present the vocals nearly the same. The K701's sounded slightly clearer though. This is because the K701 are evidently more treble based in comparison to the 65th. We're speaking relative here though, and here's why. The treble are nearly the same on both. However, as I found with great surprise, the 65th indeed has a general, noticeable, increase in bass. In fact I went as far as testing them against the K240 MK II. They're sound signature were almost identical. More so than the K701. I must note though, that the 65th's were superior in every way to the K240's, the sound signature being the only thing that was similar.
I'd like to specifically mention around ~1:24 in the link. There is a mini 10-or-so second guitar solo, which when compared between the K701 and 65th, sound completely different. I mean this trying my best to prevent a hyperbole. The K701 registers the high-end, and you end up with a "bright" solo. Whereas with the 65th, you get the extra mid-bass which makes it warmer, and less harsh.I am not afraid to say that they indeed, in that snippet, sound nothing alike. The soundstage is also presented differently, in that the K701's sound more distant when compared to the 65th, and that the 65th feels like you're in a concert hall, where the bass seems to echo across the halls. My mother agreed with this when she pointed out " The black ones make me feel like I'm at a classical concert hall!". I'd like point out that otherwise, the vocals and high-end sound mostly identical with small differences that One can easily deem placebo.
My hypothesis at this point was that they had increased the mid-bass+low-mids presence, but the deep end was still the same. To test this I used
Gramatik - liquified.
This song has essentially one bass pattern and that's a wubwubwub. Turns out the entire low-end is generally emphasized. The wubwub is nearly the same, but the kick in the back is more prominent with the 65th. This bass boost was very evident also in classical music, namely <find out song name from mother>. My first time listening to the song, both my mother and I took turn A-B'ing, and we both came to the conclusion that the 65th definitely had more low-end.
CONCLUSION:
So, I have
personally verified that the 65th has a more prominent low-end. It helps that my mother has also verified the same pattern. What does this mean? Is the 65th better? Should no one ever buy K701? I think this was best put by my mother:
"But you know, these(K701) aren't bad either. The (65th) are better for me, because I enjoy the more bassy instruments in an orchestra. The (K701) is probably better for people who like violins for example.There both good, but I like the black ones better."
That pretty much sums it up. Both are great headphones, but the K701 is for people who enjoy more of the higher side, and the 65th are for people who enjoy the lower side. By no means does one sound more "analytical" or "colder" than the other. The
Entire/Overall difference is the addition of bass. Simple as that. They are both what I would deem "warm", but the 65th is just more so because of the extra bass.
If I could also add my own, very personal, opinion, I would say the 65th are smoother, since the bass increase gives the general sound a thicker or fuller sound.
Also, I cannot stress enough, especially to new comers, that this entire review was a comparison. The sound of the 65th relative to the K701. I do not mean to say that the 65th is bass heavy compared to all other headphones, only relative to each other. I just want to clear any and all mis-understanding that might arise from this review, because many of us all too often generalize the reviewers impression as absolute. I learned that lesson the hard way.
Hopefully, this will help settle some discussion. Whether it does or not, I leave a happy man, left un-scarred by hype, and un-bruised from dissapointment.