This pretty much sums up my findings as well. The K701 is just weak at doing electric guitars. With proper amping it can be passable at these genres, but generally speaking it is better off with acoustic, jazz and the like.
My advise in this your case is to simply look through your music collection and think if your K702 would suit it. FME, the K701 simply suck with R&B, Hip-hop, electric guitar or anything that is not produced by natural instrument.
This is essentially why I bought the 702 -- I had the same impression from reading head-fi and brief testing at a local head-fi jam recently. Ross has heard more phones than I in the ~$250-$500 range, so I'm glad to hear this opinion from him.
Reading these discussions I have the impression that we are doing science here by an inefficient method -- the variables keep changing. The rigorous method would be to set up an experiment which tests one element at a time comparing two phones on the same amp, then the same two phones on another amp -- or straight out of an iPod, and so on. This could happen at any big or small local Can-Jam and would be a veeeeerrrrrrrrry interesting event, it seems to me. Then the same experiment could be run in a validation attempt by different "scientists" at a different jam. If they disagree, then we go back to firing off our individual opinions, LOL.
Quote:
Originally Posted by renlute
" This is essentially why I bought the 702 -- I had the same impression from reading head-fi and brief testing at a local head-fi jam recently. Ross has heard more phones than I in the ~$250-$500 range, so I'm glad to hear this opinion from him.
Reading these discussions I have the impression that we are doing science here by an inefficient method -- the variables keep changing. The rigorous method would be to set up an experiment which tests one element at a time comparing two phones on the same amp, then the same two phones on another amp -- or straight out of an iPod, and so on. This could happen at any big or small local Can-Jam and would be a veeeeerrrrrrrrry interesting event, it seems to me. Then the same experiment could be run in a validation attempt by different "scientists" at a different jam. If they disagree, then we go back to firing off our individual opinions, LOL."
I actually think of the reviews and impressions as something to read and enjoy. No matter how objective myself, you or everyone else tries to be, in the end it's a subjective opinion. I learn something from what they all say. I know of the Head-fi'er's that I have a similar taste of and others that are different from what I prefer. I walk away with a better understanding from every viewpoint. Mostly. LoL (YAVALP)
If we came up with a scientific method that was perfect, it would be flawed. If we all heard and liked the same things in the same way then Head-Fi wouldn't exist because music as we know wouldn't exist. The art itself wouldn't.
I think a standardized method of testing headphones would still only be a piece of the overall puzzle. It's the personalities and opinions that make it all interesting and entertaining. Not to mention all the fun arguments fellow Head-Fi'ers love to engage in.
Do you know how close it sounds to the Sennheiser HD 600? I've seen the comparisons thrown around before. I have used the HD 600 before, altho they weren't properly amped. I guess just for reference sake (since I have heard the HD600).
And thanks for the amp suggestion. I actually have a NuForce Icon uDAC that I've been using. But I doubt that will do it for the AKG...so I really need to invest in a higher end amp it seems.
That does it. I'm unloading the 702, no more AKG for me.
LOL.
Actually this is a pretty good comparison, side-by-side is the way to do it. Thanks Blitz. (Or maybe Krieg [=war in German] is more apropos). It would be very interesting to hear your comparison of the 650 and the 800. And what about another amp? I don't know anything about this Shanling rig.
The thread motivates me to have a serious listen to more high-end Senns sometime. I heard the 800 briefly at the SF airport jam last February. I would definitely accept a pair if they were given to me.
That does it. I'm unloading the 702, no more AKG for me.
LOL.
Actually this is a pretty good comparison, side-by-side is the way to do it. Thanks Blitz. (Or maybe Krieg [=war in German] is more apropos). It would be very interesting to hear your comparison of the 650 and the 800. And what about another amp? I don't know anything about this Shanling rig.
The thread motivates me to have a serious listen to more high-end Senns sometime. I heard the 800 briefly at the SF airport jam last February. I would definitely accept a pair if they were given to me.
I'd be happy to share my thoughts on the HD800's. . .if I had ever heard a pair, haha. I just got done comparing my new DT990's to my friend's HD600's. That was his stuff actually that I was reviewing, and he didn't end up keeping that Shanling amp, mainly because he got it solely to drive the K702's. He is itching to get another amp at this point, as am I. . .we are both look at the Audio-GD Fun and Sparrow. Main thing for both of us at this point in time is money, as neither of us have a job yet (I just graduated with a Mechanical Engineering degree, honestly. . .What? Damn you economy!!!!). So obviously my comparison of the DT990's and the HD600's would not be the best, but the sound signature is still there. I believe that the DT990 (600 ohm) is well worth the money at only $229.95 (with free UPS shipping) from B&H Photo. The DT990 has a touch more bass than the HD600, and the trebles are slightly more accented on the DT990's, but both are great cans. The slight harshness of the highs on the DT990's were tamed when I put a piece of felt over both drivers (.47 cent sheet from Walmart, lol) after reading throughthis thread which compares the DT880 and DT990 drivers. I've had the DT990's "burning in" over the past few nights with pink noise (about 30-40 hrs worth at this point) and this also has helped what little bit of harshness was left. Ultimately I feel the HD600's are a more "natural" sounding headphone, and reproduce all sounds how you would hear them in real life with your own ears, with the DT990's not being very far behind in that category. To me, ultimately price is the deciding factor at this point in time. If I had the money, I'd bought the HD600's in a heart beat, but I (and my friend as well) were interested in trying BeyerDynamic sound signature.
To conclude this long, rambling waste of your time one might call a post (haha). . .The DT990 is well worth the money, and I can't justify the few small areas I might gain with the HD600's to be worth the extra money out of my pocket. This money will ultimately go to buying an amp to properly drive these DT990's (which they need it). One day I will have a pair of HD600's, but that will be down the road. Hope all of this information might come in handy for you.
Oh, I almost forgot. . .both the HD600 and DT990 have great sound stages in my opinion. I know the HD600's opened up even more when amped, which the DT990's should too amped. I would say the DT990 (both unamped) has a slightly larger one though. Both do depth very well to add resolution to the position of the sounds also. The K702 was the equivalent of being in a hangar basically, EVERYTHING was thrown out. . .on both of these headphones I feel sounds are where they should be. The DT990 do give a seem to be slightly more "open" though in their presentation than the HD600's.
More treble in the K701 compqred to the somewhat recessed trebles in the HD600, more treble means more ear fatigue.
Less bass in the K701, you may have subconsciously turn up the volume to compensate for the lack of bass, higher listening volume means more ear fatigue, especially since it adds event more treble.
That said, one thing I noticed is that my ears started to get sore after listening. Even in short bursts, if I listened to one album..then stopped for an hour, my ears would burn. I don't know if this is what they call "fatigue". Interesting enough, my HD 600's had much more punch bass wise, and I didn't get as much of an ear ache. Keep in mind I don't have a proper amp set up right now. I'm wondering if, it's just because I'm not used to listening to music with headphones. Or if, maybe the certain sound of the k702s just annoys my ears (from a physical stand point).
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