amp for the Akg k701
Apr 16, 2011 at 7:58 PM Post #16 of 43
i think there are a couple hundred threads on this topic
deadhorse.gif
probably more.
 
Apr 16, 2011 at 11:59 PM Post #18 of 43
Apr 17, 2011 at 12:08 AM Post #20 of 43

 
Quote:
brasewel said:
If you have heard the K701 through a couple of amps and not just the E9 you would know why people say they are difficult to amp and how they shine with quality amps. Saying the E9 does wonders to the K701 without actually hearing how they sound through a WA22 or a quality tube amp does not make a valid case now does it. But hey I'm not trying to bash the E9 or you so please don't take any offense to my comments. I'm just staying out of these K701 threads since the E9 is supposedly the "best" amp for them
biggrin.gif
Click to expand...

no offence taken, i was just trying to help a fellow n00b ^_^
I have listened to them through different amps (unfortunately only 2, but i intend to change that soon) and like i said in my first post in this thread, they sounded a whole lot better on the other one, but it would have been at least 3 times the price of the fiio. I dont think i said the Fiios did wonders to 702s (sorry if you got that impression) , i dont think many people would say that, but judging from what people around here say for the price most think the fiio is a good option if you have a limited budget. I personally cant say definitively if its brilliant or not as my set up is still burning in (doing it passively) and like you said i dont have much to compare it too. Thats why i used the "sounds good for this, sounds bad for that" method :p
 
Of course the rig will sound better if you slap a brilliant amplifier in it that matches well with the 702s, but neither myself or the OP have the money or will to do that at the moment. Not many people want to shell out more than $500 for a complete set up on their first rig seeing as they know that it could be a passing hobby and not a long term thing. i am taking up Baka's advice and looking at building a "starving student hybrid amp" for a cheap change of flavor while i decide what the next direction i want to go is.
 
Apr 17, 2011 at 1:28 AM Post #21 of 43
I was in a similar position as you with regard to the DAC/amp decision. I don't know whether it's placebo, as I can't perform a blind test, but going to a DAC from Realtek onboard on a Dell was a huge step up in terms of SQ for me. I would imagine that just about any DAC is going to be better than onboard, and am further under the impression that the effect of diminishing returns is more pronounced with DACs than with amps. i.e. a $100 uDAC may give you 90% of what you'll get from a $1500 Audio-GD, for example. All that said, the K701s really need to be amped. I suppose what I'm trying to say is that I'd recommend both a DAC and an amp, and to focus on spending your money on the amp moreso than on the DAC.

I see the Matrix M-Stage frequently recommended as a good match for the K701s, there are several for sale currently in the For Sale section should you be willing to consider used:
http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/546954/matrix-m-stage-v2-in-min-condition-price-drop
http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/547174/fs-schiit-asgard-and-matrix-m-stage
http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/549416/matrix-m-stage-w-opa627ap-class-a-upgrade

I know you said you'd like to avoid tubes, but I wanted to mention that I am very happy with my Schiit Valhalla in conjunction with the 701s. I have read that the Asgard is not as good a match for 701s.

 
Apr 21, 2011 at 6:11 AM Post #22 of 43
Hey mate!
 
I bought 701's 6 mounths ago and i had a couple of amps so far and i can tell You rigth now that sub-300$ amp is a no-go.
 
First of all forget the solid state - hybrid or tube amp is a must, and heres the 300$ problem, don't worry thou I had same budget and i did just fine, in the end i bought Trends Audio PA10 its 225$: http://www.trendsaudio.com/ the stock tube in cheaper version needs instant rolling for something better but other than that it's all You have to worry about, in my opinion it brings 85% the akg's power. Im not 100% satisfied but i tried the sub 300$ solids and they don't have enough power to drive 701's.
 
I saw You mentioned schiit asgard... ehm no if You want some serious Schiit try valhalla actually schiit guys made valhalla with our akg's in mind check their page :)
 
About DAC ---- YES go for dac as a source I got like 5 sound cards at home and even Prodigy HIFI is tonally way behind the trends dac im using right now. Im an IT specialist and I also master and mix tracks from time to time and trust me sound cards arn't equal no f... way :)
 
EDIT: IF you really dont want tube amp You shouldnt have go for 70X, only solid recommended for akgs is the Heed Canamp
 
Apr 21, 2011 at 10:25 AM Post #23 of 43


Quote:
d1554573r said:
Hey mate!
 
I bought 701's 6 mounths ago and i had a couple of amps so far and i can tell You rigth now that sub-300$ amp is a no-go.
 
First of all forget the solid state - hybrid or tube amp is a must, and heres the 300$ problem, don't worry thou I had same budget and i did just fine, in the end i bought Trends Audio PA10 its 225$: http://www.trendsaudio.com/ the stock tube in cheaper version needs instant rolling for something better but other than that it's all You have to worry about, in my opinion it brings 85% the akg's power. Im not 100% satisfied but i tried the sub 300$ solids and they don't have enough power to drive 701's.
 
I saw You mentioned schiit asgard... ehm no if You want some serious Schiit try valhalla actually schiit guys made valhalla with our akg's in mind check their page :)
 
About DAC ---- YES go for dac as a source I got like 5 sound cards at home and even Prodigy HIFI is tonally way behind the trends dac im using right now. Im an IT specialist and I also master and mix tracks from time to time and trust me sound cards arn't equal no f... way :)
 
EDIT: IF you really dont want tube amp You shouldnt have go for 70X, only solid recommended for akgs is the Heed Canamp
Click to expand...


x2. Been saying this for a while that the K701 sound best through tubes and not through solid-state. Running them and doing them justice are two different things. 
 
 
Apr 21, 2011 at 1:48 PM Post #24 of 43
k701's go great with the M^3 and Dynalo and other good solid state amps.
 
k701's and cheaper OTL tube amps are a bad pairing to my ears and many others have said the same thing.
 
Hybrid amps like the CTH and SSMH sounded good/great with the k701's from my brief experiences.
 
Apr 21, 2011 at 1:58 PM Post #25 of 43


Quote:
dcpoor said:
k701's go great with the M^3 and Dynalo and other good solid state amps.
 
k701's and cheaper OTL amps are a bad pairing to my ears and many others have said the same thing.
 
Hybrid amps like the CTH and SSMH sounded good/great with the k701's from my brief experiences.
Click to expand...


I've heard the K701 with practically every SS amp excluding my Apache and I can safely say tubes make them sound best. Solves their treble and midrange issues. Pairing them with cheap tube amps is obviously going to be a bad experience, however when paired with a WA6/WA6SE or WA22 they sound fabulous. It gave the HD800 a run for it's money when paired with the correct tube amp IMO.
 
 
Apr 21, 2011 at 3:56 PM Post #26 of 43
Trends Audio and Schiit valhalla dont sound like cheap ones even if they are, in fact i got trends and im preety hapy about it and in near future i want to go for schiit lyr or valhalla, but i gotto say i love hybrids.
 
Apr 21, 2011 at 9:58 PM Post #27 of 43


Quote:
d1554573r said:
First of all forget the solid state - hybrid or tube amp is a must, and heres the 300$ problem
Click to expand...

 
Completely disagree with this. My experience with the AKGs 70x may be limited compared to others, but I can definitely say listening to them with a cheap tube amp is only a must if you desire poor quality sound. I've tried the AKGs on various amps, and I can definitely say they sound great with the Heed CanAmp. Whether they also sound great with expensive tube amp remains to be seen until I can get my hands on some, but I highly doubt a tube amp of the same level as the CanAmp can match the synergy it has with the 70x's.
 
Apr 21, 2011 at 10:31 PM Post #28 of 43
^ I agree with you in some sense.  You're not going to match the dynamics and detail of an SS amp with a budget tube amp, but you will solve most of the midrange issue.  I think the Ming Da 84C07 or Elekit TU-882 would be good matches.  I think the trouble with most people trying budget tubes is that they're trying OTLs like Little Dots which don't match low-impedancers like the K701s at all.  
 
Apr 21, 2011 at 10:46 PM Post #29 of 43


Quote:
menchi said:
 
Completely disagree with this. My experience with the AKGs 70x may be limited compared to others, but I can definitely say listening to them with a cheap tube amp is only a must if you desire poor quality sound. I've tried the AKGs on various amps, and I can definitely say they sound great with the Heed CanAmp. Whether they also sound great with expensive tube amp remains to be seen until I can get my hands on some, but I highly doubt a tube amp of the same level as the CanAmp can match the synergy it has with the 70x's.
Click to expand...


Cheap tube amps in general sound bad through any headphone since they sound "tubey". Most tube amps under $500 sound tubey to me so listening to a similarly priced tube amp will sound atrocious. I haven't heard a SS amp that beats the synergy good tube amps have with the K701 IMO.
EDIT:Like the poster mentioned above, OTL tube amps are cheap and easy to produce and work best with high impedance phones while OTC tube amps are expensive and work with both high and low impedance phones.
 
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 2 (members: 0, guests: 2)
Back
Top