txa
Head-Fier
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2005
- Posts
- 92
- Likes
- 0
Hello fellow enthusiasts!
Thread note: I've added this as a post to the original thread and a new thread here. Figured it might be more accessible in it's final form but that other long thread has some FANTASTIC contributions from many members. So you may want to read it when you have some time.
-----------------------
It's been a while since I last posted - more so since I had initiated this 3-way comparison thread. I'm finally ready to document the results of my quest, now that my K701 has finally settled into its long-term sound.
First, let me thank all the current 701 owners that encouraged me to stay with it and continue the burn-in process. It has been more than well worth the wait - so much so that I'm still shaking my head in amazement as to the transformation.
My 701s only have 140 or so hours on them. Some have noted that they continue to improve through the 300+ hr range. Mine are so good right now that I'm not sure how that is possible, but any improvement will surely add to what I feel has been a great purchase!
When I last posted, I was at the point where the 701 was on the cusp of being my most enjoyable phone... and being sold.
Brutal! Normally, things aren't so black and white. The sonic adjustment required to make it move in either direction is very subtle - enough to be perceived as absurd by non-enthusiasts.
But for me, and I imagine many here on head-fi, the subtleties are what it's all about.
In the case of the K701, it had to do with what I perceived as some hardness in the presence region (2k-4k or so) that was making it difficult for me to relax and just enjoy them. Though I could see the potential of the phone, and admired it's most neutral presentation across the board, I felt it was pushing its sound on me. If it continued to do so, I just couldn't live with it when the 650 and 880 exist. If it did, it would be my preferred phone.
For those who don't want to read all of the details, here is the conclusion:
The 701 is now my current reference phone of choice. I'm in agreement with all of the others who are singing its praises and have voted it best phone for under $500.
Hopefully I have written enough material for you to understand that I'm not a fan-boy and that I have an allegiance to good sound, not to a make, model, or anything else other than what brings pleasure to the ears.
Bought Sennheiser HD595 - sold it.
Bought DT880 - kept it.
Bought AGK K501 - sold it.
Bought HD650 - kept it.
Bought Sony SA5K - sold it.
What remains are two great phones: BeyerDynamic DT880 and Senheiser HD650.
The K701 investigation was initiated to determine if this phone could split the difference of these latter two, and through its synergy, outperform them in the whole.
For me, it does just this.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Let me describe its transformation and give some additional comparisons to the DT880 and HD650.
Transformation
----------------------
Somewhere around the 110-130 hour mark is when the big changes took place. The 3 biggies are:
- Presence region became more relaxed, spacious and inviting; currently, the hardness is completely gone; I'm actually amazed - I was very skeptical of this point.
- Overall detail improved, more space between the notes (and it was already just as good as HD650 here)
- Bass ripened; it has become more full and enveloping, yet still percussive and extremely neutral
In fact, listening to the Headroom Bithead, the bass improved to the point that I thought I may have accidentally switched the processing circuit on (which adds more bass and overall warmth) but was puzzled because I hadn't noticed the usual drop in detail. Nope, just the phones... simply outstanding!
Since the 110-130 hour mark, the above three improvements have just gotten more and more refined. I think in addition to the drivers, the breaking-in of the ear pads has helped, as they have me a little closer to the drivers. (I really believe a Beyer-like pad on this phone would be ideal - both in terms of sonics and comfort.) In any case, I just absolutely love this phone. There - how's that for fan-boyism?
Comparisons
--------------------
I can understand how many think the K701 is more DT880 than HD650.
I can equally understand how some think the K701 is more HD650 than DT880.
It splits the difference extremely well and it is really difficult to say in absolute terms that it is more this than that - so hopefully I can add some observations that get to the root of it.
HD650
The K701 is more HD650 in terms of its micro-level details and its intimate mid-range. I have always found the HD650 to be a better revolver of detail than the DT880 (which accentuates high-frequency detail), and the K701 is more HD650 in this regard. Better, actually, in my opinion.
Also - although I find the overall balance of the HD650 too warm for most of my music, I do enjoy it's midrange across the board. I actually prefer the DT880 more neutral bottom-end and even-handedness for much of my music, but always thinking "Why couldn't the HD650 midrange come along for the ride on this?"
With the 701, it does.
However, the 701 mid-range is not 650 mid-range. For Kef and B&W listeners, the K701 is more classic Kef, the HD650, more classic B&W.
Let me phrase both in positive and negative light:
Positive: HD650 midrange is warm and 3D. Negative: HD650 midrange is chesty and too full.
Positive: K701 midrange is light on its feet, intimate, and articulate. Negative: K701 midrange is thinner and lacks weight.
I fall into the positive camp on both phones, but I definitely prefer the K701!
DT880
The K701 is more DT880 in terms of its macro sonic presentation and frequency balance. It is very airy, detailed, and conveys the same sense of space and openness - only without the exaggerated top-end.
Its bass is an ideal mix of 880 and 650. It's bass balance and quantity is much like the DT880. It's bass articulation and percussiveness is like the HD650. (It still doesn't have the 'hit' of the SA5k, but it is closer and ‘envelopes’ you more - which I think is a result of it integrating into the midrange better.)
Thanks for reading this long thread and what feels like an even longer post - and good luck on your quest!
Thread note: I've added this as a post to the original thread and a new thread here. Figured it might be more accessible in it's final form but that other long thread has some FANTASTIC contributions from many members. So you may want to read it when you have some time.
-----------------------
It's been a while since I last posted - more so since I had initiated this 3-way comparison thread. I'm finally ready to document the results of my quest, now that my K701 has finally settled into its long-term sound.
First, let me thank all the current 701 owners that encouraged me to stay with it and continue the burn-in process. It has been more than well worth the wait - so much so that I'm still shaking my head in amazement as to the transformation.
My 701s only have 140 or so hours on them. Some have noted that they continue to improve through the 300+ hr range. Mine are so good right now that I'm not sure how that is possible, but any improvement will surely add to what I feel has been a great purchase!
When I last posted, I was at the point where the 701 was on the cusp of being my most enjoyable phone... and being sold.
Brutal! Normally, things aren't so black and white. The sonic adjustment required to make it move in either direction is very subtle - enough to be perceived as absurd by non-enthusiasts.
But for me, and I imagine many here on head-fi, the subtleties are what it's all about.
In the case of the K701, it had to do with what I perceived as some hardness in the presence region (2k-4k or so) that was making it difficult for me to relax and just enjoy them. Though I could see the potential of the phone, and admired it's most neutral presentation across the board, I felt it was pushing its sound on me. If it continued to do so, I just couldn't live with it when the 650 and 880 exist. If it did, it would be my preferred phone.
For those who don't want to read all of the details, here is the conclusion:
The 701 is now my current reference phone of choice. I'm in agreement with all of the others who are singing its praises and have voted it best phone for under $500.
Hopefully I have written enough material for you to understand that I'm not a fan-boy and that I have an allegiance to good sound, not to a make, model, or anything else other than what brings pleasure to the ears.
Bought Sennheiser HD595 - sold it.
Bought DT880 - kept it.
Bought AGK K501 - sold it.
Bought HD650 - kept it.
Bought Sony SA5K - sold it.
What remains are two great phones: BeyerDynamic DT880 and Senheiser HD650.
The K701 investigation was initiated to determine if this phone could split the difference of these latter two, and through its synergy, outperform them in the whole.
For me, it does just this.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Let me describe its transformation and give some additional comparisons to the DT880 and HD650.
Transformation
----------------------
Somewhere around the 110-130 hour mark is when the big changes took place. The 3 biggies are:
- Presence region became more relaxed, spacious and inviting; currently, the hardness is completely gone; I'm actually amazed - I was very skeptical of this point.
- Overall detail improved, more space between the notes (and it was already just as good as HD650 here)
- Bass ripened; it has become more full and enveloping, yet still percussive and extremely neutral
In fact, listening to the Headroom Bithead, the bass improved to the point that I thought I may have accidentally switched the processing circuit on (which adds more bass and overall warmth) but was puzzled because I hadn't noticed the usual drop in detail. Nope, just the phones... simply outstanding!
Since the 110-130 hour mark, the above three improvements have just gotten more and more refined. I think in addition to the drivers, the breaking-in of the ear pads has helped, as they have me a little closer to the drivers. (I really believe a Beyer-like pad on this phone would be ideal - both in terms of sonics and comfort.) In any case, I just absolutely love this phone. There - how's that for fan-boyism?
Comparisons
--------------------
I can understand how many think the K701 is more DT880 than HD650.
I can equally understand how some think the K701 is more HD650 than DT880.
It splits the difference extremely well and it is really difficult to say in absolute terms that it is more this than that - so hopefully I can add some observations that get to the root of it.
HD650
The K701 is more HD650 in terms of its micro-level details and its intimate mid-range. I have always found the HD650 to be a better revolver of detail than the DT880 (which accentuates high-frequency detail), and the K701 is more HD650 in this regard. Better, actually, in my opinion.
Also - although I find the overall balance of the HD650 too warm for most of my music, I do enjoy it's midrange across the board. I actually prefer the DT880 more neutral bottom-end and even-handedness for much of my music, but always thinking "Why couldn't the HD650 midrange come along for the ride on this?"
With the 701, it does.
However, the 701 mid-range is not 650 mid-range. For Kef and B&W listeners, the K701 is more classic Kef, the HD650, more classic B&W.
Let me phrase both in positive and negative light:
Positive: HD650 midrange is warm and 3D. Negative: HD650 midrange is chesty and too full.
Positive: K701 midrange is light on its feet, intimate, and articulate. Negative: K701 midrange is thinner and lacks weight.
I fall into the positive camp on both phones, but I definitely prefer the K701!
DT880
The K701 is more DT880 in terms of its macro sonic presentation and frequency balance. It is very airy, detailed, and conveys the same sense of space and openness - only without the exaggerated top-end.
Its bass is an ideal mix of 880 and 650. It's bass balance and quantity is much like the DT880. It's bass articulation and percussiveness is like the HD650. (It still doesn't have the 'hit' of the SA5k, but it is closer and ‘envelopes’ you more - which I think is a result of it integrating into the midrange better.)
Thanks for reading this long thread and what feels like an even longer post - and good luck on your quest!
