DIY Amp for AkG 701?

[Aldyrin2]

I am considering purchasing AKG 701 headphones, but I hear that they need an amp to sound best. Are there any DIY amps in particular that pair best with the 701?

(I wasn't sure whether or not to put this in the amp section or here, so sorry if this is the wrong place)

Thanks,
Ald

 

[slowpogo]

I recently asked a similar question, and the M3 got a lot of votes, as did the Millett Max.

I have a Pimeta, but it's just not powerful enough for the K701's...plenty of volume, but thin and without any oomph.

 

[MASantos]

I just finished a millett hybrid( not the max one) and it sounds great with my 701's. It's still burning in and wiring is still not final, but it's a nice little amp. Never heard them with the M3, but shouldn't be bad as the M3 is highly regarded.

Next build will be aCk2. I will post some impressions when it's done!

 

[Cankin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MASantos /img/forum/go_quote.gif I just finished a millett hybrid( not the max one) and it sounds great with my 701's. It's still burning in and wiring is still not final, but it's a nice little amp. Never heard them with the M3, but shouldn't be bad as the M3 is highly regarded. Next build will be aCk2. I will post some impressions when it's done!

Log off now and get busy!!!

j/k

 

[n4k33n]

An M3 or PPAv2 would be your best bet in this case.

 

[stixx]

There is no special amp to suit a particular set of headphones but for sure a high quality set of headphones benefits from being driven by a good amplifier...be it solid state, hybrid or tube.

I've built an M3 to drive my Sennheiser's and like it a lot...people saying that HD 650's sound "lame" obviously haven't heard them on a good amp!

Another recommendation could be the SOHA, a tube hybrid that has been built by many DIY'ers around the world...easy to build, compact and kits available (Jeff Rossel at glassjaraudio).

 

[MASantos]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cankin /img/forum/go_quote.gif Log off now and get busy!!! j/k

I would, but I'm still waiting on some parts.

 

[bhostinsky]

I'm using a SOHA on my 701's and really like it. The tubes for the SOHA are REALLY easy to find and some can make the 701's really sing.

 

[b17m4p]

I have a pair of K701s I just bought that are currently running straight out of a Benchmark DAC1 (which by the way sounds pretty nice as it is; bass seems a tad thin - separation is good but everything sounds very narrow), but I am building a MAX for them soon.

I think that maybe once I have that setup for a while I might convert the 701s to balanced and build the balanced ß22; just a thought I had today I have not researched it yet.

 

[fordgtlover]

I have both the M³ and the Millett Max. They both sound great with the K701.

I would have no hesitation in recommending either.

There have been quite a few posts in the amp section including comparisons of some DIY amps with a range of headphones, including the K701.

 

[Ech0]

I really like the MilletMax / K701 combo. I also have a SOHA but I've yet to try it with the K01.

 

[amphead]

The M3 or Millett Max, but I don't think you would go wrong with the Millett Max. I use K701 most of the time and love the sound with my Millett Max.

 

[Uncle Erik]

I like the M^3 with the K-701.

 

[maddogmcq]

Jeez, I spent up to £300 on headphone amps including the EarMax Pro, but was never really struck by what I heard, so this time around I decided to build one cheaply myself just to see what the results were. And I liked it!

See Details Here