[venndi]

Hello!
 
I have read a lot about K701, that it's need or not an amp. I found various opinions, maybe now it's more clearer, then it was a few years ago .
My soundcard is Scarlett 2i4, in the specifications stay:
 

Output Impedance	< 12Ω
Power Output into 32Ω	24mW

 
I don't know it is enough or not...
 
If it's need an amp, then I'll go with ATH M50, I think it doesn't need an amp, right?

 

[ZGLISZCZ]

I was using them with my e-mu tracker pre and they sounded nice, although they will sound better with stronger amp than those from sound cards for music production. for portable I have rockboxed sansa clip plus 2stepdancer but usually I dont take 2stepdancer with me. if your player can be rockboxed then do it tiny rockboxed sansa clip drive them quite well (for that sized player). I removed sticker from the back of driver in mine k701s as bass was stiff as hell. now I ilke it.

 

[ZGLISZCZ]

yeah Im using them as my portable rig for years...

 

[Blze001]

It's kinda like having a high-performance car: will it run on cheap gas? Yup. Will it perform it's best? Nope.
 
If you're planning on getting a desktop amp in the future, go with the AKGs... they'll work on a sound-card but won't sound their best until amped. If you just want to buy a pair of headphones and be done with it, go with the M50s.
 
My Q701s (similar headphones, some small differences) ran directly off a Turtle Beach DSS2 for a month and sounded pretty good, but they turned into completely different animals when they got amped properly.
 
But remember that the M50s are closed back and won't have nearly the soundstage. That said, I'd nudge you towards the K550/553, I find them to have a surprisingly large soundstage for being closed back, and they're meant to run directly off MP3 players.

 

[ZGLISZCZ]

Venndi, Blze001 have right but you can be sure that they will sound nice from your sound card any way, you will miss some extra performance but still they will sound nice. If you are making music (guessing based on your sound card) you might consider some more monitor like headphones. Also without rockbox or nice portable player they will sound like tin crap and you wont get a good volume either.

 

[venndi]

Thanks for the answers!
 
I searched some headphones for mixing/mastering. These two had I choose, maybe the DT800, but it's more expensive, than the other two.
I have also an old but good (for now) Pioneer a447 amp and a Yamaha DSP a780.
I found this about DSP a780
 
 
Yamaha: 
Headphone jack rated output/impedance
 
Output level (8ohm, 1kHz, 0,03% THD) 0,2V
Impedance 100ohm
 
Can I somehow resolve with these amps?
 
If not, will be enough the amps like Samson S-Amp, ART HeadAMP 4, or which fiio will be enogh for K701?

 

[venndi]

I had also think about monitors, but others have recommended headphones instead of monitors, and now I also think, that in this price range the headphone are better choise. I can buy a KRK rp6 G2...but I don't think its will be better than M50 or the K701, first of all, for monitors is need a "studio room"...then will be a good choice, but my room is just an avarage room, if you understand what I mean . Sorry for my bad english

 

[ZGLISZCZ]

  I had also think about monitors, but others have recommended headphones instead of monitors, and now I also think, that in this price range the headphone are better choise. I can buy a KRK rp6 G2...but I don't think its will be better than M50 or the K701, first of all, for monitors is need a "studio room"...then will be a good choice, but my room is just an avarage room, if you understand what I mean . Sorry for my bad english

I mean monitor headphones not a speakers, but cant really recomend much as I dont have much experience. Im sure that soon someone will give you better advice. But k701 are nice headphones. You can also consider fostex t20 /40 or 50rp if you would like to mod them (without modification they arent that great imo)

 

[ProtegeManiac]

 

Output Impedance	< 12Ω
Power Output into 32Ω	24mW

 

Generally for clean damping factor you need around 8:1 ratio of load (headphone) impedance to output impedance. At 62ohms you need around 7.5ohms output impedance.

 

As for the output power, that 24mW doesn't even tell how bad the distortion is. Many audiophile amps are called "underrated" in forums because they sound louder than other big brand amps with a higher rating, but the reality there is that they are just rated at a much lower distortion rating while the latter is screaming "1,200watts PMPO!!!" on a big yellow sticker on the appliance store shelf, which, even if it actually hits that as a peak output, it's still at unusable distortion levels. As it is you can't tell if this one is just rated at a lower THD or if the output power is really low, or whether it behaves like most amps that put more power into lower impedance or it actually puts out more power at high impedance.

 

[jodgey4]

The K701 is usually more expensive than newer K7XX, Q701, even sometimes the K712, and they don't have a detachable cable. They also need lots of power. It's probably hard to do them justice without something like the Fiio E12 or Schiit Magni for $100. Speaker amps won't work so well.

Monitors vs. headphones is a tough call. I think good monitors almost can't be avoided (unless you have Audeze LCD-X headphones or so)... but I'd totally feel comfortable using my Q701s for professional purposes.

 

[DangerClose]

 

Output Impedance	< 12Ω
Power Output into 32Ω	24mW

 
I don't know it is enough or not...

 
It's not even close to enough.  I used my Q701 with onboard ALC892 sound on my desktop computer recently out of curiosity.  It was just about loud enough, but so awful. 
 
I'd have to test them again, but I'm pretty sure they also sound not all that great out of my Xonar DG card, and that's probably 5 times as powerful as your card.

 

[cel4145]

I'd have to test them again, but I'm pretty sure they also sound not all that great out of my Xonar DG card, and that's probably 5 times as powerful as your card.

+1

I tried my K612 Pro with the DG, and it really needed more power to drive them well. I'm sure the Q701 would be similar or worse in that regard.

 

[Blze001]

+1

I tried my K612 Pro with the DG, and it really needed more power to drive them well. I'm sure the Q701 would be similar or worse in that regard.

 
The K612s have almost double the impedance of the Q701s and slightly less sensitivity, so those cans are power hungry.
 
Venndi, have you considered the 32ohm offerings from Beyerdynamic? That might be a better option for your setup if an amp isn't in the near future.

 

[venndi]

Thanks!
 
I read that the 32ohm Beyer DT880 is worse than the 250ohm, and the 250 is much more better choice for mixing and mastering. I don't know it is  a stereotype or not.
Someones said that DT880 with 250ohm is easier to drive, than the 62ohm K701. Can handle my 2i4 the DT880 with 250ohm?

 

[cel4145]

You might try asking here: http://www.head-fi.org/t/429371/the-beyerdynamic-dt880-discussion-thread. Decent chance someone has tried them with a Focusrite. In fact, try searching the thread for Focusrite first.