[jonathanjong]

So, I walked past this audio shop at a mall...and I turned around and went in when I saw a pair of AKG K701s in the window. The moment I stepped in, I saw HD600 and HD650 on a shelf. Be still, I told my heart. I'd been considering HD600 v. K701 for a while now, leaning towards HD600 from what I've read about both (and HD650). But wow, after just a minute with each of these, I'm a convert. I don't know what the source was, or how much amping was going on, or how much burn in had gone into these, but even if such extraneous variables were in K701's favour...wow, what a difference. I'm not saying that K701 is better than HD600. That's not the point of this post. The point, as you might surmise from the title, is that personally experiencing headphones for yourself is very, very important. From my reading here at Head-Fi, I concluded that I'd like HD600 a little better than K701. Just a little, but still. From my experience at that store, I immensely preferred the K701. So, the next time you have a decision like this to make, comparing among HD650, K701, DT880; Klipsch X10, Shure 530, Westone UM3; etc., do all you can to hear them for yourself.

 

[mbd2884]

Yeah I need to find a way to try the K702 and the HD650, HD600 so I can decide which to get, I don't want to go in blind on these 3. While I love the reviews, nothing is better than just hearing em.

 

[darkninja67]

Both are very good and fairly different cans. Good choice on the AKGs though. I miss mine.

 

[tintin47]

I actually borrowed my friends' 600 and have been comparing them for about a week. I love the 701s, and I am not all that crazy about the 600s. It is possible that I need a better amp, but the 701s sound better to me out of both my ck2III and my Little Dot mk III.

 

[Stephen Murphy]

I agree with your sentiment that the best option is to try all contenders before you buy. That is impossible to do in practice for a lot of us so we end up buying a few, trying and then either keeping or selling.

I am not sure however, that your "try for one minute at the mall and then become a convert" approach is really any better than reading other's reviews that they have put together over days or months of use. It takes a long time and a lot of listening to really know what is going on with a piece of equipment.

A really bad analogy would be the Coke and Pepsi taste test. Pepsi usually wins in a quick sip test because it is sweeter and more bubbly. Coke retains it's market however, because over the long term people can drink a lot of it and it mixes well with booze, etc.

The ideal is to try headphones for a long period on your own equipment with your own music. That's what keeps the For Sale Forum hopping.

 

[TopPop]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen Murphy /img/forum/go_quote.gif A really bad analogy would be the Coke and Pepsi taste test. Pepsi usually wins in a quick sip test because it is sweeter and more bubbly. Coke retains it's market however, because over the long term people can drink a lot of it and it mixes well with booze, etc.

So... well... hang on... the moral of the story is... is... to pick the pair of headphones that mixes best with booze??

 

[FrederikS|TPU]

Exactly!

 

[Stephen Murphy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TopPop /img/forum/go_quote.gif So... well... hang on... the moral of the story is... is... to pick the pair of headphones that mixes best with booze??

Finally, someone understands me!

I said it was a bad analogy, but it seems in the short term people might prefer the brighter, sweeter, lemony, bubbly Pepsi, but in the long term they seem to stick with their usual old Coke because it gets the job done and plays well with others.

 

[Acix]

Trust your own experience...

 

[Happy Camper]

I didn't like the HD when I heard them on my portable or a stock Cayin. The Cayin got tube rolled and cleared up the veil quite a bit.

Then I heard both the 600/650 re-cabled with a Zana Deux and my amp at a meet and was very impressed with the 600. They need an amp as bad as the K701.

Though different, I felt the RS-1s brought more to the party as a compliment to the K701s. After a journey with ICs and power cords, I am very impressed with those Intrepid spirits who found these tweaks. I have yet to re-cable the hps but that will come. I'm afraid if I change the cable I tweaked the system with, it would mean re-doing ICs and power cords.

 

[jonathanjong]

I'd disagree that a brief sample is just as bad as reading reviews, but I'd heartily agree that spending more time with a piece of equipment certainly gives a much better impression. So, from now on, if returning stuff is an option (and shipping is not insane), I'd definitely "buy" both (or whatever) headphones, listen for a few days, then return the one I like less.

 

[scytheavatar]

Have you tried the other AKGs? There's some people out there who like the K501 more.

 

[Trav]

recently owned the 702, currently own the 240S and the HD 600. I compared the 702 and the 240 (recabled). The 702 ruled on detail, marginal winner with soundstage; but the 240 won on bass extension and warmth. Currently between the HD 600 and the 240, IMO they are both exhibiting similar warmth with the 600 being more dynamic.

 

[sadhanaputra]

Yeah, I remember the first time I heard a pair of SR60's and thought "These cans have BASS!"..

I guess the reviewers who said that SR60 is lacking in bass were comparing them to other, more/too-bassy headphones..

 

[plaidplatypus]

Quote:

Originally Posted by scytheavatar /img/forum/go_quote.gif Have you tried the other AKGs? There's some people out there who like the K501 more.

The K501 has highs to die for but it lacks bass and I am by no means a basshead. I'd go for a K701 or K702. The HD600 and HD650 sound nice with the right music on the right amp and are comfortable to wear. The Grado SR-60 is a great headphone and doesn't cost too much.