badgerbimmer
Head-Fier
- Joined
- Dec 24, 2008
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Probably not a fair comparison but just for fun I A/B'd my AKG701s and Ultrasone HFI650s. I recently acquired the 650s from Moon Audio in the blow out sale, recabled with Blue Dragon. I bought them, because they are closed cans versus the open AKGs, for travel less disturbing to my "neighbors".
The comparison was run from my IPOD Classic V5 80g through a P51 Emmeline set to high gain. Unfortunately I went mini to mini as I misplaced my Black Dragon LOD to mini at the airport last week ($80 down the drain!). The AKGs have 400 or 500 hours on them the Ultrasones about 125 hours (perhaps more break in required). The AKG's cable is stock with a Grado 1/4 to mini adapter. The Ultrasone's Blue Dragon terminates in a mini.
For the sake of brevity a won't go through a track by track comparison unless someone requests it. The following tracks were used: Diana Krall - The Girl in the Other Room, Stop This World; Rebecca Pidgeon - The Raven, Grandmother; The Beautiful Girls - Water, Periscopes; Ben Harper - Both Sides of the Gun, Black Rain; Harry Connick Jr - We are in Love, We are in Love; Academy of Ancient Music - A Festival of Handel. At this point I stopped and did not bother with Jazz or Blues tracks as regardless of the music type the trends of both cans were consistent.
To the conclusion the AKG 701s are far better regardless of music type. By comparison with the 701s it is as if a veil is being lifted and the music is clear and articulate, "present". Each instrument is separate and distinguished. Voices are clear and strong. The bass while not as prevalent as in the Ultrasones is better, cleaner. The AKG701s are more musical, true to life abd enjoyable. The AKGs are also more comfortable, although the Ultrasones don't really bother me over extended sessions.
Don't let this lead you to the conclusion that the HFI650s are not good. Say the 701s were an 9 the 650s would be a 6.5 . The 650s serve their purpose and are a good solid headphone it is just that the 701s are spectacular by comparison.
The comparison was run from my IPOD Classic V5 80g through a P51 Emmeline set to high gain. Unfortunately I went mini to mini as I misplaced my Black Dragon LOD to mini at the airport last week ($80 down the drain!). The AKGs have 400 or 500 hours on them the Ultrasones about 125 hours (perhaps more break in required). The AKG's cable is stock with a Grado 1/4 to mini adapter. The Ultrasone's Blue Dragon terminates in a mini.
For the sake of brevity a won't go through a track by track comparison unless someone requests it. The following tracks were used: Diana Krall - The Girl in the Other Room, Stop This World; Rebecca Pidgeon - The Raven, Grandmother; The Beautiful Girls - Water, Periscopes; Ben Harper - Both Sides of the Gun, Black Rain; Harry Connick Jr - We are in Love, We are in Love; Academy of Ancient Music - A Festival of Handel. At this point I stopped and did not bother with Jazz or Blues tracks as regardless of the music type the trends of both cans were consistent.
To the conclusion the AKG 701s are far better regardless of music type. By comparison with the 701s it is as if a veil is being lifted and the music is clear and articulate, "present". Each instrument is separate and distinguished. Voices are clear and strong. The bass while not as prevalent as in the Ultrasones is better, cleaner. The AKG701s are more musical, true to life abd enjoyable. The AKGs are also more comfortable, although the Ultrasones don't really bother me over extended sessions.
Don't let this lead you to the conclusion that the HFI650s are not good. Say the 701s were an 9 the 650s would be a 6.5 . The 650s serve their purpose and are a good solid headphone it is just that the 701s are spectacular by comparison.