[Tiemen]

Quote:

Originally Posted by QQQ /img/forum/go_quote.gif Tiemen, so, k701's pads are stiffier than 601's? I thought they're just differently shaped..

Yes, in my experience, the K701 pads are a little bit stiffer than the K601 pads.
But bare in mind that I compared brandnew K701 pads with heavily used K601 pads. That can explain the differences I felt.

 

[iQEM]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shoewreck /img/forum/go_quote.gif Are K701 pads softer than K501? It seems like K501 pads just don't make a proper seal against my head...

just curious, which version is your K501 ? if you use it rarely i believe it's stiff and itchy like new, i use it a lot (min.7hours a day at the office) so it's become more softer and smooth than out of the box...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tiemen /img/forum/go_quote.gif The K701 earpads are rather stiff. And they are shaped for a good fit on your head. Are the 501 pads too stiff for you, or too soft?

myK701pads are like new, even got it 2nd from REB...yes, it's stiffer and more shaped than K501 pads but more comfort...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shoewreck /img/forum/go_quote.gif Too stiff. I'd prefer K501 pads to be a bit softer to make a better fit.

my ex K501, which is the latest production, have smooth & softer pads than my K400 stock pads...with that K501 pads seal are better but i prefer the K400 [LP] pads more...i bought my K501 new, or i should say NOS, the K400 are 2ndhand/used but the K400 pads are more stiffer, thicker and more itchy than K501 stock pads...and somehow i figure that the K501 pads look's bigger in diametre than the K400 one, offcourse the K501pads are more comfort than the K400 pads...but SQ wise i still prefer the K400pads than K501 pads...

 

[REB]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tiemen /img/forum/go_quote.gif Yes, in my experience, the K701 pads are a little bit stiffer than the K601 pads.

I agree, Tiemen. I have K701 and K601 pads that came to me brandnew. The K701 pads were quite a bit stiffer. It's not just usage that makes the K601 pads softer than the K701 pads.

 

[Shoewreck]

Quote:

Originally Posted by iQEM /img/forum/go_quote.gif just curious, which version is your K501 ? if you use it rarely i believe it's stiff and itchy like new, i use it a lot (min.7hours a day at the office) so it's become more softer and smooth than out of the box...

My K501 are V1 according to http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f4/off...-count-227052/, second in timeline. I can't say I use them rarely, because they are my main home headphones for, probably, three last years. I listen to them from 0 to 5 hours a day.
If it turns out that K701 pads are stiffer I'd probably go for DIY pads - this way I can take the full control if not of shape, but a least of softness.

 

[QQQ]

Quote:

Originally Posted by REB /img/forum/go_quote.gif I agree, Tiemen. I have K701 and K601 pads that came to me brandnew. The K701 pads were quite a bit stiffer. It's not just usage that makes the K601 pads softer than the K701 pads.

Which pads do you prefer, k601 or 701 ?

 

[REB]

K601 without a doubt. They boost the bass but keep the midrange and highs intact, while the K701 pads muddy the overall sound slightly.

 

[Nigel]

So, with the benefit of hindsight & experience, what's the current opinion, which are the best pads for the K501 owner?

Stock pads, K701's or K601's?

I have K501's & was wondering which pads to try.

Cheers

 

[REB]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel /img/forum/go_quote.gif So, with the benefit of hindsight & experience, what's the current opinion, which are the best pads for the K501 owner? Stock pads, K701's or K601's? I have K501's & was wondering which pads to try. Cheers

For me the K601 pads. The stock pads are to be avoided at any cost. I use the K501 now at my office with a Little Dot I+ hybrid amp which gives the bass a boost. With K701 or even with K601 pads the bass would become overwhelming, so I switched the pads to a spare pair of K500 pads. The only reason to switch K500 pads is bass increase and if the amp does that, you don't need K601/K701 pads. K501 pads though aren't very good. I'd replace them with any pair of pads I could find.

 

[Nigel]

How do K501's fitted with K701 pads compare with stock K701's?

 

[paulb09]

For the UK, I found CIMPLE Solutions Pro Ltd for K701 and K601 pads. Haven't ordered anything yet, and I wonder if they actually stock, or just order from the UK's AKG distributor. Never contacted the AKG UK distributor so I don't know if that would be a better solution service or price wise. Anyway, you have to search via part numbers on cimplespares.com, which I got from the AKG technical manuals on their site. I've also added the current prices on cimplespares.com:

K601 pad / cushion: part number 2458M1101 - £8.60 excluding VAT
K701 pad / cushion: part number 2458M1201 - £10.06 excluding VAT
Foam ring for both: part number 2458Z5801 - £0.28 excluding VAT

The foam rings are the same for both the K601 and K701. All of these are for a single pad and foam ring as far as I can tell (considering they are named singular, usually sold singular, and listed singular in the AKG technical documents (quantity 2 is specified per headphone)).

Still not sure whether to get K601 pads of K701 pads. My K601 pads aren't broken, so really I should just wash them, and in regards to that I guess I should try out the K701 pads. I noticed that the K601 cups don't pivot laterally much; does this cause any long term bending of the two struts that link the cups (when using the angled K701 pads)? I'd imagine not as they seem to have a good amount of give, and aren't held too solidly in the clasps that attach to the head band, but I just wondered if anyone noticed any long term problems, or a reduction in clamping force when the K601 pads are put back on.

 

[Nigel]

Paul,

I have bought the 501/601/701 pads from this company for my K501's. No problems, bit of a long delivery time for the K601 pads but well worth the wait.

 

[paulb09]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel /img/forum/go_quote.gif Paul, I have bought the 501/601/701 pads from this company for my K501's. No problems, bit of a long delivery time for the K601 pads but well worth the wait.

Cool. The prices don't seem too bad either.

I think I'm going to go for the K701 pads and give them a try on the K601, and that'll allow me to listen to the K601 still whilst letting the K601 pads dry after I've washed them.

 

[paulb09]

Bringing up this old topic again, but I thought I'd add some notes on the K701 pads on the K601. I've never been one to pick out finer details, but I have to say I find so little difference between the two pads I can't work out whether it's placebo or not. I don't really find any difference in comfort either. I like the colour of them though

However, it doesn't end there. I ordered new foam rings that sit under the pads too, as they were dirt cheap. I noticed that these new ones differ to those that were on my K601 stock. They are quite a lot less dense, and let a fair amount more light through. Experimenting with these, I have found they give me some difference in sound. The new foamies seem to tighten bass a bit more, and open up the high end a little too. The old foamies seem to show more of that warmth people associate with the K601. Interesting to note here is that the foam ring part number is the same for both headphones, so there may have been a design change along the way.

Of course, there's nothing stopping you taking the foamies out altogether for either headphone, but I just wanted to mention this change for the sake of it