banquier
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k701 has a high treble, but as you age, you won't able to hear some treble....soooooo listen to k701 early!
K701 thread
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Shaffer
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banquier
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Oh, then how does it work? I thought human lost high&low frequency hearing as they age. And treble is above 2khz.
Shaffer
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2K?! That's smack in the middle of the presence region. Midrange. Very simply put, one has a cue as to the high frequencies from their subharmonics.
banquier
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AT-HA5000 amp is design to drive low imp headphones. It should drive K701 fairly well.
LugBug1
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Just snapped up some 7 bumpers this week. Had a few pairs of these over the years but these are the earliest. 88xx serial and absolutely mint condition. Over the moon!
They sound amazing too. I had recently bought some new china made K702's and so its been nice to compare them..
The K702's - more comfortable, softer pads. The sound is slightly more focused, the center image is more centered (but only very slightly) - They are a smidge brighter and with a little more bass. Soundstage width is slightly less.
K701 - Less clamp but harder pads -less comfortable with bumps. Softer sound and slightly less bass. Better separation. Imaging is always subjective but I prefer it on these. You get more "wow" with good recordings. Erm..? K702's are a little drier, K701's are not so dry..
I'm using words such as "slightly" and "little" because they sound more alike than different.
Tough call to say which is best. But one thing I will say - don't ever be put off buying the China models as they are made as good as any previous ones that I've owned. (four k701, two K702 and a K712).
Plus ye don't get the bumps! They've never bothered me personally but..
They sound amazing too. I had recently bought some new china made K702's and so its been nice to compare them..
The K702's - more comfortable, softer pads. The sound is slightly more focused, the center image is more centered (but only very slightly) - They are a smidge brighter and with a little more bass. Soundstage width is slightly less.
K701 - Less clamp but harder pads -less comfortable with bumps. Softer sound and slightly less bass. Better separation. Imaging is always subjective but I prefer it on these. You get more "wow" with good recordings. Erm..? K702's are a little drier, K701's are not so dry..
I'm using words such as "slightly" and "little" because they sound more alike than different.
Tough call to say which is best. But one thing I will say - don't ever be put off buying the China models as they are made as good as any previous ones that I've owned. (four k701, two K702 and a K712).
Plus ye don't get the bumps! They've never bothered me personally but..
ikonomov
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...this thread has grown since the last time I did a search for k701 headband mods. My k702 has gone through several modifications since then and I think I've finally come up with something worth posting, so here it is. Maybe it can help somebody to save some money and continue to enjoy these great headphones.
A few months ago I decided to abandon my idea about getting a HD800 after reading a rather disappointing review of the new S update. Instead, I chose to spend a bit of money to get the new headband without the bumps that AKG now uses together with an O2 amp. Fortunately I received the old headband model despite the reassurances of the AKG parts guy. I decided to return it instead of getting a replacement that I know with certainly will cause me more trouble in the future. Namely the two acrylic pieces on both sides cracking and the rubber band eventually loosing its elasticity and being hard to replace. So below is a short description of me having another go in fixing the damn headband myself.
My solution looks quite simple and as a result somewhat more elegant to most of the other mods I have seen, but it does have the drawback of not being adjustable. I'm the only one using the headphones, so it is no problem for me, but it is something to keep in mind. I used an old belt, an x-acto knife and a small drill bit with a handle. Before cutting I made absolutely certain that the length was perfect and checked again before drilling and sewing. After I made the three stitches that run parallel to the headband I found to my annoyance that the leather loops that wrap around the plastic pieces on both ends were loose enough to allow the leather to pivot and fold down every time I took off the headphones. As a result I made two more stitches that run perpendicular to the headband and are placed as close to the plastic pieces as possible in order to tighten the connection and prevent the leather from pivoting down. There are two small nubs on the outside of those two pieces that I had to cut. The flexibility and width of the leather belt makes the headphones very comfortable. The permanently affixed headband gives a sense of security and durability every time I put them on. It has been couple of months now that I've been using the headphones with the mod without any issues.
A few months ago I decided to abandon my idea about getting a HD800 after reading a rather disappointing review of the new S update. Instead, I chose to spend a bit of money to get the new headband without the bumps that AKG now uses together with an O2 amp. Fortunately I received the old headband model despite the reassurances of the AKG parts guy. I decided to return it instead of getting a replacement that I know with certainly will cause me more trouble in the future. Namely the two acrylic pieces on both sides cracking and the rubber band eventually loosing its elasticity and being hard to replace. So below is a short description of me having another go in fixing the damn headband myself.
My solution looks quite simple and as a result somewhat more elegant to most of the other mods I have seen, but it does have the drawback of not being adjustable. I'm the only one using the headphones, so it is no problem for me, but it is something to keep in mind. I used an old belt, an x-acto knife and a small drill bit with a handle. Before cutting I made absolutely certain that the length was perfect and checked again before drilling and sewing. After I made the three stitches that run parallel to the headband I found to my annoyance that the leather loops that wrap around the plastic pieces on both ends were loose enough to allow the leather to pivot and fold down every time I took off the headphones. As a result I made two more stitches that run perpendicular to the headband and are placed as close to the plastic pieces as possible in order to tighten the connection and prevent the leather from pivoting down. There are two small nubs on the outside of those two pieces that I had to cut. The flexibility and width of the leather belt makes the headphones very comfortable. The permanently affixed headband gives a sense of security and durability every time I put them on. It has been couple of months now that I've been using the headphones with the mod without any issues.
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Nachash
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Anyone ever tried the aftermarket (aka ebay ones) pads?
I've tried to compare them (one original in one ear, the other in the other ear while swapping the channel) and I can't discern a difference, my ears aren't that trained though. They come with a thinner ring probably to compensate for the size
I've tried to compare them (one original in one ear, the other in the other ear while swapping the channel) and I can't discern a difference, my ears aren't that trained though. They come with a thinner ring probably to compensate for the size
spookygonk
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Anyone ever tried the aftermarket (aka ebay ones) pads?
I've tried to compare them (one original in one ear, the other in the other ear while swapping the channel) and I can't discern a difference, my ears aren't that trained though. They come with a thinner ring probably to compensate for the size
When I bought my K701 second hand, the pads stank of sweat & smoke (something the seller failed to mention), so bought a official replacement pair from Thomann (link: http://www.thomann.de/gb/akg_k701_ohrpolster.htm). They were also recabled with a Blackdragon cable and still sound wonderful.
Nachash
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When I bought my K701 second hand, the pads stank of sweat & smoke (something the seller failed to mention), so bought a official replacement pair from Thomann (link: http://www.thomann.de/gb/akg_k701_ohrpolster.htm). They were also recabled with a Blackdragon cable and still sound wonderful.
You're right, but those chinese ones are 1/3 of the price (40 for the pads + 20 for the shipping on thomann)
spookygonk
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I managed to get free shipping, but yeah, they were more expensive than the Chinese knock offs.
Nachash
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Yes, I would've paid 40€ if they were available on amazon for example
TwelveTrains
500+ Head-Fier
It seems that there are some "transitional" Made in China versions out there as well... so basically Made in China versions that are still HAS the headband bumps... so do take note, not all the Made in China versions have the newer flat headband... this may be perhaps the worst version you can getIf anyone is unlucky enough to get this version (and you bought it from a legit official retailer) then it may be worthwhile to contact AKG to replace the headband with the newer no bumps headband free of charge (just as how I was able to for K702).
It's interesting how they now come in a K550 style presentation/box now as well...
You were able to get just the headband replaced on your AKG K702's by AKG free of charge? Is this something they have offered to do for the newer ones? Do you think they would replace an older K70x model's headband?
thesebastian
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Do you think that a "Schiit Fulla 2" (bypassing Fulla's DAC, using analog input) + "Modi Multibit" would be a good combo for this headphone? I'm receiving a pair this week and need to choose one amp.
(The other DAC in contest is the Vali 2, I know it's better, but I'd like to save some money and have the possibility to carry it outside home: offices, etc).
(The other DAC in contest is the Vali 2, I know it's better, but I'd like to save some money and have the possibility to carry it outside home: offices, etc).
thesebastian
Head-Fier
K701s arrived!
First time I've a "good" pair of headphones.
I usually listen music with this setup: PC's Toslink -> Modi Multibit -> KRK Rokit 6" Studio Monitors. I'd like to connect my DAC with an amp with pre-amp output for the monitors.
My best bet is the "Fulla 2", so I can use it as an amp at home (using Multibit as a dac) and as an amp+dac (like the udac-2) when not at home. I just hope that the multibit + fulla 2 delivers better performance than the Multibit alone (without the low end distortions).
Now...if you think the Fulla 2 will be terrible for K701s...please tell me, so I can consider the Vali 2..(and forget about a portable amp+dac like the fulla is).
And this is what I learned with the AKGs:
- Test A: Modi Multibit (only DAC) -> K701: 50-70% is more than enough (volume) for me, 100% is "too loud", unless I'm listening classic music. BUT....loud frequency has a lot of distortion, specially at 100% volume. ( I assume this is because the lack of an amplifier ). Hi Freq is superb, but low to mid frequency is completely ****ty (really horrible) with just only the DAC. (It just happens in most dance/chill out songs) a lot of distortion! Unusable....
Or maybe because of the output impedance of the multibit?
- Test B: uDAC 2 (mini DAC+AMP) -> K701s (I had the uDAC-2 in a box, stored after getting the Modi Multibit): This is another story....Of course the uDAC-2 is not as good as the Multibit (as a DAC), but the (I assume "small") amplifier here..... solves all (or almost all) the distortion I was getting with the modi multibit.
(BTW, Multibit delivers MUCH MORE and defined Low Frequency than my uDAC-2 with my studio monitors, so this could be the reason in which this DAC alone, without an amp, sucks with the AKG K701s).
So, yes, I can't believe there is people who drive these phones without an amp!
First time I've a "good" pair of headphones.
I usually listen music with this setup: PC's Toslink -> Modi Multibit -> KRK Rokit 6" Studio Monitors. I'd like to connect my DAC with an amp with pre-amp output for the monitors.
My best bet is the "Fulla 2", so I can use it as an amp at home (using Multibit as a dac) and as an amp+dac (like the udac-2) when not at home. I just hope that the multibit + fulla 2 delivers better performance than the Multibit alone (without the low end distortions).
Now...if you think the Fulla 2 will be terrible for K701s...please tell me, so I can consider the Vali 2..(and forget about a portable amp+dac like the fulla is).
Or maybe because of the output impedance of the multibit?
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