[alpha80]

I personally haven't listened to the Q701 in detail before, but from what I've read, it does seem to be a better choice if you're going the safe route.

I've been overlaying the Olive-Harman preferred headphone sound and traditional flat-speaker HRTF onto Tyll's measurements on Innerfidelity. Of course, the frequency response doesn't tell the whole story, but I was surprised to see how the K 701 and Q 701 fair in terms of the entire Q/K 6/7/8/X-series headphones that have been measured. I certainly won't be paying nobody's ~$1100 for the K812.... D:

Black = Harman target headphone response
Green = flat-speaker HRTF

Spoiler: Q and K 6/7/8/X-series measurements

KXX


K612


K701 A


K701 B


K712


K812 earlier serial number


K812 later serial number


Q701

And since it's on-topic right now, here's the Beyer DT880 measurements

Spoiler: DT880 measurements

32-ohm


250-ohm


600-ohm

Head-Fi'ers like MiceBlue, are the reason Head-Fi is such a great online community.
Absolutely excellent post.

 

[Colactix]

Hi guys, I just got the K701's. The newer model made in china without the bumps on the headband. They sound great, i'm running them through my Asus D2X soundcard, do you think a Shiit Vali would be a worthwhile investment.  =)

 

[miceblue]

Hi guys, I just got the K701's. The newer model made in china without the bumps on the headband. They sound great, i'm running them through my Asus D2X soundcard, do you think a Shiit Vali would be a worthwhile investment.  =)

Personally I wasn't a fan of the Vali at all. I'd recommend the Magni over it. The Vali makes some extremely annoying tube microphonics. As in, if you plug in your headphones, you're going to be hearing a ~1 kHz screech through your headphones for about 30 seconds.

Really a poor design in my opinion. I'd stay away from that thing.

 

[mikiphile]

  Hi guys, I just got the K701's. The newer model made in china without the bumps on the headband. They sound great, i'm running them through my Asus D2X soundcard, do you think a Shiit Vali would be a worthwhile investment.  =)

 
If you can afford it, the Lyr is one of the best amps for the K70X. Mine sound absolutely amazing with the Lyr. In case you decide to buy it, also make sure to get some good tubes.
 
-This is a great thread about tube-headphone synergy with the Lyr: 

 

[Liu Junyuan]

Sure, it's totally different sounding compared to the DT880 IMO. The high trebles are more shelved on the AKG's than the Beyers and the K series has that typical bump in the frequency range around 2K region that gives it its characteristic forward vocal qualities (where as DT's mids sit back a bit more). The bass is less present on the K's as well and the soundstage is a lot wider so you get a very clear presentation overall. It's certainly not to everyone's tastes but those who love it love it for what it is. It's different enough from DT880's to experiment with IMO. I've had both in the past, and I personally liked the K's better (and have actually reacquired the K702's since).

Do you like the K702 better than K701?

 

[Liu Junyuan]

If you can afford it, the Lyr is one of the best amps for the K70X. Mine sound absolutely amazing with the Lyr. In case you decide to buy it, also make sure to get some good tubes.

-This is a great thread about tube-headphone synergy with the Lyr: 

I agree with this. The Lyr copulates with the K7xxs in my setup. The Gustard H10 is another fantastic pairing.

 

[K_19]

Do you like the K702 better than K701?

 
The two don't sound different at all to my ears. I like the look of both, but I found a better deal for K702 and it does have a detachable cable, so I went with it over K701 (which I owned multiple times in the past) this time.

 

[K_19]

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 get 

 If 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...

 

[miceblue]

I just re-cabled my K 701 a few days ago. It was tricky for me since it was my first time doing the process but it wasn't too difficult given the really convenient wiring of the headphones in stock form.


I'll probably start a new thread on how I did it since the current one in existence has been dead for quite some time and the photos are deleted.

 

[Zombie_X]

Yo,
 
I snagged a K701 for $189 brand new from Open Box Music. They have some one there for great prices. Looking forward to having the original again. It's been so long...

 

[K_19]

  Yo,
 
I snagged a K701 for $189 brand new from Open Box Music. They have some one there for great prices. Looking forward to having the original again. It's been so long...

 
Still think the K701's are best looking out of the whole K/Q7** family... Love my K702's (especially now with the flat headband switched in) but may get the K701's again as well at some point. In particular I'd like to have the really, really early versions... I'll probably have to change out the headband to the new flat one and hopefully that won't be too much more of an additional cost.

 

[PeterXu]

After so many years I finally decided to get the 701s. Had ad2000 and w5000 and really love them. Hope k701 will satisfy me

 

[Zombie_X]

I just got the K701's in the mail today and on better gear they do shine. The K701 and Q701 are pretty much the same so they improved just as much. Totally forgot how these buggers looked while on display. I do love the white plastic they have.

 

[alpha80]

You guys are convincing me to keep mine !
 
Despite having a K812 & Beyer T90

 

[adgaps]

What's the best midcentric amp for the 701 within a 200-230 dollar budget?
 
I'm actually thinking of getting M-stage, I've done some research already and read stuff in the amp's thread, but so far haven't gotten a good description of what its mids are like with the K701.