[sphinxvc]

It was a good post, and I think you were spot on with most everything.  
 
Well except that "perfect" bass part.  

   But then, that's just me.

 

[Mad Max]

The bass could use more depth, but it has nice texture at least.

 

[sphinxvc]

Yeah.  Needs weight I'd say.

 

[Andrew_]

Quote:

The bass could use more depth, but it has nice texture at least.

True. If they had a bit more depth in the lower end they would be the perfect headphone, sterile wonky mids and all. Too bad they aren't, and apparently the next step up from this is the HD800 or the T1. Don't get me wrong I'd give my left testicle to own either... but who'd want my left testicle? So I must make do with the K701 for 95% or what I listen to and use the XB500 for the remaining 5%.

 

[sphinxvc]

The next step up is HE4 or HE5LE, around 400-500 used, no testicles necessary. =]

 

[Mad Max]

You don't have to settle for wonky mids, dampen your headphone.
 
Alternatively, try ATH-A2000X.  K701's closed-back counterpart, but more liquid, a bit more laid-back in the mids, more energetic yet peaceful, more vivid, awesome life-like clarity, and more extended at the extremes.  Nowhere near as hard to drive either.
I read T1 is kind of metallic in sound.  =\

 

[Andrew_]

Quote:

You don't have to settle for wonky mids, dampen your headphone.
 
Alternatively, try ATH-A2000X.  K701's closed-back counterpart, but more liquid, a bit more laid-back in the mids, more energetic yet peaceful, more vivid, awesome life-like clarity, and more extended at the extremes.  Nowhere near as hard to drive either.
I read T1 is kind of metallic in sound.  =\

But I do settle for wonky mids. Never underestimate the laziness of the average Gen Y Audiophile. I care not to change the sound to my liking, and am instead happy with the least offensive version of it.

 

[Mad Max]

The headphone only needed a small tweak to better suit my tastes, so I figured, "why not?"
It's still not perfect, but I am happier with it.  A2kX when I want a little isolation and more PRaT.
SR325is when I'm in the mood for fun and don't care for much else, lol.

 

[Andrew_]

Quote:

I read T1 is kind of metallic in sound.  =\

Metallic ist gut. Ser gut.

 

[Mad Max]

=\
So far only SR325's metallic-ness doesn't offend me, but in any other headphone, dat be muy desagradable, señor.

 

[Acix]

Quote:

The next step up is HE4 or HE5LE, around 400-500 used, no testicles necessary. =]

Not sure... I've try the HE5 a/b with the K702 on the SPL Auditor, and the HE5 have to much treble, no bass, and no sound stage. Maybe the LE version is better.

 

[mike1127]

I'm burning-in a K701 with loud pink noise right now. It has 300 hours. Starting to sound warmer.
 
Has anyone here tracked the changes over time as they burned-in their K701? Has anyone used a consistent type of signal, such as pink noise or perhaps a bassy rock track on repeat? And then "checked in" every 50 or 100 hours to see how it was coming along? When does it stop changing? 300 hours? 500 hours? 1000 hours?
 
Mike
 

 

[sphinxvc]

Quote:

Not sure... I've try the HE5 a/b with the K702 on the SPL Auditor, and the HE5 have to much treble, no bass, and no sound stage. Maybe the LE version is better.

 
Better is a matter of preference of course but the 5LEs are more balanced than the 701s, with nice slam and weight to bass (bass heads still need not apply) and in my opinion, soundstage is better than the 701s.  Not as big of course, but not as incoherent either.

 

[Mad Max]

Incoherent?  Hardly.
I'm blown away by K701's soundstage out of my M-Stage.  If they improved upon it more, you could probably make out what the musicians are wearing and what not.  It's the absurdest 3D soundstage I've heard yet.
 
Awesome comfort, though those headband bumps will be a problem when I go bald, I think.

 

[sphinxvc]

Yeah, I thought so, certain tracks sounded like they were recorded at massive venues when they were really intimate studio recordings.  Live stuff was kick ass and classical too.  Pink Floyd and Smashing Pumpkins are two rock bands I really liked with the 701s.  Those two bands have so much information going on all across the soundstage and most their tracks were too congested with something like the 650s.  Coming round to my original point, I think the 5LEs do all bands and all types of recordings well soundstage wise.  Not too sparse sounding, and not congested either.  More good balance just like their tonal balance.