Tweeters, and the AD700...
Still very much in love with the x2. Just a wonderfully neutral headphone with some grunt in the bass that still keeps it neutrally toned. Think, better balanced DT880. Yeah.
So i don't agree with the Annie/7XX doing EVERYTHING better, as the AKGs have a warmer tilt to them, with that upper mid peak that a lot of people don't particularly care for. It will still put off some people. I don't see the X2 putting off anyone, unless they just don't want a neutrally toned headphone.
Keep in mind, I still think the AKGs are overall a better headphone in terms of technicalities. However, just as some people prefer the 612 over the 70X and 712, the X2 can be favorable over those AKgs for some people. Me, it's neck to neck on preference. I love both the Annie and X2. Would be hard to pick out a clear winner. I'd probably edge it out to the Annie due to my preference of intimacy/warmth, where the X2 is decidedly more neutral, and not as warm. Not warm, not bright, neutral. Even more neutral sounding than the 612 despite the better sense of bass (which I didn't think was possible, as the 612 has very balanced bass). The upper mid bump on the AKGs is just always a factor here.
We live in an amazing age of headphones, with so many fantastic options for your money. To say that two very new headphones already have my top recommendations says a lot. The X2 and 7XX (aka Annie part deux) are two headphones that I can't see many people being upset about unless you have a clear preference for something flavored a bit differently.
Of course, I have to address the price/availability. For $200, the tides are heavily swayed towards the 7XX over the X2, which is $100 more, and at the most, on a comparable level in most regards, and at a disadvantage in any other. So you're getting at LEAST a comparable if not superior headphone with the 7XX over the X2. That being said, the 7XX is going to be severely limited for now, and the alternative is the Annie/712s which are both at least as expensive as the X2, if not more so. Also, the X2 is undoubtedly going to be discounted quite a bit next year, as Philips headphones always do, further putting the X2 in the 7XX price range, making the choice between them hard again if you find both appealing like I do.
The main benefits once you put them on the same level, is that the X2 is quite a bit easier to drive, as well as having instant V-moda boompro compatibility (which were my main reasons why I didn't hold out for the 7XX).
One final thing to say: I feel the X2 is definitely superior to the 612 overall. Both are neutral headphones, while the 612 has some things about it's sound that will put off some people, it being considerably harder to power, losing comfort points, and lack of Boompro compatibilty. though of course, price is a factor, and the 612 is nearly half the price, so if price is a factor... 612 clearly wins.
So my personal opinion on tier list between these headphones, price be damned:
1. Annie = 7XX
2. K712 = X2 (just very, very slightly behind the #1 spot)
3. 612 = X1 = MA900
