So let me get this straight. The Q701 makes a great gaming headphone because of its soundstage. This means that the bass is neutral/natural so you're able to pinpoint where the enemy is coming from for example. Is this right?
Aside from that, if I wanted to kick in a bit more bass I would have to buy a desktop amp or receiver. That way I can immerse myself in movies with explosions for example. Is this also right?
Hvizuett,
The Q701 makes a great gaming headphone because of it's soundstage, but also it's detail retrieval and something I forgot to mention before - the ability to make different sounds distinct from eachother. That last ability is hard to describe in one word... but it's like when you listen to music through the Q701s for the first time, you may discover that there was another instrument playing alongside the lead guitar, where on lesser headphones it is hard to make out anything but the most forward instruments. Bass is natural, but that only helps you to pinpoint directional cues in the sense that the bass doesn't distract you with overpowering presence.
Explaining the difference an amp makes to someone that hasn't experienced at least some of it is even harder... Kind of like describing the taste of a really great fillet mignon to someone who has only ever had steak, or someone who has always been a vegetarian. I totally agree with Mad that better amp power isn't like using an EQ, that what really happens is the sound fills out more with a greater sense of body, but does that mean anything to you? Just trust me, if you can afford it, try the fillet.
One more thing I can say about the AKG Q701... If anyone has complaints against this headphone, it is just a matter of taste preference to something else. These are definitely very good headphones in every way, and it struck me last night listening again just how musical these are. I'm trying to A/B with my AD700, trying to analyze specific differences at the beginnings of songs... at first it's just that 5% change, a little thing here or there I can pick out, but then I realize that my feet are waving to the music, and I play each song longer on the Q701, till eventually I can't tear myself away and I just listen to a few songs in a row, all the way through, until finally I see the time and I've been awake 19 hours and I'll need to be awake again in 5 hours, and call it a night. The Q's are definitely competitive, but they definitely earn their stars as engaging, fun headphones.
By the way Mad, I didn't put my foam cushion under the headband last night, and the bumps didn't really bother me
Have you ever worn a headphone more comfortable than the DT990? If 10 is highest rather than a theoretical impossibility, then maybe the DT990 deserves a 10 rating. If 10 is reserved for an ideal, then use some calculus to determine that your fav comfort headphone is approaching what is theoretically possible and give it a 10 anyway ;P
I still think that competitive doesn't get any better or easier than the AD700, so those are a great value and a great starting point, but the Q's give me everything. Is it bad that I'm starting to compare my girlfriend to the AD700? LOL! PLEASE DON'T REPEAT THAT!