[getllamasfast]

I just got my new pair of k702s and I love them except for one thing: When I listen to them, it sounds like the vocals are at the end of a long hall and sound kinda echo-y and kind of nasally.

I'm not sure if this is because I haven't broken them in yet or if I'm not amping them properly. I don't have a traditional headphone amp at the moment so I'm using my Denon AVR-2700. Would using a home theater setup cause this?

 

[MrGreen]

If the vocals are centred, they should sound slightly forward from my experience.

I'd be willing to wager improper amping.

 

[XaNE]

Got new Akg K702's model number 06440
The vocals are probably like that in the recording and you have never noticed.

 

[Redo]

They need a lot of burn in (~300 hours) and a proper amp.

The K701/702's are known for their airy vocals. I wouldn't say they are distant sounding, but depending on the recordings, the vocals can get quite airy and floaty. But don't fret, they are some very neutral and revealing headphones.

 

[Acix]

Quote:

Originally Posted by XaNE /img/forum/go_quote.gif Got new Akg K702's model number 06440 The vocals are probably like that in the recording and you have never noticed.

X1 But let's check this again in 20 hours, just to be sure it's the recording.
This can be the case if the recording are old style, maybe you can check with other music.

Congratulations on your new 702.

 

[getllamasfast]

I hope it's the Denon. I don't know if I can stand listening to these if the vocalists sound like they're singing through a tube...

I'm building a SSMH this weekend, so perhaps that will fix this. Thanks for the replies everyone

EDIT: I'm not sure if this is the recordings because this has happened on four albums so far. I was listening to Maroon 5, The Hush Sound, and OK GO and it happened to all of them.

 

[MrGreen]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redo /img/forum/go_quote.gif The K701/702's are known for their airy vocals. I wouldn't say they are distant sounding, but depending on the recordings, the vocals can get quite airy and floaty. But don't fret, they are some very neutral and revealing headphones.

Air refers to the frequencies above ~12khz and has very little to do with vocals.
"Airy" has very little to do with distance.
"Floaty" doesn't mean anything.

Like I say, I find the vocals to be slightly forward due to the lack of bass impact.

OP if you are noticing that the vocals are distant relative to other mids-based instruments (eg lead guitar, the middle of the piano), then it exists in the recording.

The K70x doesnt need 9.7 billion hours of burn-in to sound good or "how its going to sound"

It's very common for vocals to be pushed back slightly in modern recordings (because things like ibuds struggle to produce bass and treble), but I find this is something (probably the only thing) the K701 compensates a little for. Other than that its reasonably transparent.

 

[getllamasfast]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrGreen /img/forum/go_quote.gif Air refers to the frequencies above ~12khz and has very little to do with vocals. "Airy" has very little to do with distance. "Floaty" doesn't mean anything. Like I say, I find the vocals to be slightly forward due to the lack of bass impact. OP if you are noticing that the vocals are distant relative to other mids-based instruments (eg lead guitar, the middle of the piano), then it exists in the recording. The K70x doesnt need 9.7 billion hours of burn-in

Well, Listening closer everything sounds a little nasally, but it's not as noticeable on the instruments as it is with the vocals.

 

[MrGreen]

Quote:

Originally Posted by getllamasfast /img/forum/go_quote.gif Well, Listening closer everything sounds a little nasally, but it's not as noticeable on the instruments as it is with the vocals.

Are these male or female vocals?

There's a slight boost in the midrange that can make some male vocalists sound nasaly (if they are already nasaly), but it shouldn't be adding anything nasal.

I find female vocals to sound great on the K70x.
What headphones are you coming from?

Regardless, I'd give it a few hours of listening for your brain to adapt (and for the drivers to burn a little), and see how you like it.
Definitely recommend building that amp ASAP though

 

[getllamasfast]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrGreen /img/forum/go_quote.gif Are these male or female vocals? There's a slight boost in the midrange that can make some male vocalists sound nasaly (if they are already nasaly), but it shouldn't be adding anything nasal.

They are male vocals. Although, I'm listening to The Noisettes right now who's lead vocalist is a woman and it sounds just as bad, if not worse. With a female voice it sounds kind of like someone put really bad reverb over it and took all the bass out.

EDIT: I'm coming from a pair of ATH-ES7's.

 

[Redo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrGreen /img/forum/go_quote.gif Air refers to the frequencies above ~12khz and has very little to do with vocals. "Airy" has very little to do with distance. "Floaty" doesn't mean anything.

Is that the official confirmation of descriptive terms from the audio terminology handbook

A lot of words are thrown around all over the audio word, and that's the best way I can describe what K702 can do to vocals depending on the recording. Regardless of what the "official" definitions are and what words are deemed to mean nothing.

 

[MrGreen]

Quote:

Originally Posted by getllamasfast /img/forum/go_quote.gif They are male vocals. Although, I'm listening to The Noisettes right now who's lead vocalist is a woman and it sounds just as bad, if not worse. With a female voice it sounds kind of like someone put really bad reverb over it and took all the bass out. EDIT: I'm coming from a pair of ATH-ES7's.

The reverb is in the recording more than likely.
"Took all the bass out" is probably a side-effect of the relatively low impact bass from the K701 (and the somewhat bassy ES7 that I am assuming you have become acclimatised to). It's something that you definitely need to adapt to (as I found with my ER4P which suffers the same problem but has become my favourite phone). It'll happen if you give it time, but its up to you if you ultimately come to like it or not.

Upgrading is a double edged sword - it can reveal basic mastering techniques (such as reverbing vocals) to produce "desirable" results (more body on ibuds) on certain recordings, but can make others sound amazing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redo /img/forum/go_quote.gif A lot of words are thrown around all over the audio word, and that's the best way I can describe what K702 can do to vocals depending on the recording. Regardless of what the "official" definitions are and what words are deemed to mean nothing.

I don't have a personal vendetta against you, I've made it my personal mission to crack down on ******** vague terms that actually mean nothing.
I know what you are describing because I've been exposed to these terms and these phones, but they in fact do not provide any indication of how anything actually sounds.

 

[Redo]

Those ES7's are quite warm headphones (with a rolled off top end), you are getting a large shot of treble that the ES7's did not offer.


Quote:

Originally Posted by MrGreen /img/forum/go_quote.gif I don't have a personal vendetta against you, I've made it my personal mission to crack down on ******** vague terms that actually mean nothing. I know what you are describing because I've been exposed to these terms and these phones, but they in fact do not provide any indication of how anything actually sounds.

So you're cracking down on vague terms that don't give any indication of sound, yet you know exactly what I am describing

Good luck on your quest, it isn't going to change my terminology

 

[getllamasfast]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrGreen /img/forum/go_quote.gif The reverb is in the recording more than likely. "Took all the bass out" is probably a side-effect of the relatively low impact bass from the K701 (and the somewhat bassy ES7 that I am assuming you have become acclimatised to). It's something that you definitely need to adapt to (as I found with my ER4P which suffers the same problem but has become my favourite phone). It'll happen if you give it time, but its up to you if you ultimately come to like it or not. Upgrading is a double edged sword - it can reveal basic mastering techniques (such as reverbing vocals) to produce "desirable" results (more body on ibuds) on certain recordings, but can make others sound amazing. I don't have a personal vendetta against you, I've made it my personal mission to crack down on ******** vague terms that actually mean nothing. I know what you are describing because I've been exposed to these terms and these phones, but they in fact do not provide any indication of how anything actually sounds.

I just tried using the output right out of my soundcard and the nasally sounds are gone! I guess the headphone out on my receiver is kinda messed up or something...

Compared to my ATH-ES7's, even unamped and not broken in, there is no comparison! It sounds so much better! I can't wait to hear them properly amped

 

[CrackBerry9000]

You just need to burn them in for like 10,000 hours and then they will completely change. So they say.