Ashade
500+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jan 26, 2013
- Posts
- 877
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- 30
It depends on the serial number but yeah. I had a hard time with the black ones. They eventually come out. Just try to find the right tools.
No problem at all. I did a comparison side by side some time ago, as I owned two Q's at the same time, and one of them was modded while the other one was stock. It basically boost the bass. There is a very very subtle kick on the low mids as well that very slightly modify male vocals but, honestly, it was so subtle that I needed a sided by side comparison to realize it. The end of the story is that now I have two modded Q's instead of just one because if you have the same on the same table you might want to listen to a specific one, but if you have one at home and another one at work, you end missing the modded Q's (at least in my case). Either way, you can EQ it down if you eventually prefer a more laid back sound signature (which is something that I hardly ever miss). In fact, as I said, I usually add a little bit more of bass, and I don't consider myself a basshead.
Or you can mod it back with painter tape.
I have been pleased with my k702's from day one. While I think an amp would be a welcome addition to anyone's setup, running from my laptop via X-fi USB gives fine results.
Sometimes I don't want to take my good gear places where it might be subjected to undue stress or theft, and my X-fi works great. Perhaps it's not as refined, but for the money I haven't seen better options.
Note that I'm not recommending a Creative product over a dedicated headphone amp, especially with valves. Sometimes we have to think intended use, rather than "best product".
That was a joke. I got them off without removing the two wee screws by rifling my wife's make-up bag for tweezers.
Right, first impressions...
I've been listening all morning to Ten New Songs by Leonard Cohen. This is a fantastic recording BTW and basically 10 duets with Sharon Robinson. I've been using bass boost to get Leonards voice down where it should be. An unfortunate side - effect of that is that Sharons voice disappears. Not any more! Now both voices are in their own space - nice. I'm using Neutron with EQ flat and this is the best I've heard this album.
Oh, this is much better. It does just touch the lower mids a bit. It seems to add just a bit more air to the recording. Jack Johnson is coming across well too. Very nice.
I have been pleased with my k702's from day one. While I think an amp would be a welcome addition to anyone's setup, running from my laptop via X-fi USB gives fine results.
Sometimes I don't want to take my good gear places where it might be subjected to undue stress or theft, and my X-fi works great. Perhaps it's not as refined, but for the money I haven't seen better options.
Note that I'm not recommending a Creative product over a dedicated headphone amp, especially with valves. Sometimes we have to think intended use, rather than "best product".
Not running from an amp!
OMG!
Heretic!
Guards!
Seize him!
This really is quite a lot better than stock eh? I'd love to understand the reasoning behind AKG blocking those ports in the first place.
Okay okay, I'm convinced. I'm going to try this mod tonight!
On another topic, I just want to gush for a minute here. These are my first foray into the world of head-fi and I wasn't even planning on buying them. Through a happy accident, I found a nearly new pair at a local pawn shop for $140 and I couldn't resist at that price.
I've been really REALLY impressed with them for gaming. The soundstage is massive, the detail retrieval and positional cues make it feel like I'm cheating sometimes; I seriously feel like I was playing with one hand tied behind my back before.
Well last night I hooked them into my PC and started listening to some of my favorite music for the first time since I got them. I discovered something amazing: I can now hear how bad 128-192k MP3's sound. I immediately went and ripped 2 or 3 of my favorite CD's into FLAC and compared them side by side with my MP3's and the difference was noticeable. Another plus for the Q701!
And the most amazing thing? I'm hearing new details in old music. It's like hearing some of this stuff for the first time! I was in heaven last night.
I still feel like I need more bass for certain music. But other music was sublime. "Night Songs" by Michael Brook and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was amazing. I heard new instruments in "Days to Come" by Bonobo that I'd never heard before. "Are You Shpongled?" by Shpongle is one of my "desert island" albums. It's got layers and layers of sound that can get muddied and lost with regular gear. With the Q's, the bass wasn't where I wanted it, but holy cow could I hear EVERYTHING! Long quiet passages at the beginning and end of "...And the Day Turned to Night" were suddenly full of subtle sounds and atmosphere.
Anyhow, I still have a pair of Fidelio X1's in international mail. I'm looking forward to comparing the two as everything I've read makes me think I'll like them more. But I'm becoming used to the sound of the Q701 and if the X1 sounds better, I'll be pretty impressed. Either way, I feel like a kid in a candy store. Amusingly, I think there's room for the Q to improve as it apparently needs amping. I suspect there's a Schiit Vali in my future...
Anyone taking bets you'll end up with two pairs of headphones? BTW, if you like Shpongle you should have a listen to The Last Days of Gravity by Younger Brother. Awesome.
Nice, glad you like it. Now just lay back and enjoy the "awesomeness" of the modded Q's as I'm doing right now.
Cool. I had never heard of Younger Brother until someone posted the cover of Last Days on a "What I'm listening to" thread over on Hifi Wigwam a few years ago. Now it lives in both my car and my works van. Great driving music.