[Oggranak]

Back to the "don't post if you haven't heard them" thing? I'd explained my stance at great length somewhere else, but the short of it:

In this situation, it is more helpful for me to help reinforce the community's near-consensus on the K701 than to leave it just to you and olblueyez to create the illusion of a 'big controversy'. It's important for the OP to understand what the majority thinks, even if I'm not part of this group.

 

[Ra97oR]

D2000, AD900 and K701 is on my list.

K701 sells at about $250 in UK brand new.
D2000 a bit more...
AD900 about the same.

I always thought K702 is better than D2000?
Also I am NOT really happy about the D1001's sound signature as the treble and midrange lacks the impact and clarity. Also it sounded 'boxed-in' and I sometimes even prefer my speakers (Creative T40 Series II) as it sound more natural.

 

[JaZZ]

Sounds like you don't like closed headphones. You're not alone.
.

 

[olblueyez]

701/2 plus Xonar = 5 on a 10 scale for SQ.

AD900 plus Xonar = 10 on a 10 scale for SQ.

yuin PK1 PLUS xonar = 9 on a 10 scale for SQ.

Enjoy your 701's dude.

 

[Ra97oR]

Quote:

Originally Posted by olblueyez /img/forum/go_quote.gif 701/2 plus Xonar = 5 on a 10 scale for SQ. AD900 plus Xonar = 10 on a 10 scale for SQ. yuin PK1 PLUS xonar = 9 on a 10 scale for SQ. Enjoy your 701's dude.

Have you personally tried all three set? Are you so sure?


Shame, if I listen to my D1001 for long, my ears feels really tired, no problem with my speakers (Creative T40 Series II) and even my gaming headset (Plantronics .audio 370)

 

[Oggranak]

I vote that you get K701, because making that mistake might teach you something about considering the system the headphones will be used in.

My understanding is that if you don't like the D1001, you won't like the D2000.

FWIR the AD900 would be your best option. Or *cough* Grados *cough*...

Seriously, give some consideration to the SR225, I think they sound really nice unamped, and have nice sharp highs and such.

 

[JaZZ]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ra97oR /img/forum/go_quote.gif Have you personally tried all three set? Are you so sure?

You can't expect a K 701 hater to like the sound of the K 701 on a soundcard!

(And I guess the answer is no.)
.

 

[Ra97oR]

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f46/xo...g-k701-419604/

Mix'd opinions about amping K701 with Xonar Essence STX (which claimed to have a decent headphone amp inside) but there is only one real user saying it works great and others without trying them are claiming it sound bad.

What should I do... =/

 

[Oggranak]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ra97oR /img/forum/go_quote.gif http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f46/xo...g-k701-419604/ Mix'd opinions about amping K701 with Xonar Essence STX (which claimed to have a decent headphone amp inside) but there is only one real user saying it works great and others without trying them are claiming it sound bad. What should I do... =/

Go with the safe bet and get Audio-Technicas? Heck, even in this thread, the main defender of unamped K701s, lucky, prefers Audio-Technica ATH-AD700s.

 

[Ra97oR]

Mmm... AD900 is £30 more than K701 in UK. I wonder its the right way.



BTW, no Grados sorry.

 

[fjrabon]

K701s were really harsh sounding underamped, in my estimation. They were brittle and slightly harsh sounding even amped properly, but much moreso when running out of anything less than a full powered desktop amp. I haven't tried the particular soundcard you are mentioning upgrading to though.

I'd still recommend buying a headphone that is more easily driven by the setup you have, and I always recommend against buying K701's unless you've personally tried them out. They're an extreme headphone, some people love them, many more hate them. However, I don't know anybody who really, really loves them if they're underamped, some like them, some say they're passable, but I don't know anybody with a lot of experience with a lot of different kinds of headphones that thinks they're great out of a portable amp or soundcard, and especially not an iPod.

What you describe in your original post is what the K701 does, its bright and its detailed. You seem intent on buying them, and you would be getting them at a decent enough deal that you could probably sell them here on the for sale forums for about what you got them for. Just go for it, I don't think its a wise decision, but worse decisions have been made.

And SR60i's are not a step down, by any means, from D1001's, I'm not sure why you would make a comment like that when you clearly have no experience with any of the headphones you are talking about.

 

[Ra97oR]

Being heard the SR60i, the bass is lacking. Overall it just sounded weak to me, I tried a few songs on it with a >£1000 headphone amp at a audio shop. I just don't like them. But I agree the soundstage is far better.

 

[fjrabon]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ra97oR /img/forum/go_quote.gif Mmm... AD900 is £30 more than K701 in UK. I wonder its the right way. BTW, no Grados sorry.

I prefer AD900's to K701s, personally, in every regard. Amped, unamped, underamped, amped with a soundcard, I haven't found any source or any genre where I personally preferred K701s. But unamped or underamped, I don't even feel like its anywhere close. AD900s are going to have a more balanced sound, they're going to have a comparable soundstage, they're going to be smoother and they're going to be just as detailed, with the gear you're mentioning using. There is a chance that you could like K701s better with your gear, but I feel that AD900s are a FAR safer bet.

 

[fjrabon]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ra97oR /img/forum/go_quote.gif Being heard the SR60i, the bass is lacking. Overall it just sounded weak to me, I tried a few songs on it with a >£1000 headphone amp at a audio shop. I just don't like them. But I agree the soundstage is far better.

Its settled then. DO NOT GET K701s if you thought that the bass was lacking on SR60i's. K701's make SR60i's sound like bass monsters.

This also kind of puts me off from recommending the AD900's, because the bass on them is about the same as the SR60i. I think you're taking for granted that other headphones will have similar bass to the D1001's if you "go a step up" this is NOT THE CASE. The D1001 has some pretty powerful bass to it, however uncontrolled and sloppy it may or may not be.

 

[Ra97oR]

Mmm... I try to find a better deal for the AD900, its over £220 in UK. But the K701 is onlt £175.