[Rob80b]

Well I’ve been hankering for something new, loving my Senn HD700s and just spent many hours/days with some new HD800s but in the end even with their technical superiority I just didn’t warm up to them so instead of sitting there repeating, I love them, I love them not until the return period expired I just returned them.
http://www.head-fi.org/t/612502/sennheiser-hd-700-impressions-thread/1920#post_10780673
Maybe I’m just an AKG guy although I also have the Senn HD580/600 and Grado SR325is along with the K240DFs, K501s and K701s… (K812s might be in the works one day) and of course the HD700s but the current pricing and shipping on Amazon.com to Canada was the scratching that relieved the itch.
Probably 7-14 days (delivery) before I can post my impressions.

 

[Rob80b]

One thing I may have overlooked in the heat of the moment, is the detachable connector 3 or 4 pin as I would want to make up a 4 pin XLR cable as on my K701s for use on my Bryston BHA-1, the 6dB gain does wonders with AKGs.

 

[pearljam50000]

  Well I’ve been hankering for something new, loving my Senn HD700s and just spent many hours/days with some new HD800s but in the end even with their technical superiority I just didn’t warm up to them so instead of sitting there repeating, I love them, I love them not until the return period expired I just returned them.
http://www.head-fi.org/t/612502/sennheiser-hd-700-impressions-thread/1920#post_10780673
Maybe I’m just an AKG guy although I also have the Senn HD580/600 and Grado SR325is along with the K240DFs, K501s and K701s… (K812s might be in the works one day) and of course the HD700s but the current pricing and shipping on Amazon.com to Canada was the scratching that relieved the itch.
Probably 7-14 days (delivery) before I can post my impressions.

It will be interesting to hear your impressions of HD800 vs K712, thanks.

 

[Rob80b]

  It will be interesting to hear your impressions of HD800 vs K712, thanks.

Well unless I repurchase some HD800s (most likely at some point) I’ll need to go by memory, but my rule of thumb, without getting too anal, is to forget about specs and technicalities and see which ones I “enjoy” listening to the longest with all kinds of music.

 

[Rob80b]

Funny thing though, I would have ordered them much earlier but couldn’t resist Razordog’s deal on the HD700s at XMAS so my finger hit the HD700 button instead of the K712s

 

[D126]

Vali or Magni?

 

[Evshrug]

IMO I'd pick the Vali, either should be good with the K712, though I'd also recommend researching a bit about garage1217's Project Starlight

I haven't heard any of the three firsthand (may get the chance to hear a Vali soon though, right BunnyNamedFrank?), but from my own experience with a +$200 tube amp they add a nice musical liquidness, and I particularly like how mine (and the starlight) can have different tone by rolling a different tube. Honestly the Starlight would be easier to bias a new tube than in my amp. I have to take mine apart and hold the amp upside down, the bottom plate, two multimeter probes, and a screwdriver, so there's lots of juggling – the starlight has a hole in the top plate for your screwdriver and an LED that lights when the tube is receiving enough voltage.

 

[RyanDJ1]

Do the K712 have the same drivers as the Q701? I'm after a lush mid range with a good soundstage. Would the her be good or should I look into the 702 65th edition?

 

[Mad Lust Envy]

A lush midrange sounds more like the Annie. However, considering the later Annies have the same pads as the K712, you may have to deal with mids not as lush. The K712 doesn't highlight the midrange like the ANnie. They're still good, but more distant.

 

[cocoonsyd]

Hi I'm currently using an Audioquest Dragonfly to directly drive my K712. Would I get a noticeable SQ improvement if I add an entry-level amp like Schiit Vali? Would appreciate any idea. Thanks!

 

[RyanDJ1]

Hmmm tricky one. I'm debating between myself if it's worth going for the Annie's with the 712 pads but you think the lush mids would have gone? Is rather brand new too. One question ho any years do you think the K712 pads will be around?

 

[roskodan]

just got my k712 and k701 today, oh boy those are two hard to drive m0f05, no way one can make them behave without a beefy headphone output! on my conductor so far so good!

 

[Evshrug]

A lush midrange sounds more like the Annie. However, considering the later Annies have the same pads as the K712, you may have to deal with mids not as lush. The K712 doesn't highlight the midrange like the ANnie. They're still good, but more distant.

Got charts? First time I've heard Annie's have more prominent mids.

 

[Mad Lust Envy]

I'm referring to the pad differences. The older pads definitely made the Annie have a more forward, fuller, midrange over the K712, which was thinner and pushed back in the mix in comparison. Hence why I said the Annies sold with the K712 pads may have mids very similar to the K712 now.

Pads make a difference, and I'm kinda sad the old pads aren't easily identifiable/for sale. I lean more on a intimate, rich sound nowadays, hence why I love the LCD2 and HD650 sound so much.

 

[Rob80b]

  just got my k712 and k701 today, oh boy those are two hard to drive m0f05, no way one can make them behave without a beefy headphone output! on my conductor so far so good!

The best I’ve heard my K701s was off the headphone output of a Bryston 2BLP pro, basically a 60 watt amp with but with resistors to accommodate the headphone output, did wonders for the bass, not on the same level as my HD700s, but satisfying all the same.

 
Sadly I just recently sold it with its matching pre to get some Senn HD800’s which in the end I returned.
http://www.head-fi.org/t/612502/sennheiser-hd-700-impressions-thread/1920#post_10780673
 
Got some K712s coming in tomorrow but I’ll need to mod them at some point for balanced configuration to take full advantage of the Bryston BHA-1.
I’ve been clearing out some phones but still have the K701s on hand, balanced with the reversible bass port mod, will be interesting to see how the K712 fair.