My Austrian made k712 has loosen elastics, which I believe is clearly a design flow. Anyone know how to fix them? Also, I'm considering replace the pads in the furfure. Anyone know how to get the stock earpads? (I'll stick with the stock pads since it has been showed pads change the frequency response of a headphone significantly.
The AKG K712 Pro Support and Impressions Thread
- Thread starter PiNa.cz
- Start date
I assume since this is an old post you worked out how to replace the bands?
There are numerous videos you can google showing how to disassemble the AKG 701/702/712 headphones - to repair broken wires or replace the rubber suspension loops.
The loops are available online as an AKG replacement part eg: https://www.fullcompass.com/prod/256912-akg-2458a17010-rubber-loop-for-k702-and-q701
I wanted to fix up my old Q701 hp's and couldn't find the rubber loops locally, so I used some of my wife's hairbands. You can buy a whole container of these bands for a few dollars
Note I didn't disassemble the HP headband strap to insert the new loop - that looks like a PITA and can lead to damage of the clip on plastic stud.
I simply unclipped the headband strap from the guide hoops, cut the old suspension loop and pulled it out, then looped the hair band around the end and re-clipped onto the guide hoops:
The other end of the band is inserted into the earcup assembly like the original 'rubber loop' and fits easily.
The replaced suspension works perfectly and tension seems the same as my recently purchased pair of K712's.
This is a very simple and quick process - about 5min per cup - and costs next to nothing.
FWIW I much prefer the K712 to the Q701.
The Q701 sounds lightweight in the bass, less body and bright compared to the K712.
FWIW, swapping the K712 pads to the Q701 did not make it sound the same as the former (as has been suggested).
The Q701 did become more bassy with the K712 pads but the imaging precision and presence suffered. It doesn't sound bad, but not as good as the K712 with its own pads.
Likewise the K712 lost bass with the Q701 pads - or more likely tilted the balance towards the highs to sound less bassy - and just sounded less engaging.
I like these hp's best when used with their own pads, YMMV.
Regarding cables. I need a long cable because I listen on the couch about 4m from my HP amp. I was using the 6m cable that came bundled with the Q701, but decided to make a DIY cable with some Canare L4E6S star quad I had lying around. The DIY cable is much less 'shouty' in the upper mids. Only downside is that the 6mm Canare cable is significantly bulkier and more microphonic, not an issue for how I listen.
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Pinkfloyd0
New Head-Fier
Hello,
I am just wandering for some time now, are there other people who find AKG K702 and also K712 are of the same standing soundwise as far more expensive headphones? Just curious about other peoples experiences!
I mean, I compared them with Sennheiser HD 800, Sony MDR-Z1, Audeze LCD 2 (from memory) and some others. They are all different flavours. The only one I think is technically a bit better is HD 800.
So, I think AKG K702 and K712 are a bargain!
€130 for AKG K702
I am just wandering for some time now, are there other people who find AKG K702 and also K712 are of the same standing soundwise as far more expensive headphones? Just curious about other peoples experiences!
I mean, I compared them with Sennheiser HD 800, Sony MDR-Z1, Audeze LCD 2 (from memory) and some others. They are all different flavours. The only one I think is technically a bit better is HD 800.
So, I think AKG K702 and K712 are a bargain!
€130 for AKG K702
I can attest that K712 is a fantastic headphone. Maybe needs a little EQ but technically it's fantastic. I think they are a great alternative to HD6x0s.
Twizzleshnizzle
500+ Head-Fier
The K712 has soundstage for weeks. The thing to remember, not all headphones are designed to have big soundstage. Some are focused on a more intimate presentation because, the Sennheiser HD600 as an example. Really brings the vocals to life.Hello,
I am just wandering for some time now, are there other people who find AKG K702 and also K712 are of the same standing soundwise as far more expensive headphones? Just curious about other peoples experiences!
I mean, I compared them with Sennheiser HD 800, Sony MDR-Z1, Audeze LCD 2 (from memory) and some others. They are all different flavours. The only one I think is technically a bit better is HD 800.
So, I think AKG K702 and K712 are a bargain!
€130 for AKG K702
The K712 is an absolute bargain though, really great headphone for the price.
Have you seen the review of k7xx on audiosciencereview? I guess that k712 could be expected to measure approximately the same.
Drop AKG K7XX Review (Headphone) | Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum
Drop AKG K7XX Review (Headphone) | Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum
I don't think that the drivers are the same...
Not sure about that. I thought the K7XX and K712 were closely related(?).
It's worth noting that the high mid distortion on ASR was measured at 114dBSPL - and the driver looks out of its 'comfort zone'.
The rising distortion in the mids is a feature of the K7 drivers and you can see it in Tyll Hertsens' Innerfidelity measurements.
Tyll only measured at 90 and 100dB and its not a real issue at these levels.
prymortal
100+ Head-Fier
Correct
Yip closely, but not as close as the Q701 & K7XX if memory serves me correctly.
AKG 2400X00070 - Driver for K701, K702
AKG 2400X00080 - Q701 & K7XX
AKG 2400X00090 - K712
Same capsule, different tuning. Also pads I think? & cable.... 5021871 pads on K702 Anni & K712. Maybe K7XX as well. Been to long to recall all these details from memory.
Going by Tyll's Innerfidelity measurements K7XX is closer to K712 than Q701.
There are a couple of K712 measurements below - as you can see there is some variation.
K7XX has filled in the dip at 1.5K and slightly more bass than K712, but otherwise similar.
K7XX and K712 both have the response peak at 4K which is absent from Q701.
Q701 has leaner bass than both (definitely sounds that way compared to 712) and measures pretty flat up to 2K.
I prefer listening to the K712 over Q701.
prymortal
100+ Head-Fier
Maybe not as clear as intended I was referring to the driver, Since the convo was about drivers? But from a perspective of sound & with experience with all mentioned headphones Yeah similar but not the same sound.
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cel4145
Headphoneus Supremus
Going by Tyll's Innerfidelity measurements K7XX is closer to K712 than Q701.
There are a couple of K712 measurements below - as you can see there is some variation.
K7XX has filled in the dip at 1.5K and slightly more bass than K712, but otherwise similar.
K7XX and K712 both have the response peak at 4K which is absent from Q701.
Q701 has leaner bass than both (definitely sounds that way compared to 712) and measures pretty flat up to 2K.
I prefer listening to the K712 over Q701.
Interesting. Note the differences in isolation measurements between the two K712 Pros. Which suggests to me it's a pad difference or different seal/positioning during measurements that are influencing the results. As it seems unlikely that individual unit production differences would result in isolation changes like that.
Did Tyll maybe upgrade his measuring dummy in between those two sets of measurements?
Yeah, not sure.
The second set of measurements was from the collected Innerfidelity pdf at this link (up to July 2016): web.archive.org/web/20...
The other graphs were from the link on the stereophile page: https://www.stereophile.com/content/innerfidelity-headphone-measurements
There's also a explanatory article by Tyll regarding his measurements: https://www.stereophile.com/content/innerfidelity-headphone-measurements-explained
I miss Tyll.
Edit: Interesting to see Tyll's measurement of the K601 from 2007 - it exhibits pretty high distortion around 500-700Hz and 1.8KHz, the latter somewhat similar to the ASR measurement for the K7XX but at lower 100dB level: https://www.stereophile.com/images/ifmeasure/AKGK6012007.pdf
Actually this is an issue for the K702 as well:
https://www.stereophile.com/images/ifmeasure/AKGK702.pdf:
But not in the 2014 65th annv. 702:
https://www.stereophile.com/images/ifmeasure/AKGK70265thAnvEd2014.pdf
Might be luck of the draw or, more likely, care of assembly.
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As mentioned before, I bought these headphones about one year and half ago and I was a bit disappointed on day one. I kept them because I thought my brain would become used to the sound.
But every time I put another headphones or even AirPods Pro, they reminded me that I felt them lacking.
I bought recently a Sennheiser HD560S and I never thought that it would blow the 712 Pro outta water.
So I am not here to ruin these headphones, but I do not understand how the difference can be so huge. AKG 712 Pro sounds a bit hollow/distorted/divergent and voices seem to be « devoured » by the rest of the spectrum. The soundstage is also weird, I mean it is large but it sounds… « artificial » compared to the HD560S.
Is the high-mid dip responsible for this ? I tried to equalize this part but this changes nothing. I have a plenty powerful amp but it does not change the core flaw.
Someone mentioned it before but he has been attacked by many. To me, the music does not sound right or neutral with these and I am just curious to understand the cause of this. Is this just these headphones signature ? They are supposed to be « studio reference » headphones…
But every time I put another headphones or even AirPods Pro, they reminded me that I felt them lacking.
I bought recently a Sennheiser HD560S and I never thought that it would blow the 712 Pro outta water.
So I am not here to ruin these headphones, but I do not understand how the difference can be so huge. AKG 712 Pro sounds a bit hollow/distorted/divergent and voices seem to be « devoured » by the rest of the spectrum. The soundstage is also weird, I mean it is large but it sounds… « artificial » compared to the HD560S.
Is the high-mid dip responsible for this ? I tried to equalize this part but this changes nothing. I have a plenty powerful amp but it does not change the core flaw.
Someone mentioned it before but he has been attacked by many. To me, the music does not sound right or neutral with these and I am just curious to understand the cause of this. Is this just these headphones signature ? They are supposed to be « studio reference » headphones…
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I kind of understand what you're saying.
I don't have HD560S but I do have HD600 and HD58X. The Sennheisers have the more strictly correct midrange, vocals are more properly rounded and tonally correct - particularly with female vocal, less so on male vocal. I hear the same thing if comparing the K712 to my ATC speakers. Curiously I don't find this bothersome with the K712.
The HD600 and K712 have similar sensitivity and I have done lots of swapping between these two headphones. Without comparing directly to the HD600, vocals sound quite good on the K712. The K712 has superior articulation of instrumental detail - hearing instrumental lines, playing techniques, separation of instruments and just generally whats going on in the mix - to me this makes music more interesting and engaging.
With the K712 I want to listen to it for longer. The HD600 sounds a bit staid by comparison. Though I respect the HD600 as a fine headphone for the money, I seldom listen to it for long sessions. I end up wanting to switch to something else.
Part of this may be that I find the perspective and presentation of the K712 more speaker like, less forward and confined in the head than the HD600.
Both are fine headphones for not a lot of money but, for enjoyment and involvement listening to music of all genres, I would choose the K712 over the HD600 in a heartbeat. Maybe it's an acquired taste?
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