Condocondor
500+ Head-Fier
I'm pretty much in the same position as soldat (up 3 posts). I have the AKG 533 Pro headphones and I auditioned a pair of AKG 712's for a couple of days which I understand is pretty much the same thing as the Massdrop AKG 7XX (same exact drivers, cushions, headband, +3db boost in the bass, etc). BUT, I paid $425 with tax for the 712's before I returned them. Reason: They were amazingly clear and all that but that with basically the same AKG sound signature (i.e dry, neutral, analytical, etc). I felt the 712's were just an excellent upscale variant of the 533's. There were differences of course but not $300 worth of difference.... and frankly, I missed the warmer bass presentation and volume of my 533's whenever I put the 712's on.
In the end I felt the AKG K712's were excellent but boring. Why boring? Well, I was spoiled by a pair of Philips Fidelio X2's which I eventually returned for a rattle in the left can at high volume (bought used for $220 Amazon). Now the X2's were FUN and had all of the excellent attributes of the 712's and likely the 7XX's too. I felt that I wanted something different than the AKG sound which I already had in the K533 Pro.
Now, like you soldat, I'm fit to be tied. Here are the K7XX, which are basically the K712's, for $200. What do I want to do now: Spring for these and forgo a new pair of Philips Fidelio X2's for $299?......or buy them both and do a direct comparison? I'm currently thinking that I could easily sell the Massdrop AKG 7XX for what I paid for them if I take care not to damage the packaging and keep them in mint condition. (My wife already thinks I'm nuts for paining over these decisions.) Perhaps I could put the X2 purchase off a couple of months while I enjoy a second bite of the apple with the K7XX's?
Here's what I think will happen as I peer into the future: I'll get them both, love the Phillips X2's more, intend to sell the K7XX's..... but never really getting around to selling them....lol.... : )
In the end I felt the AKG K712's were excellent but boring. Why boring? Well, I was spoiled by a pair of Philips Fidelio X2's which I eventually returned for a rattle in the left can at high volume (bought used for $220 Amazon). Now the X2's were FUN and had all of the excellent attributes of the 712's and likely the 7XX's too. I felt that I wanted something different than the AKG sound which I already had in the K533 Pro.
Now, like you soldat, I'm fit to be tied. Here are the K7XX, which are basically the K712's, for $200. What do I want to do now: Spring for these and forgo a new pair of Philips Fidelio X2's for $299?......or buy them both and do a direct comparison? I'm currently thinking that I could easily sell the Massdrop AKG 7XX for what I paid for them if I take care not to damage the packaging and keep them in mint condition. (My wife already thinks I'm nuts for paining over these decisions.) Perhaps I could put the X2 purchase off a couple of months while I enjoy a second bite of the apple with the K7XX's?
Here's what I think will happen as I peer into the future: I'll get them both, love the Phillips X2's more, intend to sell the K7XX's..... but never really getting around to selling them....lol.... : )