Doing A&B's right now, with:
AKG K7XX (stock, and with K701/Q-701 pads)
AKG K812 (stock)
AKG K701 (stock and with K7XX/712 pads))
AKG Q701 (bass port mod and with K7XX / 712 pads))
Beyerdynamic T-90 (stock & with EDT990 pads)
Sony MDR-7506 (stock and with Beyerdynamic DT250 pads)
Sony MDR-V6 (stock and with beyerdynamic DT250 pads)
FUN !!!
interested to hear your impressions. i was actually thought the k812 performed quite well despite its relatively more muted popularity for a flagship around here.
Hey!, any updates on this?, I'm particularly interested in the K7XX + K701/Q701 pads pairing, I want to know if the upper midrange gets filled somewhat.
K7XX, with Q701/K701 pads, loses a hint of bass, and gains a hint more soundstage.
@c61746961
.... Unfortunately K7XX+K7/Q7 pads, doesn't gain the detail/revealing nature of the Q701/K701's upper mids and treble. Still darker/dimmer. A lot like a Sennheiser HD650, mixed with a K712 Pro. Plus more bass then either! Best value in headphones right now, even at twice it's price, I feel, for those looking for a perfect combo of warm audiophile smoothness, lots of good bass, and lots of detail in the mids and highs without being too analytical or bright. Long live the K7XX !!!!
K812 still has more quantity, and better quality bass than any non-planar high end headphone. Imaging as good as the HD800, but with more musical character. More engaging detail than anything else at any price point than the Stax 009. Better soundstage than anything else besides the HD800 (which isn't surprising, as AKG's K7/Q7 already slay everything besides HD800 when it comes to soundstage). K812's only real weaknesses are slight recession from 1k-4k, just like the HD800, and spectral notches in the upper mids and treble that are "too smart by half", that do carve out a more musically compatible upper treble for the acoustic properties of the ear (most audible around 2.5khz and 7.5khz), but also are too steep and deep in my opinion, when compared to the same dips in the HD800 (which is smoother and softer above 7.5khz), and those spectral notches, while smart, can sound unnatural on certain percussive resonance, especially on older recordings with big, natural reverbs before the age of modern recording. Build quality is only bested by headphones above $3000USD. One truly surprising bonus, is how incredible (and loud) these sound, unamped out of a MacBook Pro, or an iPhone 6+.
K701 gains a noticeable amount of bass with the addition of the K7xx gel pads, but still retains its super natural FR, and excellent soundstage and detail. Incredible value of "mid-Fi", that with a great, bass tube amp, can best so many far more expensive options.
Q701 gains a good bit of bass with the bass port mod, and more yet with K7XX gel pads, doesn't ever get quite as bassy as the K7xx, more like the K712 Pro, which has more detail and is brighter than the K7xx. Again, these K7/Q7, with mods and good amps, are all giant killers.
Beyerdynamic Tesla T90 90th Anniversary edition......
........it's simply my favorite phone of them all right now, despite it being punishingly bright. Soundstage unfortunately can't compare with K812/HD800, but the flat response, natural sound (shockingly similar to genelecs in a perfectly treated control room) and tonality from the sub bass all the way to around 4khz, is nearly unmatched in the entire headphone world, especially from 1khz-4khz. Only the Stax 009 is as accurate and natural a competitor IMHO from 20hz-4khz. The biggest weaknesses are a center dominant soundstage, and excruciating treble on bad recordings. EDT990 pads tamed some harshness off the treble, but also slightly decreased the presence of the really great sub bass extension for a dynamic. I think part of the value of the T-90, is it, along with the K812, have the top 2 best, literally incredible sub extensions for dynamic phones. Will Keep this one forever.
Sony MDR-7506 I prefer with it's stock pads, DT250 pads take too much away from it's bass. Still the best closed phone for vocal reference/tracking, and widely used exactly for that very purpose, because of it's dip below vocal range.
Sony MDR-V6 is super flat from the mid bass thru around 4khz, and extremely bassy with stock leather pads, despite what the graphs say. My fav closed back headphone to date, and treble is smoothed more by DT250 velour pads, which also ogive it a tiny bit of soundstage. Best value out there, as genuine V6's can be had brand new for $75, and don't require a huge amp to be driven hard. I can't wait until a better, equally flat closed headphone comes out. That new closed Sennheiser flagship coming in autumn has me extremely excited. Maybe I'll stop saying the MDR-V6 is the best closed phone then
It's as unbelievable a value among closed phones, as the K7XX is amongst open phones.
