MacBook Pro running Audirvana Plus (Integer mode 1, Direct Mode, Exclusive access mode, Extreme SysOptimizer, no upsampling) -> Monoprice USB cable -> ODAC -> 3.5 mm to RCA cable -> SRM-252S (using Kashimura TI-101 130 V - 100 V step-down transformer) -> SR-207
MacBook Pro running Audirvana Plus (Integer mode 1, Direct Mode, Exclusive access mode, Extreme SysOptimizer, no upsampling) -> Monoprice USB cable -> ODAC -> same RCA to 3.5 mm cable -> [garbage/crap/schitty/bad/malevolent] O2 (AC powered) -> K 701
Comparing the SRS-2170 to the K 701 is like apples to oranges to me. Switching from one to the other sounds pretty different.
• The K 701 + O2 seems lacking in the bass department compared to the SRM-2170. It lacks the chest-thumping, rumbling bass and impact. The SRS-2170's bass is also well-defined and well-textured; the K 701 + O2 sounds lacking in clarity.
• The K 701 + O2's midrange sounds a little more up-front and direct to me whereas that of the SRS-2170 sounds duller and laid-back, thus being less sibilant and fatiguing. Maybe it's best to say the mids of the SRS-2170 sound kind of stuffy/nasally to me; it just doesn't sound natural/right to me next to the more accurate-sounding K 701.
• The K 701 + O2's treble seems grainy and rough next to that of the SRS-2170 and has more sparkle too. The SRS-2170's treble response reminds me of that of the HD650: perfect for rock music.
• The SRS-2170's soundstage seems much more accurate to me with a more natural, three-dimensional soundstage as opposed to the K 701 + O2's wide and shallow soundstage. I get more of a "speakers pointed at my head" experience with the SRS-2170 than I do with the K 701 + O2's "speakers pointed directly at my ears" experience.
• Relating to, but not necessarily correlated to the soundstage, the SRS-2170's instrument definition and clarity are much better than that of the K 701 + O2. I would say the K 701 + O2 is a good voice monitor since vocals seem to be more up-front and other instruments are in the background kind of blurred together. The SRS-2170 overall sound seems more evenly presented, but still keeps all instruments well-defined.
For me, K 701 + O2 for vocal-based music or midrange-monitoring, SRS-2170 for everything else. Hence why I'm still keeping my trusty K 701 around.
Tracks used were mainly from HD Tracks (including some awesome binaural albums), a few CD-ripped albums here and there, and some digital downloads from Bandcamp (FLAC or 320 kbps MP3).
I don't want your dam
lemons Objective 2s! What am I supposed to do with these?? >:-D
*overall composition sounds better on the SRS-2170, but the vocal samples sound better with the K 701*
