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Regardless of bass quantity, in raw resolution scale...if today's hi-end flagships is like blu-ray resolution, and yesterdays flagships were like standard definition...the K1000s are like VHS quality.
I ranked it with my HD595 in sheer resolution capability. I think the HD595 was lower resolution than my HD650s and the K1000s successor...the K701s. If you liked the tonal balance of the K1000s with the ears 1/2 to 3/4 flipped out...then you have no problems with the K701 tonal balance - its almost identical, with the K701 having the advantage of a higher resolution output device. But of course, nothing can yet beat the K1000 soundstage. Which for me was quick wow factor novelty that very quickly wore off...leaving behind an entry level can detail retrieval.
If the HD650 doesn't belong in hi-end discussions...neither does the K1000...it was originally priced accordingly.
I don't know if it works quite like that, but I like the analogy. I think it's pretty obvious to me that the R10s are the finest headphone I've heard and they're decades old. The HD800, HE-6, and LCD-2 are 1080p to R10's 720p. The R10s and HE-90 pretty much stand at the top in their field with the Omega 2s sometimes considered and maybe the C-32 will be added or even "kinged". The K1000 are right behind this bunch and in terms of what they achieve, they would be easily preferred by many over any headphone released in the past few years. The tonal balance of the K1000 and K701 are not similar to me. You may have amped them with the wrong choice for your taste, who knows?
In terms of sheer reputation I've noticed that this forum collectively acknowledges the headphones as of this point in this way:
King Electrostatic: HE-90
King Dynamic: R10
Queen Electrostatic: Omega 2
Queen Dynamic: Qualia 010
Orthodynamic Kings: HE-6 and LCD2 whose reputation would be regarded somewhere between Queen and Rook status for most.
Rook 1 Electrostatic: Stax Lamba in various incarnations
Rook 2 Electrostatic: HE-60
Rook 1 Dynamic: K1000 or HD800 or T1 as widened soundstage tonally neutral balanced winner
Rook 2 Dynamic: HP-2 or PS1000 or RS1 or Edition 8 or D7000 as fun and engaging winner
Bishop 1 Dynamic: DT880 or K701 as soundstage oriented neutral mid-fi cans.
Bishop 2 Dynamic: HD600 or HD650 as lushly beautiful mid-fi cans
The two new flagship Orthos (HE-6 and LCD-2) rest somewhere in the vicinity of the Rooks and Queens in terms of reputation.
My gut tells me when the C-32 is released it will challenge the HE-90 and R10 as king headphone of all time, and it is possible that the Omega 2 already do that for a large margin of people here.