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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ต.ค. 2024
- Shot with a C920, audio is direct from a Samson Go Mic. Sorry if audio levels are a little quiet.
InnerFidelity data sheet: www.innerfideli...
Sonic Sense Pro Audio SoundCloud where you can hear the K701 recorded through flat microphones: / headphones-test
Follow me on Twitter to know when I'm uploading, what's coming next, and to just generally get in touch. / metal571
Yeah I use these headphones with a tube amp and the sound is second to none. I get all the low, mids and highs in perfect balance. Very satisfying headphone review, great job.
I have an orange micro terror I am planning to use these with. Had a pair that broke a few years ago and they've been sitting in my desk. AKG fixed em for free and they are on the way back. Can't wait to try them with my amp.
@@user-bm3ts2ql6s pretty sure question assumed a headphone amp, not guitar
@@henrikpersson4698 I am fairly sure B responded to the root comment about running the headphones through an amplifier, not responding to the response.
I still have these headphones 5 years later, they're great
Metal571, you have a great grasp on audio and audiophile terminology. I believe your reviews over an magazine editor anyway.
My thoughts exactly. I got these for $160. I dont regret it at all. These are fuckin great! And it really does give an honest sound mostly. If something sounds bad on these, it is because the mix or something in the mix itself is mixed bad. That, I can promise. Your mix isn't suppose to sound BAD on anything. Not even $10 earbuds. So if something sounds bad on these, it is definitely due to bad mixing. Great entry level mixing headphones. And apparently, they were useful to Quincy, guys...he's definitely worth taking advice from
Man this was just the kind of review I was looking for!
Was inspired to check these out based on your review above (thanks) and just purchased a pair for 100 bucks. Looking forward to hearing them.
Which store did you buy the q701
Dark matter I ended up getting two sets on eBay.
Dark matter And I’m actually selling one of them.
Ounce I did the bass and headband mod these headphones sound and comfort is outstanding .
What did you do for a bass mod?
I've gotten to the point where I just watch your reviews for fun.
Man this is such an oldie one though, probably really entertaining to watch at this point since my taste changed the first year or two
@@metal571 So not spending much time with these on your head any more? What's floating your boat lately offering same soundstage (wired & for home for non-basshead but lover of all bass that's accurate and low)? [My 1st cans were Made in Austria AKG 240s circa 1983, they're still minty fresh!]
Nah I stopped using the AKG stuff years ago. I actually happen to still have an original "Sextett" K240 though, and it's got some amazingly smooth mids with the original pads. But my dailies now are the ZMF Atticus at the office and a 2018 LCD2 fazor at home
Saw a few of these on Ebay from JApan..with a huge 100% AUTHENTIC ..lol.. tempted to grab a pair just because..
quite good for the price. You will get humps on your skull where the band nubbs touch. I use
a sheet of card stock between the nubbs and the top of the head, it's taped on at the ends of
the band. They will be small for a large head but I've discovered how to extend the sides to gain
even that extra 1/4in distance from earpiece to crest, the clear plastic strips where the sliding
mechanisms are have a channel that has to be extended, remove more channel, and the internal
buttons holding the strips at the sliders can have the topside of the button made flat. My wires are
beat up and the cable would have benefitted from a short section of coil. I have to open mine to
check connections. Mine have hit the floor a few times and the cable tugged a half dozen, they will
break down around the edges if you expose them to skin oils. Good sounding, worth it all for the price.
Wonderful review! Thanks so much!
Had these for years, never liked them with solid state amps.
However driven by a Feliks Audio Euforia and Denafrips Ares 2 dac they're amazing!
Just picked a pair of these up, in part because of your review. I already had the HD800 (non s) but have wanted a K7 variant for years just to try. I am pleasantly surprised, I think I might like them better than the HD800, which sounds darker and a bit veiled in a scooped way by comparison. I think the Q701 has slightly more bass than the 800 as well. Soundstage is a bit bigger on the HD800 (certain sounds on the HD800 seem more hard panned vs more centered on the Q701). I think, like you, I just prefer a bit of extra energy in the 2khz region for my headphones. They are probably a bit more fatiguing than the 800 because of that extra midrange energy, but nothing like a grado in terms of fatigue. Also, I was surprised to find them as comfortable if not slightly more comfortable than the HD800. Thanks for your review. I agree that they're a good buy at $200.
+Eric Massey definitely still a good buy at 200 bucks. A bit more flavorful version of the same sound and with more bass would be the K712 which is now around 300 bucks.
Yeah, I went back and forth on whether I wanted a Q701, K702, K712 or even a K812. I felt like maybe the Q701 struck a nice balance between neutrality with a bit of extra midrange presence, whereas maybe the K701 is too neutral and the K812 too deviant, but since I wasn't in a position to listen to all 4, I was just going off your and innerfidelity's reviews.
+Eric Massey yeah the Q701 has decent bass and some extra 2k zing where the 712 is more warm tilted and also more colored in the mids. The 812 I actually will be hearing and reviewing in the coming month or so. It is extremely hard to come by anybody who owns one so one of my buddies took the plunge and it's going on tour with one stop at my place. Gonna be really interesting.
I sitill use it for FPS-gaming! I love youre old review so authentic :D
I was still trying to figure out what I liked way back then lol was way before I tried EQ again
@@metal571 I have same kind of expirience to the others and opposite :D Dunno maybe ours amp/dac:s are quilty of nothing but the end maybe we should keep old setups for 2010 setups and 2015 like every 5 years LoL!!!!! But much love from cold Finland my mate!
Excellent presentation thanks. Greetings from James J in Limerick city Ireland
Hello metal571!
I am classical musician and i have a question for you!
In Germany, I can get Beyer DT 880 600Ohm Manufaktur and AKG Q701 for the same price.
I listen almost classical music 95% of the time.
I can get Little Dot MkIII or SS amp in the same price range.
What woild be your pick for classical and why?
Thanks! :-)
+Dino Suljković this depends on what you are looking for from classical. The DT880 is noticeably brighter than neutral but will pair well with most classical. The Q701 has strangely colored mids and is also bright leaning, so depends if you want something more colored or transparent. The HD 600 would be the dead-flat headphone but it also lacks the detail of the DT880 and the soundstage is smaller than the other two. So really it is a matter of taste. I'd probably get the 600 ohm DT880 for maximum detail extraction.
Thank you!
I heard a lot of complains on the AKG sounding unnatural, and Beyer having recessed mids.
Do you thing this is the case?
Thank you!
+Dino Suljković nah the mids aren't recessed on the 880. It's just that the treble is above flat. Lol. Different way of looking at it but once you pull the treble down with an EQ for example then the rest of the spectrum falls into line
Thank you very much!
Can you tell me, which dac/amp is good for DT 880 for 200-250 $?
+Dino Suljković I don't know a ton about amps but I would just get the Modi 2 Magni 2
Great review. I own the K701, and I am wondering if you could possibly help me with a problem that I have. Unfortunately, I listen to a lot of badly recorded modern music, specifically kpop and jpop. While they sound amazing, some female vocals can get quite sibilant which is not only annoying, but causes ear fatigue. Do you have any suggestions as to how I can tone down the "s" sibilance? Thanks.
3 things you can try are to burn them in, get a tube amp known to warm up the sound and smooth out the treble, or you can take the direct approach and EQ down the treble. The treble is quite honest and female vocals actually shine on this headphone but only if recorded properly.
Try Shure SHR1840's. Expensive yes but they will solve exactly that. I thought I would never spend that kind of money on headphones but 10 minutes and I was sold. i tried to go back to cheaper cans and boy those female vocals started so awful that i decided to sell all my other headphones. So that is my 5 cents.
Interesting. I thought you were more into a neutral headphone (hence the Beyer DT880), but since you say you're into a more "musical" sound, you should check out the Sennheiser HD-650. I know you just bought these Q701's, and I don't mean to try to quash your enthusiasm for them, but just in case you might be interested in more headphones in the future.
I have a pair of the HD-650, and while I never tried the HD-600, and therefore can't compare it with the HD-650, the HD-650 is a really, really "smooth" sounding headphone. It is indeed a bit darker sounding, but it's very relaxing, and the mids are just fantastic. Just a suggestion, in case, again, you're going to look for more headphones... unless you've already tried the HD-650, of course.
I have the HD600 on my radar but not the 650 because it actually might be a little too dark and relaxing for my taste lol. The Q701 is overall more neutral by graph as the DT880s have more of a spike at 10k which also masks upper treble detail in my experience, even though their mids are definitely neutral. Q701 soundstage really is also why I like them so much. And my ears don't touch the inside of the cups after a while unlike the DT880.
metal571/Term1naLFurY I see I see... sorry for suggesting the HD-650, then. LOL. If you do end up getting the HD-600, I look forward to the review!
fuzzybaffy they're on my list, I just need to sell my others first lol. I have plenty more cans to review that you haven't seen yet here.
how would the Akg 702 compare to these? can somebody help? thinkin about gettin the 702 for listening to music with a nice soundstage
I found them for 380 EUR only, which is ridiculously high. I guess, I'll have to buy K702 and do a bass mod on them because I'd like it neutral but with some bass.
Great review metal, ive managed to bag myself a brand new pair of these (in white) sealed in box made in Austria from a ex Harman employee for the princely sum of only £50, looking forward to comparing them to my 1990s , and 650's , im a soundstage lover so hopefully these will hit the spot! iam wondering about burn in too?.....
Love mine for gaming.
Another great review!
How would you compare these to the k240 series for general mixing and for casual listening? Some have said that aside from the better soundstage, that the 701s have more detail in the tibres of instrument (ie bass is more layered/3D etc)...
Yeah, these are a whole step above the K240. Much wider soundstage, a different timbre, and a lot more comfy. For a super accurate review check out my K701 review since I had been listening to the house sound of this series for much longer by the time I made that one.
Can you review the AKG K612 pro? It's my favorite akg headphone I've heard against the q701 and k701. It's a more tame q701 to me, with smoother treble, less plasticky mids, less aggresive lower treble and more realistic sound stage. The k712 pro I heard is less neutral. Also thanks to your reviews I picked up an HD 600 to add to my collection. Love the neutrality and the treble is very realistic and true however sound slightly warm for my tastes, nonetheless will be one of my favs along with my k612. Worst thing about the HD600 to me is soundstage. Feels close to your head for an open and in 3 distinct blobs, one in front and on each side. I'm still loving em though.
Well, picked these and dt 990 for xmas for my dad.. We'll have a jam sesh and then he keeps one and i keep the other. Listening to your reviews and others sound like they both have their caveats but i know which ones i think i want.
Also your beyer review when you say shoots treble at your ears like some sort of weapon. I lost my shit XD
Lol hey that's how the 990 has always sounded to me. The HD 600 is the most even handed one of the classic open back trio of the DT880, K701, and HD 600.
After you made me by these headphones (BTW, while I don't think it is a *huge* deal, but I scored with a pair of "Made in Austria" AKG Q701s), I followed up with a pair of Audio Technica MD-50x's and a pair of Sennheiser 598 made in black for Amazon. Then I replaced my aging Yamaha AVR with a Denon AVR X2200W and finally bought a pair of KEF LS50s to see how close I could get loudspeakers to sound like my headphones. So, I trust you will accept at least a small amount of responsibility for costing me so much money. I was just fine with my clock radio as my primary sound source before. :-\
+Gene Girard lol, such arr the ways of this hobby
@metal571 Hey there.... First off, I'd like to thank you for all your reviews. It's really awesome to come across such detailed reviews about all these different headphones; very informative. With that said, I was hoping you could give me your advice (since you have all this knowledge). I am a music producer, and an audio engineer. I am in the market for new headphones, and I am wondering what your opinion is for the best headphones for both Monitoring and Mixing. I have a diverse range, creating Hip Hop, R&B, Jazz, Rock, EDM, Classical, a little of everything. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
I hope that Metal, you go back and read your old videos sometimes because I need to know. If you had a choice 4xx or Q701, your choice?
I really try not to lol and I'd save up for Sundara instead of those
thanx for the vid. almost got trapped in that sennheiser hype looking for studio headphones. im definitely after an uncolored sound.
Well the HD600 IMO is a neutral king, but it really does cost and an arm and a leg compared to this guy. As I mentioned there are some specific colorations on this headphone but it never deviates more than about 5 dB from flat and the sound is largely grain free. A very useful and low coloration mixing and mastering reference headphone indeed.
you just put me in dilema with this old review between HD 599 or AKG 701 or 702... good for gaming and music !?
I reviewed the 599 so you can compare thoughts with that. Honestly with such an old review, my 712 review is probably more comparable
How do you eq the q701? I have a pair and would like to know your preference. These things do sound a bit bright sounding.
This was way before I got into EQ so I don't have a profile right now
@@metal571ok. Oh and what eq settings do you have for your hd600 and hd800
@@kawhileonardmichaeljackson8501 posted those on the hd600 review and hd800 take 2 reviews
Hey Metal571. Really like your reviews so thought I'd ask for your advice if you have the time. I travel a lot so I do a lot of mixing and work through headphones. I use the audio interface Apogee Duet. I'm looking for new headphones and thought about AKG k712 Pro or AKGq701. I produce Hip Hop but also produce radio commercials so I've always wanted fairly neutral/flat headphones but do like some bass to be there for the Hip Hop side of things. But prefer accurate than just loud. What would you recommend between the two? And are there any other headphones you can recommend looking at? I currently use KRK KNS 8400 and I'm just finding them hard to mix with and get a sound that translates well to other sources. Would either AKGs be a massive difference to the KRKs? If you get the time to help with any suggestions you have that would be much appreciated. Thanks.
K553 is a good bet
Great video =) and thx ... I have the AKG K601 and i have problems with the cable and the plastic of the headband broke on both sides ... i want to buy new ones. I am not sure what to get. I love the size of the K601 (which should be the same as the Q or K701) and i never tried the BT770 or 880 or 990 ... you also speak about that this headphones are midrange ... do you also have some high range HP you can recomment ? Thanks a lot.
I have reviews on the 880. Overall it is still too bright for my use. Midrange pick would be the HD 600. High end HD 800
Hey metal571, thanks for the really fast answer. I tried a lot of Sennheiser Headphone in the past and the shape and angle of the ear covers does not fit my head. I am 6'4 and have a big head =) I loved the AKG K601 because they are so big and cover my ears good.
I watched your HD800 review, but cant find the HD800 anymore on amazon, only the HD800S. The HD800 come fro 1300EUR and the 800S for 1600EUR, thats too much for me. I think I will stay with the AKG. Now i have to decide between: K701, Q701, K702 or K712 pro =/ ... so far I could not find out what is best for me.
Magicians1313 the 712 is their best of that range. It's a warmer tilt to the Q701 sound, which itself is similar to the K601 but with more bass. So that should work for you. That's funny though that the 800 isn't there. On US Amazon they're still selling it.
You dont call the bass recessed, but frequency response graph does
Old review before Harman research was mainstream. If you are looking at rtings then they are compensating it by expecting a large bass shelf, which is subjective
@@metal571 what do you think about (here i might say wrong name) the curves of equal loudness? i mean maybe not the flat phones, but the phones with raised bass are natural because of human senses compensation?
@@oleadsr8186 I don't think that's how Harman arrived at their shelf. It was done empirically by taste and averaging preferences with a set volume I'm pretty sure
I have the Audio Technica ATH-AD700X for classic rock and I do like them. Do you think the AKG Q701, K701 or K702 would really be any better than the ATH-AD700X? Thanks.
+W. Scott Smith I would get the HD 600 as an upgrade. Those open air Audio-Technicas are very very light on bass.
Hi great videos. I'm on the market for high end headphones. Im considering Beyerdynamic T1's which you gave a good review. The thing is I'm gonna be using the headphone also for FPS gaming. Which one would you recommend from FPS point of view. These Q701's or the T1's?
I currently have HD 650 and Schiit Joutunheim w/dac
As long as it's only for gaming. The T1 has a very sharp treble peak. It also costs way more. If you're going to be spending that kind of money I would get the headphone with the largest soundstage available, and that is the HD 800. It is only about $1000 nowadays.
Thank you for the quick reply! I try to test them both HD 800 and T1
at home with my setup. I'm also going to be using the headphones for
music and will be wearing them as I work and as i game. which is about 50% of the day, everyday and night
Hopefully no one sits near you at work. Both are very open headphones and leak a ton of sound. Seems like it might not be a problem since you have the 650s already. Also both are significantly brighter than the 650s so I'm not even sure either one will perfectly fit your preferences, but that's what EQ was invented for. Just a note.
Hi. I want a headphone for my studio to produce techno music. Which would you recomend beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 80 or AKG Q701? Or maybe another for the same price range. I see Takstar Pro80 Headphones too. They are cheaper but could work too
+ivogody I would get the DT770 80 ohm or HD 380 (to be reviewed)
Hi sir. Would you recommend these over the K712 for mixing and mastering? I hear what you're saying about the K553 being flat but I think I prefer an open back.
What is the graph like for these?
You said the K712 was up and down which has put me off. I don't know if I should send them back.
+Peter Gull nope. Graph for these can be seen on InnerFidelity. All of these open back AKGs have the inaccurate 2k midrange shout that ruins their status as anywhere near a mixing headphone
I picked up a pair of these on an Amazon "lightning" sell for $130. Based on this review. So I hope I am not disappointed. I usually stay away from brands that include celebrities in the titles, defunct premium brands (Nakamichi anyone?). Do you think my Yamaha RX-V665 will drive these? Thanks, and thanks for your review.
Most receivers should drive them fine. The sound is definitely going to be different than you've heard if you haven't tried an audiophile headphone before. This headphone's endorsement doesn't really affect it. It's basically a K702, which is an already existing model, with a different color scheme.
+metal571 When will you be reviewing the HD 598 headphones?
Stefano_pena that's a good question, I've already reviewed their bigger brother the HD 600, and they have almost the same sound signature but are a little more grainy and also have a slightly wider soundstage. I don't have them lined up on my review schedule but you may see them in the future if I get a pair. But in essence it boils down to what I just described.
metal571 Thanks for replying so quickly :)
I got the HD598SE headphones for 94 dollars today so I guess the price can't be beat then.
Stefano_pena they're awesome definitely can't beat those for the price they are selling at right now
These are my favs. HD6xy suck. Please do a rereview to account for gained experience over the years
Overall I still like the 6xx better, but the soundstage width is much more interesting to listen to on these despite having the wackiest FR of the mid fi trio. I'm trying to get a 612 in for review at the moment which is similar
I've been looking into getting a hybrid tube amp to soften the highs on my K702. I now know That a flat treble is not for me and I want a very open treble without the edginess. I read once somewhere that this pair has open but smooth treble even with an solid state amp. Is it true? Thank you!
Meh. The treble is slightly bright on all the AKG open backs. Flat is a word I'd use for the HD 600, not these.
Can a mixer be used instead of a headphone amp?
Thanks for the review! Do you know how these compare to the k702?
fernando tobar The K702 you can buy nowadays is pretty similar to my sound description here. The older ones are likely more bass light. AKG keeps updating the same models with different pads and headbands without really telling consumers, but from my information the newest K702s should sound similar to the K702 Anniversary.
Thanks for the info!
There was an auction yesterday on Amazon for these at $100 !
+medwatt I saw. Even if you don't like them you could sell them for so much more lol
metal571 One of the reasons I hesitated was because they were open. Not everyone is lucky to live in a noise-free environment or in an environment where noise is tolerated. The other reason is that I'm saving for the audio technica a900x. I really hope they'd go on some sale. Have you tried the a500x and the a700x and how do they compare to the a900x soundwise ?
+medwatt I have an A500X for review right now. The A900X sounds better but whether it's worth the extra price depends on the person. I'd still go for the 900
metal571 Are you still demoing the ad900x ? I've been waiting for that review for as long as I can remember.
+medwatt I own it. Just working on another review for the time being. Lol I'm definitely slow on getting them out
this was quite helpful. im looking for a professional mixing headphone i can slap a wireless reciever on and call wireless. i tried straight wireless headphones but wireless headphones with generally flat reaponse and low enough latency to play an instrument ln dont exist.
Yeah wireless for that definitely doesn't exist. I would get the HD 600 if you need mixing headphones in a pinch. These are more colored.
well im thinking of just geting 1 pair of studio headphones to work with at home and then the senheiser rs 160 i think? theyre wireless and are claimed to be as latency free as it gets. i chose them because of low latency, portinility, wirelessness, and the fact that they can link 4 sets to the same source audio. in that scenario, i record in public with the senheisers and mix at home with open muffs.
portibility*
No no. Those Sennheisers are designed to work with home theater systems and come with a base station. They won't work for pro audio
A gamer looking for open back, wide soundstage, pronounced bass... will these be best? Any other suggestions?
+riseuplight open backs with pronounced bass basically don't exist. I'd look at a DT770
yeah I've been eyeing the 80ohm version. thanks for the quick response.
Beyer DT 990 fits all of that but has very aggressive treble. I put some paper towel as a filter and it helps somewhat.
Do you think FiiO E10 will be enough to properly power it?
Yeah that should work fine. E10K is the newest one
I just picked up a pair of HD 598s. I plan on buying a schiit magni 2 modi 2 stack a little later. How would you compare these to them?
I heard the 598 a while ago, so my memory of it is still a little fuzzy but from what I remember the 598 had less bass extension, more grainy mids, and less top end detail. The Q701 is an extremely fast headphone, and there is virtually no ringing anywhere. That is very difficult to find under 300-400 dollars. These sell for $190 right now. That said the Q701 sound signature is definitely slightly colored, where 2k is pushed forward a bit and the treble still has some small peaks around 10k. That's about it, bass is neutral and it is largely a grain-free experience otherwise. The 598 is more technically correct in the midrange but certainly less refined. The HD600 fixes that, but costs twice what the Q701 costs and is much less exciting.
yeah, i picked up the 598s for $140, I'm in canada so the prices are higher. I guess I got a good deal. Not really looking to spend more than 200 on headphones right now. I'm thinking of upgrading to the 650s in a while if there's a sale.
PS: That neckbeard doesn't hide your double chin, it enhances it and evolves you into a stage 3 gentlesir. /r/justneckbeardthings.
Taliban King HAHA best comment I've ever read. You win an internet
I understand these headphones need a preamp, will a Presonus Firestudio Project interface suffice?
+Ryanem I think most interfaces should be okay at driving these since they're not horrible to drive, but if you want some headroom you need a dedicated headphone amp
OOoooohhhhk, thank you.
When playing games or talking to people, does the sound get picked up by the Modmic?
Nah open backs don't bleed into it. I had issues with keeping the ModMic adhered to this headphone so be careful
Nice, thanks man
701 with different branding?
+Cypeq sorta a differently tuned K701. Just like the minor differences between this, the 701, and the 702
The sound stage larger than the argons ???
Been a long time since I heard an argon but, probably
@@metal571 thanks
Are this an step up from hd600 ?
Sidegrade. It's preference
I wish you didn't make such a good review. These are on sale on my local hifi store and now I know, these are not for me and I won't bother to try these.
In the end I got rid of my AKGs since the HD 600 was just simply a better overall headphone for me. These still have a unique character, incredible treble extension, and very wide soundstage that I miss. They're still very good.
Yea, I got the feeling that these are superb headphones, but I don't think that I currently want headphones with this kind of "sound style". What I understood from this review that these are more inclined to the cold spectrum of sound and I need more warm sound. Also my current listening room is pretty hard for a bass and because of that it would be nice have a bit exaggerated bass from headphones.
Petri Koukkula you're probably looking for something like the DT770 80 ohm. Check that review out on my channel
I'll never know why the reply button doesnt show up at times. I know the treble is open on open back AKGs and the K702s is on the harsh side. Would you say the same about these? I plan to try a Schiit Vali and see if it can smooth out the edginess of the open treble. Would you say its worth a ahot?
Norman Zealand Malana I have a K701 now and it sounds basically identical as the Q701 in the treble. These all use almost the same driver. I would definitely say to buy another headphone instead of trying to fix what you don't like about these with some amp.
metal571 I know. That was the idea from the start. But one can only expect so much from so many subjective reviews. I tried an HD600 once and I found it not very exciting. It sounds flat, sure, and I thought that was the sound I wanted but I was wrong. I knew then that I wanted a more open treble detail. If you were to suggest a headphone that does that with grace, could you name it? It's so hard to evaluate what to go for by just reading reviews and specs. Thanks again!
Norman Zealand Malana DT880/600 ohm. Energetic and powerful treble but ultra detailed. Just make sure you have a beefy amp
metal571 Thank you. I was looking into this before I got the K702s but the fixed cable veered me away. Thanks for the replies.
Norman Zealand Malana nah beyers are built like tanks, don't worry about the cable
Is that a cat I hear?!
Nah sadly never owned one
metal571 it is hard for me to correctly word this question so don't judge me lol ok...im trying to train my ears on frequencies. But I don't have a completely neutral source to learn from like neutral headphones or neutral monitors. Does it matter whether I train my ears on a neutral source or not? If I learn frequencies using my q701 headphones and hear those frequencies on another headphone with a different sound signature, I should still be able to recognize that an 8k boost is an 8k boost or a 10k cut is a 10k cut regardless of them having two different sound signatures....right?
I think things will make a lot more sense once you take a look at this gem of a playlist right here: soundcloud.com/sonic-sense-pro-audio
It is pretty hard to tell the difference unless you hear a lot of headphones. Then the differences jump out at you. Listen to the reference track, and then listen to the recordings of each headphone to hear their colorations.
metal571 thanks a lot for that. I understand that different listening sources have different sound signatures. But lets say I have mastered understanding what a 6k boost sounds like using only my q701. Now lets say my q701 for some ungodly reason just stopped working and now im forced to use a different set of headphones for my eq training. I listen to a regular track and then a 6k boost is done to it. Assuming that I know the sound of a 6k boost, I should still be able to recognize that a 6k boost was done to the track regardless of the fact that im using a different headphone with a different sound signature for my eq training. Am I right???
metal571 like if I could hear the original track and then hear the 6k boost version of the track and compare the two, regardless of what headphones I use, I should still be able to recognize that a 6k boost was done to the track...im hoping....right?
Amir Grant you have to relearn the cans in any case.
Hey nice review. Do you think there's much difference between the q701 and the k712 pros? Thanks.
+Michael Marotta yeah the 712 has the most bass
Hi, I received the Q701 few days ago and I am using these without amp. Do you have some experiences with FiiO E10K? This amp is pretty cheap, but with some very good reviews.
e.g.
"This sounds Awesome with my Q701, Sr-125e, and XBA-H3. I temporarily bought a Schiit Lyr, and found out that a $450 amp sounded no better than this Fiio E10. There is no reason to pay any more money for a desktop amp. (unless you have more than 200 ohm headphones) This is Not a purchase you will regret."
What do you think? Thanks.
+František Albert I would get a Schiit Modi 2 and Magni 2, Uber versions of both if you can afford it. The E10K does not provide enough power and volume headroom for these headphones or others you may upgrade to later like the HD 600
+metal571 Thank you for really quick reply. Unfortunatelly I can not afford it right now. Maybe Christmas-Time :). But the price difference is huge, 300$ vs 75$. It could be fine, if I could test it somehow, what the difference actually is. I understand, HD600 has 300 ohms, so the Fiio E10 is a no-go for them, but the Q701 with only 62 ohms could work, don't you think? Last of all, I am not plannig to upgrade for a longer period. PS: your reviews are really great :)
František Albert not true. The problem with the Q701 is misleading - they are only 62 ohms but they are very insensitive headphones. Their low sensitivity makes them almost as hard to drive as the HD 600 despite their lower impedance. The reason I recommend the Schiit stack is because it has tons of power for just about everything out there, and you'll be using that power with these and other headphones in the future. The E10K is too limiting in the volume aspect. Has nothing to do with sound quality, that's why it's worth it to go for the Schiit stuff
+metal571 Ok, thank you. Does it makes sense to buy only the amp now, and the dac later? Maybe the good choice for me now.
František Albert yeah as long as your source is good I.E. a modern high quality Realtek sound card built into a desktop motherboard. Don't amp a laptop, there will be tons of electronic noise.
hey! are these still a good buy at around $180?
+Andrés Rázuri yeah but just know they are still pretty bright and odd if you're coming from consumer headphones
thanks for the reply! i like bright headphones if they are not too harsh, i want to upgrade my headphones for music ( all kind of genres ) and gaming( mostly FPS ) and i want something fairly flat, any other recommendations at that price range? i might order them today haha
+Andrés Rázuri yeah HD 600 or 650. I reviewed them together recently
i ended up ordering the k712 pro because shipping and taxes of any of the sennheisers was too damn expensive, i hope i love the akgs! thanks for the help!
These are cans you want to try before you buy, or know that you can return them. They have a unique sound ... that I love :)
How are things compared to the k712?
+Billy Castaneda haven't personally heard that one
I have original K701 and have listened to K712 pro. If you can get them, K712 Pro are fantastic and highly recommended. Otherwise, K701/Q701 are fine substitutes for K712 Pro.
How are they with mids? I hear the mids are as great as the HD600 while others say it sounds artificial or sounds distant because of its large soundstage? What are your thoughts?
All of the AKG X7XX line has inaccurate and strangely voiced mids. That doesn't make them bad, just know that these are flavor cans, not precisely neutral cans.
I think mids on K712 pro are exceptional. They are the kind of headphones that makes you re-listen your entire music collection. Vocals especially are dazzling, mellow, present, and the sound stage is more precise than in K701. I have Philips FidelioX1 and AKG K701 -- not slouchy headphones at all -- but I admit K712 Pro is a good half a step ahead of both in all respects. More details, more ambiance, more magic, more precision. (I listened them together with HD800, same music, and I put HD800 aside -- to me K712 pro were far more interesting, engaging, with better control in highs). But you must have some decent amp, regardless which one of them you wish to buy.
How are these vs. the K702 ? I'm gonna be listening mostly to Symphonic and Power Metal, will these fit my taste?
Get the HD 600. I don't like metal with these as the mids are too forward. Watch my K701 review for a description of the same sound as the K702
metal571 Unfortunately 600s are out of my price range and even if I could afford them I'd still need to upgrade my headphone amp so that's a no. I am although considering the 598s, how are they?
Danny Damsky no need to upgrade headphone amp. If you think you can drive the Q701 you can drive those. 598s are like a grainier and less refined 600. Still good but the 600s are worth it. I wish they were back down to 270 like when I bought my pair
metal571 Well the problem is in Israel I can get the 598s for 890 shekels (around 230 bucks), while the 600s would cost me 1900 shekels (around 500 bucks) so I'm not sure whether that's worth it for me
metal571 So will the 598s be better for my taste? How do they compare to the K702/Q701? Because they cost similar here
Made in China, as opposed to the K701, made in Austria.
+sclogse1 all of them are made in China now sadly. The Austrian factory closed. All AKGs are made in China except for the K712 and K812 which are made in Slovakia.
I have some Austrian made Q701. I don't think I'll ever be able to bring myself to sell them.
Sennheiser snobs were right it looks like lol
Lol I keep the old reviews up so people can see and gain perspective on just how wrong I was back in the day
@@metal571 I respect that. It's important to realize how much of a roller coaster this hobby can be. And also to always keep expectations in check because to this day there are still hype trains for every new product released. It's exhausting.
The headband is painful. The austrian model is more well made.
+luf4rall it never bothered me but I can see it being an issue for many people. The newest revision of this headphone I believe does not have the bumps
They have such a awful nasal sound signature to them.