AKG K 701 Reviews

[graal]

Yeah!!! Just got them and they are awesome even straight out of the box.
I can't wait to burn them in (300 hours).
Price paid 253 USD (tax and shipping to USA included) [Can hardly believe it, cause I wanted to buy them when they were 500$]. Whoopeee.
Price matched at Guitar Center from DjDeals.com website.
5 Stars baby!

Information and specs taken from Guitar Center's website:

AKG K 701 Ultra Reference Class Stereo Headphone and more Studio Headphones at GuitarCenter.com.

Outstandingly accurate sound and excellent imaging.

The K 701 open-back dynamic headphones use AKG's cutting-edge flat-wire technology for a truly dramatic sound that places every musician at their correct location with pinpoint accuracy. This kind of agility, spaciousness, brilliant highs, and velvety, punchy bass is simply remarkable. AKG's Varimotion 2-layer diaphragm ensures optimum diaphragm motion for extremely accurate high-frequency response and a powerful low end. The K 701 offer the utmost comfort with a self-adjusting cushioned genuine-leather headband and specially shaped "3D-Form" ear pads. Bi-wiring, high-performance cable with 1/4" jack plug. Comes with a stylish storage cradle. Individually tested and numbered.
AKG K 701 Ultra Reference Class Stereo Headphone Features:

* Revolutionary flat-wire voice coil technology
* Patented AKG Varimotion ultraprecise 2-layer diaphragm
* Self-adjusting cushioned genuine-leather headband
* Bi-wiring, high-performance cable with 1/4" jack plug
* Comfortable, specially shaped "3D-Form" ear pads
* Complete with stylish storage cradle
* Individually tested and numbered

AKG K 701 Ultra Reference Class Stereo Headphone Specifications:

* System: dynamic
* Design: circumaural, open
* Audio bandwidth: 10—39,800Hz
* Efficiency: 105dB SPL/V
* Max. input power: 200mW
* Rated impedance: 62 ohms
* Weight (without cable): 235 g (8.3 oz.)
* Cable: bi-wiring, 99.99% OFC, 3m (10 ft.)
* Stereo adapter: 6.3/3.5mm (1/4"' to 1/8"')


State your opinions about them.

Peace!

[joyryde]

So instead of paying $253 and getting free shipping directly to your house from DJDeals.com, you went to GC and paid sales tax on top of the $253? Just wondering why? I buy from them all the time specifically so I don't have to drive to a GC and so I save the entire amount on sales tax that GC charges.

[graal]

253$ was the price paid. No extras, and I ordered by phone. I feel a lot safer with Guitar Center.
There's a lot of fake stuff out there, but with them you know it's the real deal.
I had just found the DJ Deals website so I didn't know exactly how reliable they were and if their products were genuine.
Plus, if they could have bypassed the sales tax I would have gotten them for 233$, but they were not able to, so I paid 253$.
(I did the same thing with a Shure Beta58A, cause there's a lot of fake ones out there, but I got that one for 125$)

What's your oppinion about them?

[joyryde]

We've bought about $10,000 worth of studio equipment and dj gear from them over the past 6 years, they are always (far) cheaper than GC and as far as I can tell, everything we've bought from them shipped directly to us from the manufacturer, and always came within 2 days.

[graal]

Ok, I get it now, that was at first when I didn't know who they were.

How about an opinion on the K 701.

[joyryde]

I personally love them. I use them in the studio and for casual listening at home. They are super comfortable and for the money, I think they are the best choice!

[graal]

Definitely.
They do cause some level of discomfort for me, but it's minimum.
Might have had a lot to do with the fact that I have a tooth ache.
I'm burning them in as we speak.
They already seem to sound better than they did.

[Robertomano]

Got some insightful feedback from questions I had before I purchased these, from Audiophile Bill at GoodCans.com:

1. I listen to all manner of music from Calssic baroque to Chris Cunningham (Aphex Twin) and wanted an opinion on how well these headphones would serve me?

The AKG K701 headphones are highly popular with audiophiles and highly recommended by many audio reviewers. Audiophile products tend to excel at sounding natural which is best exposed with small ensemble, acoustic music. And yes, most types of music also sound good with this type of headphone. Bass wise, they aren't loud and muddy, which often is liked by those who like bass, but with a good recording and good amplification produce a clean, clear bass which is preferred by audiophiles.

2. I like headphones that go over the ear and do not touch them, they hurt otherwise. I have read they are comfortable and know all ears are different, but wanted to head any comments..

The K701 is a very big headphone. Yes, they fit over most ears, have velvety earpads, and considered comfortable to most.

3. I read the K 701's are available in white, anything else?

Multiple colors is usually a trick used by mass marketers on the low end meant to sell product based on gimmicks, rather than sound quality. Audiophile manufacturers pay some attention to looks, but rarely give options. Personally I too wish AKG had chosen something other than white, but we have no choice with the K701.

4. My BOSE pair have a detachable cable actually on the headset itself - so that if tugged the lead just pops out. I don't believe the K 701 has this, am I wrong? Has anybody tugged and caused damage to their headphones this way?

No, the K701 doesn't have a detachable cord. Interesting, AKG does do this with some Studio headphones, but not for home headphones? I guess traditionally audiophiles take careful care of their equipment and is not needed. And I can say, audiophiles may consider a detachable cord a possible source of a weak connection? And no, we haven't had any problem with the connection that I know of.

5. The padding around the rim of the cans looks solid, for my Bose that is whats getting them down now.. how well will the sponge keep its shape and can it be replaced in the future?

These are high quality, well built headphones. Yes, the foam keeps it's shape. AKG does have repair facilities in the U.S. I would assume they would be able to replace earpads, but we have yet to need to find out?

6. Also the Bose pair I have also employ noise cancellation which I liked to prevent other sounds seeping in and mine coming out. I head the K 701's make a bit of noise from th back, would this be heard in another room?

Virtually all of the most highly regarded audiophile level headphones are "Open" headphones. The open design is a big part of how they produce a more natural sound. If the house is quiet, and you play loud music, it is possible someone in an adjacent room might hear your music. Your Bose on the other hand are "Closed" headphones. This is how most of the outside world is blocked out. Generally, closed Cans do tend to sound less natural to an audiophile than open Cans. In the audiophile world, Closed Cans usually are only used by recording engineers and musicians in a studio because sound leakage can be an issue for them. BTW, the noise reduction circuitry in your Bose only works on one, steady, droning noise, (like an airplane engine). The circuitry does not work on random noises at all. If sound leakage is an issue for you, you might have to look at a good studio headphone like the AKG K272 MKII, (which btw does have a detachable cord and interchangeable earpads: comes with a straight cord and a coiled cord, and comes with a soft material earpads for comfort and a leatherette earpads for isolation).

7. I met somebody on the bus one time who used to do the behind the scenes sound engineering stuff for the bands in the 60's/70's and swears by his LP player and a speaker system because of "Dynamic Range". If the K 701's could be surmised to be either good or bad at Dynamic Range I would like to know.

Wide Dynamic Range is popular with audiophiles. Unfortunately, to the general public, the variance from soft to loud is annoying as most music is played in the background. So much of the popular music on major labels meant for play over the radio does not employ a wide dynamic range. You generally need to look for audiophile labels or independent artists and labels to find better recordings with a wide dynamic range. Yes, the K701 is good for this type of recording.

9. Oh and I read that they work best with an amp, but I've been looking and they cost more than the headphones! Plugged into a MacBook (White) would they work well without one?

Yes, better amplification is helpful at making good headphones sing. But, the K701 is fairly easy to drive and can sound good connected directly to a computer with a decent output. In other words, you might get the headphone now, and in the future look into an amp with a USB DAC to possibly get better sound out of your computer.

[garww]

Ya, you need something like "Mayorga & Colleagues III Sheffield Lab" on good equipment.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Mayorga-Colleagues-III-Sheffield-Lab-Audiophile-LP-NM_W0QQitemZ220427234185QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMusic_o n_Vinyl?hash=item33527cab89&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_ trkparms=65%3A1|66%3A2|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1|2 93%3A1|294%3A50

I have two of these and many more Sheffield labs, but the track of America from West Side Story gets me every time. The trombone is killer.

6-8-09 my turntable arrived today. The Trombone is track 4 "Camarillo"

[Geissler]

Originally Posted by Robertomano

9. Oh and I read that they work best with an amp, but I've been looking and they cost more than the headphones! Plugged into a MacBook (White) would they work well without one?

PLEASE don't buy a pair of k701s if you don't have a decent amp to drive them. You won't be able to tell any difference from a pair of cans that are half the price. Try the beyerdynamic dt770 or dt150 if you're looking for a decent closed headphone.