AKG K 701 Ultra Reference Class Stereo Headphone Level 1

I've been listening to my Grado Prestige Series SR325is Headphones for most of the year and have no complaints, other than the initial comfort factor. But I really wanted another mid-to-high end set to keep from moving the Grados from one room to another (I know, lazy, huh?). I almost went with the Sennheiser HD 650 Headphones , but I've already got a smaller pair of Sennheiser HD 238 Open Aire Stereo Headphones Optimized for iPod/iPhone/MP3/and Music Players and wanted to try the K701s because of the excellent reviews. On first listen, I wasn't impressed. The music didn't seem to have any depth to it, like it was all coming to you on a flat plane, if that makes any sense at all. I knew these headphones need some break-in time, so I kept listening. Mainly I plugged them into my home theater and played some Dead Space 2 on the PS3. Slowly but surely, they turned around, and now they're my go-to headphones (I still love you Grado, but you're going into a drawer for a little while). The detail and clarity is spectacular; the bass is just right (I don't find it at all lacking as some others have noted); comfort level is fantastic. My only complaint: I really liked the thick cord on the Grados and wish the cord on the AKGs felt as sturdy. That's more of a comparison than a complaint, though. As far as amplification goes, I don't know how these sound without it. I've only used them on a newer Pioneer 1120-K (late 2010) receiver and, in my bedroom, a Peachtree Audio Decco2, which is both a headphone amplifier and DAC in one (and a wonderful piece of equipment, I might add). I stream audio from MOG (supposedly 320 kpps, the highest rate available to my knowledge) to either an Apple TV MC572LL/A (NEWEST VERSION) or Apple Airport Express MB321LL/A [NEWEST VERSION ] and then into, respectively, the Pioneer receiver or the Decco2. Both have DACs, so I feel like I'm getting a good source going into a good output, and that truly makes these headphones shine. A quick word on DACs: I purchased a small portable DAC earlier this year and returned it. I could tell no difference in the sound. But the DAC in the Decco2 really fills the music out and makes it sound so rich and detailed. If you're going to invest good money into headphones, please consider the source going into them. I suspect if you simply plugged these headphones into your iPod with no amplification or conversion to analog, you might wonder why you spent so much money. But with the right equipment, you'll fall in love with your music all over again. And one last thing! If you're playing video games using a home theater system, i.e. you have a console hooked up to a receiver and surround sound speakers, these headphones are truly fantastic for gaming. I've mainly been playing Dead Space 2, and the detail and directional effects are amazing. I can't imagine any of the Ear Force or Astro headphones besting these AKGs. UPDATE JULY 2012: I've been back and forth between these cans and my Grados for the past few months, with most of my listening through Grado. But I m sitting here now listening to Scissor Sister's new album on my AKGs, and I often forget how great these sound, so detailed and full and lush. They're more impressive now than when I first purchased them. Highly recommended. If I had to chose between the AKG and the Grado 325, I'd probably still go with Grado, just because the build is so sturdy and they're Made in America. But there is nothing wrong with the AKG at all. Excellent stuff all around!

These headphones are nothing short of incredible. I'd definitely recommend pairing with a DAC/amp to get the best quality and balance but these still sound great being driven by a Macbook audio port. Before buying, I saw some complaints about these being light in the bass range. Although it's not artificially compensated (like many Beats products, for example), these still deliver an appropriate and balanced amount of bass for the song. In terms of mids and highs, these are just as terrific here. When it comes to comfort, these are incredibly lightweight and breathable, although I wish they used more metal instead of plastic (see below). Ear cups are soft but firm enough to stay in place. Now that I talked about the good, I'm going to mention a couple less amazing points. Firstly, I wish these weren't made with as much plastic. For this price point, I'd like to see better materials. Still, this doesn't affect the audio quality. Another point I'd like to mention is how our music culture has become so accustomed to artificially bass-heavy music and how volume and bass response have become the main selling points of many mainstream audio products. These K701s sound natural....like the artist is giving me a personal concert in my own home. Switching back to other products such as Beats, AirPods, etc. after using these just further exposes the flaws in mainstream products. Although this isn't some life-changing cause, it's important to note that you likely won't enjoy cheaper headphones as much as you did before.

Love these headphones. They are some of the best I've heard. The thing is, everyone's ears are different - and so are the characteristics of music styles, the WAY albums are recorded, how instruments react to a recording and the speakers presenting the sound... So with that said, these are fantastic headphones, especially if you're really in to "fast response" (tighter sound, I guess you could say), bright and well-balanced audio from the mids and crystal-clear highs. I didn't know AKG was so good... they seem to be regarded as the red-headed stepchild to Sennheiser, Beyerdynamics and Audio-Technica. Those guys get the attention while AKG kind of just hangs off in the corner, being recognized but not discussed much. That's too bad, because they deserve some attention. I know I was turned off by the brand because their most well-known model is sponsored by Quincy Jones. I don't have anything against the guy personally, but as most audiophiles can attest, when a celebrity "sponsors" headphones then it usually means quality is not the main priority. Since the Q702s are essentially the same headphones but with some upgrades, I must say it's the FIRST time I recall listening to sponsored cans that deserve to be considered reference class. Gaming - directionality is another extremely strong plus with these cans. Tag that boon along with the average-but-not-so-punchy amount of bass, they handle extremely well for games. I love them. I mean they are seriously some of the best headphones I've ever heard for gaming. BIG plus! The cons: For some tracks - for example, when listening to something that is very acoustic dominant, with strings and higher-register instruments dominating the soundfield - to me, they sound a little TOO bright. This is alleviated a LOT with a good amp, and I haven't used these with a tube amp yet, but it's possible that a decent tube amp would help "warm up and round out the tone". Then again, after I listen to a jazz number with a drumset that seemed to crash the cymbals a little too brightly for my tastes - causing some ear fatigue - the next track plays and I'm once again in sonic nirvana! I can't give five stars merely because the sound is a little "brighter" than I like. However, this is not a knock on the quality of the headphones themselves... they are some of the best I've tried. Comfort: 8/10 Gaming: 10/10 Bass: 6/10 Mids: 8.5/10 Highs: 9/10 (when it's not too harsh, which is on a few rare tracks) Response: 10/10 Value for price: 10/10 I would compare these to my HD 650s, the DT880s, and other headphones that cost twice as much as these; they are THAT good. If you don't have an amp to drive them harder, they still sound pretty darn good. HIGHLY recommended!

I discovered AKG headphones (hereafter 'cans') essentially at random. I saw a display with a set of very nice cans on display. they were expensive, but I'm picky about music, so I figured "why not give these a listen? I had been of the school that had as accepted wisdom that Sennheiser was really the pair for anyone who had any sort of reasonable budget, and in fact I had a pair getting old back at home hooked into my MIDI system. As a younger guy I'd tried all the big names of the '70s, and onward. I never considered myself an expert, but I certainly felt I could give a friend reasonable advice. I did a little comparison and was so startled by the lovely sound and true comfort of the set of K271s I was auditioning, I walked out with them right then and there. The other ones I passed along to a friend who owned no reasonable cans - just earbuds. THEN, I was passing the same shop, this time with some intent (as any audiophile will understand), and saw another pair of AKG cans on sale: these were K712s. These remain my gold standard cans - I have heard you can spend huge funds a get yourself an actual head-orchestra, but for those of us who do need to be reasonable, I can say nothing other than if you have not had the pleasure of the K271, save up and treat yourself. You'll be one seriously happy camper! (I hope they still make these!) Finally, to the K701s, which are resting VERY comfortably on my head as I write this. They arrived by post yesterday - a package was sitting nicely by my door. Firstly, if you want cans that punch your head with bass response (distortion, in my view), forget it. These are, how to put it? Very Gentlemanly or Lady-like? My first impression was of a gentle, cool and open appearance, judging by the colour alone. The earpieces are made of that superbly comfortable suede or suede-like material, and gently surround my entire ear. The openness of the cans is immediately, and pleasingly apparent. And how do they sound to me? The K701s cover all bases, and in my view, well. The high end is clean and clear as glass. No pinching, or brittleness at all. The midranges all sit well in place (I listen a lot to orchestral music, and this is an important consideration). When I listen to Bowie this is also important when it comes to his singing and saxophone work, as well as his often complex arrangements. I also had fun listening to some YES and Zeppelin, and the K701s came through really, really well. The bass response is probably the most interesting and surprising of all. At first I felt this was the weakness of these cans. However, I am a very big fan of the 'flat response', and although I have no graph to look at, audibly these cans perform at the bottom end with a clean, warm, commanding and altogether satisfying way. No, they are most certainly NOT the most impressive in this regard: the K712s are superior in every respect. NOW the big ask. Should you buy these? If you are listening to almost any other headphone that comes to mind, and can't stretch sensibly t the K712s, I can STRONGLY recommend the K701s without hesitation. Your ears may take a day or two to get accustomed to the glorious clear vistas these cans offer. They do a very fine job of staging an orchestra of a rock mix, and that matters. Most important of all for any pair of these devices: they are incredibly comfortable, and comfort cannot be emphasised enough for anyone who intends to listen for hours, if not all day, to something attached directly to your head! I have given these K712s 5 stars because they deserve them. I just can't whine my way around to removing a star because they are not my beloved K271s. Nope, 5 stars it is: brilliant and comfortable design, extreme comfort when worn, wonderful, wonderful sweet clarity of sound reproduction - have I sold them to you yet? Enjoy the K701s in good health!

Misschien omschrijven sommigen deze als "neutraal" maar ik hoor toch echt te weinig laag om er echt plezier te kunnen van hebben. Ja, hij is gedetailleerd, mooi gebouwd, prima draagcomfort. Maar mijn andere koptelefoons (Philips X2HR, Sony MDR-1AM2, Sennheiser HD599) klinken toch aangenamer. Zelfs mijn ondertussen ter ziele gegane AKG-242 klonk warmer. Spijtig.

Ich habe in den vergangenen Jahren viel zu wenig Musik gehört, weil meine Gattin meist gegen die von mir bevorzugten Lautstärkepegel bei Lautsprecherwiedergabe protestiert ;-) Dies soll sich nun ändern, und daher musste ein guter Kopfhörer für den Einsatz im Wohn- oder Schlafzimmer her. Der Kopfhörer soll über einen preisgünstigen Digital-Analog-Wandler (DAC) mit integriertem Kopfhörerverstärker (FX Audio DAC-X6) über ein USB-OTG-Kabel an Smartphone (Huawei P-Smart) oder Notebook bzw. über TOSLINK-Kabel an den Digitalausgang von CD-Player (DENON DCD-F101) oder Bluray-Player (Panasonic DMP-BDT500) angeschlossen werden. Damit werden weniger gute DAC-Chips in Smartphone/Notebook und gleichzeitig die in Smartphone und stationären Stereogeräten qualitativ und leistungsmäßig eher schlechten Kopfhörerverstärker umgangen. Wie sich zeigen sollte, war dieser Aspekt von großer Bedeutung für die erlebte Wiedergabequalität! Zu Testzwecken habe ich also fünf Modelle zu Preisen zwischen 120 und 190 Euro bei amazon bestellt, die ich nach stundenlanger Recherche ausgewählt hatte. Wichtig war mir, dass dabei auch unterschiedliche Konzepte berücksichtigt wurden: On-ear, Over-ear, offene und geschlossene Bauweise. Alle Modelle sollten für den beschriebenen Einsatzzweck jedoch kabelgebunden sein, um klangliche Nachteile durch Bluetooth-Übertragung auszuschließen und die Vorteile eines Kopfhörerverstärkers und eines externen DAC zu nutzen. Grundsätzlich bevorzuge ich eine analytische, neutrale Wiedergabe. Tiefbass mag ich und will ich auch, wenn vorhanden, unbedingt hören, aber nicht mit Verstärkung auf Kosten anderer Frequenzbereiche. Bestellt habe ich: Yamaha HPH-200 (119 Euro) Yamaha HPH-MT8 (189 Euro) AKG K701 (125 Euro) Panasonic RP-HD10 (150 Euro) Audio-Technica MSR7 (179 Euro) In dieser Reihenfolge habe ich die Modelle auch getestet. Ich beschreibe nachfolgend die Ergebnisse. Meine Bewertungskriterien waren: - Tiefbass - Höhen - Mitten - Bühne - Detailwiedergabe - Brillianz ("Schmelz" in Stimmen, bei Hi-Hats) - Dynamik - Ausgewogenheit des Klangbildes insgesamt - Tragekomfort - Design - Wertigkeit In jeder Kategorie konnten 10 Punkte erreicht werden, theoretisch also 110 Punkte. Die Preis-/Leistungseinstufung erfolgte außerhalb der genannten Bewertungskategorien. Welche Musik habe ich gehört? Zur Beurteilung der Brillianz: Den "Schmelz" der Stimme von David Sylvian im Stück "I Surrender" und die Textstelle "Flensburg und das BKA..." aus dem Track "Computerwelt" von Kraftwerk (das "s" in "Flensburg" hat ein raffiniertes Echo, welches je nach Kopfhörer unterschiedlich präzise dargestellt wird) Zur Beurteilung der Dynamik: "Creep" von Radiohead. Dabei müssen die Höhen auch bei hoher Lautstärke sauber wiedergegeben werden bei gleichzeitiger Bewahrung des rauhen "Rock-Charakters". Tiefbass: "9980" von Connect Ohm, "A Trip Into Deep Bass Music" von Syrup Sandwiches Detailreichtum: "Dead Bees On A Cake" von David Sylvian (diverse Tracks hieraus) Bühne: "Voyage" von Takashi Suzuki Ausgewogenheit: „Close enough for Jazz“ von Van Morrison. Obertöne des Klaviers, Stimme, Schlagzeug und Bass müssen in einem ausgewogenen Verhältnis zueinander stehen, es darf nicht dumpf, flach oder blechern klingen. 1) Yamaha HPH-200 (offen) Sehr gute Bühne, schöne Dynamik, ordentlicher Tiefbass (angesichts des Erscheinungsbildes geradezu erstaunlich), Mitten und Höhen sauber und klar, guter Detailreichtum, Design und Wertigkeit gut bis befriedigend, Komfort herausragend (bester im Test), Klangbild (subjektiv) ausgewogen und angenehm, Preis/Leistung gut bis sehr gut. 85 Punkte ergeben den 4. Platz. Stärke: Bühne, Schwäche: Brillianz 2) Yamaha HPH-MT8 (geschlossen) Etwas enge Bühne, wenig Dynamik, im Tiefbass zurückhaltend, Mitten neutral, Höhen sauber, aber in der Abstimmung zu stark betont, hervorragender Detailreichtum und gute Dynamik, Design und Wertigkeit sehr gut, Komfort mittelmäßig (meine Ohren schwitzten nach 5 Minuten), Klangbild (subjektiv) für meinen Geschmack deutlich zu hell bzw. höhenbetont, Preis/Leistung gut bis sehr gut. Stärken: Detailreichtum und Höhenwiedergabe, Schwächen: Komfort und Gesamtabstimmung. 82 Punkte, 5. Platz. 3) Panasonic RP-HD10 (geschlossen) Sehr gute Bühne (annähernd so gut wie beim offenen Yamaha HPH-200), tolle Dynamik, druckvoller Tiefbass bei gleichzeitig präzise dargestellten Mitten und Höhen, beeindruckender Detailreichtum, schöne Brillianz, Design und Wertigkeit hervorragend, Komfort sehr gut (leichtes Schwitzen der Ohren nach längerem Tragen), Klangbild (subjektiv) sehr analytisch bei schöner Dynamik, Preis/Leistung hervorragend. Stärken: Ausgewogenheit, Dynamik, Tiefbass. Schwäche: könnte noch komfortabler sein. Mit 91,5 Punkten muss er sich knapp hinter dem Sieger auf Platz 2 einreihen. 4) AKG K701 (offen) Mitreißend luftige und breite Bühne, gute Dynamik, schöner Tiefbass bei gleichzeitig präzise dargestellten Mitten und Höhen, Detailreichtum und Brillianz kaum besser vorstellbar, schönes Design für meinen Geschmack, Wertigkeit eher durchschnittlich, angenehmer Komfort , Klangbild extrem analytisch (bringt in altbekannten Stücken Details neu zur Geltung), Preis/Leistung überragend. Stärken: Bühne, Detailreichtum. Schwäche: benötigt zwingend einen Kopfhörerverstärker. 92 Punkte ergeben in meinem Vergleich knapp den Sieg. 5) Audio-Technica MSR7 (geschlossen) Sehr gute Bühne, ansprechende Dynamik, druckvoller Tiefbass bei gleichzeitig präzise dargestellten Mitten und Höhen, schöner Detailreichtum, angenehme Brillianz, Design und Wertigkeit überdurchschnittlich, Komfort sehr gut (leichtes Schwitzen der Ohren nach längerem Tragen), Klangbild ausgewogen bei guter Dynamik, Preis/Leistung sehr gut. Stärken: Ausgewogenheit, Wertigkeit. Schwäche: im Vergleich zum Panasonic in vielen Punkten minimal schwächer (Dynamik, Tiefbass, Detailtreue) bei sehr ähnlichem Klangbild. Mit 88 Punkten reicht es nur zu Platz 3. Fazit: Der AKG K701 ist ein Klangwunder für diesen Preis und hat mich begeistert. Das Einzige, was man ihm vorwerfen kann, ist die fehlende Dynamik, dies ist aber bauartbedingt. Tiefbass kann er, aber eben nicht mit dem Druck, den ein geschlossener Kopfhörer bieten kann. Der AKG seziert die Klänge wie ein Chirurg und zeigt schonungslos die Qualität einer Aufnahme. Die luftige, breite Bühne und die Brillianz sorgen für ein phänomenales Hörerlebnis. Unter 200 Euro wird man nichts Besseres finden, und auch ein höherer Preis erschiene mir für diese Darbietung nicht unangemessen. Um seine Qualitäten auszuspielen, benötigt dieser Kopfhörer – auch wenn sein Nennwiderstand mit 63 Ohm nicht besonders hoch ist - zwingend einen Kopfhörerverstärker; dieser muss jedoch nicht viel Geld kosten. Ich verwende, wie gesagt, den FX Audio DAC-X6. Ich wollte eigentlich einen guten Kopfhörer kaufen - nun habe ich jedoch zwei. Denn den Panasonic RP-HD10 konnte ich ebenfalls nicht zurückschicken :-) Er ist einfach zu gut und hat zu viel Spaß gemacht. Auch der Panasonic ist prinzipiell ein analytischer Kopfhörer, aber mit mehr Druck und Dynamik - er hat seine Stärken dort, wo der AKG K701 schwächelt. Harte, laute Rockmusik und Tiefbassorgien sind sein Metier, hier zeigt er sich bei aller Spielfreude gleichzeitig sehr präzise und ausgewogen. So kann ich jetzt je nach Stimmung und Musikrichtung immer den passenden Kopfhörer nutzen und Musik in der gewählten Lautstärke ohne Einspruch der Familie genießen!

Öcelikle şunu belirtmeliyim ki bu kulaklığı alırken amacınızın ne olduğunu iyi düşünün. Eğer amacınız benim gibi mastering aşamasında her detayı yakalamak ve ürettiğiniz müzik eserinin en ince ayrıntısına kadar dinleyip kulağa hoş gelen bir ürün çıkartmak ise doğru kulaklığı inceliyorsunuz demektir. Bu cihaz üretilen bir eserdeki detayları yakalamanızı ve en iyisini elde etmenizi sağlayacaktır. Ama yok ben sadece müzik dinlemek istiyorum, mastering aşamasıyla uğraşmıyorum diyorsanız o zaman ekipmanlarınız çok iyi değilse bu kulaklıktan istediğiniz ölçüde ses alamazsınız. Çünkü üretim amacı bu değil. Tek amacı mixing - mastering aşamasında tüm detayları size direkt vermektir. Bu işi oldukça güzel başarıyor. 62 Ohm empedansa sahip olduğu için bu kulaklığı sadece onun istediği değerleri verebilen cihazlarda dinleyebilirsiniz. Bu empedansı desteklemeyen cihazlara takarsanız ses oldukça düşük seviyede gelecektir. Bu kulaklıktan çok güçlü bas beklemeyin çünkü amacı bu da değildir. Baslar yerindedir ama abartılı değildir. Dışarıdaki sesleri de kesmez. Dışarıda ne varsa duyabilirsiniz. Sadece müzik dinlemek için pahalı bir kulaklık arıyorsanız bu kulaklık size göre olmayabilir. Tek görevi var, o da müziğin veya dinlediğiniz sesin içinde ne detay varsa hepsini mükemmel iletir. Örneğin bir MIDI klavyede müzik üretirken bu cihazı kullanıyorsanız tuşlara basarken çıkan sesleri de duyacaksınız. Bu kulaklık müzik üretmek değil, üretilen müziği düzenleme aşamasında kullanılacak bir cihazdır. Yani cihazı ne için aldığınızı biliyorsanız güzel, ama bilmiyorsanız beğenmeyebilirsiniz. Youtube'de bu kulaklığı yorumlayan arkadaşların da çok bilgi seviyesine sahip olmadıklarını gördüm. O yüzden Youtube yorumlarına bakarak bu cihazı değerlendirmeyin. Müzik üretimi yapan kişilerin bu kulaklığı kullanması durumunda müzik enstrumanını çalarken çıkan tıkırtılar v.b. gibi herşeyi duyacaksınız. Cihaz esas olarak Mixing ve Mastering aşaması için geliştirilmiştir. Tasarımı çok güzel. Teknik özellikleri de müthiş. Frekans aralığı oldukça geniş. Bu kulaklığı dinleyebilecek özellikte bir ses donanımınız da varsa mastering aşamasında çok uzun saatler hiç başınıza ağrılar girmeden mükemmel şekilde kullanabilirsiniz. 50 mm 'lik sürücüler çok hassas detayları kulağınıza iletir. Ben mastering işlemlerinde Sennheiser HD 280 PRO kullanıyordum ancak o kulaklık derin bas veriyor ve ne yaparsam yapayım hoparlörlerde tizleri güçlü veren çıktılar sunuyordu. Eski plakları remastering yaptığım için bu benim için çok önemliydi. İlk gün bu kulaklık ile bir mastering yaptım ve gördüm ki çıktı muhteşem. Bunda ne dinlediysem hoparlörde de aynı sesi aldım. AKG K702 ile aynı cihazdır. K702'nin kablosu çıkartılabilir ancak K701'de kablo sabittir. Ayrıca K701'de güzel bir masa standına kavuşacaksınız. Mükemmel bir kutu ile geliyor. Kargoda ambalajla futbol oynasalar bile içeriği düzgün kalacaktır. O derece sağlam bir ambalajı vardır. Arkasında Harman Kardon gibi bir firma olduğundan güvenle alabilirsiniz. Kulaklık yastıkları kumaştır. Kulağınızda ter yapmaz. Kulaklarınız nefes alır. Kısaca amacınıza uygun ise mükemmel bir üründür. Kesinlikle tavsiye ederim.

This product is more of a work of art than a piece of technology, AKG know how to build and present quality gear - every part of the packaging, aesthetic design and sound reproduction oozes quality. I've always been a 'studio monitors only' producer. After entering a relationship, moving into a two room flat (plus bathroom fyi) and having a bedroom serving as our place of rest and production studio I quickly came to the realisation that in order to allow my gf to get some sleep (thereby sustaining our relationship) I might have to change tact. As with all tech purchases the (seemingly endless) hunt was on to find a product that could fulfil my strict set of criteria - this time to find a comfortable pair of headphones that could give my HS80M studio monitors a run for their money. Challenge accepted. Unboxing the headphones is a special moment, kind-of a grand reveal, providing pictures would spoil the moment... so I won't. If you don't run in the headphones then the sound will be pretty flat. I left them on with white noise playing through them for about a week and resisted the urge to try out the sound until the end of that week. The first time I tried them on it was something quite amazing. I could hear a level of detail and clarity in music I'd never heard before. I ended up binge listening to songs I've heard many times before but with a completely near lease of context and articulation. For that alone (listening, not necessarily making music) I'd buy these - the experience is incredible. The same is true though for production, examining sounds and how they sit in the mix and stereo space with the 701s is an enlightening experience. The cable is very long (still haven't gotten to the point where I've forgotten I have them on, walked away, and yanked the audio interface off the desk) and the sound isn't confrontational or fatiguing, even after hours of use. That coupled with the comfort of the leather strap means you don't have to tear yourself away from these headphones for hours at a time. As open back headphones they're quite noisy to people nearby - being open back however is essential in producing sound at this quality. Just as studio monitors would suffer in a completely closed environment, these are no different. All in all I love these headphones and don't have a bad word to say about them, especially at this price point. Please hit 'yes' below if you found my review helpful :)