AKG K-701

After all the fun of making your own music, producing a final mix can often seem a thankless task. Especially annoying is to fine tune everything to perfection, only to find it becomes a totally different piece of music as soon as played on any other sound system, like home audio, in the car, or worst of all on your phone!

We don't all have acoustically perfect rooms or speakers to mix with, and this was my solution - step up the budget a bit and see what I can do with a decent set of reference headphones. What a difference!

Basically mixing in these cans creates a soundscape that almost always sounds near identical, even on tiny laptop speakers, and definitely recognisable on anything better. No more lost instruments, fuzzy, boomy tracks caused by trying to get a great bass sound in inferior headphones etc.

Pros:
Great value for the price.
Very comfortable to wear for long periods.
No feeling like your ears are sealed in a plastic bag.
Strong cable attachment if you stand on the cable while moving around.
Fantastic results for mixing down complex tracks.

Cons:
They're white - doesn't stay white long in my environment.
The case they ship in is like an altar to bow down and worship in front of. Super sturdy, but made me feel I could have saved 20 bucks if they came in a normal box.

The AKG K-701 headphones are a notable addition to the world of high-fidelity audio, offering a compelling mix of design, comfort, and sound quality. As an avid audiophile, I've had the opportunity to explore a wide range of headphones, and the K-701s certainly have their merits.

Comfort:
AKG has prioritized comfort with the K-701. The self-adjusting headband ensures a comfortable fit on various head shapes, and the plush velour ear cushions offer a soft and breathable experience. Extended listening sessions are a breeze with these headphones, as they minimize discomfort or fatigue.

Sound Quality:
The AKG K-701 headphones excel in delivering a spacious and detailed soundstage. Their open-back design contributes significantly to the sense of immersion, making you feel like you're right in the midst of a live performance. The headphones exhibit excellent detail retrieval, with every musical nuance and instrument rendered with clarity. The midrange reproduction is particularly noteworthy, showcasing vocals and acoustic instruments with warmth and precision. While the bass might not satisfy those seeking a pronounced low-end punch, it is tight and well-controlled, resulting in a balanced and natural sound signature. These headphones are particularly well-suited for genres like classical, jazz, and acoustic music.

Amplification:
It's essential to mention that the AKG K-701s have a relatively high impedance, and they truly shine when paired with a dedicated headphone amplifier. With proper amplification, these headphones reveal intricate musical details that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Isolation:
One limitation of the K-701s is their open-back design, which means they provide little to no isolation from external noise. Consequently, they are most enjoyable in quiet listening environments, which can be a drawback for those looking to use them in noisier settings.

In summary, the AKG K-701 headphones are a testament to AKG's commitment to delivering high-quality audio experiences. They provide an immersive listening experience with their expansive soundstage and precise midrange performance. While their suitability in noisy environments is limited and their bass response might not satisfy everyone, these headphones offer a compelling option for discerning audiophiles who value clarity and detail in their music.

These headphones sound excellent when driven by a good amp and look quite stylish in a retro kind of way. They are only 62 ohm impedance so they need plenty of current. A decent solid state amp with low output impedance is ideal (I use the open source O2 from Epiphany Acoustics) - a tube amp with high output impedance could interact with the low impedance of these headphones and cause anomalies.

The only criticism I have concerns the headband as many have commented on before. The underside has eight hard bumps which start to dig into my bald head after a while and become uncomfortable. I corrected this by sticking some light foam over the central few bumps which contact the head and they are fine now. Comfort rating is 2 stars vanilla and 5 stars after my low tech mod. Non baldies probably won't notice anyway.

The sound signature is very different from my Sennheiser HD650 - the K701 is much "clearer" to me. They have a reputation for being bass shy but if properly driven (see above) there is plenty of deep bass when needed. Both headphones sound great, just very different. I like the K701 particularly with smooth jazz, acoustic guitars and vocals. They are also good for games as the transients have great "punch" for gunfire and explosions. Sonically the K701 is the same as the K702 and Q701 just different aesthetically and with a fixed cable.

Hope this helps Christopher