(My Hi-Fi Trip Spoils!) AKG K701/Q701 - Headphone Highlight

[@bjrningehindenes6380]

Great video on the AKG Q701s! As a hobby-music producer, I've found these headphones to be incredibly balanced and flat, which is essential for accurate mixing. I previously tried the AKG K-812s, but they didn't quite meet my needs for mixing. Sold them off! One thing to note, though: there seems to be some variance in the sound from pair to pair. I tested another pair of Q701s and the sound was noticeably different from my own pair. I also had some issues with sibilance in the higher frequencies, but I found a great fix for this with the Rega EAR mk2 headphone amplifier. It smooths out those high frequencies beautifully and allows you to increase the volume without any distortion. Overall, I highly recommend the Q701s for anyone involved in music production - they've certainly improved my work! Just make sure to pair them with a good amp like the Rega EAR mk2 for the best performance. I tend to check out bass-response on songs like Copy of A - Nine inch nails.

[@MasterMarslander]

Very thorough notes. Thanks!

[@fedenovo1]

Imageing on this is surreal, and again reference, unless maybe for the Hd800, all else you can buy is “warmth” .

[@MasterMarslander]

Yup, incredible imaging. Very neutral.

[@kennethmccullough1342]

I have the black Q701 made in Austria and NEVER found them to be bright or sibilant at all. Detailed yes, sibilant no. What were you driving them with?

[@slytown]

I've owned the Quincy Jones version for awhile now. Agree they headband needs the standard flat design. Although, I think they went with the ribs to make them secure. Quincy was a famous producer and I think these were more appropriate for studio use, not home use. In studios, singers or drummers may wear these and move their head around a lot. A singer with a lot of hair would benefit from the ribs. People that want the Quincy version can buy aftermarket or 701/702 headbands to make them more comfortable.

[@crazyredwood1488]

This is a really fun follow-up to your "hold on to your wallet" video. Very cool to compare between the old and the new.

[@MrJabinho]

Keep up the good work ! I hope you get much more followers and views !

[@MasterMarslander]

Thank you, I appreciate that!

[@fedenovo1]

This are the reference for all.

[@wormyR6onYt]

Hi my moms dad had a pair of these and we found them in our attic and we wanted to know what they where so thanks for making this video

[@MasterMarslander]

What a fun find! Happy I could help.

[@chungang7037]

I wonder if some of the people who developed that Q701 were those that later became Austrian Audio, because they way you describe the sound signature is very much what my Austrian Audio x65 sounds like, and as far as I know the x55 and others are very similar. The x65 has insane detail at the 400USD price range, which I guess makes sense as a mixing headphone; to buy them I had to order through a music gear shop, no audiophile shops in my country carry them. I suspect that was a branding choice.

[@MasterMarslander]

Oh! Yeah, I wonder.

[@mikesmith1290]

I love my q701’s!!

[@anthonysisneros3651]

I have the Austrian black version of the Q701 and I do enjoy their spacious soundstage but those supposed comfort bumps on the headband are really torture bumps to me. They should have left the headband flat.

[@MasterMarslander]

Yeah, it's a shame. Shows you how simple can often be better.

[@balllovewow]

I already have k7xx, Now I want new openback that have larger soundstage or atleast not less than k7xx FYI.. I love "Neutral with good Timbre" or a bit lean to warm side is acceptable not a fan of bright-sharp-cold things. Could you advise me some? Thank u.

[@MasterMarslander]

Well, if you want huge soundstage and natural timbre, the HD800S (or HD8XX is you want more bass performance) is going to be the cream of the crop, but if that is too outside your budget, maybe look at the Theiaudio Ghosts.

[@balllovewow]

@@MasterMarslander Have u ever try Edition XS? Im curious about how good timbre it is and how wide it sound. btw thank for ur helpful advise :)

[@MasterMarslander]

@balllovewow I haven't had a chance to try the edition XS yet. I've heard very good thing about it.

[@donvittoriosierra]

The Q sounds slightly different vs the k702. The K702 is the detachable cable pro version of the k701 which is also ever so slightly different sounding.

[@MasterMarslander]

The K7XX is supposedly specifically modeled after the K702. If the K702 shares a similar signature to the K701, then I guess Drop really changed the signatures a ton with the K7XX?

[@donvittoriosierra]

@@MasterMarslander The thick memory foam in the pads change the sound on the 702 anniversary model which I think is what the k7xx was like

[@MasterMarslander]

@@donvittoriosierra how do the K702 handle tubes?

[@donvittoriosierra]

@@MasterMarslander The impedance is not high enough on them to match very well with otl tube amps but they are nice with a hybrid like a vali 2 or something.

[@donvittoriosierra]

I cant even remember what I amped my old q702 with. It's been a while.

[@raktar1]

how should you mix Bass when you cant hear it???

[@techroom6701]

Try this AKG Kxxx Mode: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gpSxmaFunKtkhLM

[@paulwoaert]

Doing a headphones demonstration to check their comfort while keeping a cap on the head by putting the helmet over it, it makes no sense in my opinion.

[@MasterMarslander]

The hat helps, so it's only worse without it. And you have to remember that I test headphones for at least a week leading up to the review, so I'm taking into account how the comfort performed during that entire week, not just when I'm on camera. I hope that makes sense.

[@paulwoaert]

Thank you for these clarifications (which were necessary). However, I am surprised because many specialists (sonicators, technical directors of studio for artists, etc.) say the opposite: in other words, they testify without hesitation that AKG K702 and 701 are extremely comfortable, so much so that we forget that we have them on our heads.@@MasterMarslander

[@MasterMarslander]

@@paulwoaert I suppose all I can say is comfort is subjective. My head shape and sensitivity is likely different from those other folks. If you're interesting in the headphone, I suggest trying to find one that you can try yourself. You might not find it as uncomfortable as I do.

[@beepover]

Sold my Q701 for cheap. Why? Treble is grainy and fit was terrible! Build quality is suspect. It sucks. Don't miss it at all.

[@MasterMarslander]

What do you listen to now?

[@beepover]

@@MasterMarslander Headphones - HD600, HD650. IEMS to name a few - Thieaudio OG Monarch, OG Clairvoyance, OG Oracle, Tripowin Mele, TFZ Live 3, Fiio FH3. A Well rated $50 dollar chifi IEM will give both my HD600 series a run (soundwise) for the money. The only thing the Q701 has going for it is airness. Pretty much in the Chifi community any well recommended Chifi IEM will pummell the Q701.

[@MasterMarslander]

@beepover good aray of gear you got there. I got a few more IEMs making their way over. Cifi for sure has the big brands scared, they've been killing it in the audio sphere last few years.