reviews oh
500 hours...mine not even 50 hours..

Link to AKG Acoustics K701 Review - Part 1

Burn-in period: 500 hours
Source: Creative EMU0404 PCI (ASIO strip and main mix was set to 0DB)
Headamp: Little Dot II+ [Power tubes: 4P1S-J. Preamp tubes: Mullard M8161
Cables: PcWork's Canare ¼" EMU custom breakout, Midi Specialist's Belden ¼" to RCA
Software: Foobar2000 v0.9.4.2 on ASIO
Comparison cans: Well burned-in Grado SR80

Yay, finally 500 hours has passed, and it took me more than one month's time to hit this target. Anyway here's my review on the AKG Acoustics K701. Do note that I have not listened to my Grado SR80 since the burn-in was started. This is to ensure that the comparison is fair as the Grado's sound signature was printed deep inside my head.

Slowly unplug my K701 from my LD2+, dig up the SR80... blow off the spider webs and dusts from it... here comes the review.

I'll be using 5 tracks that I'm very familiar with.
1. The Eagles - [Hell freezes over #06] Hotel California
2. Dock Of The Bay (Lincoln Mayorga) - [The Absolute Sound 1997 #08] The Sheffield Pop Experience
3. 蔡琴 - [民歌蔡琴 #10] 恰似你的温柔
4. London Symphony Orchestra - Goossens - [Tchaikovsky: Manfred - Goosens- LSO #02] Manfed Symphony In B Minor, Op. 58 - Vivace Con Spirito
5. Arne Domnerus - [Jazz at the Pawnshop CD2 #04] How High the Moon

Oh man, first time I put on my SR80 I was a little shocked... wow, did my Grado shrink? All the sudden the donut pads are not as comfortable as they used to be.

1. The Eagles - [Hell freezes over #06] Hotel California
Initial 18-25sec was quite horrible on the SR80. I can actually hear as if the guitar strings are tangled, whereas the K701 manage to produce it accurately, every guitar stroke can be heard clear and distinctly. At the 32sec where the bass come in, no doubt the bass impact on the SR80 is stronger than the K701. The impact is strong, but it fades off a little faster than the AKG. Just visualize: It hits your eardrums just for a split second, and then it fades. The AKG's bass lasted longer, and it hits deep. As for the vocals, it's rather irritating on the SR80 when the singers pronounce the "Sh..." in words like "she", "show". As of Grado's sound signature, the vocals are presented forward which sounds just beside your ears. On the K701, you'll feel as if you're listening from a distance away from the performers.

2. Dock of the Bay (Lincoln Mayorga) - [The Absolute Sound 1997 #08] The Sheffield Pop Experience
I would say, this song is presented much livelier on the SR80. But when I pay more attention on the details, K701 still wins in soundstaging. The saxophone and the guitars are close to the center, and during the 1:23sec - 1:35sec interval, the saxophone is sounded rather harsh.

3. 蔡琴 - [民歌蔡琴 #10] 恰似你的温柔
This is one song that I enjoyed listening on both headphones. It sounded quite the same, but K701 has a little more details especially if you pay close attention on the guitar.

4. London Symphony Orchestra - Goossens - [Tchaikovsky: Manfred - Goosens- LSO #02] Manfed Symphony In B Minor, Op. 58 - Vivace Con Spirito
Weee~ this is what I call immersing classical listening. The K701 manage to present a hell more details than the SR80. Again, soundstage is well present on the K701. The imaging is excellent on the K701.

5. Arne Domnerus - [Jazz at the Pawnshop CD2 #04] How High the Moon
Now now, this track sounded better on the SR80, really. It's lively, and it has the jazzy feel in it. On the K701 it sounded a bit dead. And also, K701 is very detail, too detailed until the sound of forks and spoons hitting the plates, and the audience's voice created an annoyance to the entire jazzy environment.

Overall, I would say K701 still performs better than the Grado SR80. It's a lot more comfortable than the bowl pads on the Grado. If you ask me whether I'll get a K701 if I doesn't own one now, I would tell you: I'll think about it. The price difference of RM1000 is a lot, yet the sound it produces isn't really a worthwhile upgrade from the SR80. But please remember, the LD2+ isn't a good match with the K701, thus this review may be flawed in many ways.

This post has been edited by yrh0413: Mar 2 2007, 03:28 PM

always enjoy reading reviews...

nx week only will hav chance to listen to my k701(50 hours)...

Dont buy his SR80, it has spider cobwebs LOL!!!
And it's quite unfair compair with a phone with so much price difference la. Maybe you will love MSPro or RS1? Who knows...

And tell you one thing... 蔡琴 - [民歌蔡琴 #10] 恰似你的温柔 sounds similar with SR80 and K701 right? Okie, it sounds similar with MS2i and Orpheus...
Maybe I shouldnt use this track to test the "power of God"...

This post has been edited by walabies: Mar 2 2007, 10:16 PM

i think u should try MS2i......then

your review, make me make up decision in getting MS2i / MS1 already, instead of K701.. i can tolerance with the little inferior of SR80 rather than spend extra 1K.. i am not rich tough..
but anyway. i have to wait until i hear it.
hahaha who knows i am hell poisoned like how HP890 poison me? but i pray not to be,. later end up i get 4X K701.. pecah lubang my wallet..
siao...

Even your 4x HP890 also wont cost a K701 la. So obsessed with HP890?

don't play play. later i poison ur son with my HP890 and he keep annoying you with " DAD... i want that HP890"
hohohoho
HP890. even though it's not sound as lively / attractive at first listen. but if i listen it for long time i feel it's very comfortable and tahan lamak.. can listen for a long time. and hear quite a number of detail...
=)
ear drum is comfort i mean. unlike some headphone. if you blass it loud for longer time. ear sakit...
for my case of course.
=)
my ear frequency respond is match with HP890
hahaha
and it doesn't sound like the sound is very near me. that's what i want. somethings feel like a speaker. the sound that is too near to myself. make me feel uncomfortable.. and a bit afraid.
that's not enjoy lol..


This post has been edited by PcWork: Mar 2 2007, 10:30 PM

i afraid to say HP890 is much closer sound quality to AKG701 than SR80..haha

i wonder why no one read this paragraph? I hate to say that i bought my SR80 as it synergize with my LD2+ very well, but i don't think its a good match with my K701. That's why i'd made the decision to keep the AKG, and liquidize the Grado setup.

My new setup will be 0404 -> xyz headamp -> K701. Since K701 is neutral in its sound signature, i guess it will pair well with most amps, be it solid state or valve. Still in the process of sorting out what should be in the "xyz".

we did read dat part, i think same to the rest of us here.

Really hope the xyz headamp is not goin over a price of Akg701.

Like u mentioned, forking out Rm1000 for a wider soundstage(the most obvious characteristics) probably is not everyone willing to choose. I really hope i got the chance to stay wif AKG701 for a longer moment (Alone). So, i can really decide whether it is worth Rm1000 for another music nirvana or 'just-fine' SR60 grado. Ooops it should be RM1200 since i got SR60. haa..

AKG701 is still the most sexy design amongst all the major flagship brand.
Priority on AKG701, i am buying the design & the sound quality become 2nd concern. Seems like a show-off gadget. I could becoming one of the audiophile impostor by any single chance.

U guys mini KL gathering coming soon. I bet all of ur previous review goin to throw into deep sea. Waiting for a thoroughly positive & honest review~!.

(hopefully & praying for a lovely soulmate for Han's AKG701.)

It'll sure be well over RM1k for the new headamp
My main considerations include:
1. gonna be a valve amp still
2. must be using popular valves, maximizes the tube-rolling opportunity.

Currently in my consideration: Darkvoice 336i, Little Dot III+, Musical Fidelity X-Can V3... and a handful more.

i guess 701 have more potential if u upgrade your source too. personally i think d2 is far better than 0404.I personally dun like my ld3 with 701 in pop/classical pieces but they did create a more 3D/airy presentation in jazz/instrumental tunes like guitar trio..etc. Vocal also more mellow. Since my ld3 koyak, lack fun while listen vocal.

This post has been edited by airbag_grado: Mar 3 2007, 03:36 PM

check up AKG full range products prices at musician outlet showroom or visit www.musician.com.my

www.musician.com.my? server not found.

same happened to me.. btw, it's wrong to advertise here..

Just wonder is der any 2nd choice which closer to AKG701 and wif lower price?

Han, Darkvoice. Dunno how it looks like. But i know the price can buy u a decent set of mini home theather sound system.

i'm more on headphones, you come to my house before right? Do you think its possible for me to blast music in my room when there's 2 TVs outside?

u will graduate soon. U dun plan to rent a room outside? U can be more comfortable to live away from gf's parents.

Then u can plan to set-up mini theather room.. hee.

i still prefer headphones, honestly. I can play games with my headphones on my head, walk around with my headphones on my head, and the sound quality is there. Having a hifi set means i need to consider room acoustics, and i don't like to force myself to sit down on the sofa facing the speakers.

Moreover when i argue with my gf i can always put on my headphones to isolate her voice, but you cant do that with speakers.