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AKG K 701 Ultra Reference Class Stereo Headphone Level 1
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Purchase options and add-ons
Brand | AKG |
Color | White |
Form Factor | Over Ear |
Connectivity Technology | Wired |
Special Feature | Full-Leather headband |
About this item
- Revolutionary flat-wire voice
- Extremely accurate and detailed sound with excellent transient response
- Built to last with premium components and unbreakable metal arches without compromising on comfort
- Revolutionary flat-wire voice coil provides higher sensitivity with improved impulse and treble response
Frequently bought together
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This Item AKG K 701 Ultra Reference Class Stereo Headphone Level 1 | Recommendations | dummy | dummy | dummy | dummy | |
Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | |
Price | -65% $162.99$162.99 List: $469.00 | $149.00$149.00 | $109.00$109.00 | -66% $145.00$145.00 List: $425.00 | $69.99$69.99 | -18% $69.56$69.56 List: $85.00 |
Delivery | Get it as soon as Monday, Apr 1 | Get it as soon as Monday, Apr 1 | Get it as soon as Monday, Apr 1 | Get it as soon as Monday, Apr 1 | Get it as soon as Monday, Apr 1 | Get it as soon as Monday, Apr 1 |
Customer Ratings | ||||||
Sound quality | 4.2 | 4.0 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.4 |
Quality of material | 4.0 | 4.4 | 4.0 | — | 4.4 | 4.7 |
Comfort | 4.6 | 5.0 | 4.4 | — | 4.4 | — |
Bass quality | — | 3.6 | — | 3.7 | 4.0 | 4.0 |
Noise cancellation | — | 3.4 | — | 2.1 | 2.4 | 3.2 |
Sold By | ClickJapan com | HIFIMAN | HIFIMAN | Montre Le Trajet Inc. | Bsd Wholesale | Amazing Dealzzz |
connectivity tech | Wired | Wired | Wired | Wired | Wired | Wired |
headphones form factor | Over Ear | Over Ear | — | Over Ear | Over Ear | Over Ear |
connector type | — | 6.35mm Jack, 3.5mm Jack | 6.35mm Jack | XLR | 3.5mm Jack, 1/4-inch | 3.5mm Jack |
headphones jack | 3.5 mm Jack | 3.5 mm Jack | 3.5 mm Jack | 3.5 mm Jack | 3.5 mm Jack | 3.5 mm;6.3 mm |
cable feature | Tangle Free | Detachable | Detachable | Detachable | Detachable | Detachable |
control type | Media Control | — | Media Control | — | Media Control | Call Control |
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Product information
Item Weight | 8.2 ounces |
---|---|
ASIN | B000EBBJ6Y |
Item model number | K701 |
Customer Reviews |
4.4 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #84,695 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics) #2,284 in Over-Ear Headphones |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Date First Available | December 19, 2005 |
Color Name | White |
Material Type | Leather |
Linux System Requirements | pc |
Mac System Requirements | pc |
Windows System Requirements | pc |
Unix System Requirements | pc |
Wattage | 40 watts |
Item Weight | 8.2 Ounces |
Units | 1.0 Count |
Number Of Items | 1 |
Cable Length | 9 Feet |
Warranty & Support
Feedback
Product Description
%3Cfont size%3D%222%22%3EWhether you prefer the holistic approach or like to listen analytically%2C the K 701 will turn perception into pure enjoyment%2EAKG is the first manufacturer in the world to use revolutionary flat%2Dwire technology in headphones%2C namely%2C the K 701%2E The result is a truly dramatic sound that places every musician at their correct location with pinpoint accuracy%2E This kind of agility%2C spaciousness%2C brilliant highs%2C and velvety%2C punchy bass is simply miraculous%2E These superlative open%2Dback dynamic headphones provide an outstandingly accurate sound and excellent imaging%2E Try the K 701 and find out what ingenious headphone engineering can do for you%2E%3C%2Ffont%3E
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Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the quality, comfort, and clarity of the sound and recording equipment. For example, they mention it's an incredibly high quality pair with realistic sound, the ear pads are soft but not too soft, and the detail and clarity is spectacular. That said, some disagree on sound quality, performance, and size.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers generally like the quality of the headphones. They say that they are an incredibly high quality pair with realistic sound. They also appreciate the apparent build quality, saying that they're terrific and built to last. Customers also mention that the high end is not as harsh, and the midrange is smooth and full. Overall, customers say that these are the best headphone experience they've ever had, and are worth the money.
"...Grado 325, I'd probably still go with Grado, just because the build is so sturdy and they're Made in America...." Read more
"...frequencies are well extended, with plenty of 'air' and detail, but no stridency. The midrange is smooth and full...." Read more
"...me the bass definition that the 701s lack, this IS the best headphone experience I've ever had...." Read more
"...clear luscious and fluid sounding midrange, it seems to work well for female voice and recovers the detail and texture in the singer's voice...." Read more
Customers like the comfort of the sound and recording equipment. They mention that the ear pads are soft but not too soft, so they keep their shape.
"...(I don't find it at all lacking as some others have noted); comfort level is fantastic...." Read more
"...They are super light and the ear pads are soft but not too soft, so they keep their shape and no plastic rests near your ears...." Read more
"...Ear cups are soft but firm enough to stay in place...." Read more
"...slide off my head at any angle other than straight up, but they are comfortable...." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the clarity of the sound and recording equipment. They mention that the detail and clarity is spectacular, with absolutely stunning spacial clarity. They also say that the midrange is clear, luscious, and fluid sounding, with plenty of air and detail. Overall, customers are happy with the quality and performance of the product.
"...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...." Read more
"...High frequencies are well extended, with plenty of 'air' and detail, but no stridency. The midrange is smooth and full...." Read more
"...This is the headphone's primary strength, clear luscious and fluid sounding midrange, it seems to work well for female voice and recovers the detail..." Read more
"...(598's are closed back in fairness to them) and to my ear, provide more detail in clarity with the midrange and highs as well as better separation...." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the appearance of the headphones. They mention that it has great aesthetics, is intelligently designed, and has a very natural top-end sparkle. They also appreciate the refined electrostatic design and the lush, seductive midrange. Customers also love the open back design with the ear cups being cloth is neat.
"...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...." Read more
"...The Koss offer a seductive midrange that is particularly effective with the presentation of vocal music...." Read more
"Great headphones. Love the open back design with the ear cups being cloth is neat!" Read more
"...The speakers are amazing and the design over all is incredibly appealing...." Read more
Customers like the mixing capabilities of the headphones. They say they're ideal for mixing, reference mixing, and mixing with them is pure pleasure. They're good for long mixing sessions and are excellent for working on audio mixes. Customers also mention that the headphones are open-ear and meant for mixdown and mastering. They also say that they have no coloration and just detail.
"...Good for long mixing sessions if you flatten them out, as they are the most comfortable pair of headphones I've ever used." Read more
"...These are ideal headphones for mixing - but you should try them out in person FIRST before buying to be sure they fit your personal preference and..." Read more
"...I'd recommend them highly for reference mixing." Read more
"...Mixing with them is pure pleasure. Best studio investment I've made in a long time. A++++" Read more
Customers are mixed about the sound quality of the headphones. Some mention that the sound is so good, accurate, and provides a much wider soundstage. They also say that any jazz and orchestra pieces sounds incredible, with amazing sound detail and sound image. However, others say that the quality is tinny, weak, and grating at first. They mention that they leak sound a lot and don't provide any isolation from outside.
"...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...." Read more
"...The midrange is smooth and full. The bass is mercifully free of the mid-bass bump so common in headphones, and is robust without being overwhelming..." Read more
"...and clear sound, with a very flat frequency response and a wide soundstage. The high frequencies are clear and the mids are well present...." Read more
"...This is the headphone's primary strength, clear luscious and fluid sounding midrange, it seems to work well for female voice and recovers the detail..." Read more
Customers are mixed about the performance of the sound and recording equipment. Some mention that they are working brilliantly, while others say that the right side completely stopped working just under a year of brand new purchase.
"...They are a bit big and slide off my head at any angle other than straight up, but they are comfortable...." Read more
"...I was not sure about this system at first, but it works very well !..." Read more
"...It is much more comfortable. The Sennheisers grab my head too tightly...." Read more
"...The headphone does a reasonably good job of handling sibilance, without emphasizing it unduly...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the size of the sound and recording equipment. Some mention that the ear cups are more than big enough to accompany the largest of heads, and are extremely comfortable. However, others say that they are heavy, not compact, and slide off their heads at any angle.
"...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...." Read more
"...The sound quality is nice, I will say. They are a bit big and slide off my head at any angle other than straight up, but they are comfortable...." Read more
"...The ear cups are large circumaurals, so comfort as far as my ears are concerned is not a problem...." Read more
"...You are isolate from rest of world and enjoy vast space, clean air and Ice cold spring water. but can't stay too long...." Read more
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Top reviews from the United States
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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!
For my bedroom system, I was looking for headphones that sounded as good. I'm happy to have found them in the AKG 701s!
Coupled with a decent headphone amp, the AKG 701s are exceptionally uncolored 'phones, with almost perfect tonal balance. High frequencies are well extended, with plenty of 'air' and detail, but no stridency. The midrange is smooth and full. The bass is mercifully free of the mid-bass bump so common in headphones, and is robust without being overwhelming (if you listen mostly to rock and value high-punch bass, these are NOT the cans for you).
I compared these 'phones to the slightly less expensive Audio Technica ATH-AD900. The ATs are very good (see recent review in Stereophile magazine), but absolutely not in the same league as the AKGs. They tend to be shrill and lacking in detail and delicacy.
I also compared the AKG 701s to the twice-to-three-times as expensive Koss ESP-950s, which are a very refined electrostatic design. The Koss offer a seductive midrange that is particularly effective with the presentation of vocal music. Unfortunately, they are quite rolled off at both frequency extremes, resulting in a rather veiled sound that rests immediacy and drama from the music.
As indicated above, the AKG 701s perform best if coupled to a good amp. I use a Little Dot Mark III tube headphone amp, driven by a Logitech Squeezebox Touch -- a system that I highly recommend. The Touch is wirelessly connected to a Vortexbox Appliance server, on which all my digitized music (including high def files) resides.
Are the AKGs perfect? No. As other reviewers have found, they are not very comfortable. They tend to compress the top of your head. But at this price and with this level of performance, perhaps a little discomfort can be overlooked.
Top reviews from other countries
Construcción: Materiales baratos. Plástico por todos lados. En pocas palabras se ven baratos. Se sienten un tanto frágiles de las copas. La banda está ok. Al usarlos se escucha un poco el rose de los pads. Sin embargo, pese a todo, se ven bien a secas.
Empaque: Excelente y trae una base (barata de plástico). Dan el gatazo.
Comodidad: Más que excelente. Largas sesiones de escucha sin problema. La presión sobre la mandíbula es ligera, agradable. Son muy ligeros.
Sonido: Uff... La pregunta del millón. Sin ser para todos puedo comentar que, si quieren comenzar a escuchar música de forma más detallada y clavándose en la calidad de los codecs, ESTOS SON. De mi propia colección mi top de abiertos son los Zeus HD, Emotiva GR1, Sundara y estos... No son bass head, detallan todas las frecuencias de manera excelente, un soundstage más que bueno y una claridad soberbia. No son silbantes para mi gusto. Son una delicia para mis oídos.
No puedo más que recomendarlos desde la subjetividad. Hasta ahora no hay género con que los haya usado que no me gusten pero Jazz es mi favorito en estos.
Reviewed in Mexico on March 7, 2022
Construcción: Materiales baratos. Plástico por todos lados. En pocas palabras se ven baratos. Se sienten un tanto frágiles de las copas. La banda está ok. Al usarlos se escucha un poco el rose de los pads. Sin embargo, pese a todo, se ven bien a secas.
Empaque: Excelente y trae una base (barata de plástico). Dan el gatazo.
Comodidad: Más que excelente. Largas sesiones de escucha sin problema. La presión sobre la mandíbula es ligera, agradable. Son muy ligeros.
Sonido: Uff... La pregunta del millón. Sin ser para todos puedo comentar que, si quieren comenzar a escuchar música de forma más detallada y clavándose en la calidad de los codecs, ESTOS SON. De mi propia colección mi top de abiertos son los Zeus HD, Emotiva GR1, Sundara y estos... No son bass head, detallan todas las frecuencias de manera excelente, un soundstage más que bueno y una claridad soberbia. No son silbantes para mi gusto. Son una delicia para mis oídos.
No puedo más que recomendarlos desde la subjetividad. Hasta ahora no hay género con que los haya usado que no me gusten pero Jazz es mi favorito en estos.
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!
BUILD: These will definitely be talking points and I really like their retro look when sitting on their stands, I'd say they are "headphone art". The build quality seems decent enough although nothing out of the ordinary either, fairly solid with a nice comfortable fit and surprisingly light. The ear cups are very large and they do take a bit of getting used to. But like going from a Ford to a BMW, you know you've moved up a step or two but the BMW is still unfamiliar and it takes time to settle into it and enjoy it properly.
SOUND: These are quite different to my Grado SR60i's that I've enjoyed for many years and will continue to do so, I am very familiar with the Grados sound so I will try and give some comparisons with those as a point of reference.
Firstly the 701's are much less emphasised in the bass, in other words they are flatter in frequency response, when there is bass present they will show it but they are not designed to initially impress in the bass department, instead they are very accurate of the signal presented to them. I can say the same across the rest of the audio spectrum. At first this makes them sound a little strange because the Grados clearly have more bias towards the lower end, but the lower end is more "muddy" on the Grados, I supposed you would call it added warmth. This added warmth works well on stuff like Spottify / TV and other such devices. It also helps drown out harshness on poor recordings etc. However, you can easily add some equalisation to these at the low end if you desire more "artificial warmth"
Having said all that, I believe the 701's are a headphone that just gives you what is there and some may find that strange, I would say that giving yourself time to adjust to this and also listening to some well recorded Jazz, classical, acoustic will show just how good these head phones can be, they are more open, cleaner and dynamic than the Grados on well recorded music of any genre. But there is still a place for the Grados and that is on ipods, mobile phones and some pop / rock that needs added colouration to make it palatable!
One thing I would like to stress, there is a lot of nonsense in Hi-Fi and no two individuals will hear things the same, I recently bought an Asus Xonar One Muses Edition Pre/Dac and I can honestly say that comparing the headphone amp on that with my PCI Asus DG sound card at the same volume level, I could not honestly tell any difference in sound quality when running the 701's. People will argue with me but I'm afraid it's true, as much as I didn't want it to be! Price doesn't always equate to performance in Hi-Fi, beware the marketing hype! There are very few "bad" out there these days, everything is adequate, it's nothing like the difference in spending £1000 on a turntable compared with spending £50 because a turntable is all about precision engineering and you do hear big differences. But headphones? not! They are all pretty decent above the £70 mark, we are talking about a diaphragm housed in a case that's it! They are simply different and a matter of personal taste, I will be using the 701's for critical listening to well recorded music and keep the Grados for general use, films and the like.
Anyway, I can guarantee that using a properly installed Asus DG soundcard with the gain set to +64 in the impedance in the Audio centre software, plus a pair of these you will have made a significant improvement in your PC sound which will be over 90% of what you can achieve by spending £1000's more so don't bother!
Asus DG is only £23 on Amazon at moment but make sure you install the drivers carefully and set up the supplied Audio Centre Correctly, this card also sounds great with the Grados by the way.
I asked AKG for their opinion about the concept of "running in" because according to many reviews, these need 300hrs use before sounding right, here is their reply...
"I think you are referring to the "burning-in time" of the headphones, as it is regarded on the Internet and other media. However, I would say that this is just folk law. The headphones are tested and set to perform at their peak level straight out of the box"
Make of it as you please.
Good listening!
Edit 03/03/2016: Having now used these for a good few months, i have decided they are not for me and i'm back on My Grado Sr60i's. The reason is that I find the flat response of the AKG's a bit boring, I also started to find the massive ear pads a bit uncomfortable and I found the sound to be a little detached or "distant" from my ears and having to increase the volume to try and get me excited. Having said all that, my son likes them (he's 19 and does a lot of music mixing). For him the clarity is what he needs, but for me, they just don't exite me and don't have that warmth and fullness of the Grado's. Good phones no doubt but just not for me!
Ich besitze seit einigen Jahren den 'kleinen' K 601 und bin sehr zufrieden mit diesem Hörer. Vor allem die sehr natürliche und weitgehend unverfärbte Wiedergabe hat mich schon immer überzeugt. Im Gegensatz zu meinem Beyerdynamic DT 990, der vor allem einen deutlich zu dicken Bass und etwas zu vorlaute Höhen generiert, bewegt man sich mit dem AKG sehr nahe an der musikalischen Wahrheit. Das ist am Anfang zwar wenig spektakulär, auf die Dauer merkt man aber, dass diese Natürlichkeit musikalisch richtig ist. Und vor allem erlaubt sie stundenlanges ermüdungsfreies Hörvergnügen. Der nach meiner Ansicht gute Tragekomfort trägt seinen Anteil dazu bei. Die ausgezeichnete Verarbeitung und die Auswahl hochwertiger Materialien unterstreichen den Premiumanspruch dieses Hörers. Auch kann man lobend erwähnen, dass die Spitzenprodukte von AKG (noch) nicht in Fernost produziert werden. Die tragen noch das Prädikat 'made in Austria'.
Damit empfiehlt sich der K 601 vor allem für anspruchsvolle Klassik- und Jazzhörer, denen Natürlichkeit und eine gute Räumlichkeit vor allen anderen Kriterien wichtig ist. Diejenigen, die es gerne sehr laut und spritzig mit viel Wumms untenherum mögen, sollten dagegen eher zu anderen Hörern greifen. Z.B. zu einem Beyerdynamic DT 990, den ich - zugegebenermaßen - auch mal gerne aufsetze, wenn ich knackige Rockmusik höre.
Warum also jetzt der K 701? Zur Beantwortung dieser Frage muss ich weiter ausholen...Einen direkten Vergleich zwischen verschiedenen Spitzen Kopfhörern konnte ich vor Jahren in einem dieser bekannten Jupiter-Märkte machen. Der Sennheiser HD 650 fiel gleich von vorne herein durch, der DT 880 von Beyerdynamik war schon nicht schlecht und der K 601 war mit dem deutlich teureren K 701 klanglich praktisch gleich auf. Leider sind diese Vergleich nur von geringem Aussagewert. Denn der Anschluss der Hörer über eine Gemeinschaftsverstärkeranlage, wie es in den üblichen Elektrofachmärkten gemacht wird, lässt sich die Qualität eines hochwertigen Hörers nicht beurteilen! Es gibt keinen Pegelabgleich und die unterschiedlichen Ansprüche der einzelnen Hörer an die Leistungsfähigkeit der Kopfhörerendstufen findet keine Berücksichtigung.
In besagten Jupiter-Markt stand für die Kopfhörer sogar ein CD-Spieler (Denon) mit regelbarem Kopfhörerausgang bereit. Aber auch das kann man bestenfalls als suboptimal bezeichnen. Denn aktuelle Hifi-Geräte, so sie denn noch über einen KH-Anschluss verfügen, bieten dieses Feature allenfalls als Dreingabe. Auf hochwertige Qualität wird idR. kein großer Wert gelegt. So verwundert es kaum, dass der K 701 keinen hörbaren Vorsprung gegenüber dem K 601 verbuchen konnte. Beide klangen bis auf ganz kleine Nuancen praktisch gleich!
Bei mir zu Hause konnte ich den Hörer dann an drei verschiedenen Verstärkern betreiben. Eine Pro-Ject Headbox SE II, eine alte Stereovorstufe (Yamaha CX-630) und ein DAC mit integriertem Kopfhörerverstärker (ZeroDAC). Kurz gesagt, alle drei Geräte boten genügend Potential, um die klanglichen Unterschiede zwischen den beiden Hörern zu offenbaren. Unterschiede, die - je nach wiedergegebenem Musikmaterial - schon als nicht unerheblich durchgehen dürfen.
Insgesamt spielt der 701 klar mittiger. Der 601 klingt im direkten Vergleich fast schon etwas dünn. Das verleiht Stimmen und voluminösen Instrumenten beim 701 eine natürlichere Körperhaftigkeit. Auch die räumliche Abbildungsqualität gewinnt dadurch. In Sachen Bass legt der 701 auch einen Tick zu. Die Qualitäten sind hier aber sehr ähnlich. Bass gibt es nur, wenn er auch vorhanden ist, da wird nichts hinzugedichtet. Wenn der Bass aber kommt, dann ist er extrem schnell und klar konturiert. Und auch abgrundtief. Beide Hörer spielen auch bei sehr hohen Lautstärken sehr verzerrungsarm, ein guter Kopfhörerverstärker vorausgesetzt! Jeder Fehler in der Produktion bzw. der Aufnahmetechnik wird gnadenlos seziert. Das kann bei sehr schlecht produziertem Musikmaterial sogar bis zur Unerträglichkeit führen und zeitgeistige Popmucke im Loudness-Wahn produziert, klingt so was von übel... Aber das kann man dem Hörer ja nicht anlasten. Zum Schluss fällt auf, der 701 tönt bei gleicher Verstärkereinstellung etwas lauter als der 601. Was vermutlich auf seinen geringeren Anschlusswiderstand (62 Ohm, 601: 120 Ohm) zurückzuführen sein dürfte.
Alles in allem ein Kauf, der sich für den höchst anspruchsvollen Musikliebhaber lohnt. Ein Paar Stereolautsprecher, die vergleichbar gut aufspielen, sofern man denn überhaupt laut aufdrehen darf, kosten einen satten 4-stelligen Eurobetrag.
Die Lieferung und der Preis hier bei Amazon waren wie immer Spitze.
Vorteile:
+ klanglich absolute Spitze bei elektrodynamischen Hörern, positive Charakteristik:
neutral, weder Bass noch Höhen werden übertrieben und in der Mitte fehlt auch nichts
extrem feine Detailauflösung, man hört wirklich alles
bleibt auch bei hohen Pegeln locker und lässig ohne Kompressionseffekte
Sehr saubere und ausgeprägte räumliche Abbildung, trotzdem ohne Übertreibung.
Sehr natürlich körperhafte Wiedergabe von Stimmen und akustischen Instrumenten
+ insgesamt guter Tragekomfort
+ gute Verarbeitung. Hochwertige Materialien und sehr gute Passgenauigkeit aller Teile. Es klappert und knarzt praktisch nichts
+ Hochwertiger vergoldeter 3,5 mm Klinkenadapter mitgeliefert
+ Preis-/Leistungsverhältnis kaum zu übertreffen
Nachteile:
- braucht recht kräftige und vor allem hochwertige Kopfhörerendstufen, damit er seine Qualitäten voll entfalten kann. Ggf. ist ein separater Kopfhörerverstärker erforderlich, an mobilen Geräten praktisch nicht zu gebrauchen.
- empfindliche Naturen könnte das automatische Kopfband ein bisschen zu stark drücken
(lässt sich nicht manuell einstellen)
- insgesamt recht groß
- Kabel fest installiert
Unter dem Strich 10 Sterne....eigentlich.