AKGK 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!

I was able to snag these for 190USD which at the time of purchase is 60% off. At their normal pricing of ~460USD they directly compete with the Sennheiser 650s which were my previous go-to headphones. However, after owning these for about a week (letting them "burn in" so to speak), I have to say I somehow prefer the K 701s. It is a bit more of a bright sounding pair of cans than the 650s but the amount of space I hear with the 701s is just...I'm having a hard time fathoming how it's possible. I sincerely love the 650s and I do think they do low end better than the 701s...but with something like a SubPac on my chair giving me the bass definition that the 701s lack, this IS the best headphone experience I've ever had. And don't get me wrong, the low end of the 701s is not bad, it's just not very punchy. Like in EDM and heavy metal music with very low tuned guitars you can clearly hear very low notes quite clearly. It just seems to be lacking the punch of the low end which is not necessarily a deal breaker. Most headphones go too hard on the low end, it's just if that does matter to you, the 650s will be a better pick in my opinion.The biggest thing to take away from this though is this; even if I bought these at full price, I think I'd pick them over the 650s. The fact that I got these on sale for 60% is just...it has to be the greatest deal I've ever scored. The only thing I really wish these cans had was a removable headphone cable. Something tells me I will break these in the coming years and it will be a horrific experience.

I upgraded from my Audio-Technica ATH-M30 (cost about 60$ to 80$) to a pair of AKG K701 headphones ($550 at launch, about 200$ to 250$ now) and so far, I'm not disappointed. A word of caution however: They are known for a potential (but mostly fixable) defect (more about that at the end of this review).Overall sound quality: The K701's offer a well balanced and clear sound, with a very flat frequency response and a wide soundstage. The high frequencies are clear and the mids are well present. The basses are what you would expect from proper monitoring headphones: They are not "boosted" or colored at all. For some people, it might be an issue, especially if they are bass lovers. I would recommend to check out the bass mod on the Internet, it's just a matter of removing a piece of felt that is covering the bass port in each ear cups. This mod is reversible and makes the basses more "punchy", sort of like making the attack quicker on a ADSR envelope. My M30's sound kinda muffled when compared to the K701's, but they have more bass than the K701's.Build quality: Made of plastic, with some metalic parts (mostly the decorative parts). I would not recommend these headphones if you plan to travel or go outdoor with them. The plastic is quite thin and glossy. My M30's are build tougher than the K701's in comparison.Comfort: Clearly, the best headphones I ever had in term of comfort. 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. I should mention too: These headphones use an elastic mechanism that automatically adjust the headband to the proper setting. I was not sure about this system at first, but it works very well ! In comparison, my M30's would hurt my ears after an hour or so of use because the ear pads were too soft and thin.Now, the potential issue you might face with these headphones. AKG K701's are known for disconnected wire(s) in the ear cups. There are many reports about this issue over the Internet and a video on how to fix it. Basically, some solders are weak and tend to break, so you might lose the sound on one or both sides. Sometimes, wire might still make a contact when the ear cup is in a certain position and you will get sound, but you will lose it when moving the ear cup. This issue is usually fixable by taking apart the headphones and soldering the wire correctly. It's easy to do if you know how to follow instructions. Just be careful to not damage the little decorative grids, you should always turn counter-clockwise to remove them !It doesn't seem to be an recent issue, since you can find reports dating as far as 2011. Recent K701's are made in China, the AKG logo on the headband is now simply "AKG" (no more "three hearts" logo) and the box is different from the original I think (it as a full-size window at the front instead of no window).Overall, very satisfied by these headphones even with the (fixed) wire issue.

The sound is so airy and spacious. They are very comfortable and light weight as well and very well built. Yes, I did purchase them, and this is after 2 weeks of owning them. I have always enjoyed AKG headphones and these have only impressed me more.