Headphones
AKG K 701 White
European leaders in professional audio deliver the AKG K701, a top-of-the-line full-size headphone with astonishing clarity, 'up-front' detail resolution and true competence across the musical 
spectrum. The K701 are nowhere near their acoustic potential out of the box; patience and a long burn-in period gets rewarded with pristine accuracy and an expansive, spacious soundstage image that directly competes with $1,000 cans. Highly recommended world-class audiophile sound at a WAY lower price than many headphones of this caliber.
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Product Features:
- Astonishing musical detail and resolution from close-tolerance aluminum voice coil design
- Lightweight and comfortable fit, durably well-built construction
- Replaceable earpads for extended product life
- Painstakingly engineered by excellent headphone fabricator
- Free AKG 2-year manufacturer's warranty
- Optional HeadRoom Cardas re-cabling for standard and balanced operation available.
- Designed and made in Austria
What's In The Box:
- 1/4" to 1/8" 'mini' plug adapter
- AKG owner's warranty insert
Applications:
AKG Acoustics in Austria has brought their considerable audio engineering skills into sharp focus on their most high-end dynamic headphone design and produced an astonishingly superb-sounding pair of cans in their flagship K701 model. Getting it absolutely right at this demanding level of reference-grade audio performance is tough and the K701 gets pretty darn near perfection -- especially impressive given the K701's nicely within-reach price versus other cans of this performance caliber. These headphones deliver a clean and punchy sound, articulate and completely clear over the full audio spectrum. Accurate musical detail lovers should appreciate the tightly focused bottom-end control of these headphones while classical, orchestral and acoustic music listeners will likewise love the fact that the dynamic control moves perfectly up the frequency range to distinctly articulate every finger pluck and rosin-on-gut string texture in the mix. About the only thing that we can possibly say negatively about these headphones is that those who like a very laid-back, mellow-sounding, or heavy deep bass presentation might want to look elsewhere since these are a very highly refined, analytical 'audiophile-oriented' headphones that deliver a deeply expansive soundstage image along with a textural detail and a liquid immediacy that demands your attention. And oh!...what a lovely musical demand it is!
We highly appreciate when a headphone manufacturer does a nice job evolving their products and in this case AKG has done more than just a nice job. These cans have a number of unique features that create a pretty dramatic improvement over previous AKG 'best-of-category' headphones. Their audio response is directly improved by a brand-new proprietary AKG Varimotion diaphragm that is designed to provide better pistonic motion and acoustic control. In addition, a revolutionary flat-wound voice coil design allows for greater concentrations of the magnetic field within the voice coil, thus driving the element diaphragm with more authority, which delivers a cleaner, ultra-articulate sound. Our HeadRoom experience with the K701 is that it requires a REALLY extensive chunk of burn-in / play-time to fully 'relax' sonically & sound its very best, so please assume a MINIMUM 300 hours of play-time before the full audio pleasure of these cans is completely realized. The new 'ergonomically-perfect' earcup ear pads are a soft velour-type material, very comfortable, and are designed to point the driver at the ear for a more correct listening angle. The high-end oxygen-free copper headphone cable is 'bi-wired', which we assume means the return channel for each driver remains separate until it reaches the common ground connection on the 1/4" plug. We think the K701's classic white color scheme is quite striking and visually effective. And if you don't particularly like the color, you'll still love how amazingly light and comfortable these headphones feel on the head with their well-designed, albeit slightly oversize ergonomics. An absolutely world-class A-1 audiophile headphone earns a hearty HeadRoom recommendation. GREAT job, AKG Austria!
Headphone Amplifier: For listeners wishing to use the AKG K701 with portable players like an iPod, iPad, mp3 player or computers, a dedicated headphone amp becomes a must for maximized audio performance due to the K701's low sensitivity, despite its fairly efficient 62 Ohm impedance. No harm using the K701 headphones sans amp, but it may likely sound a bit thin, dynamically flat or "choked off' direct from low-power portables. Our HeadRoom Total BitHead USB-DAC portable headphone amp ($159usd) will do the trick nicely. However, the much more accurate, robust and dynamically-quick HeadRoom Micro Amp or Desktop Amp/DAC are well-recommended for this superb reference headphone.
Specifications:
- Manufacturer Warranty: 2 Years
- Connector Type: 1/4
- Headphone Type: Full Size
- Weight: 235 g (8.3 oz.)
- Isolation: -10dB ~ -12dB
- Impedance @ 1kHz: 62 Ohms
- Detachable Cable: No
- Cord Length: 10 ft. (3 m)
- Cord Type: Straight Left-Side
- Coupler Size: Large
- Driver Type: Dynamic
- Acoustic Seal: Semi-Open
- Sensitivity: 105 dB SPL/V
Additional Resources:
Average Rating
Posted by ExCelciuS from Jakarta, ID on 2013-03-22
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Perfect Sound
Cons: Bumps on the headband is uncomfortable for long time listening session
Actually this was the headphone 4 years ago back in 2009 that stuck in my heart. Back in 2009, this headphone was introduced by my friend, and that is the first time I was WOW'ed BUT I do not know how I didn't buy this headphone at that time.
Later, I was on the journey with D2000 and Beyer DT 880 Pro 600 ohms, also I have tried Senn's HD 650, HD 800 and also Beyer T1, and those headphones was paired with high quality DAC like DA10, DACMINI and CONCERTO.
With all that combination, at last I ended with AKG K701(back to my first love) which I bought at Headroom, and I think this is my last journey on audiophile world because finally I have found my true audio soulmate, that is AKG K701. My journey is like a guy which got his true first love, but after that have another relationship with another "girls" (read: headphones), and at the end, this guy back to his first love and "married" (read: buy and not to be sold) it. I'm very happy with it. This headphone and its DAC + Amps will be with me for a long long time ...
ONE IN MIND for consideration, if you want its TRUE SOUND to sing, you MUST find the perfect and high quality amps + DAC to drive this headphone, once it is set, you are ready to enjoy the miraculously and heavenly sound of AKG K701. :)
So, Expect. And Discover. Perfection. (Must be paired with Hi Quality DAC + Amps)
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Posted by Audio Supremus from Hong Kong on 2012-07-25
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Superb life-like sound and great value.
Cons: Very hard to drive which means a very good headphone amplifier is mandatory to bring out its' best.
48 out of 50 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Posted by AKG4ever from saudi on 2012-04-13
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Qualities and Comfortable
Cons: Sound a little low
20 out of 26 people found this review unhelpful. Did you?
