Finally Ordering AKG K-701's

[Yikes]

Well I finally have a little spare cash, so I have at long last ordered a set of K-701?s. I had one of the first sets on loan from AKG last fall (To take to the NY meet), and I fell in love with them.

I think that they are the bestest headphones made.

Soon I?ll think about re-cabling them. I wonder what wire I should use?

Now all I have to do is wait until they get here.

[Iron_Dreamer]

Soon I?ll think about re-cabling them. I wonder what wire I should use?

I hear they go very nicely with Virtual Dynamics wire, not to mention what having four 10-guage wires strapped to your head does for those neck muscles over time

[aerius]

I suggest the Zen Cable recable, "what is the sound of no cables?"

[KenW]

Actually, I've also been toying with the idea of reacquiring the 701's. Torn between these and the HD600. Can't really pin down which responds to balancing best. Then there's the little decision about who'd be doing the recable.

[tkam]

I didn't think the 701s improved that much when I used them balanced, there was an improvement sure but it was not that drastic. Also I know you mentioned the 600s but the 650s are better balanced, even those that prefer the 600 single-ended prefer the 650 balanced for the most part

[aerius]

Going by what I heard at the Hamilton meet the Senns definitely respond better to balancing, and between the 600 & 650 I prefered the 650. However I've heard a bunch of 650's now and every single one of them has sounded different to varying degrees while the 4 or so pairs of 600's have been pretty much identical. Puzzles the hell out of me.

[KenW]

Well, the Senns have already gotten a new cable so my 650's are ready to go. Guess I can save some $$ and time with the 701 and 600 after all. The biggest decision and one that I've struggled with for several weeks now is about balancing the PS1. I'd love to hear them balanced but I hate the thought of messing with an out of production headphone like that. One day I'm ready to do it and then I get cold feet. Plus, I'm still torn over who to use for the recable.

So, outside of the 650s, which cans respond most favorably to balancing? Not to thread crap but....

[KenW]

A

that i would suggest having a full recable instead of a retermination. it would be reversible.

Absolutely but something keeps nagging at me not to do it. Suggestions on who to use for the job?

[JBLoudG20]

A

Absolutely but something keeps nagging at me not to do it. Suggestions on who to use for the job?

GE?

[grawk]

Anyone but GE, he's too busy with his job

[Dusty Chalk]

So, outside of the 650s, which cans respond most favorably to balancing?

?

[tiberian]

headroom and moon audio. or maybe you can ask yikes...

[thrice]

I found that the HD600 responded better to balanced operation as well. The K701 while I good headphone, just doesn't quite scale up to a balanced rig.

[KenW]

LOL...you guys kill me!! I'd sent GE a couple of PM's about doing some balanced IC's for me but he never responded. Guess he was too busy. Headroom and Moon are definitely worth a look see though. Now to just get past the paranoia of actually doing it to those cans.

[grawk]

Alex makes great cables, tho I don't think he recables headphones.

[philodox]

The K340's respond very well to balanced operation...

[Yikes]

I found out that the 701?s are currently on backorder, so it?s going to be at least a couple of weeks before they ship to me . I was hoping that I could break them in, and re-cable them in time for the early November NY meet. It looks like that will be cutting it a little tight.

[philodox]

I'm confused... I thought you already had a pair which were recabled with super expensive siltech wire. Was that the review pair? Did they thank you for the upgrade?

[Yikes]

AKG loaned me a set last fall. They were in such short supply that they made me return them.

I have a re-cabled set of Sony MDR SA5000?s.

I feel that stock AKG K701?s beat stock 5000?s. My 5000?s are much better than stock, so I am very curious to see how the 701?s do against my 5000?s. Then I?ll re-cable the 701?s to really push the envelope.

[philodox]

Oh, its the SA5000's that you recabled... my bad.

[DigiPete]

AKG loaned me a set last fall. They were in such short supply that they made me return them.

I have a re-cabled set of Sony MDR SA5000?s.

I feel that stock AKG K701?s beat stock 5000?s. My 5000?s are much better than stock, so I am very curious to see how the 701?s do against my 5000?s. Then I?ll re-cable the 701?s to really push the envelope.

I found that recabling my K701s with mogami quad really got rid of alot of the roll off in the high frequencies.

So if you like the treble roll off of the stock K701s, beware

It is a nice upgrade and brought the sound signature closer to what I like (more neutral and transparent).

Pete