AKG K701 Review
Open-Back Reference Stereo Headphones
Introduction
In this article, we delve into a detailed analysis of 65,837 user reviews from various languages worldwide to examine the AKG K701. This analysis is performed by the RR artificial intelligence and updated daily with newly submitted reviews. The RR AI utilizes a complex algorithm to first scrutinize user reviews for credibility, filtering out unreliable ones. It then proceeds to dissect and evaluate the valuable insights within these reviews, providing users with ratings regarding the features of this product. Based on these assessments, users can make informed decisions about whether this product is suitable for them or not.
Ratings Based on Features
These results are a summary of user reviews of the AKG K701. For example, 89% of 35,707 users who have commented on the Sound quality of the AKG K701 have given positive feedback.
Highlighted Customer Reviews
Showing 1 to 20 of 36 Reviews
A true-sound, use-it-all-day headphone
AKG K701 Open-Back Reference Stereo Headphones
Reviewed by Audiopium on B&H Photo Video
As a composer, recording artist and 20-year veteran of big recording studios, I had been looking for a reliable headphone to use during the mixing and mastering process in my new home studio (I have great reference speakers, but I like to mix at night, and this helps keep peace in the neighborhood). Yeah, I know and I've read in every magazine and online source that you can't mix with headphones. WRONG. The K 701s provide superbly reliable reproduction of instrumental music during tracking and mixing (bleed during tracking can, of course, be an issue with the 701s...if your mic is close to your headphones during recording, you need a closed-back headphone...I use my Sennheiser HD 280 Pro headphones for those kind of tracking applications). But mixing and mastering is where the 701s are worth more than twice the price. Finally...reliably true sound (no phony extra bass, etc.), no ear fatigue (even after a 6-hour mixing session), and the price, especially from B&H, is on the money. I buy all kinds of recording gear from MIDI controllers to outboard effects processors, etc. Nothing I've ever purchased has made me feel as good about spending my hard-earned money. If you are a WORKING (home) studio musician and you want your next CD to sound professional...mix it using these, and it will. PS: I'm a struggling musician and recording pro, NOT an audiophile. I like things that work, that last and that sound good. That's why I like my 701s. ... More
Reference Class Headphones.....with amp!
AKG K701 Open-Back Reference Stereo Headphones
Reviewed by daltonlanny on B&H Photo Video
I recently bought a new pair of these from B & H Photo. The last time I bought these, a couple of years ago, I did not like these at all. They sounded overly thin, lacked body, sounded too harsh and bright in the upper mids/lower treble, dry, the bass sounded thin, weak, and rolled off. Needless to say, I quickly sold them. My Sennheiser 650's literally smoked them! At that time, I did not have a good CD player, and a lousy amp. This time around, I am VERY IMPRESSED with the 701's! I now have a Marantz CD5003 cd player, Headroom Micro Amp, and have over 300 hours of break-in on my 701's. Totally different animals to say the least! Now they are now truly Reference Class. They now sound exceptionally open, fast, detailed, spacious, clean, and clear without being bright, peaky, or harsh. The soundstage headstage is amazing. I now have no complaints with the bass. It is very extended, smooth, accurate, and powerful. It now competes head-to-head with my HD650's. Most of the time, I actually prefer the 701's now! Sometimes the 650's can sound a little too laid-back, boomy or muddy in the bass, and rolled off on top compared to the 701. I also have to turn the 650's volume up more to get them to open up, compared to the 701's. I now HIGHLY RECOMMEND the K701's...but only if you plan on using a good source, headphone amp, and good program material! ... More
Premium is right. Love at first sound.
AKG K 701 Ultra Reference Class Stereo Headphone
Reviewed by Graal on Guitar Center
Right out of the box, they sound better than most headphones I have heard up until now. After one or two hours of warm-up they conquer everything! You have a wide sound stage, they fit your head very well and they look very hi-tech and sexy. In the picture here they look sort-of silver like, but they are white all the way. Beautiful design. Monitors in your ears, of course with a little exaggeration. You should never leave your monitors, even if you don't have optimum acoustics. For those who like excessive bass from headphones, these may not be the right ones for you, because they have a well defined bass, not exagerated. Maybe the bass could be a little more defined, but I'm sattisfied with how it is. Really a great product. It says when you open the box: Expect / and discover/ perfection. 5 Star rating, we have a Rolls Royce or Rolex on top of our ears. Thank you AKG. I can't wait to hear how they sound after the 300 hours of burn-in. If you're thinking about getting them, stop and do it for real! Cheers! PS: You have to use a dedicated amplifier, or your sound card's headphone amp imput. If you want to use it with your iPod or anything like that, forget about it. ... More
Awesome sound, light on bass
AKG K701 Open-Back Reference Stereo Headphones
Reviewed by Perj on B&H Photo Video
These things are totally awesome, they look awesome, they feel so awesome when you have them on. Most comfortable headphones out there. Only reason I gave them 4 stars is because they are light on the bass. If you have them loud you can still hear bass editing down low, but if you are producing in them you might miss out on picking the right bass heavy sounds. But for EQ'ing and mixing down they are a freak's dream. I compared these to the Beyer Dynamic 880's and the 880's have a crapload more bass but sound more muddy. Like I said listening on these is like sitting on cloud nine for the mids and highs. These are perfect for putting on at the end of making a song and tweaking things into the right place, U WILL HEAR A A DIFFERENCE and put things in the right place if u have these things on, even in the low end. These are like having a $10,000 treated studio on your ears, just without all the bass. If your monitors already have good bass then these R 4 U ... More
Love Them
AKG K701 Open-Back Reference Stereo Headphones
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
... I was glad to see some airbag cushion and the box factory sealed. This way I know I'm not getting a used, fake or refurbished product. Overall they are great. There are tons of reviews all over the internet on these, so I won't repeat what you can read elsewhere. Just note you need a good source, good headphone amp and good dac to get the best sound out of these. They are not made for and will not sound good with portable players or the weak line outs found on typical consumer laptops, etc. To truly do them justice they need a few hundred hours of burn and proper amplification. If you are using a computer as a source make sure your files are lossless. They are open back so you can hear what's going on around you. ... More
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Great for reference and detail.
AKG K701 Open-Back Reference Stereo Headphones
Reviewed by BluegrassDan on B&H Photo Video
I use this product as a reference check while mixing. These headphones are especially good for hearing midrange and high frequency issues in the mix. Any sibilance problems will stand out clearly with these headphones. A very useful tool for hearing unwanted artifacts that result from compression, EQ, vocal tuning, reverb, etc. A small minority of folks may find these headphones pleasing for casual music listening, but I would not recommend these headphones for that purpose. They are far too detailed and critical. Not necessarily the flattering type of listening experience. Rather, they are a useful tool for a recording engineer or producer who needs to hear subtleties within the complex layer of music. Headphones such as the K701s are just about necessary for the artist who wants to create professional quality, artifact-free recordings. ... More
Amazing Headphones
AKG K701 Open-Back Reference Stereo Headphones
Reviewed by SDGeek on B&H Photo Video
Easily the best sounding headphones I've ever owned. Not to mention the most comfortable as well. There are NO gaps in these. The highs are nice and clear, and the lows aren't muffled and distorted like in so many headphone (even in good ones). The only slight drawback ( and I hesitate to even mention it ), is as a lot of you know, the ipod doesn't really drive headsets like this very well. It lacks the power to do so, so if you want to use these with a ipod, or similar device you should consider a amp of some sort. I would reccomend the inexpensive but high quality amps from Sonic Impact. ... More
Great sound, terrible design.
AKG K701 Open-Back Reference Stereo Headphones
Reviewed by spork on B&H Photo Video
I've been using the K701's for a few weeks now and the sound is really impressive. Unfortunately, after less than an hour of wear I've found the headband digs into your scalp causing an irritating and even mildly painful spot on my head. I had the K240's for over a decade and not once did those headphones cause any wear issues. I loaned the K701's to a sound designer buddy to see what he thought and his comments were the same: The headband is terribly uncomfortable. Also, I prefer the ear pads on the K240's over the carpet textured earpads on the K701's. Maybe in the winter the earmuff design will be nice, but on a hot/humid summer day it gets pretty nasty wet with sweat. The vinyl could wipe of, these need to dry. Again, the sound is amazing and highly recommend for that. Sadly, the designers at AKG must not have actually worn these on their heads for more than a few minutes or else they'd have noticed this irritating design flaw. My Grado headphones are actually more comfortable than these and I thought their design was bad. ... More
Product Review: AKG K701 Headphones
AKG K701 Open-Back Reference Stereo Headphones
Reviewed by B? on B&H Photo Video
My name is Brendan Evjen. I actually mix through these headphones, despite industry wisdom to mix through traditional monitors. I achieve amazing results! I've worked with Chris Vrenna (NIN, Marilyn Manson, Gnarls Barkley, etc.) Ken Andrews (Failure, Chris Cornell, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club), David Reilly (God Lives Underwater, Rob Zombie, etc.) and many others... the results have been stunning. These cans do the job. Nuff said!
Excellent Headphones
AKG K701 Open-Back Reference Stereo Headphones
Reviewed by Bert Ferret on B&H Photo Video
These are fantastic headphones once you get them broken in. I use them daily for audio editing and some mixing. They are extremely comfortable and have very clean, clear sound that allows me to pickup on edits or problem frequencies better than when I monitor through my mains, though they won't beat a good room and good monitors for mixing. I will say that they are very large. Much larger than the Sennheiser HD600. One reason I got these headphones is that they are much easier to drive from normal pro equipment when compared the HD600 and HD650. I no longer need to carry a headphone amp with me just to do some basic editing. Most audio interfaces seem to do a good job driving the K701s. ... More
Excellent product!
AKG K701 Open-Back Reference Stereo Headphones
Reviewed by KC on B&H Photo Video
Absolutely flat response at low and medium volume levels. Great for composing and mixing. What you hear in the headphones is what you hear in the studio monitors (assuming the monitors are calibrated correctly). Very comfortable to wear for extended periods of time. If you need to work and not disturb others, these are a great choice. And with the open design, you can carry on a conversation without removing them (as well as hear your smartphone notifications and know when your coffee is brewed).
Surprisingly open, incredible price
AKG K701 Open-Back Reference Stereo Headphones
Reviewed by John on B&H Photo Video
I am a radio announcer, and like to be able to hear myself and listen to the on air sound. These headphones are extremly open, with a smooth wide range. I can wear them all day without fatigue. I've wanted a pair for years, and couldn't believe how much cheaper they were at B&H. When I saw the price, I didn't hesitate to buy.
Outstanding product
AKG K701 Open-Back Reference Stereo Headphones
Reviewed by MisterCivilised on B&H Photo Video
I use these headphones with my pc as well as my home stereo system. Great for everything at home: video editing, music, movies. They isolate yet leave space for sound reproduction, and they look great. Occasionally the head band rubs the top of my head wrong after hours of use, but I think this is more attributable to how I was wearing them initially, plus the fact that I have been keep my hair cropped short. Best pair of headphones I have ever owned.
Good sound and very comfortable
AKG K701 Open-Back Reference Stereo Headphones
Reviewed by Renzu on B&H Photo Video
I've owned a lot of headphones in this price range, and the only ones I've ever felt comfortable using in desperate mixing sessions have been the Sennheiser HD600 and, very recently, the AKG K701. The K701 rolls off some of the low bass and has a noticeable peak around 8KHz, but post-EQ it sounds very nice with a crisp, clear sound. It cannot be used as a recording monitor of course, as it's an open design. Being a circumaural model, the K701 can be worn comfortably for hours. If you can live with or correct its 8K hump (via EQ), I'd recommend it. Otherwise try the more neutral HD600s. ... More
Great Phones for Mixing or Mastering
AKG K701 Open-Back Reference Stereo Headphones
Reviewed by MusicByDesign on B&H Photo Video
These Austria made AKG's are pretty nice to have and Ive wanted a pair for quite a while and couldn't resist when I found them at B&H. Very nice way to monitor and mix without the room affecting the sound. They are lightweight and have a more plastic feel than I figured they would by the picture but if they are taken care of should last many years. The sound is the most important thing and they have a nice uncolored sound, especially after breaking them in. Good stuff.
k701
AKG K701 Open-Back Reference Stereo Headphones
Reviewed by Home studio on B&H Photo Video
They get a four only because of the headband. The pads (i.e. bumps) on the under side of the K7xx series is, in a word, awful. They phones are comfortable up to a point at which you realize the thing digging into the top of your head is the pad! AKG really needs to drop the image/look and go with what worksthe K6xx series was flat underneath. I just makes senseand comfort! I A/B/C/D'd these with the AKG 240s and the Grado 225is and 325is. The only short coming for me was the headband.
great sound-TORTURE BUMPS IN HEADBAND!!!
AKG K701 Open-Back Reference Stereo Headphones
Reviewed by jhvenus on B&H Photo Video
I use these at length of sound editing for video so they should be comfortable to wear at length. The sound quality is excellent for the price. The thoughtless and sadistic design for the headband across the top of the head leaves virtual divots imprinted into your head that last for hours. The engineers obviously never tried actually wearing these beyond trial basis. And AKG offers no solution for this dilemma.
good overall
AKG K701 Open-Back Reference Stereo Headphones
Reviewed by Branmak on B&H Photo Video
The sound on these headphone is very clean and neutral. (Hese are going to reveal the limits of your setup, and will make you want to improve your system. Like others mentioned, the headband is a little unconfortable....the cable is 10 feet, so a good lenght...i like them and they make ne rediscover my music collection. Recommanded!
The most comfortable headphones to exist
AKG K701 Open-Back Reference Stereo Headphones
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
I used these to mix/reference on, I sat for about 5 hours without getting fatiuged or irritated with something on my head and ears like other headphones. Nice smooth flat sound, the tops are nice and crisp, and you dont get a false idea of the low end like with closed back headphones.
Excellent all-around headphone
AKG K701 Open-Back Reference Stereo Headphones
Reviewed by FZ on B&H Photo Video
Overall it is a fantastic sounding headphone for the price and it is extremely comfortable. The nice thing is that it will sound great on almost anything but if you want to get crazy with the amps and sound cards you can get even better sound.
