AKG Q701BLK Quincy Jones Signature Over the Ear Headphone (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)These headphones are one of the hardest things for me to review. I've had them now for several weeks and have used them with various music devices including my Iphone, Ipod, home stereo system and my Roland electronic drum set. My initial impression when I opened these up and tried them out was less than impressive. It required me to do a lot of research on these types of headphones so I could better understand what I received. Before I get into the performance of the headphones, let me first talk about the packaging and design.
The headphones come with 2 cables. One is a 20' cable with a 1/8" connector on the end and the other cable is a 10' cable with a 1/4" end on it. While I appreciate the inclusion of 2 cables, I find it strange that the 1/4" cable is the shorter one. For me, I would prefer the longer cable to be the one I can easily connect to my home stereo and the shorter one to be connected to my portable devices. You can always use adaptors but I was scratching my head trying to figure out why they come this way.
The headphones are very comfortable when you put them on. I have never had an expensive set like these before so it was a warm welcome to have something around your ears that feel so natural....until...that warm welcome became warmer and warmer. Yes, these headphones do not breathe very well so I found the ear muff like nature to be a bit too warm for me to use over extended periods. Plus, do to the size of the headphones and the open nature of them, these would be difficult to use on a train or plane without lugging them around and annoying the person next to you with whatever music you are listening to.
I have used several sets of headphones over the years including inner ear and standard headphones. Most were in the "more expensive than most people will spend money on" but "audiophiles will still laugh at them" categories. These include Sennheiser PX200 Collapsible High-Performance Closed Headphones (Black), Etymotic Research ER6i Isolator In-Ear Earphones (Black) and the Etymotic ER-4P Portable In-Ear Earphones and various other ear buds. For the most part, they have done well for me with my two favorites being the Senheiser for overall sound and the Etymotic ER4P for noise isolation and sound for an ear bud. The AKG Q701's really don't fit in any of the categories I've described. Their price point puts them well above the amount that most people will spend on headphones and audiophiles will give them a chance before recommending the $1000 set as being better. So I went into this with an open mind (and ears) and was expecting some incredible sound.
My first test was with my Ipod. Yes, not the best thing to use but it was in my pocket! I put on a good band/album to test out audio equipment (Porcupine Tree's Fear of a Blank Planet) and sat back and listened. When the music kicked in the clarity was amazing even at soft levels. Wanting to hear more, I went to turn up my Ipod but realized, it was at FULL VOLUME. I checked the connection and it was tight but no matter what I tried, I could not get decent volume out of my Ipod. I moved on to my Iphone (which I knew would be worse) and got the same result. I ended up moving to my basement and hooked it up to my 100 watt Yamaha receiver and played a CD. Again, without having my receiver near full volume, I could not get these cans to output a satisfactory level. I finally hooked them up to my Roland drum kit. This was the worst. All I could hear was my drum sticks hitting the mesh pads with very little volume of the drum sounds coming through.
At this point I immediately went to AKG's website and send a tech request to see what I was doing wrong. There was no way these $400 headphones were this bad! To date, I have not received a response, however, I know others that have had certain issues and they received e-mails back. Not sure why I didn't receive a response yet.
After that I decided to do some more research and I learned that these types of headphones, unless hooked up to a high end amplifier/receiver usually require a headphone amplifier. Especially if you are using them with portable devices. Without getting too technical, headphones with "high impedance and low sensitivity" usually cannot be driven by lower powered devices. OK....at this point I really didn't want to know anymore other than what do I need to get these to sound good. I began looking into headphone amplifiers and the results were anywhere from $25 to well over $100. Considering these headphones cost $400, I was reluctant to spend $100+ on another device to make these work. I opted for the cheap route and bought the FiiO E5 Headphone Amplifier amplifier. $22...can't beat that!
So I get my new headphone amplifier and give everything a try again. This time, the cheap amplifier gives it just enough power so I can get decent volume out of these headphones. Nothing earth shattering as I guess I would need to go with a much better amp but is adequate for my needs. Overall, the sound is just a clear as when I first tried them with the lower volume. They are truly great sounding headphones but be prepared to spend some extra money for additional devices if you don't already have top notch audio equipment that can drive them properly. For now, these reside in my basement with my home theater where I use them mainly for music listening on my Yamaha and playing Rock band on my PS3 and Roland drum kit.

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Music producers depend on studio headphones for their success, and with an unprecedented 79 Gramm y nominations, no music producer has achieved greater success than Quincy Jones. Here at the home of AKG audio technology, we are proud to honor Quincy's long association with our brand by creating the Signature Edition Q 701 headphones, the most accurate and responsive headphones we've ever produced. Featuring the revolutionary flat-wire voice coils and patented two-layer diaphragms of their studio counterparts, the Q 701s deliver pinpoint imaging in an endless soundscape of unequaled realism. And they do it with all the style and élan of the man himself. 'These are the only headphones I've heard that bring out the true sound we were striving for on records like ‘Billie Jean,‚ ‘Thriller' and ‘Give Me the Night.‚ It's the best-quality sound I've heard, ever." - Quincy Jones

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AKG Q701GRN Quincy Jones Signature Over the Ear Headphone (Green) Review

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(More customer reviews)I've gone through so many headsets. By far these are the best. In the past year I have gone through 4 pairs of beats by dres, a pair of solo's, and some of the in ear headsets. Beats kept breaking, solo's just aren't that comfortable and the in ear beats just don't stay in your ear, even with changing out the ear pieces.
Only complaints about the Q701, Quincy Jones signature line ones, if you consider this a complaint is that the cord is long, which is great I've always wanted have one as long as they are but it would be nice to have a shorter one as well. It's atleast 8 ft long even longer. Always wanted to have one that long but it's just a hassle if im at work using them. And it would be great if they came with or you could get a case for them.
Other than that, they are AWSOME. I never write reviews about products I have purchased, but had to say something about these. I have been trying to get a pair like this for the longest time. Even smelt like a new car or boat when I took them out of the box. And the music sounds AMAZING, and never had a pair as comfortable as these. The beats would hurt my ears after a while, but these don't even touch my ears and the adjustment works really well. Unlike my beats which would keep braking.
Final note, if you are willing to spent the money, I suggest these. Def. worth the money, I'm even thinking about buying another pair just for work so I don't have to cary them around with out a case.

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Music producers depend on studio headphones for their success, and with an unprecedented 79 Gramm y nominations, no music producer has achieved greater success than Quincy Jones. Here at the home of AKG audio technology, we are proud to honor Quincy's long association with our brand by creating the Signature Edition Q 701 headphones, the most accurate and responsive headphones we've ever produced. Featuring the revolutionary flat-wire voice coils and patented two-layer diaphragms of their studio counterparts, the Q 701s deliver pinpoint imaging in an endless soundscape of unequaled realism. And they do it with all the style and élan of the man himself. 'These are the only headphones I've heard that bring out the true sound we were striving for on records like ‘Billie Jean,‚ ‘Thriller' and ‘Give Me the Night.‚ It's the best-quality sound I've heard, ever." - Quincy Jones

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Audio Technica ATH-A700 Headphones Review

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(More customer reviews)SUMMARY
With excellent sound fidelity and a wide sound stage these are a great pair of headphones for the price (current street around $120 US). My only quibbles come from the mechanical design of the headset which leads to unwanted sounds when listening at low volume levels. If subtle extraneous sounds don't bother you, then they may be perfect for you.
PROS
Excellent sound quality - Extremely wide soundstage, clear instrument separation and strong, but clean bass.
Extremely comfortable - Very little pressure around the ear and the headband system doesn't have any hot spots.
Great cord - Long cord allows for some mobility and the woven fabric sheath doesn't transmit sound when bumped.
CONS
Mid-range lacking - May sound like equalizer is on "U" shape. Not as "smooth" as the Sennheiser HD-280.
Noisy headband - Creaking sound transmits through headband system into the ear cups. Fine if you keep still, but when you move around you may hear creaking sounds.
Poor insulating pads - Foam ear pads with thin covering don't insulate outside sounds well and actually create sound when you move.
FULL REPORT
I wanted a pair of headphones to use while at the office to help block out outside sound while listening to music. At first I considered noise cancelling headsets but after trying the highly rated Bose QuietComfort 3, I decided I didn't want to sacrifice sound quality that much. While the noise cancellation was phenomenal (I couldn't believe how much they filtered out standard office noises), their actual music reproduction was disappointing. At over $300 US for the Bose QC3, their sound quality was equal to a pair of $40 headphones. But if you're really looking to block out outside noise, the sound isolation may be worth the loss of fidelity.
After removing noise cancelling headsets from my list I then focused on closed-back headphones. Through much research I narrowed my choices down to the Audio Technica ATH-A700 and the Sennheiser HD-280. I was able to try the HD-280 but not the ATH-A700. But after reading so many positive reviews I decided to go with the ATH-700, even though I hadn't listened to a pair.
Being my first pair of high-end headphones, I was immediately impressed with their sound quality. The sound stage is incredible! While some headphones make it sound like the music is "in your head", the ATH-A700s mimic a more realistic listening experience, like you're in the midst of the music. On some pieces the effect was so great that a song that previously sounded like it was recorded in a sound-proof studio, now sounded like it was in a small concert hall. Amazing!
With classical music, I can't believe how much detail I can now hear. I can hear the separation of all the instruments as well as performance-related sounds that I never heard before. Like the sound of the keys clicking on the harpsichord or the valves on a French horn. I can now even hear the musicians turning their pages and shifting in their chairs!
Without comparing to even higher-end headphones it's hard to say how "accurate" these are. But my best description is that they're very efficient, with good base and a clear high-end. With my previous, cheaper headphones, I'd always adjust the equalizer to increase treble and bass and de-emphasize mid-range (U shape curve). But with these headphones, there's no need for that; I now listen to all my music with the equalizer off or "flat".
The biggest and really only problem with these headphones has to do with their construction; in particular, the ear pads and head band. The earpads have a very thin covering and the foam is noisy--when you hold it near your ear and press the pad, you can hear a scrunching sound. This coupled with the thin covering allows more outside noise to seep in than other closed-back headphones I've tried. It also causes noise when I move slightly causing the hair around my ear (I have short hair) to bristle against the pad and then transmits that sound.
At this price point I would have expected real leather and better sound insulating foam. I contacted Audio-Technica to see if the replacement ear pads from their higher-end ATH-W1000 would fit the ATH-A700 and the answer was that they would not. I was disappointed because the ATH-W1000 seems to have better pads with thicker covering (possibly real leather) and better foam.
The second "mechanical" issue is the headband design. While the "3D Wing Support Housing vibration-proof mechanism" looks cool and is probably the reason why the headset is so comfortable, all those hinges tend to creak when you move, and those creaking sounds are transmitted through the frame into the plastic ear cups which seem to amplify the sounds. Now I'm not talking about rocking out and jumping all around, but rather subtle movements like turning my head, will be enough to cause the hinges of the floating pads to creak.
Both of these problems are alleviated by turning the volume up, but since I like keeping my volume level as low as possible for my given environment, it's a problem for me. BTW, I did try lubricating the hinges with oil but it didn't help. I may still try a graphite lubricant. I do have to admit I'm a very distractible person and move around a lot while I work. So while the noisy ear pads and creaky headband really bug me, they may not be an issue for you. As always, your mileage may vary, so I highly recommend trying a pair in person before making your final decision.
HD-280 COMPARISON
In case you're in deciding between these and the Sennheiser HD -280, here's my take on the differences (I did a comparison with my coworker's after my ATH-700s were broken in):
1) ATH-700 has a wider soundstage, sharper high-end and more bass than the HD-280.
2) ATH-700 is more comfortable and thus can be worn longer.
3) HD-280 has a stronger mid-range and just sounds "smoother" (I don't know how else to describe it).
4) HD-280 ear cups insulates outside sounds much better, though at the expense of comfort. They're kind of tight and uncomfortable for more than an hour at a time.
5) HD-280 cord is standard coiled type, which isn't necessarily a bad thing but it does transmit sound when it bump against things (like the desk).
CONCLUSION
As with everything in life, the choice of what headphones to buy is a series of trade-offs. You need to think about your listening environment, the type of music you listen to and how much you want to spend. The ATH-700 is a great sounding headphone and if you can live with some extraneous noises, you'll love them.

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Sennheiser HD600 Open Dynamic Hi-Fi Professional Stereo Headphones (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is the best dynamic headphone in the world, and is rivalved only by the Grado RS-1 headphone. Many studio engineers and audiophile's use these as their REFERENCE headphone...they are a steal for such a high quality headphone. The Grado RS-1 [costs more], and is definately less comfortable than the Sennheisers. These headphones have an extremely detailed, open, airy sound, that nears electrostatic sound. They are also unique in that they suit all types of music very well, they have great punch for rock music, but can perform clasical pieces with all the fullness and detail they were designed.
It should be noted these headphone have an impedance of 300 ohms. Most headphone are 16-32 ohms. What this means is to get the full potential out of them you will need some type of amplifier. Headphone.com offers a couple inexpensive sollutions to this problem, as does audioadvisor.com. Althought they are not true audiophile components, they will greatly enhance your experience with these headphones. If you are planning on travelling with them, you can almost bet you won't be content with their sound when powered only by a portable CD player. I use a Audio Valve RKV Mark II Headphone Amplifier at home, and the headphone.com Airhead on the road. Buy these headphones if you are looking for true audiophile sound, or just the best dynamic headphone, but be aware of their limitations without am amplifier.

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Sennheiser Electronic Professional Stereo Headphones

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Ultimate Ears SuperFi 5vi Noise Isolating Earphones w/ Microphone Review

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(More customer reviews)First let me start with the good by saying that the top firing micro driver in these ear buds are fantastic. As far as sound goes they provide a very lively, rich and balanced sound. I listen to a wide variety of music and they did everything justice...Jazz, Rock, Classical and Electronica all sounded great. They are not reference monitors by any stretch but for casual listening bang for the buck they really deliver. As for comfort I was satisfied with these buds although the foam ear tips don't last very long. You will find yourself ordering replacements before long.
The headset function though is where the problems start. First, if you are not using these over the ears there is a tremendous amount of cable noise. If you can get a good fit over the ears this defeats some of the cable noise. The problem is once over the ear the microphone is now not placed optimally for talking. Finally ear canal phones (any I would imagine) produce a weird experience while talking hands free. Hold you ears shut and then talk...you will get an idea of what I am talking about.
The nail in the coffin though is the build quality. The junction from the cable to the 3.5 mm jack ends up failing after prolonged use. It took mine about eight months. Sadly I have heard other UE owners complain about the same thing with various models. I have owned three pairs of Shure earphones (E3c, E4c and 310s) before these and never had an issue with a frayed cable after years of use. Now I sadly have to deal with Logitech for a warranty repair.
If you really like the sound of the SuperFi 5's I would just buy it without the integrated headset feature and save yourself a few bucks. Just be aware of the issues with durability if you plan on using them often.

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Liquid Silver-The Super.Fi 5vi features an exclusive top fire armature speaker which produces powerful and extended high definition sound.A miniature high performance microphone allows for hands free phone calls while an in-line multi-function button answers and ends calls and controls music/video on the iphone

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Audio-Technica ATH-W5000 Dynamic Headphones Review

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(More customer reviews)ATH-W5000 Raffinato is one of the most detailed headphones, and their soundstage is really wide and three-dimensional. There are great reverberations (because of closed wooden cups), which are especially good for acoustic music and female vocals. Three words, which are most associated with their sound: airy, clear and detailied. ATH-W5000 has upward shift in tonal balance. They don't really lack of low frequinces, but they aren't bassy, especially in comparison with Denon AH-D7000 or Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro. The quality of Raffinato's lower frequinces is very good, but there may be lack of quantity. So, ATH-W5000 is definitely poor solution (considiring their 1000$ price) for metal and other heavy music. You should buy Denon AH-D7000 for it, or pay 500$ more and buy Ultrasone Edition 9. But for classical music, jazz and other kinds of acoustic music, ATH-W5000 is by far the best solution from all non-electrostatic serial headphones (from all dynamic headphones, excluding Sony MDR-R10, Sony Qualia 010 and ATH-L3000).

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Audio Technica ATH-A700 Closed-back Dynamic Headphones Review

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(More customer reviews)I've shopped around for at least a month till I fell upon these "Cans".
By chance I was at my fav. music store in Boston and by fate it fell in to my hands or should I say ears? I was tired of my high-end ear buds, that seemed like a surgical procedure per every use. I wanted good quality. I tried Senns, AKG's and Grado's. ranging anywhere from $80 to a downpayment on my next car. But nothing seemed right, Be it size or sound.
Until my tired ears almost gave-up. And yes I do apologise to all the high end audio stores clerks for driving them crazy. But maybe you folks should give these "Cans" a chance.
Sound is wonderful, warm bass, clear seperation and a chance to hear all your music collection again with the clear intent of what it truly sounds like.
Fits like it was designed for.
I'm getting ready to hear all my music again, good with Ipods, but amazing with a good receiver or tunes on a PC or MAC.


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Klipsch IMAGE S4i-WH Premium Noise-Isolating Headset with 3-button Apple control, White Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought these to go with a shuffle to use while working out and I am very happy with them.
Sound quality: The sound quality is excellent for the money ... they have a ton of bass which is perfect for what I am using them for. I own the Image X10s too which are superb but they are 3 times the price and don't have the inline controls. The X10s sound quality is definitely superior, they're more accurate and have much better separation but that's just not necessary when I'm more focused on not passing out while running up the hills here in San Francisco. I find the Klipsch's Image range to be pretty bassy in general so if you are listening to classical music or a lot of instrumental stuff at high bit-rates you will likely be happier with a set of Etymotic ER4Ps (very accurate with amazing separation) but if you're listening to rock/hip-hop/dance etc. the Klipsch Image range are a great choice.
Build quality: Time will tell how well they hold up but they feel sturdier than the X10s and I have had those for 8 months ... I've been pretty hard on them and have had no issues whatsoever.
Comparison to other brands: I have had Shures and several sets of Etymotics in the past and am now a total Klipsch fan. The Klipsch IEMs have comparable sound quality (better for some types of music), are far more comfortable than both Shures and Etys, are better made than the Etys and are better value for money than the Shures.
One word or warning that you will see in many of the reviews: if you have never used IEMs (In-Ear-Monitors aka sound isolating earphones) - they take some getting used to. You need to make sure to get a good seal in you ear for them to work well, if they're lacking bass it's probably because you don't have a good seal. They really do block out pretty much all noise so make sure to look both ways before crossing the road ;-)

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In-Ear Headset with 3-button iPhone/iPod control and superior Comfort, Noise Isolation & Sound

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