AKG702 or HD598
- Thread starter steverebo
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AlienALX
Well-known member
Depends what you are looking for. Sonic accuracy? Grado (replace the ear cups though !)
What sort of sound are you after? do you want a large sound stage? if so buy open back. Do you want privacy? if so closed back and so on and so forth. Unfortunately AKG and Senn are not really on my wish list so I don't own any of either.
However, I do have a set of these...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/HIFIMAN-HE...qid=1494538002&sr=8-1&keywords=hifiman+he400s
Which are on my head as we speak. They are planar magnetic, so very different to the ones you have listed. However, they are highly rated by head-fi aficionados and when it comes to dropping bass they are unmatched in my entire collection so I use them for movies and games, and depending on what music I am listening to for music too.
Actually scrap that unless you really want PMs..
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/B-O-Play-...id=100005&rk=4&rkt=6&sd=152412633530#viTabs_0
I have a set of those and they are amazing. What's better is they RRP at twice that much. They are also closed back and very very good for isolating the sound so it doesn't leak and drive every one crazy.
What sort of sound are you after? do you want a large sound stage? if so buy open back. Do you want privacy? if so closed back and so on and so forth. Unfortunately AKG and Senn are not really on my wish list so I don't own any of either.
However, I do have a set of these...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/HIFIMAN-HE...qid=1494538002&sr=8-1&keywords=hifiman+he400s
Which are on my head as we speak. They are planar magnetic, so very different to the ones you have listed. However, they are highly rated by head-fi aficionados and when it comes to dropping bass they are unmatched in my entire collection so I use them for movies and games, and depending on what music I am listening to for music too.
Actually scrap that unless you really want PMs..
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/B-O-Play-...id=100005&rk=4&rkt=6&sd=152412633530#viTabs_0
I have a set of those and they are amazing. What's better is they RRP at twice that much. They are also closed back and very very good for isolating the sound so it doesn't leak and drive every one crazy.
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NeverBackDown
AMD Enthusiast
I'd rather get Beyerdynamic DT990s than a HD 598. I've listened to both and personally prefer the DT. In the US they tend to be cheaper as well, might be the same for you. I would advise the black edition of the DT set. Looks way nicer imo. Not sure how much it is though
steverebo
New member
I did previously own a pair of hd598's and loved them but got rid of them when I had to sell my system for personal reasons. Now I'm back with a whole new rig and I didn't want to jump straight back to the 598's and I've heard a lot of people saying the akg702's are great for gaming and listening to music
NeverBackDown
AMD Enthusiast
Haven't heard the any AKG before. So can't help there. I use my DT990s for both Gaming and music and I love them, I run them through a Schiit Bifrost and Asgard so I pretty much max out 99% of there potential..
I wear glasses and these are really comfortable. Just figured I would mention this just in case. And before I forget, Beyerdynamic headphones all tend to have pretty intense treble response until broken in. I let mine run for think it was almost 12 hours straight at a decent volume with metal music (not sure if type of music matters) and when I finally put them on again it was a night and day difference. It gets better and better overtime from what I can. But a burn in is definitely definitely needed. I think it was really bad for me because I also got my Asgard 2 amp at the same time and the Asgard has a notoriously long burn in time with very high treble response. So for me it was a combination of 2 things needed time to settle down
Not sure about AKG burn in. Should look into that. I probably over exaggerated my experience a little, but it's worth looking into especially if you are getting other new gear too.
I wear glasses and these are really comfortable. Just figured I would mention this just in case. And before I forget, Beyerdynamic headphones all tend to have pretty intense treble response until broken in. I let mine run for think it was almost 12 hours straight at a decent volume with metal music (not sure if type of music matters) and when I finally put them on again it was a night and day difference. It gets better and better overtime from what I can. But a burn in is definitely definitely needed. I think it was really bad for me because I also got my Asgard 2 amp at the same time and the Asgard has a notoriously long burn in time with very high treble response. So for me it was a combination of 2 things needed time to settle down
Not sure about AKG burn in. Should look into that. I probably over exaggerated my experience a little, but it's worth looking into especially if you are getting other new gear too.
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NeverBackDown
AMD Enthusiast
Yeah burns are a pain. Buying all the new gear and then having it but actually need to wait on top of that is always fun
What soundcard are you using btw? If it tends to lean on the treble side for example, it may just make the beyers a little to bright for your taste. If it does lean that way then if the AKGs are more bass heavy it may be a better pick to get those so the soundcard helps make the treble pop out. It's a balancing act. If it's the opposite way, then DTs would be great. Something else to look into if you care that much?
What soundcard are you using btw? If it tends to lean on the treble side for example, it may just make the beyers a little to bright for your taste. If it does lean that way then if the AKGs are more bass heavy it may be a better pick to get those so the soundcard helps make the treble pop out. It's a balancing act. If it's the opposite way, then DTs would be great. Something else to look into if you care that much?
SuB
The Webmaster
If you're after gaming/accuracy/soundstage, the AKG702's are untouched by anything anyone else has listed here.
As an owner of AKG K702's AKG K7xx's and some Beyer DT770 Pro's the AKG's are totally unrivalled for their positional audio in games.
Super sharp, they can be a little bright for some music listeners, and some say they are a little fatiguing, as they're not quite as 'fun' and bassy as Beyer's But IMO you get used to it very quickly. If you're playing FPS games, honestly, nothing touches them for Binarural.
I spent a lot of time researching them and got them before they moved their manufacturing, but the current ones are still fine and come with a more comfortable headband.
Personally, I matched them up with a Xonar STX because the headphone amp has a bit more juice and is setup for binaural more than the creative offerings at the time, that and I loath creative cards after the X-Fi because they're crap software-based solutions with price tags that are just ridiculous, but as you've already got the card, no sense harping on about that now
If only M$ would bring back the proper DirectSound pathways so EAX could be run on hardware again.. *sigh*.. Wishful thinking.
As an owner of AKG K702's AKG K7xx's and some Beyer DT770 Pro's the AKG's are totally unrivalled for their positional audio in games.
Super sharp, they can be a little bright for some music listeners, and some say they are a little fatiguing, as they're not quite as 'fun' and bassy as Beyer's But IMO you get used to it very quickly. If you're playing FPS games, honestly, nothing touches them for Binarural.
I spent a lot of time researching them and got them before they moved their manufacturing, but the current ones are still fine and come with a more comfortable headband.
Personally, I matched them up with a Xonar STX because the headphone amp has a bit more juice and is setup for binaural more than the creative offerings at the time, that and I loath creative cards after the X-Fi because they're crap software-based solutions with price tags that are just ridiculous, but as you've already got the card, no sense harping on about that now
If only M$ would bring back the proper DirectSound pathways so EAX could be run on hardware again.. *sigh*.. Wishful thinking.
AlienALX
Well-known member
So you've had a pair of HE 400S then?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThkPNbqpiG0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FcoUDbka6w&t=2s
I also listed Grados. So you think those AKGs can take on the RS2E? I doubt that man.
The B&O are fantastic all rounders. They have the best punch of any headphone I own and are also the easiest to drive.
Excalabur50
Well-known member
For mostly gaming and some music I really like my Senn Game Ones really nice sound for games, very comfortable for long sessions and don't hurt if you wear glasses, and sound pretty good for music and I've just recently discovered not bad for movies either
I used the AKG 702's for a few days found them very bulky and the ear pads aren't very soft. Might just be my head but I was expecting more seeing all the reviews saying they were super comfortable.
Also tried Audio Technica recommended one, can't remember the name and the ears pads are stupidly tiny.
I'm now back on Sennheiser HD 559's which fit my ears perfectly, albeit the right earphone sometimes drops sound.
Headphones are so confusing.
Also tried Audio Technica recommended one, can't remember the name and the ears pads are stupidly tiny.
I'm now back on Sennheiser HD 559's which fit my ears perfectly, albeit the right earphone sometimes drops sound.
Headphones are so confusing.
