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In Reply to: Best speaker posted by guskund@yahoo.com on April 8, 2007 at 20:31:07:
I recently ditched a 200k speaker-based rig for (what I think is) a SOTA headphone setup. I couldn't be happier. I'm rediscovering recordings I thought I knew inside-out. And I'm saving boatloads of cash in the process--which always helps. :)I'm glad to hear you're having a good time too.
To answer your question, the '701s are a pretty neutral 'phone. The bass is very well-defined, if not quite the last word in punch. The highs are extended and quite detailed. There are a lot of speakers that match that general description, but you're still talking about a radically different kind of listening. Headphones are not speakers--never will be. The opposite is also true. If you're totally satisfied with headphone listening, as am I, then don't worry about speakers, and invest in making your headphone rig better.
Follow Ups:
The only down side to this is you can't really crank with headhones if the recording has lots of dynamic range. (too hard on the ears). BTY, what headphone amp do you like ?
Well, my thinking is, too loud is too loud--be it through speakers or through headphones. With speakers, you obviously have more space to dissipate the sound, but I find that I get plenty of dynamics through my 'phones. It's a different PRESENTATION of dynamics, to be sure, but still plenty satisfying to me. There are some great headamp manufacturers out there: Ray Samuels, Singlepower, Heed, HeadAmp, Rudistor. Personally, I use a Ray Samuels, but you can't go wrong with any of the above.
I would add the PS Audio GCHA headphone am to this list. I am using one with the AKG701 and am getting amazing results.
Don't the 701's have to be connected to the speaker binding posts on the back of a power amp rather than run from a headphone socket?
That is certainly true of the AKG1000 headphones which require 5 or so watts to work. The 701's require MUCH less power to operate properly. Any headphone amp that produces a reasonable output should work fine. The GCHA produces 2-3 watts class A and is more than enough to drive the 701's.
nt
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