I finally got the AKG Q701 headphones and I also got a pretty good deal on a PS Audio GCHA headphone amp that only works with the with the USB input which is exactly what I needed so I bought that to.
Very first impression was terrible but I only got to listen to them briefly do to my wife’s computer crapping out. I got them back to my apartment in Oklahoma and let them play for quite a few hours from the Mac Mini through the headphone amp.
They sound much better now after 6 hour of constant playing than when I first heard them. I’m listening to Jeff Beck, Blow by Blow as I write this. I really like these headphone, they sound neutral from top to bottom with solid bass, great midrange, and articulate highs, yet smooth. You can hear deeper into the music with these AKG’s, a little nuance or instrument you didn’t hear previously on the same recording. So far, I’m very happy.
I also brought my PS Audio DL lll Dac with me but haven’t hooked it up at this time, I wanted things to settle in before I thew a Dac into the mix. At some point, I will also like to try the Grado SR80i HP’s to see how they stack up to the AKG’s.
Right now I’m rocking out with Led Zeppelin, Stairway to Heaven.
