Greetings friend and Welcome aboard!
Before we get into the Sennheiser HD650 vs. AKG K701, grab a snack, sit back and relax because…
You’ve come to the right place!!
What I will bring you in this review
Because I have already reviewed both of these, today I will give the similarities and differences of each and then link to some separate reviews towards the end. 🙂
- Introduction
- Similarities & Differences
- Final Word
Now without further ado, let’s get rolling!
Introduction
The Sennheiser HD650 was introduced in 2003 and is the older brother of the HD600. It’s an open back studio headphone with some added emphasis on the bass response. Closed back vs. Open back headphones. The K701 used to be designed and built in Austria, but as of late they are now being designed in Austria but manufactured in China.
Similarities & Differences
Similarities
- Both are open-back studio headphones.
- Both have ear pads made of velour.
- Both could use a bit of burn-in time. Anywhere from 100-300 hours.
- Both do very well with Jazz. The best headphones for Jazz.
- Both need a good amp to shine. How to choose a headphone amp!
Differences
- The K701’s are bass lean. It’s there, but it’s light. Don’t expect to be blown away by it at all. It is nice and textured, but the 650 definitely has more bass overall. The 650s are also a lot darker in character, and some say veiled. What is the Sennheiser veil?
- The K701 is more analytical overall (and some say too mechanical), while the HD650 is very warm. Some have even said it’s so warm it may lull you to sleep! I would say the 650 can still be used for mixing, but it’s definitely not on the neutral side like the 600 or the 701. The 650s are more forgiving and relaxed. They do better with a wider range of genres.
- The detail in the treble range with the 701’s is pretty staggering. By contrast, the 650’s treble is veiled in comparison, meaning subdued, recessed, or pushed to the rear.
- The K701’s have a self-adjusting headband, while the 650s are very traditional in their fit around your dome piece.
- The 701’s are more accurate than the 650s.
- Because the K701’s are brighter, they will do better with genres like a classic rock as well as modern rock. The HD650’s are darker and work well with stuff like grunge.
- Both have a big soundstage, but the 701’s are extremely wide; some say unnaturally so. What is Soundstage?
Final Word
To sum it up, the K701’s are bass light and very lean. A lot of people are put off by that fact. If you’re going to stick with AKG, the Q701’s both improve upon the bass response and fix the unnaturally wide sound stage. Interested in learning more in a more detailed review? Check out:
AKG Q701 vs. K701
As for my recommendation today, I would bypass the HD650 and go with the HD600. It’s the ultimate studio headphone really. So much could be said about them, but if you’re interested in learning why they’re the best, check out:
THE OFFICIAL SENNHEISER HD600 REVIEW!!
OR
If you’d like a comparison:
SENNHEISER HD600 vs. 650
Well, that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve enjoyed this brief article on the Sennheiser HD650 vs. AKG K701.
Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please let me know down below or Contact me!!
Which of these are you more likely to go with? I would love to hear from you. Until next time…
All the best and God bless,
-Stu
