Amp with AKG Q701

[admin_exported]

Hi,

I got the AKG Q701 a couple of weeks ago, and I have them connected to Music Streamer II via RCA -> 3.5mm. I tried the Marantz PM7200Ki headphone output (amp connected to MSII), but found the sound through just the MSII a lot better.

Now, my question is. Should I get a dedicated headphone amp? I really like the sound I have right now (feeling close to the music with a lot of detail), but if the soundstage gets better with a decent amp, I might consider it.

I use them for everything, mainly gaming (soundstage is important), but also movies, classical, jazz, rock, pop (everything!).

Thanks for any help!

Joel

 

[Anonymous]

Yes.

 

[Sizzers]

I got the AKG Q701 a couple of weeks ago, and I have them connected to Music Streamer II via RCA -> 3.5mm.

Hi,

I’m a little confused here. Are you saying that you have your K’s connected directly to the Streamer with something like this, for example?

 

[dalethorn]

Hi, I’m a little confused here. Are you saying that you have your K’s connected directly to the Streamer with something like this, for example?

This looks great (simple), but if the volume were sufficient and the impedance not an issue, how do you control volume?

 

[Sizzers]

Hi, I’m a little confused here. Are you saying that you have your K’s connected directly to the Streamer with something like this, for example?

This looks great (simple), but if the volume were sufficient and the impedance not an issue, how do you control volume?

Posted my question on-the-fly as I’d never heard of this before.

Googling afterwards brought up that it can be done, but it certainly appears to be a rarity. So if it is potentially a workable option – volume control excepted - this to me begs the question why it isn’t more popular?

My Walkman, for example, can’t drive my K’s un-amped: low-ish volume, muffled, no headroom etc., so would the output of certain DAC’s be sufficient to drive them? Logic tells me not, but I’m always willing to learn.

Apologies to the OP for hijacking the thread, but I;m curious.

 

[Covenanter]

Slightly parallel comment - my K702s (which are basically the same phones) are much better from my Marantz PM 6004 than they are from my Marantz CD6004 so i would suspect that if you aren't happy then better amplification would help.

Chris

 

[Anonymous]

Hi, thanks for the reply!

Yes, that's what I'm using. I control the volume on the computer, at 50% it's more than enough for me. When connecting through the amp I set it at 100%. So even though the DAC isn't at it's fullest "potential" at half the volume when connected directly to the akgs, I still find it better.

 

[swm_uk]

Hi,

I got the AKG Q701 a couple of weeks ago, and I have them connected to Music Streamer II via RCA -> 3.5mm. I tried the Marantz PM7200Ki headphone output (amp connected to MSII), but found the sound through just the MSII a lot better.

Now, my question is. Should I get a dedicated headphone amp? I really like the sound I have right now (feeling close to the music with a lot of detail), but if the soundstage gets better with a decent amp, I might consider it.

I use them for everything, mainly gaming (soundstage is important), but also movies, classical, jazz, rock, pop (everything!).

Thanks for any help!

Joel

Ive got a pair of q701's and ran them from the headphone jack of my pre-amp, a Bryston bp-26 with good results, as you'd expect really! but..

Ive recently added a Musical Fidelity M1HPA to my system, and the improvement is quite amazing, especially in the bass. whereas before it was quite lean and a bit recessed, its suddenly all there with lots of drive, no wallowyness whatsoever.

The q701's really do need (deserve?) a lot of power to get them singing imo. a good qulity seperate amp will give you that

 

[Anonymous]

Ive got a pair of q701's and ran them from the headphone jack of my pre-amp, a Bryston bp-26 with good results, as you'd expect really! but..

Ive recently added a Musical Fidelity M1HPA to my system, and the improvement is quite amazing, especially in the bass. whereas before it was quite lean and a bit recessed, its suddenly all there with lots of drive, no wallowyness whatsoever.

The q701's really do need (deserve?) a lot of power to get them singing imo. a good qulity seperate amp will give you that

I see. How did you find the soundstage after the upgrade?