AKG K7xx modding

Discussion in 'Modifications and Tweaks' started by fishski13, Oct 13, 2015.

  1. Shaffer

    Shaffer Acquaintance

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    I own both K7XX and K702. I do not agree than the 'phones are essentially identical, sans the pads. At all. My feeling is that the K7XX uses drivers similar to the K712, albeit not as well-matched.

    FWIW, after a time I did the bass mod on my K702 and love it! Haven't felt the need for any other alternations; they're my favorite cans. Haven't done a thing to the K7XX. To me, they're fine as they are, albeit slightly less resolving in every way compared to the K702.
     
  2. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Not K7XX, but K712 which is close enough.

    20151107_112538.jpg

    YELLOW LINE = TP MODDED

    K712 mod FR.png

    K712 mod IR.png
     
  3. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

    Pyrate Slaytanic Cliff Clavin
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    The problem with the AKGs in general is the dip in the presence region at 3-4 kHz to create the artificially wide sound stage fucks up the imaging by separating guitar notes from their distortion. If there is a way to mod that out, I would be much more enthusiastic about the K7XX at $199.
     
  4. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I know my measurements tend to exacerbate that dip. I suspect absorbing material or earpad mods a la @jerg's mods for HE500 / HE560 might do the trick. This is not my pair, so not gonna happen.
     
  5. spoony

    spoony Spooky

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    Can you attempt the rug liner mod, purrin?
     
  6. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I'll give it try. Remind me in two days if I forget.
     
  7. logscool

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    Wow that TP mod seems to do a much better job of taming and smoothing those treble peaks than any of the mods I've tried so far. I'll have to give it a try. For comparison here is my current favorite mod with some measurements on my K7XX.
    [​IMG]
    yellow = mod, green = stock
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Feb 19, 2016
  8. spoony

    spoony Spooky

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    Yeah, TP tends to be very effective on the highs. That's a pretty subtle difference measurement-wise on the rug liner + felt, I wonder if the thicker one I'm using will make a difference... I have a mic incoming and will be able to measure my pair soon, will keep you posted.
     
  9. logscool

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    It looks subtle and it is but the difference in those treble peaks is very noticeable especially for prolonged listening.
     
  10. spoony

    spoony Spooky

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    I'm starting to think the only way to fix that dip is by using the K701 pads... I know it's not as deep as it looks, but it's there anyway.
     
  11. spoony

    spoony Spooky

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    So the mic arrived and I quickly hacked together a rig not unlike purrin's C.U.N.T. v2, here are some results of the mod + ring of yellow felt (like in the picture) vs stock:

    K7XXmod.png

    The dip doesn't seem to be lessened in the FR measurement, it is subjectively, however.
     

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  12. spoony

    spoony Spooky

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    I tried a different material that seems to work better:

    K7XXwip.png

    Subjectively I'm not so sure, does some things to the dynamics and headstage... I will keep experimenting.
     
  13. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I find that more "effective" materials that linearize the frequency response oftentimes has the effect of making things sound more dead, boring, or flatter. It's like negative feedback in circuitry - too much of a good thing.
     
  14. gurubhai

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    I agree. Effect of too much damping can be similar to too much negative feedback making the headphone sound less dynamic, flat and dry. IME, dryness of mids esp. vocals,loss of microdynamics and reduction in treble air are among the first signs of over-damping. One needs to back off at that point.
     
  15. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

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    Are guitars still separated from their distortion?
     
  16. Friday

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    Exactly the reason why my experimental sorbothane pieces keep getting smaller: so I can more precisely control the amount of damping I want to achieve. Some of them are so small they can barely stick to the frame anymore.
     
  17. logscool

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    I have found exactly this to be true. After I got my measurement system up and running I did a series of mods to my K7XX going off only measurements (don't do this). When i was done the FR actually looked quite good and ringing problems were gone then I listened to them, they sounded muffled and without resolution, much worse than stock. I've since then realized that a gentle hand and careful listening are very important while modding.
     
  18. spoony

    spoony Spooky

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    Would you mind sharing an example of this to make sure?
     
  19. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

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    Stock, the hole in the presence region and AKG soundstage separates the guitar note from the distortion. I actually tried the AKG K7XX last Saturday with Suffocation's Effigy of the Forgotten (death metal so you might not want to click) to check the bass versus HD 650s. The treble wasn't that bad but the poor guitar imaging caused me to take them off as soon as I heard the bass rumble that opens the second track.
     
  20. spoony

    spoony Spooky

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    I'll give it a try tonight.
     

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