Joined in 2023 
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The K712 impresses me as neutral and detailed, with decent enough bass and a full (but not bright) treble. I don’t want to bore you with more specification information at the beginning of this review, so I will start off with the Conclusion first.
The fatal flaw of the AKG 712s is the recessed treble that is probably a result of that extra db of low frequency that has been dialed into these cans…The engineers engineered the treble right out of the AKG712s such was there too obsessed pursuit of giving you “more bass”……So, you end up with a too warm sound, acerbated by the wide sound stage, and the result is that the articulation and precise trebles that AKGs phones are known for are missing……. In fact for a while they will be my last pair of headphones for probably anouther 5 years or so and I'll probably stay out of this industry once again after I get my new DAC/AMP from JDS labs. I realize it is hard for people to accept the possibility that an AKG K-Series headphone can produce a solid low-end. I even thought Pandora was the worst audio I ever heard with the K7XX as everything sounded to mufflied turned out it was the K7XX the whole time, sure we all know Pandora isn’t the best or anything but it seriously sounded bad to me.For a quick overview, the simple view also gives you the opportunity to evaluate the sound characteristics of the test candidate at a glance. Some frequency range differences were noticeable and overall was clearer than before, but the big difference was the wider sound stage. As with my experiment with the HE400's this week I tend to know pretty instantly whether they'll be of use to me.
Despite being less clear everywhere than the AKG K712, nothing to date has sway me from using my MA900 as my primary movies, tv and gaming headphone. Initially on the first day when I listened to it on my Marantz PM 8006 paired with my Marantz NA6006 as the DAC, it was underwhelming.Part of the reason I have never bought AKG is down to their reputation as being rather cold and uninvolving. Obvious features such as the self-adjusting real leather headband, aluminum arches and solid rivets not only provide a lightweight, maximum comfort fit, but also reinforce the quality AKG has provided to studio engineers for decades. Ohm impedance also means that headphone output impedance should be kept under 1 Ohm, however, the impedance peak at K712 Pro’s self-resonance is so low, that audible coloration shouldn’t occur.
The overall sound quality puts it behind the HD 58X/600/650/6XX quartet, but it’s a better package than the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro. I think the crisp, snappy nature of the 702 tends to perform just a hare better when you’re trying to hear what’s going on, but the 712 is right there. IMO this may not even be possible since psychoacoustics shows our perception constantly tunes in to different details and ranges, there rarely is a full holistic experience.The leather headband will ensure further comfort and the replaceable mini XLR connector cable will ensure longevity.
The other thing I noticed about the 9500 (and this is something I’ve said for a long time) is that its ability to pick out micro-detail is just so incredibly good – to the point where things in the game actually feel and sound more fully fleshed out. If 2017 will be the year in which I fully immerse myself in classical music it will be because of these headphones. Some parts are thin enough that they could easily break when carrying it around in the provided pouch. The gradual decline after 1kHz does remind me of a Sundara in that it can sometimes feel a tad too relaxed, but it’s a minor nitpick.One thing I noticed in Terminator 2 that I had never heard before was the subtlety of the music in the background. The Magni 3, although doing a good job, a higher quality amp will bring about the layering as more three dimensional.
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