The AKG Q701 are comfortable headphones that are well-suited for audiophiles. They're the Quincey Jones Signature line equivalent of the AKG K7-series, but with the detachable cable of the AKG K702 or the AKG K712 PRO. They have an open-back design, meaning they don’t block noise by design, but their soundstage is spacious. They're quite bulky but are relatively lightweight for their size. They were designed to appreciate high-quality audio in a quiet environment.
Our Verdict
The AKG Q701 are mediocre-at-best for mixed usage. These open-back headphones are impressive for neutral sound but are simply not designed for any other specific type of usage. Their open-back design won’t be good for commuting and the office, and their large ear cups aren't made for exercising.
- Great audio reproduction.
- Comfortable design.
- Poor isolation, by design.
- Big and bulky headphones.
The AKG Q701 are great neutral listening headphones. The sound quality is good and their open-back design offers a great soundstage. They reproduce tracks with great fidelity and are comfortable enough to wear during long listening sessions. Your ears also don’t get too hot thanks to airflow of the open-back designed cups. They're well-built headphones that should last you a few years.
The AKG Q701 are bad for commuting. They're open-back headphones, which means they don’t isolate much noise and they leak a lot. You won’t be able to appreciate your music and people around you will be bothered. They're also very bulky headphones that don’t come with a case, which isn’t ideal if you’re always on the move.
The AKG Q701 are sub-par for sports. They aren't made for physical activity. They're bulky and not stable for sports. Also, if you work out in the gym, they don’t isolate any noise and leak a lot.
The AKG Q701 are sub-par for office. Due to their open-back design, the isolation and leakage performance is bad. You won’t be able to isolate much noise and concentrate on your tasks, and your music may annoy people in the office.
Since the AKG Q701 are wired headphones, they can't be used for wireless gaming.
The AKG Q701 are mediocre-at-best for gaming. They don’t have any latency thanks to their wired design, which is great for gaming. They're also comfortable enough to wear for hours without too much fatigue and the open-back design helps with ear breathability. Unfortunately, they don't have a microphone and will only provide audio when plugged into your PC or console.
Changelog
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated Oct 31, 2018: Review published.
- Updated Oct 29, 2018: Our testers have started testing this product.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The AKG Q701 are open-back, over-ear headphones that are great for neutral sound and mediocre at other everyday uses. They have great audio reproduction and they're comfortable, so you can listen to your favorite tracks for continuous hours without too much fatigue. Performance-wise, they're very similar to the K7-series, the Quincey Jones collaboration with AKG. However, by design, they don’t isolate any sound and leak a lot.
The AKG Q701 are very similar to the AKG K702, but with a slightly brighter sound and an extra cable. However, the Q701 are typically more expensive for such a marginal difference. Another small difference is that Q701 comes with a Quincy Jones line logo on the earcups that close the cups, but that doesn't seem to make any noticeable difference in our measurements. If the extra cable doesn't justify the price difference, the K702 are quite similar, though.
The AKG K712 PRO are slightly better headphones than the AKG Q701. Sound-wise, they perform better in the bass and treble range, while the Q701 have a more even mid-range. The K712 also have better frequency consistency, especially in the bass range. People wearing glasses shouldn’t hear any loss in bass. The K712 also come with a pouch and a coiled cable, but not a 20-foot cable like the Q701. They are still very similar headphones, but the higher price on the K712 might not be worth the investment for the little differences.
The AKG Q701 are AKG’s collaboration with record producer Quincey Jones (of the AKG K701 model). This means they are practically identical, but with slight improvements like a detachable cable to make them more durable. Their frequency response are practically the same, so most people shouldn’t hear a difference between these two models. The Q701 have a lime green color scheme that is a bit flashier, but that’s about it.
The AKG Q701 are better critical listening headphones than the Sennheiser HD 650. The Sennheiser have a disappointing soundstage for open-backs, and their treble range depends on the positioning of the headphones and ear shape. The AKG also has an extra 20-foot cable. The Sennheiser are more expensive, making the AKG a better pick.
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