AKG K702 ($210AU) vs AKG K712 ($360AU) worth the difference when I use a parametric EQ to match the frequency response anyway?

[38yEj5SxGA]

Pretty much every review I have read shows these are similar, the major differences being something that can be adjusted by parametric EQ. It's incredibly frustrating because reviews and opinions are regularly bogged down in the analysis of something that can be easily adjusted to suit tastes/the harman curve with a little EQ. (Obviously there's a lot more to it, but good EQ does make a massive difference for the average listener)

I know the sound stage is slightly more open on the K702, but could that just be the stock FR difference? Is there a blank spot in the centre of the sound stage on the K702's that the K712 doesn't have? Has anyone on here compared them after they have been EQ'd? Are there any tangible differences in performance? The drivers are very similar but the price difference is quite substantial with the K712 being +70% higher in price. I do love the orange of the K712's though, it's almost worth it just for that

These will be my jack-of-all-trade headphones for home use, so music, gaming, movies etc. Will be hooking these up to a Qudelix 5K for the PEQ.

Thanks Robbo99999 for your help so far.

Thanks!

 

[solderdude]

Different comfort (different pads), different sound (bass and upper mids), different price. Similar construction.

Whether or not they sound the same after EQ highly depends on who's EQ you use and how accurate that is to your personal circumstances ears.
Your ears, for instance, won't comply to a certain industry standard.

 

[Bob-23]

Replacement pads of the K712 are also more expensive than the ones for the K702 (note: the price is for one pad):

 

[38yEj5SxGA]

Replacement pads of the K712 are also more expensive than the ones for the K702 (note: the price is for one pad):
View attachment 150456

Wow, that's a big difference. Although OEM parts do tend to be overly expensive

 

[38yEj5SxGA]

Different comfort (different pads), different sound (bass and upper mids), different price. Similar construction.

Thanks for your response. My main concern would be how flexible they are to being EQ'd, so whether there's any difference in distortion when you increase the lower frequencies when comparing the two models. I know the K702 has a slightly less lower bass profile, so does that mean it's harder to get the equivalent bass level on the K702's with EQ?

 

[solderdude]

Not harder, it just means a bit more level in the lows and thus a bit more negative pre-amp gain.

 

[DVDdoug]

I know the sound stage is slightly more open on the K702, but could that just be the stock FR difference?

I believe that's the explanation. Of course, you only have two ears and there are two transducers so "soundstage" (with speakers or headphones) is an illusion and I think different people experience it differently... I never get a "realistic" soundstage. You can't measure it so you can't say "this headphone as 6dB of soundstage", or anything like that...

 

[Bob-23]

"Our Verdict

AKG K712 PRO

AKG K702
The AKG K712 PRO and the AKG K702 are almost identical save for a few differences in design and frequency response. The K702 get a bit more bass but also sound brighter - unfortunately, to the point of sounding a bit sharp. The K712 will sound less harsh to most people, but their soundstage isn't as impressive."

https://www.rtings.com/headphones/t...o-vs-akg-k702/327/332?usage=19&threshold=0.10

 

[38yEj5SxGA]

"Our Verdict

AKG K712 PRO

AKG K702
The AKG K712 PRO and the AKG K702 are almost identical save for a few differences in design and frequency response. The K702 get a bit more bass but also sound brighter - unfortunately, to the point of sounding a bit sharp. The K712 will sound less harsh to most people, but their soundstage isn't as impressive."

https://www.rtings.com/headphones/t...o-vs-akg-k702/327/332?usage=19&threshold=0.10

Unfortunately that's everything that literally can be changed with EQ (excluding design). Rtings only takes un-EQ'd headphones into account, so less useful in this case.