AKG K701

Design

By design, these headphones are very similar: they’re both open-backed, they’re both over-ear cans, and they both employ dynamic drivers. Neither has detachable cables, but both have a considerable amount of padding on the ear cups. From an aesthetic standpoint, the DT 990 Pros may appeal to you if you don’t like flashy headphones, but the AKG K701s are slick-looking cans that are quite beautiful.

AKG K701	Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO

Frequency Response

Where the AKG K701s have a somewhat dynamic but still ideal frequency response, that of the Beyerdynamics is very flat, with the slightest emphasis on bass frequencies. At this performance level, frequency response becomes more of a matter of taste, as both are well within our ideal limits, but the DT 990 PROs have a boost in the 9.5-10.5kHz range that’s a little hard to ignore. Though the AKG K701s scored higher here, try each to make sure you’re getting what you want in your cans.

AKG K701	Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO

Distortion

Though neither set of cans had much in the way of distortion, the Beyerdynamics have a much lower total SPL, and virtually no distortion to speak of.

AKG K701	Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO

Tracking

The tracking response of the DT 990 PROs is much flatter, save for the highest end. Clear winner here, though the AKG K701’d shifts in channel preference are nigh-inaudible at worst.

AKG K701	Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO

Isolation

Neither set of cans was designed to attenuate noise, so this is a somewhat useless comparison. Neither block out much sound at all.

AKG K701	Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO

Comfort

Though both of these headphones are comfortable in the short run, the DT 990 PROs have a tendency to dig into your skull at the band over time. The band of the AKG K701s, on the other hand, meet your skull with a huge surface area, distributing the weight evenly over your cranium efficiently and comfortably over long periods of time.

Wear
AKG K701	Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO

Verdict

This is somewhat of a wash, really. Where the AKG K701s are more comfortable, and have a tighter frequency response, the DT 990 PROs have a flatter frequency repsonse, as well as near-perfect tracking and almost no distortion whatsoever. DO yourself a favor and check both of these out if you get the chance to see what you’d prefer.