I replaced the pads on my AKG Q701 headphones today for the 4th time. It made me realize that I've used these headphones for at least 40 hours a week for 14 years straight. I've had to repair the left side speaker solder joint a few times, but they're designed to be easily torn down and repaired. Truly BIFL headphones.

I've heard that the newer AKG K702 headphones are identical but I can't vouch for that. They go for around $250.

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[–] 51 points 1 year ago (17 children)

Plot twist: they listen exclusively to Russian shortwave numbers stations.

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  • [–] [S] 23 points 1 year ago (16 children)

    Close. I originally got them exclusively for ASMR listening, when ASMR was a brand new concept.

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  • [–] 5 points 1 year ago (6 children)

    That was a lot longer before 10 years ago.

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  • [–] [S] 7 points 1 year ago (5 children)

    The term ASMR was coined in 2010. I think it didn't really catch on until 2011.

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  • [–] 4 points 1 year ago

    I would have sworn you were wrong, but I guess I assumed that it was around long before I learned the "correct" term for it. Turns out I just learned it at the same time everybody else did, basically.

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  • [–] 13 points 1 year ago (6 children)

    I have a set of nearly-10 year old Q701s (same headphones, just lime green and branded Quincy Jones)

    Other than the elastic suspenders weakening (looks like yours did the same; they all do!) and the plastic sliders cracking, they've been great. I replaced the elastics and the pads, but I wish the sliders were easy to do.

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    [–] 11 points 1 year ago (5 children)

    AKG K702, $600 Canadian. Too bad. 🤷‍♂️

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    [–] 11 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    TIL that you can replace the pads. My AKG headphones pads are worn out and I thought I must buy new ones. Where is the best place to do it?

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  • [–] 10 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    I've got some Audio-Technica ATX-M50 headphones that are probably about that old. I've replaced the pads a couple times and the cable once but they're still going strong.

    I got my wife a pair of the newer ATX-M50x about a month ago because she got tired of her cheap sets dying all the time. We'll see if the quality is still there on current models.

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  • [–] 10 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    Wow, that's a lot of time listening. Some headphones can be fatiguing, but these must not be!

    Do you listen to music mostly?

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  • [–] [S] 6 points 1 year ago

    It's a toss-up between music (almost entirely Lofi Hiphop), ASMR, podcasts, movies, and gaming. I originally got this set specifically for ASMR because I figured the soundstage would be great (it is) but found them to be well-rounded for every use case.

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  • [–] 8 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    It's crazy how good headphones can be when you just buy a good set from a good audio brand. I am ashamed of how much money I spent on "gaming" headsets that wouldn't even make it a year and had shit microphones and audio quality in general. About 10 years ago I bought a pair of AudioTechnica open air headphones and I love them so much, and they still work exactly like the day I got them. Comfortable to wear all day too.

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    [+] 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)
    [–] 7 points 1 year ago

    AKG 553 MKii checking in. I've had mine for years. Just replaced the pads and they're good as new

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  • [–] 6 points 1 year ago
    [–] 6 points 1 year ago

    They are gorgeous too

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  • [–] 6 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    I recently treated myself to these Hifiman Arya Organic headphones along with a balanced cable and a proper audiophile DAC. Really hoping they last as long as yours, because I'm so extremely happy with them.

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    [–] 5 points 1 year ago (4 children)

    ATH-AD700 from 2009.

    Still using it when playing FPS games. Still with original pads since using generic pads will change the sound. Can't find pads replacement with original shape. Never have problem with cable and driver.

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    [–] 5 points 1 year ago

    I found some K501s on the side of the road a few years ago. The only thing that needed to be fixed was the rubber band in the head band which was easy to replace. Apart from that these things are still perfect and I can see them working for another few decades. Truly great headphones.

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  • [–] 5 points 1 year ago (5 children)

    Any headphones without a replaceable cable is just trash.

    Usually the phones last forever. Its the cable that's the weak point

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  • [–] 5 points 1 year ago* (2 children)

    The faux leather on my Beyerdynamic DT770 started chipping off the moment the Chinese bought Beyerdynamic. Go figure

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  • [–] [S] 4 points 1 year ago

    Oof. The headband on mine isn't stock - it came with a bumpy headband that wore down over time. I swapped to this leather headband made from a scrap of recycled leather a few years ago and it has held up perfectly.

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    [–] 5 points 1 year ago (7 children)

    I have a set of K553 PROs that don't die. I've had to epoxy the audio cable back into the can and replace the foam twice, but they're still going after 10 years. Love these things.

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  • [–] [S] 4 points 1 year ago (6 children)

    Those are basically a closed-back version of mine, right? They look badass.

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  • [–] 5 points 1 year ago (5 children)

    Yours have that sweet leather strap and a different connection. I am not sure if the drivers are the same. Either way, I got these off of MassDrop before it was enshittified.

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  • [–] [S] 6 points 1 year ago* (1 child)

    Damn, those look sick! Are they over the ear or on-ear? Hard to drive? I might pick up a pair to use at the office since open-back isn't a great choice for that environment.

    Btw the leather band on my Q701 isn't stock. It's just scrap leather that I cut to shape when my old headband wore out. Got the scrap for free on a recycling group.

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  • [–] 6 points 1 year ago

    These are over-the-ear monitors for studio recording. I use them in conjunction with standard desktop monitors and a few other things to mix audio. They're not hard to drive, but they do have a lot of headroom and clarity. I have also used them with my cell phone occasionally without issue.

    The band looks sweet. Good work.

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  • [–] 4 points 1 year ago

    My modded Fostex T50RPs are ancient too!

    I have zero intention of replacing them.

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  • [–] 4 points 1 year ago* (2 children)

    I'd had a pair of K702s, and yes, the whole family is more or less just slight tweaks (K701, K701, K712, K7XX, Q701). I did have a part that kept wearing out though, the little elastic bands that let it auto adjust. They sell the part cheap, but since you need to order them from AKG, the shipping was killing me. I ended up modding them to not longer auto adjust but just fit my head specifically.

    Edit: I'd like to shout out to Beyerdynamic for also being on this "headphones that just won't die" train. My DT-770s are easily as old as OPs.

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  • [–] 3 points 1 year ago

    Waow ! Only 4 times in 14 Yr life span ‽

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