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submitted 17 hours ago by Kit to c/buyitforlife@slrpnk.net

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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[-] jaxxed@lemmy.world 1 points 4 minutes ago

They are gorgeous too

[-] Crozekiel@lemmy.zip 3 points 34 minutes ago

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.

[-] glorkon@lemmy.world 4 points 53 minutes ago

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.

[-] zer0bitz@lemmy.world 2 points 34 minutes ago

That’s awesome. I’ve had my AKG K371s for about 5 years now. I replaced the ear cups once because they were in such bad condition. Otherwise, they’ve been the best headphones I’ve ever owned.

[-] quick_snail@feddit.nl 3 points 1 hour ago

Any headphones without a replaceable cable is just trash.

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

[-] Kit 2 points 1 hour ago

For sure, I've replaced the cable on this set a few times due to getting tangled in chair wheels or my kitten chewing on the cord

[-] statlerwaldorf@sopuli.xyz 7 points 2 hours ago

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.

[-] Kufflebuns@lemmy.world 3 points 1 hour ago

I got the M50x after my M50s broke, the plastic that holds the ear cup snapped. It's been about 7 years and they're still doing great, haven't had to replace the foam yet.

[-] julianwgs@discuss.tchncs.de 7 points 2 hours ago

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?

[-] Kit 4 points 2 hours ago

I got these pads for under $10 on Amazon. You just rotate the pads counter-clockwise and they pop off, no tools needed.

[-] julianwgs@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 1 hour ago

Thank you! Have to try that with mine 😊

[-] BenchpressMuyDebil@szmer.info 4 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago)

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

[-] Kit 3 points 2 hours 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.

[-] zod000@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago)

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.

[-] SoleInvictus 3 points 2 hours ago

Bad news: Beyerdynamic was purchased by another company this year, so that may change.

[-] zod000@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 hour ago

That is sad news indeed. The good news is that I already own two sets of Beyers and they will hopefully outlive me.

[-] TrojanRoomCoffeePot@lemmy.world 34 points 14 hours ago

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

[-] Kit 17 points 14 hours ago

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

[-] acockworkorange@mander.xyz 3 points 5 hours ago

That was a lot longer before 10 years ago.

[-] Kit 4 points 4 hours ago

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

[-] acockworkorange@mander.xyz 2 points 1 hour ago

I see. I was thinking of binaural audio. My mistake.

[-] warbond@lemmy.world 3 points 3 hours 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.

[-] Whostosay@sh.itjust.works 10 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago)

Did you also burn your tongue because you ate pizza before it was cool?

[-] Kit 1 points 4 hours ago
[-] doomcanoe@piefed.social 1 points 30 minutes ago

It's a joke about you being a hipster since you hopped on ASMR "before it was cool".

The full joke goes "Why did the Hipster burn his tongue? He ate his pizza before it was cool."

[-] Kit 1 points 14 minutes ago

Oh. :( That wasn't very friendly.

[-] doomcanoe@piefed.social 1 points 12 minutes ago

Fwiw, as a fellow long time listener to ASMR and fan of good headphones, I think you're cool!

[-] Pechente@feddit.org 5 points 10 hours 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.

[-] JordanZ@lemmy.world 7 points 11 hours ago

My Q701 and K550 both recabled to have a 4 pin mini XLR connector. They’re both over 10 years old and still going strong. They don’t really leave this room so wear and tear is minimal.

[-] psvrh@lemmy.ca 11 points 15 hours ago

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.

[-] Kit 5 points 14 hours ago

Do you happen to have a link to the replacement elastic? I had no idea that it could be replaced

[-] reallykindasorta@slrpnk.net 3 points 14 hours ago

I have those ones too! Complete with the broken elastic and clips. We need someone who’s into 3d printing AND audio to make a batch of clips.

[-] walden@wetshav.ing 9 points 15 hours ago

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

Do you listen to music mostly?

[-] Kit 5 points 14 hours 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.

[-] Hawke@lemmy.world 4 points 14 hours ago

AKG has fantastically comfortable headphones.

[-] mushroommunk@lemmy.today 7 points 15 hours ago

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

[-] uhmbah@lemmy.ca 10 points 16 hours ago

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

[-] Thteven@lemmy.world 9 points 15 hours ago* (last edited 15 hours ago)

You can order them from thomann but you'd have to pay for international shipping. Probably still cheaper though.

https://www.thomannmusic.com/akg_k702.htm

There's also the k712 if you like more bass:

https://www.thomannmusic.com/akg_k_712_pro.htm

[-] psvrh@lemmy.ca 7 points 15 hours ago

As a Canadian, I can say with certainty: check eBay, they’re usually listed for a lot less.

[-] Kit 4 points 16 hours ago

Damn. Maybe snag a used set on Ebay?

[-] Manmoth@lemmy.ml 1 points 12 hours ago

I left consumer gamer headset world when the new steel series replacement wanted to use software to do what hardware did on a previous gen where no software was required. I got a pair of these for $250 years ago. Absolutely the best move.

[-] pineapplelover@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 11 hours ago

I replaced the pads on my akg k371. I don't listen much anymore but they're still ok

[-] brucethemoose@lemmy.world 4 points 14 hours ago

My modded Fostex T50RPs are ancient too!

I have zero intention of replacing them.

[-] Blaze@piefed.zip 6 points 17 hours ago
[-] orbituary@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 16 hours ago

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.

[-] Kit 3 points 16 hours ago

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

[-] orbituary@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 16 hours ago

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.

[-] tyler@programming.dev 3 points 12 hours ago

Holy shit I completely forgot about massdrop. Man. What a throwback.

[-] Kit 6 points 16 hours ago* (last edited 16 hours ago)

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.

[-] orbituary@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 15 hours 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.

this post was submitted on 27 Aug 2025
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