Frankly, this is an overhyped product. At $200 it's merely OK. But I wouldn't call it great. It has some good aspects, and a few flaws.
Lets start out with the good:
Light-weight
Wide soundstage
Easy-ish to power
Decently comfortable
Lets do the cons:
Weird memory foam in the earpads take a while to settle into place when I put them on. And though they remind me of my X2, they are no where near as comfortable (other than being lighter in weight.) I'd call it some slow-moving memory foam. No better way I have to explain that...
Somewhat muddy bass. Which is an issue I've heard from others. Not totally deal breaking, but compared to the competition in the price-range, and under, it is unacceptable. I've listened to the 702, which the 7XX is based off of. Massdrop/AKG should have just stuck with that sound, instead of trying to V-shape it. Highs and mids are still very good. Ever so slightly sibilant on the higher frequency horns - possibly a resonance issue inherent to the all-super-light-weight plastic construction? I don't recall the 702 having that issue.
Plastic construction quality creeks a bit. Just feels....weak overall. The 58X feels premium compared to the 7XX.
Overall, I'll give them a 7-8/10, but I think the 6XX, 58X, 4XX, and other cheaper options are better value. I may play with EQ on them, due to their wide soundstage, and try to turn them into footstep detecting treble cannons....
- Light-weight
- Wide soundstage
- Easy-ish to power
- Decently comfortable
Lets do the cons:- Weird memory foam in the earpads take a while to settle into place when I put them on. And though they remind me of my X2, they are no where near as comfortable (other than being lighter in weight.) I'd call it some slow-moving memory foam. No better way I have to explain that...
- Somewhat muddy bass. Which is an issue I've heard from others. Not totally deal breaking, but compared to the competition in the price-range, and under, it is unacceptable. I've listened to the 702, which the 7XX is based off of. Massdrop/AKG should have just stuck with that sound, instead of trying to V-shape it. Highs and mids are still very good. Ever so slightly sibilant on the higher frequency horns - possibly a resonance issue inherent to the all-super-light-weight plastic construction? I don't recall the 702 having that issue.
- Plastic construction quality creeks a bit. Just feels....weak overall. The 58X feels premium compared to the 7XX.
Overall, I'll give them a 7-8/10, but I think the 6XX, 58X, 4XX, and other cheaper options are better value. I may play with EQ on them, due to their wide soundstage, and try to turn them into footstep detecting treble cannons....