There is a danger of surfing Flea Bay as temptation awaits at very click...

One of my longer term headphone ambitions is to explore a balanced audio solution from source to DAC to amplifier to headphone. I can support the source / DAC side with my Wadia 861SE, the amp today is an unknown and from a 'phones POV, my Sennheiser 600 have a removable cable which can be replaced with a balanced version. But I wanted more options!

A pair of AKG K 702 came up for bid with an after market (single ended) silver cable from AudioMinor. Short answer, I made a bid and I won. Early days but my observations are 'interesting'.

Straight out of the MacBook Pro, the sound was extremely fine. Smooth, balanced, punchy a real treat. Not what I was expecting frankly. The comfort of these 'phones is a delight also. Firm enough to feel like they wouldn't flap around, but loose enough to make extended listening sessions pleasant indeed. Some AKG fans don't like the black finish of the 702, but I find them attractive and the quality materials I am sure will be long wearing.

With my expectations re SQ now through the roof, I plugged the MBP/Fidelia combo into the DacMagic and the Yamamoto, and... what happened? The whole sound was 'flatter', slower and less engaging. More work to evaluate and understand I'm afraid. I did try the 702s with my HeadRoom Cosmic portable solid state amp out of the MBP as well. No better. Hmmmm.

I haven't tried the aftermarket cable yet. I would rather get my hands and head around the basic AKG K 702 signature first.