I have not personally no.

In fact, one of the many reasons I am so totally thrilled about them is the stiffness of the pads particularly in direct opposite of every other headphone cup pad from AKG’s quite uniquely designed cups that run from the lowest their high range…

So I don’t want to speak for the 702, as I have not tried the aftermarket parts for those AKG’s particularly, however I have, having the exact opposite experience as your issue you used many different pad cups for various AKG’s other then the 702’s which are from what I can tell pretty much very similar if not the same quality options available for the 702’s - I regret to say I’m just totally blanking on the company that I preferred the most, and I know others have had good success with when I get my other office. I’ll do my best to try to track down the name for you and send you a DM if that works?

I’m inclined to say I have similar preferences for headphones as you it would seem

Well said

Absolutely they really are a remarkable feat of headphone design as essentially they just should by all relative standards of sound design driver action - their open back construction be able to so precisely focus the attention of the listener to the most important element of any material that you evaluate them with & somehow the concept of what open back headphones allow for insofar as the allowance of space a sense of separation by function of their build somehow goes to a place where the most perfect sense of their actually being “true air” in the space that occupies a near perfect sense of the depth that is usually so minimal most never comment on the quality that all open backs should provide. And the AKG’s do it effortlessly and perfectly. It’s really a sense of magic in those headphones

I have to confess I have simply never heard of a soundstage that comes anywhere near the K702s - if that soundstage sensation is something that really is pleasing to your ear no headphones is it better than the 702s and I work in developing various forms of audio and DSP type software, and essentially have an unlimited budget of headphones that I can purchase and use the aid in developing for example, an app that can go on your iPhone, which can perfectly replicate a tube guitar amplifier by profiling even your own amplifier, using several complex artificial intelligence processes, and a lot of other audio trickery involving masking of frequency location-based or object based speaker designs that nearly always can sound like they’re in the center of the room so I said occasional listen to lots of headphones for lots of reasons IF soundstage. Is it AKG is definitely who call

Oh, you’ll never get that gonna be a set of decay series line of AKG’s those Philips headphones, bump

In fairness, it’s really hard to find any headphones that aren’t Bluetooth in an actual brick and mortar store these days

Lol you'd almost think so - I’ll try to help. I think is a very good point of reference of a different company with a very different signature that somehow closely in the arena of what Sennheisers are often widely acclaimed characteristically - there’s a massive matching model of Beyerdynamic headphones that will offer a very interesting informative contrast in sound differences, which might reveal a preference for one over the other.

Interestingly somehow one can do this, and managed to hear quite a difference in character and sound presentation. Well, somehow still keeping the core characteristics of what people typically seek in the 600 series easily, in focus for very revealing and interesting comparison, but I think it’s worthwhile everybody tries they have the opportunity I found it quite revealing very revealing and interesting and comparison, I think it’s worthwhile to anyone to try if they have the opportunity - I found it quite revealing, and I was much more easily able to separate the individual characteristics a preferred in each

absolutely agree I prefer the 600s to the others in this category bt a pretty long shot

At the end of the day, we all have to remember it’s always preference we’re buying these for ourselves, right? And being in a conversation like this is evidence that we are aware that better headphones then Beats exist - any preference that’s backed with even a modicum of knowledge is the right headphone for you

headphones are really a hobby for masochistics in that way I aren't they

I think the sander offers a different sonic quality due to its method of operation that makes it a fair comparison for preference again just my opinion

I have to totally agree with this point

Really really nice set of headphones pleasure to listen to even in critical situationss

HIgh End Sony Maybe even thier Professional Series - Look at MDR Z7M2

Specially designed drivers

How else do these headphones produce sound so accurately and powerfully? For one, the dynamic drivers are huge — 70mm to be exact. And new to this second-generation model: strong, aluminum-coated diaphragms that can move fluidly.

Sony also included a supersized neodymium magnet that doubles the circumference of the magnet used in the original MDR-Z27. That means the large, ultralight diaphragms start and stop quickly to reproduce mids and vocals with even greater precision and detail.

Rather than use a traditional grille, Sony opted for a Fibonacci pattern that helps keep air flowing in a specific way that lowers resonance.

It also helps produce smoother highs without harsh peaks.

Large vents on the bottom of both ear cups help accentuate the bass.

To be honest for the price of some of the best headphones I’ve ever heard I would be hard-pressed to choose the venerable HD 600 over them.

and just as a general guidance, these aren’t like talking about Sony XM fives or something this is like they’re very high-end, audiophile grade level headphone line

HIgh End Sony Maybe even thier Professional Series - Look MDR Z702

That’s interesting I’d be curious to hear your thoughts on the differences between the AKG k612 and the AKG 701

in my personal opinion and listening experience HD 560s are definitely great headphones and certainly sounds great I would never say that they didn’t I just cannot imagine a scenario where somebody would listen to a pair of 560s and then put on a pair of HD 600’s back to back and say well it’s obvious I’m gonna walk away with a 560’s.

Indeed, I can’t even think of anybody’s opinion on Fidelity that I trust that would ever choose a pair of 560s over 600s after listening back to back.

Again not at the 560 just don’t have a certain flavor and signature character that’s quite pleasant- if I had to provide a word to describe, it would be very warm and almost colored like warm butterscotch.

However, the 560 will never have the driver reaction response in the low end of the six hundredths in terms of speed, nor tightness nor the firmness in the upper mid range, and especially not the very present clarity in the higher end that is just almost as perfect as a headphone can do just sloped at the absolute perfect point to retain accuracy yet almost obliterate any harshness and mind you it does all of this on probably the widest variety of musical source material that I can say but any other headphone has ever come close to retaining its character, strengths, and predictability as the 600’s in this regard.

They really are just a fantastic set of headphones that maintain a certain response and timbre that despite having access to what others may say are “better” or even headphones that are absolutely better in certain areas… You’ll always, at least I always find my way back to these headphones for a proper sense of balance in audio and to calibrate “how things should sound” or rather it’s how I would like them to sound and they have never been completely outdone - side by doe against any headphones you might find another set more to your liking but the venerable HD600 IMO is really a headphone that is never really “bested” by any other - Cheers and Congratulations