The K7XX has been a workhorse in my gaming setup for many years now, I bought them soon after release, when only the black colour scheme was offered, and at the time this was considered one of the best deals in the headphone market.
My initial thoughts were mixed, mainly because I was used to my previous cans (Samson SR850), so I did have a bit of an adjustment period, especially due to the fact the Samson's were very bright. After some adjustment, I have come to really enjoy the K7XX, at least for gaming, and they have been my go-to gaming cans ever since.
Comfort wise, the pads that came with the K7XX were extremely comfortable, they have just the right amount of rebound, and really hug your head. About the only complaint I have with the pads is that they can itch a little bit, and this is where the Yaxi pads shine. I replaced my old pads with these Yaxi pads about a year ago, and I can't praise these pads enough.
The Yaxi pads have a slightly smaller opening than the original pads, this helps keep the headphones in the right spot on your ears a bit more, the opening is certainly still large enough, and going back to the old pads makes them feel a bit loose on your head. The sound signature does change somewhat, I won't claim to be an expert in detailing subtle changes, however what I can say is that these still maintain their soundstage, and I didn't hear any negative changes to the sound that made me want to switch back to the originals. Where these pads shine is the extra comfort that the alcantara surface adds, if my only complaint about the original pads is that they can get a little itchy, I feel that these pads completely eliminate that issue, and I can wear these for hours without any discomfort around my ears.
Aside from the pads, the headband on these headphones is mostly fine, however it can cause a hotspot on the top of your head, and I feel the need to adjust the location of the headband padding every now and then just to relieve pressure, but this is a pretty minor complaint, especially considering the fact these are extremely comfortable elsewhere.
So years later, I'm still using these K7XX cans, and couldn't be happier with them, especially with these Yaxi pads. I rotate my office headphones a lot more, and have dabbled in a few different directions, but my gaming setup hasn't changed in all these years, and while I have been tempted to try out some of the other options in AKG's lineup (K612, K712, K702 etc) I haven't quite pulled the trigger, as get the feeling the differences are probably going to be pretty minor, and while I'm happy with these I may as well stay in ignorant bliss.
TLDR: I love this combination of flawed headphones with the amazing Yaxi pads that create the most comfortable headphone I've had in my collection, perfect for long gaming sessions
Do you ever use EQ with these?
I don't, but if you're using these for music it would probably be a good idea. I did find with the pads I agreed with the sound signature more for music, so have felt less need to apply an EQ, but YRMV
