AKG K702 Open-Back Over-Ear Premium Studio Headphones, Reference Grade Sound, Airy and Spacious Soundstage, Precision Crafted
AKG K702 – Open Back Headphones
Clear sound in the studio and beyond
The K702’s are reference, open, over-ear studio headphones for precision listening, mixing and mastering. They combine an extremely accurate response with agility and spaciousness, a high-performance cable completing these pro level reference headphones.
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AKG Varimotion membrane
Varimotion from AKG is a unique technology that allows AKG to precisely tune the capsule for the highest level of performance to provide powerful, accurate, clear and feedback-free sound.
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AKG flat-wire voice coil technology
AKG’s flat-wire voice coil technology is what gives the K702 reference headphones the transient response that delivers amazingly accurate and spacious sound.
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Phenomenal Comfort for Complete Immersion
Unique 3D-Form ear pads and an ergonomic padded genuine-leather headband ensure that you remain pain-free and comfortable, even during the longest of sessions.
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Professional Build Quality – Long live the music
All AKG K702s are individually checked and serial-numbered before being sent out. This gives you the peace of mind that ever unit has met AKG’s strict quality standards.
Comparison
Open-Back | Headphone Type | Open-Back |
| | Detachable Cable | |
62 Ohms | Rated Impedance | 120 Ohms |
231g | Net Weight | 662g |
10 – 39800 Hz | Audio Bandwidth | 12 – 39500 Hz |
Open-Back | Headphone Type | Open-Back |
| | Detachable Cable | |
62 Ohms | Rated Impedance | 62 Ohms |
231g | Net Weight | 235g |
10 – 39800 Hz | Audio Bandwidth | 10 – 39800 Hz |
Open-Back | Headphone Type | Open-Back |
| | Detachable Cable | |
62 Ohms | Rated Impedance | 62 Ohms |
231g | Net Weight | 235g |
10 – 39800 Hz | Audio Bandwidth | 10 – 39800 Hz |
- AKG 612 PRO
- AKG K701
- AKG K712 PRO
The AKG Legacy
Inspiring Greatness for Decades
For more than 65 years, AKG has helped create the iconic sounds of some of the world’s most well known recording artists, engineers and producers. Our designers and engineers have made it their life’s passion to find new ways to deliver breakthrough experiences for artists of all levels.
| Weight: | 231 g |
| Size: | K702 |
| Dimensions: | 11.3 x 19.9 x 21.2 cm; 231.33 Grams |
| Model: | K702 |
| Colour: | Black |
| Colour: | Black |
| Size: | K702 |
I wanted a fun cheaper end headphone to add to my collection. I see a lot of discussion about the EU or china made ones but thankfully my set are made in the EU.
Currently also own the Audeze LCD X & Sennheiser HD 700 and running the Zen Stack for dac/amplification
Build: They feel like a cheap toy to be honest however for the price I cant fault it too much, the pads are very comfortable and my ears fit nicely without any touching into the pads. The strap on the top does touch the top of my head and was a little annoying at first however I have gotten used to it and overall I am pleased with how they sit on my head.
Sound: They are a very well rounded headphone, everything just fits together very cohesively without even an EQ applied. The soundstage is very impressive and you can hear notes extend very wide, they rival my Sennheiser HD 700 in terms of soundstage. However it isn’t as good when the music is going left to right very quickly but they do the job. The midrange is very pleasant and vocals are very clear, I actually much prefer vocals on these than the HD 700’s. There is just a right amount of bass I feel with these cans, I do have the Xbass button on the Zen Cans so they do help bring up the bass as some have noted its very light however with the Xbass its more than adequate. Some tracks had a very bright highs and I had to turn the volume down however this was only for certain tracks like “More bounce to the ounce”.
Overall: Very pleased with the sound. very enjoyable and fun to listen to especially for the price and gives me a good alternative to listen to. I had the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 pro’s and I remember hating them but the AKG K712’s are a great all round headphone. The biggest knock against them is the build however the sound/comfort are more important in my mind.
Open backs are arguably the best choice for headphone mixing and these are one of the best you could buy in about twice the budget.
As usual with AKG their sound hits well above their weight. They present a natural response with good granularity and clairty in the mids, clear crisp highs and unmuddied bass – although the sub bass range may be lacking for some depending on application.
I find them very light on the head and ears and can wear these indefinitely.
When mixing, which is why I bought these, I can often hear things that would go unnoticed on more inferior headphones.
In addition, in many of the headphone correction plugins available, the 702 correction curves are often included making these a good choice for proffessional or home studio headphone mixing duties.
I ordered these just under 2 years ago and they are still going strong.
Highly recommneded.
But that’s not what they’re for, right? They’re aimed at people mixing and mastering, so they can get their presentation just right. I suppose they’re inadvertantly be good for video games, maybe even movies, picking out those intricate sounds, widening the soundstage.
But for listening to commercial music… No.
Reason? Commercial music is mastered predominantly for mobile devices. Mobile devices have volume limiting. So, to get around this the engineers compress and jack the sound levels. Everything is mixed bright because most bass headphones or IEM’s are muddy as hell in the mid/upper regions. Problem when you listen through reference headphones is that you hear all that artificial cranking and expanding. It can be ear tearingly awful. A lot of people criticise the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro’s because of how tearing the sound can be. The AKG K702s are even more ear tearing than the 990s, because they have slightly more dominant mid/highs. It’s not an issue with the headphones. Listen to something mastered with a degree of craft – many older masters before this modern destruction of sound – and the music is incredible. It’s like butter gliding over ice. The layering, the crisp vocals, the almost 360 degree soundstage, that pinpoint separation of instruments in the space. It’s all perfectly presented here. At times, I was actually in shock at how music I’d listened to hundreds of times should really sound. Bass is evident. It’s not sub-bass. Leave that to those crazy X-Bass style IEM’s and headphones. This is a more accurate representation of bass. Sometimes, it goes deep. But it only goes deep when it supposed to (not quite as deep as the Beyer DT 990’s, however). If your ears have become accustomed to artificially EQ’d bass, whether it be in IEM’s or other headphones, forget it. You may be tempted to buy these because you’ve read “reference”, “studio”, “precise” and “perfection”. But this probably isn’t what you’re after. The average consumer’s ears have been trained to accept hot mixes. Headphones like these will mercilessly expose this (what’s the point of Hi-Res audio when the tracks have been mastered so badly?).
Bottome line: these are brilliant headphones. Reference, for sure. I still give the nose to my Beyerdynamic DT 990’s because of that little bit extra bass presence (the 702’s are possibly slightly more bass accurate, however). Many people looking to master audio appear to boil their decision down to whether to buy the AKG’s 702s or Beyer DT 990s. If you can, buy both. They’re both similar, being open back, but also have different characteristics. If your mix sounds great on both of these phones, you’ve probably nailed it.
My son, who is a musician, was advise to buy these for his home studio and he says they are just wonderful in every way. Very good value for money compared with similar quality items.
I admit I bought these because they were orange and matched the screen of my Topping DX3 Pro.
I never quite got on with them – OK but not my favourite set.
Then I upgraded to a THX AAA 789 amp with an SMSL Sanskrit 10th MK Dac and these cans have come alive. Now I get what everyone is raving about.
These are headphones that you “don’t hear” they have NO characteristics of their own, they are a true reference to the original sound. They are open backed so you can also hear everything that going on in the room around you as well. Many say these headphones are more like listening to loudspeakers in your room.
a good sound. feels like they’re putting out what comes in, in a largely uncoloured manner.
Best headset I’ve ever owned, first audio focused equipment I’ve had as usually I’d have bought gamer branded/marketed stuff. Only issue is the quality is so good that I had to buy an external DAC to fix some static noise, lol. First world problems.
I’ve a LOT of experience with headphones. I’ve over 150 IEMs over time and over 50 headphones. Open backs I’ve had the Senn HD650, HiFiMan he400s, Philips Fidelio 2, Shure, Yamaha, Koss. I’ve had closed backs from Soundmagic, Sony, Meze, Denon, PSB and many more. To start with I really enjoy the K701, but I know a lot of you won’t and for mostly the same reasons as you’ll read everywhere else. The low end (bass) region is rules flat, at times lacking severely.
Build – beautiful, and exceptionally comfy. I’ll end it there lol.
Sound
AMP – These will not play well from a laptop or phone or even a DAP. You will think they’re broken most likely. They will also not sound great from all types of DAC or AMP sets. When I use a FIIO M6 DAC with new Sabre DAC as the source fed into an amp, it’s extremely detailed but lacks punch and is overly thin.
Using a SMSL with AKM high-end AK 4493 DAC fed into a Music Fidelity setup, it adds much needed warmth and power. The Sabre DACs i find are brighter than the warmer AKM equivalents. the MF amp is also quite warm and powerful. this combo allows for a more rounded and thicker sounding experience. It takes nothing from the stunning levels of detail and helps to add weight to the low end.
As everyone says, these are sublimely detailed. They are easily the most detailed headphone I’ve ever heard. More so than the hd650 and he400s. They are slightly brighter, if you come from a warm sounding or smooth headphone or IEM you might find them too thin or bright, but it’s easy to adjust to. Treble is crisp and extended but never sibilant from my exeprience, again the setup i use may hlep there. Mids are big, very open and have great bite and tone. Instruments are very well placed out and accurate. Lots of air. Vocals are a bit thinner for male vocalists, but again when you adjust you appreciate the articulation and realness. Female vocals sound great.
BASS – So these don’t lack bass. You do hear bass notes clearly, they do hit the right depth, but tit is VERY quick decay. Lovely detail and resolution, but it’s in and out in a flash at times. For a lot of music this won’t be a problem. Jazz, orchestra/classical…. even rock and pop it’s fine… but certain songs you’ll be really disappointed. I’ll give you an example. On Thrift Shop by Macklemore, these are horrible. Flat and lifeless and lack any bass definition. Some bass lines are actually non existent. Go to Lorde’s Royals (a great song to hear bass weight and depth) and you’ll be pleasantly surprised you can hear the depth of those originally pulsating bass lines… but it’s thinner than normal. There’s no big energetic punch to it. Under Pressure by Queen and DB, those bass lines are there… but not all of them are as audible as they normally are. BUT the song still sound good as percussion is crisp and totally accurate, vocals are nice and prominent. Go to Andrew L Webber musicals, the orchestra score floats in the background effortlessly. Jazz sounds energetic and upbeat and highly enticing.
These are a wee bit like HiFiMan he400s, they also lack the same bass extension in terms of weight. The difference is they are totally smooth and the k701 more energetic and at times in your face.
Soooo, takes these for what they are… not for every genre, but a great listening experience. Especially if you want to hear microdetail or have that “i never heard that before” moment over and over again. Again, you need the right source to drive them. Anything less and you’ll think there’s something wrong with them. The FIIO M6 I literally had at full volume, my phone couldn’t start to drive them.
I am not really an audiophile, but I enjoy music and right now I listen to a lot of classical and jazz. I bought these because I wanted some good headphones, wired and dedicated to listening to music. And I wanted them to be comfortable.
They sound truly awesome. I will be honest and thought they would not sound appreciably different than any number of pairs of gaming headphones I have around the house (often owned by my children). But they are strikingly different. I lack the audiophile language, but they do not sound like I am listening through headphones, but rather as if the entire room is filled with sound. It is a new listening experience altogether. The instruments sound like they are right there, playing just for me.
They are also so comfortable. They look a bit odd (I admit) but they are designed to be worn for a long time and to be mostly forgotten. The huge but super light ear cushions and the wide adjustable head band almost vanishes. OK, after wearing them for 10 hours I start to notice …
I hope this does not undermine my credibility but I listen to music on my iphone. I chose lossless audio. Does that make a difference? I don’t know … but listening to my iphone with these headphones has changed my life.
1. The top end can get rather harsh and can become uncomfortable to listen to on long sessions.
2. There is no deep bass.
3. They really are open back – a lot of sound escapes from them and a lot of external sound can get in.
4. They are not that efficient – this means that the output from mobile devices may be quite low in volume. Ideally, use them with a headphone amp.
The pros:
1. They create a wonderfully wide soundstage, which means one can start hearing instruments which can otherwise get lost in the mix.
2. They are very light and I have found wearing them for long sessions no problem.
3. With a bit of EQ adjustment, the top end can be easily tamed to something incredibly sweet.
4. Some EQ adjustment can help with the lack of low end bass, but just pumping up the low end frequencies will ruin the sound. Just accept that these cannot give real low end weight but on the other hand basses sound tight and fast, with the beginning and end of the notes coming through.
Despite their imperfections, when I really want to get lost in a piece of music, or if I am coming to something fresh and want to really analyse it, then these are the headphones I put on.
Owned since 27 November 2020. When I first used them, I thought they sounded odd and thin, I thought to myself oh no not another useless pair of headphone. One thing I noticed straight away though was just how damn comfortable they are to wear, like I literally got up and went to walk away cos I forgot I had them on. I stuck with them and after about 2 weeks, a couple of mixes made using them, I suddenly realised these are the best headphones I have ever had. After my beyerdynamic DT 770 started cutting out a little, I thought I take a chance on something new, I did love the beyerdynamic DT 770 but the AKG K702 has blown them out the window for me. I guess headphones are a very personal thing really but these have restored my faith in mixing with headphones, the sound detail and separation is an absolute revelation to me. No looking back for me, on these. I’m sure there is better ones out there but these just work for me and at this price point, can’t go wrong and I would buy again, never really felt that with over headphones Ive had over the years and Ive had my fair share.
The AKG K702 headphones are stunning! They look great and sound amazing. Reference headphones are supposed to create flat, transparent sound and these are like glass! Listening to Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust each instrument are clearly audible and not mushed together. Nick Drake’s Pink Moon album now reveals the dull, unchanged strings on his guitar but his voice sounds crisp and breathy. These match my old Sony amp wonderfully and the volume doesn’t need adjusting unlike every other headphones I’ve ever owned.
Apparently these need a long time to “burn in” but already they sound perfect.
The AKG K702s are a pair of open (arguably semi-open) headphones. They let you hear the music without boosting any specific frequency range. Most headphones boost the bass frequencies as many feel this makes their music sound better, and offer other tweaks to the mid and high frequencies. The K702s don’t add anything so compared with many headphones you might find the bass response disappointing – even though you are actually hearing the music as recorded.
These headphones are really geared towards a studio setting as the flat frequency response is preferred for mixing and mastering. With the studio in mind the headphones come with a 3m cable that allows a lot of movement from whatever you have plugged it into, but which is ridiculously long if plugged into your phone in your pocket. The open back delivers a spacious sound stage but leaks more sound than the more typical closed back headphone so they are only really suitable if you are listening alone in a room.
The sound they provide is pristine, if you take into account what I’ve said above. They are very comfortable and suited to extended listening. However, despite only having 62 ohm impedance they are quiet compared to many headphones. Mine are plugged into a Presonus audio interface which should be able to handle such impedance however even at full volume the level is not loud – loud enough for my purposes but if you want to listen to music at high volume with these you’ll also need a headphone amp.
So they are very good at what they do but probably not a headphone for the general consumer.
But I didn’t use them as Reference Studio Headphones so they didn’t really work for me, unsurprisingly.
I used them for gaming mainly and music / tv and although the open sound is fantastic and they are light and easy to wear, there were too many compromises for what I was trying to use them for , especially given the high price.
Used for their intended purpose I’m sure they would be superb.
Pros:
Amazing sound
Low clamping force
Great sound staging
Really well balanced, I like bass heavy headphones and these aren’t that, but there’s so much space in them that it really doesn’t matter to me
Cons:
They come with a horrible plastic film on the sides of the headphones that leaves a gross sticky residue that takes a while to clean off
Ear pads could be slightly softer but they’re still super comfy
This is my 1st set of audiophile headphones, and they are great. The fit is very comfortable, you can barely feel them on your head and the ear cups are very soft, so if you wear glasses like me they wont dig into your head. The open back design makes music sound a lot better, and the frequency response is great. you get to hear all the details in songs, especially when listening to FLAC’s
I’ve a few pairs of headphones and several IEMs and spend a large portion of my listening this way rather than over the speakers. I use the headphone amp in the Cambridge audio dacmagic plus to listen to computer/HiRes disgital and the headphone output from the Linn Majik for CD and vinyl.
For comparison I used the Sennheiser HD600s and Momentum.
Firstly let them burn in, they’re a bit shouty when you put them on, and the high end is very harsh, almost uncomfortable. After a few days they’ll have settled down and you can give them a spin through your collection. What I found was pretty much what every review has said, these cans are detailed, very detailed. The soundstage is wider than the HD600s and this seems to make the placement of indiviual elements much clearer in the mix. I was treated to that “extra, never heard before” moment a few times, and this was on albums I’ve very familiar with, a guitar line I’d never heard before on Beck’s “Mutations” album was clearly revealed.
The only downside I found was they can be a little tiring for longer listening, and some HiRes stuff sounds too loud and way too crisp. For example Bowie’s “Heroes” didn’t sound great in 24-192 through these, it was much better with the HD600s or on CD or vinyl. The opposite was true for the Prince “Purple Rain Remastered” this was a real treat with the 712s.
One suprising thing I found was how well they worked with music from my phone using a Cyrus Soundkey, they could be played painfully loud so no problems driving them as had been suggested.
I would say they are a great option if you can’t justify the cost of the HD600s, if I could only have one pair of headphones I’d be very happy with these.
I purchased these headphones after watching reviews online and honestly can’t believe the difference between these and my iem’s. Not necessarily to say they are better but simply have a different sound, a wider soundstage and a different bass. I like them.
I purchased these headphones after watching reviews online and honestly can’t believe the difference between these and my iem’s. Not necessarily to say they are better but simply have a different sound, a wider soundstage and a different bass. I like them.
Bought for my son as a surprise and he has nothing but praise for them superb sound looks great and very comfortable well worth the cos
Great detail in the mids and highs with a reasonably large sound stage. The bass is very low if you’re used to closed backs or in ears so you’ll have to use a lot of eq if you want any bass.
Very impressive headphones. Audiophile quality soundstage and reproduction. Great build too. I love using them.
These headphones are ber comfortable and sound immense. Very transparent, easy to drive (iPod no problem), have lightening fast bass and the amazing ability to put you right in the recording. Highly recommended.
I wasn’t sure which headphones to purchase, as I haven’t used any for years. Having read the reviews here, I decided to purchase the AKG701 headphones, but had an alternative set ready to purchase if I decided these were unsuitable.
They arrived in a large presentation box, and everything about it shouts PREMIUM. It really does look the business. The headphones were a little larger than I was expecting, but very comfortable for moderate use, though they do seem to be quite tiring if worn for long periods at a time.
I’m absolutely delighted with the sound quality, though like other open-backed headphones the sound will leak and can be overheard by others if the volume is turned up.
If you’re not too worried about the sound being heard by others (or being picked up when recording), then I would whole-heartedly recommend these.
Bought these as an alternative pair, alternative to a big Bavarian brand (no names mentioned : Beyer DT880pro), for mixing and mastering.
They are nice and comfy with the AKG standard self-adjusting headband but made of leather. Feeling very plush around the ears with the soft cup material being nicely non-irritating. Over longer periods (four hours plus) I found them to start to feel slightly heavy on top of the head but of no massive problem – if you haven’t a natural ‘sharkfin’ at top back of skull then I wouldn’t have thought this would affect you – and don’t squueze your head in like some lesser (?) ‘phones can.
Soundwise they are nicely accurate, clean and with decent bass extension but I found the upper mid to be a little forward and this I notice largely over longer periods whereas it seemed to get slightly harsh although overall are actually great headphones, as I have found most AKG’s to be, in-ear and headphones. They will show up notso recordings or low bit-rate copies but thats their thing and I wouldn’t let it put you off.
The bottom line is that the sound is great. Some caveats though. You’ll need a good dac to amplify the sound otherwise it will be too soft. Secondly, install APO equalizer + Peace software and apply a sound profile (Google Oratory’s k702) to get the best sound from these headphones.
Great sounding Cans, light weight comfortable fit with Neutral sound.
Would benefit headphone stage as these are a little quiet on full volume.
One niggling point, the cable snags and curls like an Eel…
I had an issue with one set after about 9 months with one of the speakers suddenly not working. Got a replacement with no additional cost via Amazon under warranty. Amazing sound comparable to headphone monitors at 300 although they are not as robust so need to be kept well. For the money I would certainly buy again if these fail again outside of warranty
I got these to provide the clearest and most true headphone audio quality I could afford and they don’t disappoint. I’ve heard things in recordings, including imperfections, that must have occurred in the master recording, that I’ve never heard before. I opted for open-back since I was not worried about noise leaking out or in and open-back have a reputation for being more accurate because of this (no sound pressure reflections from the sound being contained within an ear-cup.) But I wouldn’t use it in an office or on a daily commute: they are for hi-fi audio listening or monitoring in private. Not that the noise leakage is particularly loud, just slightly audible and if you are not the one listening with the headphones on, even the slightest music leakage can be annoying to others as generally only the higher frequencies leak are heard externally.
After a little bit of ‘bedding in’ they have become one of the best open headphones I have heard before you need to spend double the price to hear much of an improvement over these.
They also make gaming feel that much more enjoyable for anything with a great soundtrack or where you need to pick out sounds to help with your game progress. They have an excellent open soundstage that helps in every game type where the audio is a big part of the enjoyment.
They will work happily being driven by a mobile device if you wanted or even on-board audio for a PC or a laptop. I would imagine most people purchasing these would be using an external DAC and a headphone amplifier to get the very best out of them as I have.
Anyone making an remarks about the build quality must be totally mistreating them. They are certainly not a pair of ‘DJ’ headphones you are going to sling in a box with piles of cables and other equipment and treat as though they are ‘industrial’.
Very light on the head and the leather headband needed a little flexing to make it a bit more supple before long term use.
Overall these are highly recommended.
They say there is no bass – this is not true, but the sound signature is bass light. These headphones do need breaking in to make them sound good. The sound stage is wide and impressive – this is where these headphones shine. Amazing soundstage. They are light on the head and very comfortable but they do look and feel a little flimsy.
Just had these for over a day as I write this review and I’m very happy with them. For years I’ve always preferred AKG headphones and use K240 Pro’s in my radio studio, which are OK but these are so much more comfortable and the sound is so much more brighter. By the way at the moment I’m only testing them on my home PC, not through the mixing desk. Enjoying so much that I stayed up over 3 hours past my usual bedtime last night just enjoying the music to my ears.
Having been introduced to the wonderful world of monitor headphones I wanted a set with open back for a bit of extra width in the soundstage and reading many reviews plumped for these.
On first firing them I was underwhelmed to say the least as the headphone amp I was using (DOUK P1) really ought to have driven them well, but didn’t.
Getting use of a headphone amp with a bit more power though, they really came to life. The soundstage was there, decent bass, mids and treble giving a thoroughly musical sound. Instruments and vocalists that sound like they’re in the same room make them a worthwhile investme
These are seriously good open backed phones. Very true sound throughout the frequency range & for tracking / mixing with h/p’s these probably can’t be beaten but it’s not a great way to mix unless you can reference speakers too.
Now you may think being only 62ohms that they are easy to drive, they are not and a amp/dac is a must imo. They are so comfortable to wear so nothing to worry about there. Im very happy with the AKG K712Pros and would recommend them to anyone looking for that extra quality, they are definitely on the audiophile chart for me.
They sound very good but are not open back , or at least I can’t notice it, I should have notice a sound stage change when I cover the back of them with my hands but there is none , and to make sure of that I tried on a Sennheiser HD598 and Hifiman he4xx , both open back, and when I even get a bit closer with my hands the sound stage is changing … I can’t complain for how they sound at this price point but at least please say are closed back and that’s it, because as a close back headphones are great. Someone please tell me if I am wrong
Nicely cold, no hype, very soft bass. I use a set of K240s for writing and general listening. These K702s I use for when it’s time to get into the mix, shape up frequencies and imaging. They are excellent for that.
I bought a secondhand Akg k702 on Ebay that had an intermittent righthand channel that after a few days gave up completely seller didn’t want to know. When it was working these headphones were some of the best most informative I have heard without paying silly money. Used with a hires music player and a valve pre amplifier sound quality is phenomenal.
These are a quality set of headphones, had them 3 years now. Very comfortable.
They have a polished sound with mid/high end clarity. However, they do lack bass and emphasis is more on the treble. Some people might prefer this sound and it’s nice for listening, but for mixing I find them not ideal and usually overcompensate the bass because it is lacking. I have a pair of HD650s which are the opposite with a lot of bass/lower in the treble, so in a way they complement each other as reference headphones, since I wouldn’t solely rely on these.
My first open back headphones I have tried, I have heard good things about these headphones and boy they were right, best headphones ever, Amazing sound, great for gaming and excellent comfort. As an audiophile, Highly recommend this to everyone who is looking for balanced clean sound.
Simply awesome. These outperform headphones I’ve paid similar or more for. You will most likely want a DAC/AMP to get the best from them. My iPhone and laptop do compromise the sound quality when using my DAC/AMP although my Surface Go does a surprisingly good job without. However you just can beat a separate DAC/AMP, with this I have been going back through my music collection to hear the tracks on these. As for gaming I use these without virtual surround sound, it’s just better in my view and show virtual surround sound to be a gimmick.
Hasn’t broken in yet, but clearly these are neutral, detailed headphones. Would work unamped, but would sound lifeless if plugged directly to a phone or laptop. Amped, different story. Highs are very much present. Highs are very detailed and a bit pronounced but not at all sibilant, at least compared to the dt880. Mids to my ears sound a bit upfront and clear. Compared to the beyer, the k702 has more prounounced mids and wider soundstage. The only advantage of the dt880 over this imo, is bass quantity (not necessarily bass quality). The k702 bass, though not as forward as the dt880’s, has more impact / punch. Overall tonality without burn in, the 702’s warm and detailed. Really nice!
Great sound quality, although after a month it cracked in on speaker but seemed to fix itself thought it blew, comfy wouldn’t know im wearing anything use with soundblaster ae9 soumdcard easy to get lost in the music or in a game. Mtx50 i got is more bassy and sound isolation they all good tbh
Great sound quality, although after a month it cracked in on speaker but seemed to fix itself thought it blew, comfy wouldn’t know im wearing anything use with soundblaster ae9 soumdcard easy to get lost in the music or in a game. Mtx50 i got is more bassy and sound isolation they all good tbh
hey don’t sound their best straight out of the box, and they don’t come with a case to store them in. but leave them running a few days and then listen to them and they sound much better, they will continue to improve over the first few weeks so don’t judge them and return in the first week.
The thing is, I love separation of instruments, big soundstage and all the detail I can get, and these really deliver. I’m not a gamer, but the reviews say they can be great for gaming as well. The issue can be, when it comes to music, the amount of detail will reveal faults in the production, you will hear intakes of breath and even things being moved in the background. Also, the treble can be sharp if a track is poorly produced, and at the other end of the scale, if you want the bass to dominate then the K702’s might disappoint.
However, if you have a reasonable quality source these are amazing. I stream HD music (Amazon) from my iPhone and iPad through a 45 Chinese DAC or my old Dragonfly Black, and in mho the sound is excellent. It’s important to note that they do need some power, which means their performance will be very limited if you plug them into a phone or tablet without a an external DAC. My Dragonfly is about as low as you can go when it comes to power.
For travel, in bed, calls etc I have my Plantronics Back Beat Pro’s (which I really enjoy), they have the bass and all the extras, but when I want to sit back in comfort and enjoy the music, the K702’s are my go to.
When the K702’s were launched about ten years ago, I think they went for about 250, today you will pay about half that. If you get them with a damaged box from Amazon Warehouse, even better 😉
Some final words of warning: these open backs allow everyone around you to hear what you hear, there is no Bluetooth or noise reduction, they are useless for trains, planes and automobiles, and again, please don’t listen to anything you don’t want someone else to hear! Also, the other night I fell asleep on the bed wearing them and my wife ended up going back downstairs and slept on the sofa until I woke up at about 1am – not good for the marriage, but it proves they are comfortable.
Enjoy!
great item well made ear cups are big so fit over your ears i use for gaming and don’t even feel there on your had just a well made item
Very good build quality, got them without any issues i read about on Internet.
Stock pads are really comfortable, really one of the most comfortable headphones I ever used.
Sound characteristics exactly what I was looking dor
Bass isn’t too overwhelming, anyone who needs more bass can easily do the bass mode, just Google it, very easy to do it yourself.
Very neutral sounding. Very detailed. I heard things in my music that I hadn’t heard before.
Normally use earbuds, so thought I would treat my self to some headphones for the evening when my wife doesn’t want the hi fi blasting the house out.
These sound super detailed which I like, clear, airy, good separation, bass tight and controlled and not overblown.
Speech is particularly good, sounds very lifelike, makes youtube sound eerily present
Comfy on the ears as the pads are larger than my ears and self adjusting.
Listening to Joy Division Passover live recording, gives a very clear rendition, also doesn’t have to be loud to sound good, can hear the sounds as they fade away, its good for quiet passages too.
Out of interest compared them to a pair of Bose qc35. The Bose sound a lot deeper and aren’t bad at all to be fair, but in comparison the Bose always sound like you are listening to them down a tube if you know what I mean.
So if you want light sounding, detailed headphones, then I would go for them, no buyers remorse.
Used with both Fiio e10k for music and Soundblaster omni for gaming.
Bought for gaming because of their Hugh soundstage, especially with atmos enabled.
Amazing location precision.
High frequencies are a bit rough for music but perfect for gaming, since it enhances footsteps.
Most comfortable earcups I have ever used, much better than my HD 600.
Absolute best gaming experience I have ever had.
Used these almost daily for about half a year now and can say easily these are the best headphones I’ve owned. I use them for music listening and gaming for my PC and I power them using a fiio e10k. As stated in other reviews, the sound is SUPER neutral and it sounds a bit weird at first, now I can’t go back to any other headphones that don’t sound as neutral as this.
For bassheads there’s still plenty there but you will have to mess around with some EQ settings to get that experience which these headphones can deliver. Did use them for my phone one time and they didn’t go very loud and sounded a bit weak which is why I recommend getting a DAC/AMP to power these.
As for comfort, the earcup material is probably the best I’ve placed on my skull, headphones are also really light and adjustment is non existent as there’s no notches, you just place it on your head and you’re done. You won’t even notice they’re there even after hours.
These are open back headphones so it does have a wide soundstage. However this does inhibit their use for gaming if you live with family/roommate or an especially loud PC or console (or just even having the fan on in the summer) since these will not isolate you from noise. These make almost no difference. However if you do live in a quiet enviroment (or you’re a night owl) then you’ll love these headphones.
Absolutely fantastic pair of headphones. Recommended!
Definatelly worth the money, they are perfect for music production and mixing. My mixes translate very well. Very detailed and wide soundstage, perfect for stripping down elements of complex compositions.
They are very flat, analytical, true and without any colouring. The bass is not too pronounced and I find it perfect that way. I drive them with Fiio E10K.
Definatelly worth the money, they are perfect for music production and mixing. My mixes translate very well. Very detailed and wide soundstage, perfect for stripping down elements of complex compositions.
They are very flat, analytical, true and without any colouring. The bass is not too pronounced and I find it perfect that way. I drive them with Fiio E10K.
I traded in a pair of Beyerdynamic DT331’s and a pair of Sennheiser HD598’s for these K712PRO’s and I have to say it was definitely worth the trade. Absolutely spectacular sound stage, clear hard hitting bass especially for an open back design, crystal clear highs too. They’re as close to my Yamaha HS8’s as headphones have ever been.
I use these to listen to my mixes. I compared these to the Audio-Technica ATH-M50X,
Beyerdynamic 770 pro and the 770 but these came out on top with a sound that was more neutral and a listening experience that is nowhere near as fatigueing in comparison to the others.
I would completely ignore theAudio-Technica ATH-M50X & the Beyerdynamic 770 pro because the base has nowhere to go in the closed cups which makes them both very fatigueing. The standard Beyerdynamic 770 were very very nice though. I would have bought the 770’s if I had not discovered these.
Headphones sound amazing – imaging and soundstage are great. They are power hungry headphones meaning your typical phone or Laptop will not do them justice. I use a portable headphone app or use them through an old FM receiver or audio interface. Really comfortable, you barely notice you have them on. Great for music, bot good for blocking out noise around you.
My studio is in an old cottage and therefore the work involved in making it sonically dampened is just too much. So I write and record listening to monitors but need a good pair of flat response headphones to mix. These are perfect. Bear in mind they are open backed so not quiet if others are around but really clear and true tone. And they are really comfortable – I was a bit dubious about the plastic parts given the price but that reduction in overall weight really makes a difference when you are wearing them for long periods of time. Recommended.
Top quality reference headphones and excellent service. These phones are ideal for editing and some mixing duties. Clear sound and excellent frequency response. These are a steal
excellent soundstage, absolutely phenomenal instrument separation and amazingly clear sound all round, with a nice neutral frequency response. light headphone set for long wear sessions and a detachable cable.
the downsides are that the cable isn’t a widely available standard, and it locks into the headset eliminating the reason to have a detachable cable in the first place. the other thing, that has also been mentioned in the other reviews, is that the wiring over the headband has an intrinsic weakness and the signal has failed at the right speaker on 2 pairs already. AKG has little to no support for buyers of this listing here kn Amazon, but Amazon provides their own warranty for 2 years which has kept these in service.
I’m a big fan of AKG and also have the more expensive K712. I think headphones are a matter of preference and the individuals own ears and what they like, a more bassy feel? More middle etc? These suit my ears as do my others for studio reference monitoring. AKG however are not very generous with not providing a nice case with the headphones, these were 100 and my others 190, surely a nice case is not too much to ask?
I have have used these to teach singing online for a few years and they’re are a great value for money. The open back configuration doesn’t distort the sounds and allows me to hear the ambient sound on my side.
I have just bought my first pair of AKG headphones and having had LCD3,HD800,Focal Clear,Beyer Top-end and Laylas,Kaisers and Shures I can say these are incredible for 185!
Never heard such good imaging and controlled bass and enjoyable/lifelike treble
I have given up on the treble of Sennheisers/Focals and Beyers and began to doubt there was anything for me
These are truly exceptional-get your money on these fellas
Nr 1. headphones for Gaming (amazing soundstage) and they are good for most music genres. But take into account that you’ll need to burn them in for quite a while to smoothen high frequency area, and you might make a bass mode to get more bass, if you feel they lack it (just google how to do it).
Best gaming headphones I’ve ever purchased.
The sound stage is so wide, makes it great for FPS Gaming, making the sound awareness truly amazing.
Music is amazing too, nice amount of bass not too heavy but nothing the EQ can’t sort.
Top purchase and at steal at 109 delivered in April 2020.
Sound quality on these is amazing and it’s such a shame to have to send them back (will probably be trying the byerdynamic 990dt now lol). Don’t be mistaken they will not blow your head off with bass or anything like that because they are more flatlined for mixing and mastering etc. The details you can hear are crisp and the soundstaging is georgously wide. Overall very flat sound that still sparkles nicely without being harsh at all.
I’ve owned my K702’s for a few years now, they are not my daily headphones, and I am guilty of storing them away in the cabinet for weeks on end, but when I dig them out and dedicate some quality time to myself with them, I am always surprised at how true and ‘real’ they feel. The earphones are just so true to the source of the music, you can hear absolutely everything (whether they want you to or not!). Complaints about the quality being poor are missing the point; these headphones are designed to represent the song or audio as it is straight out of the studio, there are no fancy EQ settings to cover up recording flaws here. The stereo balance, soundstage, frequencies at all levels, timbre etc is perfect for the price.
For gaming, they are certainly comfortable enough to wear for long periods, you can get immersed in the gaming world, (provided the sound engineers in the studio have done a good job) but as is the case with a lot of electronically developed audio these days, if there are any defects with it, you’ll certainly hear it! I personally use a Sony headset for gaming (as it has a microphone too).
I would not dare wear these out of the house, (although I saw one chap wearing them on the Central line one time!) there is no chance I would risk getting them caught in the rain.
Great soundstage, perfect bass, around this price you usually end up with a biased bass,
I’ve been making music around 10 years now and at this price there isn’t a better headphone believe me I’ve tried most of them!!
And these headphones don’t include the painful treble after a few hours like most headphones do at this price.
I moved from the Audiotechnica ATH-M50x
If you are look for good sound, lightweight and well priced headphones (at time of my purchase)
Then look no futher, these are super comfort and light. Besides the wired to the pc I forget I am wearing it!
Great for long sessions, I have used these for mostly music, gaming and VOIP and they are great.
To get the most of these you will need a DAC system, I have the FiiO K3 Type-C USB DAC Headphone Amp and had no problems
After moving from a wireless gaming headset, this and a good micphone is a much better setup for quality and comfort but is more expensive.
I am not used to quality sounding audio equipment so when I got these things you can imagine my surprise. I have been using crappy pair of 4 inch monitors with a freq response of about of 70hz-20khz and since getting these headphones I have noticed just how much I have missing. They headphones are great for music production, very good for EDM a good sub bass reproduction Well worth the investment..
I am not used to quality sounding audio equipment so when I got these things you can imagine my surprise. I have been using crappy pair of 4 inch monitors with a freq response of about of 70hz-20khz and since getting these headphones I have noticed just how much I have missing. They headphones are great for music production, very good for EDM a good sub bass reproduction Well worth the investment..