AKG K701 Open-Back, Over-Ear Premium Studio Reference Class Studio Headphones
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. Whether in the studio or on stage, when you wear AKG headphones, you’re seconds away from creating history.
 |  |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headphone Type | Open | Open | Open | Open |
| Detachable Cable | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Replaceable Earpads | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Rated Impedance | 120 Ohms | 62 Ohms | 62 Ohms | 62 ohms |
| Net Weight | 238g | 235g | 235g | 235g |
| Wearing Style | Over-Ear | Over-Ear | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Audio Frequency Bandwidth | 12-39500 Hz | 10-39800 Hz | 10-39800 Hz | 10-39800 Hz |
| Weight: | 232 g |
| Dimensions: | 11.3 x 19.9 x 21.2 cm; 232.47 Grams |
| Model: | K701 |
| Colour: | Multi-coloured |
| Colour: | Multi-coloured |
Si tienes un buen amplificador estos son sin duda los mejores audfonos en calidad-precio te dan mucho detalle de instrumentos y voces tienen una escena sonora muy amplia y adems son muy cmodos
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.
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.
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.
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’m a music producer and I’ve owned these headphones for about 5 years and used them every single day for many hours, and they are still sounding great but of course there’s long term wear/dirt on them now and they look old now so I decided to treat myself to a new pair and I bought the exact same model again, literally the same headphones because I just love them.
At this price it’s a no-brainer in my opinion. Amazingly engineered product, I can’t think of any other brand that would produce such quality at this price range, maybe only Sennheiser.
They are as comfortable as headphones can be and with nearly zero ear fatigue, and the frequency response is very flat which is what you want if you’re mixing/mastering/performing. For listening purposes, there’s a lack of bass compared to other commercial models that tend to boost low frequencies. That might be noticeable if you use them on their own, but they can be used with an amplifier to tackle this.
Stay away from other brands that burn 50% of their budget on marketing and have nothing to show for it, while brands like AKG actually focus on delivering quality, even at the expense of a less stylish or cool looking product.
I’m a music producer and I’ve owned these headphones for about 5 years and used them every single day for many hours, and they are still sounding great but of course there’s long term wear/dirt on them now and they look old now so I decided to treat myself to a new pair and I bought the exact same model again, literally the same headphones because I just love them.
At this price it’s a no-brainer in my opinion. Amazingly engineered product, I can’t think of any other brand that would produce such quality at this price range, maybe only Sennheiser.
They are as comfortable as headphones can be and with nearly zero ear fatigue, and the frequency response is very flat which is what you want if you’re mixing/mastering/performing. For listening purposes, there’s a lack of bass compared to other commercial models that tend to boost low frequencies. That might be noticeable if you use them on their own, but they can be used with an amplifier to tackle this.
Stay away from other brands that burn 50% of their budget on marketing and have nothing to show for it, while brands like AKG actually focus on delivering quality, even at the expense of a less stylish or cool looking product.
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.
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.
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’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 read many reviews and none really mentioned that these headphones are made for mixing/mastering classical, string instruments, and vocals. So, they have no low end. I was rather astonished but I’m only a hobbyist producer. If you want great kick & bass for eg reggae, hip hop, electronica, then look elsewhere.
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.
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.
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.
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 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 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.
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.
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