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 |
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’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 got these back in 2015 and have been using them a lot… I m into film scoring and sound design so I am extremely picky when it comes to headphones. The soundstage that the K712 pro offer is nothing short of amazing.
If you are into orchestral music and value an accurate sound without the annoying pre eq that most headphones come with then look no further. No fake bass, crisp highs and clear mids.
At this point, I have to mention that after doing my research I bought the ones that were “handmade” in Austria but AKG has moved the manufacturing process for the K712s to a different factory in China. Not sure if the quality has been affected by this ( some claim that there is a difference)
I got these back in 2015 and have been using them a lot… I m into film scoring and sound design so I am extremely picky when it comes to headphones. The soundstage that the K712 pro offer is nothing short of amazing.
If you are into orchestral music and value an accurate sound without the annoying pre eq that most headphones come with then look no further. No fake bass, crisp highs and clear mids.
At this point, I have to mention that after doing my research I bought the ones that were “handmade” in Austria but AKG has moved the manufacturing process for the K712s to a different factory in China. Not sure if the quality has been affected by this ( some claim that there is a difference)
I got these back in 2015 and have been using them a lot… I m into film scoring and sound design so I am extremely picky when it comes to headphones. The soundstage that the K712 pro offer is nothing short of amazing.
If you are into orchestral music and value an accurate sound without the annoying pre eq that most headphones come with then look no further. No fake bass, crisp highs and clear mids.
At this point, I have to mention that after doing my research I bought the ones that were “handmade” in Austria but AKG has moved the manufacturing process for the K712s to a different factory in China. Not sure if the quality has been affected by this ( some claim that there is a difference)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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’re good, but they aren’t anywhere near as good as the DT990 which were the same price, around 110ish.
Very glad that I decided on these. Was considering other reference cans such as Sennheiser HD600/650 but probably due to Covid/Brexit was unable to obtain them in the UK at their usual price. The 712Pros are 40% cheaper than the Senns and there ain’t no way they are 40% inferior. I have them powered by a Topping L30 headphone amp connected to the line out from my integrated amp (which has no headphone socket) playing flac files through my Rega DAC and they sound awesome. Every nuance of the music is discernible. They are spacious and plenty bassy enough for most music genres. They are supposed to be neutral – ideal for sound engineers & mixing but they are audiophile cans make no mistake. And a bargain. To confirm the answer to a common question – as per this photo of their box, as of 26 January 2021 they are made in Slovakia, not China, not that that matters.
Very glad that I decided on these. Was considering other reference cans such as Sennheiser HD600/650 but probably due to Covid/Brexit was unable to obtain them in the UK at their usual price. The 712Pros are 40% cheaper than the Senns and there ain’t no way they are 40% inferior. I have them powered by a Topping L30 headphone amp connected to the line out from my integrated amp (which has no headphone socket) playing flac files through my Rega DAC and they sound awesome. Every nuance of the music is discernible. They are spacious and plenty bassy enough for most music genres. They are supposed to be neutral – ideal for sound engineers & mixing but they are audiophile cans make no mistake. And a bargain. To confirm the answer to a common question – as per this photo of their box, as of 26 January 2021 they are made in Slovakia, not China, not that that matters.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
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.
These sound great and are comfortable as all hell. But the supplied cable is crap and will likely break within a few months. Replacement cables cost around 30
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
If you’re a producer and you’re looking for a pair of headphones to mix and master with, as well as create your music in general, buy these. There isn’t a huge amount of low end but once you get used to them you can detect it, but absence of the low end gives you an amazing clarity of the high end like no other. Any AKG headphones should do the trick: I’ve got these and it’s produced some great mixing and mastering of tracks, my friend has a later model and they’re great. Pair these with a set of speakers that really access the low end and you’re good to go. Don’t listen to the bad reviews on AKG headphones if you’re concentrating on production. If you want something to have day-to-day listening through, I’d suggest something else, but these are definitely the headphones to get for detailed listening and analysis, and are the pair of earphones you need for producing.
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 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
Edit: I have had these for some time now and I thought it worth updating this review. The main reason being the time it take to bed these headphones in to get the best performance from the drivers. The above review was written at around the 40 hour mark, a fair time to hear the best they had to offer I thought. But I was wrong. It is only after 100+ hours that these headphone truly come into their own. Both the highs and lows just continue to improve. I can not recommend these highly enough.
Edit 2: I’ve been using these headphones as my main drivers every day for well over 2 years now. I was doing a bit of mastering this week and switching between different speakers and head phones. I have recently added some KRK Rokit G4’s to my speaker sets. Even though both the AKG 712’s and the KRK G4’s sell them selves as flat neutral monitor / studio devices they both know to have a “sound”. This makes them nicer for general usage but has its down sides in the studio. But switching between the two they have an identical sound to my ears. So for those wondering if these are right for them, If you like the KRK sound you will really like these and if using these to master with, treat them in the same why you would treat a pair of KRK speakers and use a lot of extra reference sources.
Still my very favourite headphones with the only down side being the need for 50+ hours running in required to get the best out of them. If I ever need to replace I would run them two days straight on the stand before ever putting them on my head. 10/10
Edit: I have had these for some time now and I thought it worth updating this review. The main reason being the time it take to bed these headphones in to get the best performance from the drivers. The above review was written at around the 40 hour mark, a fair time to hear the best they had to offer I thought. But I was wrong. It is only after 100+ hours that these headphone truly come into their own. Both the highs and lows just continue to improve. I can not recommend these highly enough.
Edit 2: I’ve been using these headphones as my main drivers every day for well over 2 years now. I was doing a bit of mastering this week and switching between different speakers and head phones. I have recently added some KRK Rokit G4’s to my speaker sets. Even though both the AKG 712’s and the KRK G4’s sell them selves as flat neutral monitor / studio devices they both know to have a “sound”. This makes them nicer for general usage but has its down sides in the studio. But switching between the two they have an identical sound to my ears. So for those wondering if these are right for them, If you like the KRK sound you will really like these and if using these to master with, treat them in the same why you would treat a pair of KRK speakers and use a lot of extra reference sources.
Still my very favourite headphones with the only down side being the need for 50+ hours running in required to get the best out of them. If I ever need to replace I would run them two days straight on the stand before ever putting them on my head. 10/10
Well, well. A good friend of mine who is an audiophile recommended these as they give a totally flat image. I have had them for a few months now after burning them in and now they have come alive. I am hearing things now that I couldn’t before with other phones. I am in a band and we record our own music, so I need a headphone with a totally flat sound and these give that. Proper studio reference cans. Brilliant.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Headphones arrived from Barcelona within three days. All original sealed packaging without so much as a scratch. These are beautifully made headphones and extremely comfortable to wear. They have been a revelation to me, I shall be selling my Stax and Sennheisers. Seemed a little too bright at first but after a week’s heavy listening they have calmed down beautifully. Nothing is missed, the dynamic range is huge as is the sound stage.I am hearing things in quiet passages of music that even my Stax ear-speakers miss! My principal listening is classical, orchestral, choral and organ.
Headphones arrived from Barcelona within three days. All original sealed packaging without so much as a scratch. These are beautifully made headphones and extremely comfortable to wear. They have been a revelation to me, I shall be selling my Stax and Sennheisers. Seemed a little too bright at first but after a week’s heavy listening they have calmed down beautifully. Nothing is missed, the dynamic range is huge as is the sound stage.I am hearing things in quiet passages of music that even my Stax ear-speakers miss! My principal listening is classical, orchestral, choral and organ.
The head band feels a little loose, but that might just be the design.
The cable that connects to the left earphone is a little annoying, when you turn your head.
you get a nice bag and two different types of cables. straight and coil.
The head band feels a little loose, but that might just be the design.
The cable that connects to the left earphone is a little annoying, when you turn your head.
you get a nice bag and two different types of cables. straight and coil.
My AKG K702’s are first class reference studio headphones which you will be hard put to turn away from. They also arrived next day delivery. I was very impressed.
And for pure joy I recommend buying the FiiO E10K USB DAC to use with these headphones. Because this really has to be mandatory to be able to enjoy this incredibly high quality headset because it made the sound much, much better! And listening is truly believing. Also, more cleaner than on my computer and the FiiO’s little button to boost the bass a bit is just perfect in combination with this headset that the DAC will greatly enhance the headphone’s bass and increase your music enjoyment 10-fold.
My AKG K702’s are 62 Ohms which means they drive very easily, and the FiiO DAC also has a handy volume control knob, bass increase and gain so we can be among great music tracks all night, and all because the AKG’s headband feels very comfortable on one’s head.
These AKG 702 headphones are outstanding good value! They are comfortable, their velvety ear muffs are easy to clean, and the headphones being ‘open backed’ will allow me to hear the doorbell or someone talking to me.
AKG make higher quality, more expensive headphones for sure, but mine seemed to have been reduced in price, thus making even a far better bargain. Their sound range is 10-39800 Hz, weight 235g so not heavy and honestly I think these would make a super present to oneself. 5 Stars!
One very happy piglet.
These headphones are so good – sound quality is excellent, and they are supremely comfortable to wear. As the headphones are quite big, one would think they are heavy on the head, but they feel amazingly lightweight. The cord is quite long, so you can move around easily as well. I have quite a big head and big ears, but these fit fine and cover my ears almost completely.
I wouldn’t use these for commuting, as they do leak quite a bit of sound. Also, might not be best for bass-heavy music. I’ve used these for gaming as well, and have been satisfied. I’ve seen many pictures where headphones have a “Made in Austria” marking, mine do not have that, so I assume these are NOT Austrian-made.
They are not for those who want deep bass. But they find the hidden instruments lost on cheaper headphones. They are really for indoors. Being large, but light and comfortable. They are hifi quality and different. What the difference is, you will have to find out for yourself.
If you’re looking for reference headphones for mixing and mastering, with their open back design (giving you a better sense of listening in a room rather than in your head) and near-flat frequency response up to 30khz, these are perfect. Better still is the fact that if your a user of the Waves Abbey Road Studio 3 mixing plugin, there’s already a preset setting for them.
They’re also incredibly comfortable to wear, like your favourite cat snuggling up to your head in bed — my only regret with them is that being open back they’re not really suitable for using to listen to music out on public transport, because everybody else can hear them too.
The best thing I can do is compare them to chocolate and my other over/on ears.
Coming from ATH M40x and Grado SR60’s then I can tell you I am very disappointed with the sound.
If I say:
The Grados are like a rich sticky toffee pudding, nice bass (I’m not a bass head), nice treble and nice mids. If they were built better, I’d get some SR225’s no question.
M40x are awesome, clear and what I thought were neutral. More like a Galaxy bar in my chocolate analogy.
The K702 are more like a chocolate wafer, and one that missed the chocolate coating machine. If these are reference, then my M40x are a pair of Beats. Nice wide open audio, very clear – but bass and vocals seem wafer thin to me.
Build quality is awesome, and they fit nicely over my massive ears. Just a shame the can’t be a bit thicker, and have a slim layer of chocolate coating.
I returned them, and now I have no idea what over ear open backs to go with.
The best thing I can do is compare them to chocolate and my other over/on ears.
Coming from ATH M40x and Grado SR60’s then I can tell you I am very disappointed with the sound.
If I say:
The Grados are like a rich sticky toffee pudding, nice bass (I’m not a bass head), nice treble and nice mids. If they were built better, I’d get some SR225’s no question.
M40x are awesome, clear and what I thought were neutral. More like a Galaxy bar in my chocolate analogy.
The K702 are more like a chocolate wafer, and one that missed the chocolate coating machine. If these are reference, then my M40x are a pair of Beats. Nice wide open audio, very clear – but bass and vocals seem wafer thin to me.
Build quality is awesome, and they fit nicely over my massive ears. Just a shame the can’t be a bit thicker, and have a slim layer of chocolate coating.
I returned them, and now I have no idea what over ear open backs to go with.
Bass quality is irrelevant to this product as they are flat response ‘studio monitors’ so no artificial bass boost. When called upon they model bass as superbly as they model all other frequencies. Super comfortable and light enough to wear all day. Difference between these and ‘gaming headsets’ is night and day. Crystal clear sound reproduction even affects the reproduction of environment in some broadcasts, you can hear the room they are recording in.
Good enough as gaming headphones.
Excel as monitors for music production.
These headphones would please the ones who look for flat very detailed analytical well balanced sound with no coloration. Not for those who prefer emphasized bass and highs. I give 4 stars because the leather strap is too firm and does not sit well enough on the head top. For under $300 this is a good purchase.
Sound is extremely subjective and therefore you should always try to directly compare headphones from multiple sources. However, most of us do not have the time or opportunity. So, we have to either trust reviews or research the frequency data/response and know what we want.
In my case I am using these for initial mixing in a studio and I like the clarity and comfort. They seem perfectly capable of playing differing genres of music although some people might prefer a heavier bass for dance tracks. You do have to ‘drive’ them more than my other pairs.
I also check mixes with a terrible set of cheap speakers, different earphones and a reasonable set of monitors but the AKG’s are already my favourite reference for mixing.
I don’t know whether it’s because they are open back or not, but my ears do not tire in the same way as with other earphones and the bass is fairly rich without aggression.
In summary, good comfort and clarity for home listening but not out and about as they are open and you will annoy others and be annoyed by other sounds.
Sound is extremely subjective and therefore you should always try to directly compare headphones from multiple sources. However, most of us do not have the time or opportunity. So, we have to either trust reviews or research the frequency data/response and know what we want.
In my case I am using these for initial mixing in a studio and I like the clarity and comfort. They seem perfectly capable of playing differing genres of music although some people might prefer a heavier bass for dance tracks. You do have to ‘drive’ them more than my other pairs.
I also check mixes with a terrible set of cheap speakers, different earphones and a reasonable set of monitors but the AKG’s are already my favourite reference for mixing.
I don’t know whether it’s because they are open back or not, but my ears do not tire in the same way as with other earphones and the bass is fairly rich without aggression.
In summary, good comfort and clarity for home listening but not out and about as they are open and you will annoy others and be annoyed by other sounds.
Sound is extremely subjective and therefore you should always try to directly compare headphones from multiple sources. However, most of us do not have the time or opportunity. So, we have to either trust reviews or research the frequency data/response and know what we want.
In my case I am using these for initial mixing in a studio and I like the clarity and comfort. They seem perfectly capable of playing differing genres of music although some people might prefer a heavier bass for dance tracks. You do have to ‘drive’ them more than my other pairs.
I also check mixes with a terrible set of cheap speakers, different earphones and a reasonable set of monitors but the AKG’s are already my favourite reference for mixing.
I don’t know whether it’s because they are open back or not, but my ears do not tire in the same way as with other earphones and the bass is fairly rich without aggression.
In summary, good comfort and clarity for home listening but not out and about as they are open and you will annoy others and be annoyed by other sounds.
On brighter and early digital recordings, a less analytical presentation is sometimes preferable. In those cases, I preferred the Beyer T1.
I found the K812 superior in every respect, on every recording, to the Sennheiser 800.
The headphones are well built (in Slovakia), with no rattles or squeaks after 2 years.
Sadly AKG are no more, so if you want these headphones buy them now. Last chance!
I listened via Chord Mojo and 2qute dacs, with a Lehmann Linear amplifier. Also straight out of an ipod using lossless recordings, which was perfectly viable.
I compared them to similar flagshps (HD800 and TI), also cheaper sets (HD600, 880, K701, Sony MDR Z7).
On brighter and early digital recordings, a less analytical presentation is sometimes preferable. In those cases, I preferred the Beyer T1.
I found the K812 superior in every respect, on every recording, to the Sennheiser 800.
The headphones are well built (in Slovakia), with no rattles or squeaks after 2 years.
Sadly AKG are no more, so if you want these headphones buy them now. Last chance!
I listened via Chord Mojo and 2qute dacs, with a Lehmann Linear amplifier. Also straight out of an ipod using lossless recordings, which was perfectly viable.
I compared them to similar flagshps (HD800 and TI), also cheaper sets (HD600, 880, K701, Sony MDR Z7).
My previous AKG model Q701 had an issue with one of the speakers, so I had to replace for this model.
I have to say that the quality is similar but less presence in low-end, In my opinion, the highs are too prominent, giving you a slightly wrong idea when I am producing music that my tracks are too bright. I do believe that I need more time with them but, this is my first impression working a bit with them.
These headphones are, as has been stated elsewhere, great for ambient and classical music especially (my preferred genres) with their wide but natural soundstage. However, if this is your first purchase of headphones that require a dedicated amp (and they certainly do), just know that you may end up cycling through a couple different products before you find one that works – you don’t need to break the bank (some have said that it’s necessary to spend more than the headphones themselves in amplification, which is absolutely untrue), but if you have no amp and you want passable sound, you will definitely need to spend extra.
These headphones are, as has been stated elsewhere, great for ambient and classical music especially (my preferred genres) with their wide but natural soundstage. However, if this is your first purchase of headphones that require a dedicated amp (and they certainly do), just know that you may end up cycling through a couple different products before you find one that works – you don’t need to break the bank (some have said that it’s necessary to spend more than the headphones themselves in amplification, which is absolutely untrue), but if you have no amp and you want passable sound, you will definitely need to spend extra.
Definitley a step up from my previous Philips Fidelio X1’s which were no slouch and make the Focal Listen Pros sound absolutely pathetic in comparison.
I have them plugged into a Marantz stereo amp and it drives them just fine, The headphones are very comfortable for long listening as they are very light and the clamp isn’t tight it’s just right for me, I don’t need to adjust them at all.
The memory foam ear cups are large and spacious and thanks to the open back they are very breathable my ears do not get fatigued even after 6-8 hours straight listening to music playing games etc on my pc or tv.
Best 200 quid I’ve spent on headphones.
This is my second purchase in buying “proper” headphones.
these arent $2000 studio headphones, but as someone who in recent years started appriciating quality audio products i can say they are great.
i bought Brainwavez HM5s before and wanted to try some open backs. after trying several pairs and shopping around i settled on these.
the clarity is great and they are very neutral across the board, i expected more in the bass area, and then expected to not like it when they were more neutral, but i very much enjoy the sound these produce.
currently using these in a desktop headphone amp which is recomended as running straight off a phone jack is not going to them justice.
music wise i listen to classical, rock and metal. so a broad selection. the clarity and sound stage is great for listning to orchestra pieces and the bass can handle metal without being muddy. for someone looking for great headphones at a reasonable price id recommend. (of course taste is always a factor)
Gaming: for gaming i think these are great, the open back realy presents a much wider sound stage and makes positional sound much much better, it handles gunshots explosions beautifully and can realy immerse you in the game when playing adventure/fantasy settings and the clarity allows you to pick up alot of ambient sound.
they are super comfy to wear and i can have several hour long sessions of music or games without the need to take them off. very light and durable band. did not change the soft touch ear pads as they feel great.
This is my second purchase in buying “proper” headphones.
these arent $2000 studio headphones, but as someone who in recent years started appriciating quality audio products i can say they are great.
i bought Brainwavez HM5s before and wanted to try some open backs. after trying several pairs and shopping around i settled on these.
the clarity is great and they are very neutral across the board, i expected more in the bass area, and then expected to not like it when they were more neutral, but i very much enjoy the sound these produce.
currently using these in a desktop headphone amp which is recomended as running straight off a phone jack is not going to them justice.
music wise i listen to classical, rock and metal. so a broad selection. the clarity and sound stage is great for listning to orchestra pieces and the bass can handle metal without being muddy. for someone looking for great headphones at a reasonable price id recommend. (of course taste is always a factor)
Gaming: for gaming i think these are great, the open back realy presents a much wider sound stage and makes positional sound much much better, it handles gunshots explosions beautifully and can realy immerse you in the game when playing adventure/fantasy settings and the clarity allows you to pick up alot of ambient sound.
they are super comfy to wear and i can have several hour long sessions of music or games without the need to take them off. very light and durable band. did not change the soft touch ear pads as they feel great.
The headphones are large and would be suitable for those with a large head or large ears. Perhaps not the best for those with a small head.
To my mind the sound is only acceptable for the price. e.g. I prefer the sound of Grado headphones (but I find Grado phones do not last an acceptable time).
Bought these after looking at many reviews and to replace a pair of Philip’s Adagio x2
which I couldn’t get on with.
The 702’s go louder but lacking the deep base that I got with the Adagios.
But saying that the Adagios tickled my ears on higher volume, the 702’s don’t.
Sound staging and instrument placement also better on the 702’s.
What I do miss is the comfort of the Adagios. The most comfortable headphones I have used. Ear cushions are harder on the 702’s and they don’t sit on the head as well.
I do recommend the 702’s but have sacrificed comfort for loudness.
The only problem I’ve had is that they do leak enough sound to be picked up by my modmic 5 every so often, but that comes with the territory of open backs and these cans are good enough that I’m considering using a different mic to fix that problem over just getting equivalent closed backs.
The only problem I’ve had is that they do leak enough sound to be picked up by my modmic 5 every so often, but that comes with the territory of open backs and these cans are good enough that I’m considering using a different mic to fix that problem over just getting equivalent closed backs.
P.S Will update the review in few months.
P.S Will update the review in few months.
The sound quality is the best based on the price I paid for it considering Sennheiser studio headphones cost min 167 (145 on offer) and around 300 for proper studio headphones. It sounds better than expected BUT it only works if you pair it with decent quality D.A.C/amp like E10k foii 61. Also you need to tweak the windows 10 sound to only 96khz, 96khz studio quality, and untick “let application take control of the device”.
The packaging is quite nice and the headphone comes with very long 3.5mm headphone cable. However, I was dissappointed that once you attach the cable you cannot detach it from the headphone. So be very careful with cable management & not let your chair rollover the cables on the floor, otherwise there goes your 100 in few months. I would glady pait up to 20 for replacement cable for 40-50 for different model with detachable cable…
Comfort wise it is lot better than previous headphones I have used on the past, only thing I can think off is that the sponge on the memory foam is quite tough, If could be better if it was a bit softer.