I find stock ones to be more than satisfying, but some people may prefer leather (or pleather) pads. Its hard to beat these headphones at their price point. I have reported on technology for major Italian publications since 2011. These AKGs are for detail fanatics: they offer staggeringly good insight for the money. Reviews. Our Verdict. Drums, such as those in The Far Side of the World from the Master and Commander soundtrack, sound really fast and accurate: not only am I able to feel them, but I am also able to hear details such as the bouncing of the sticks on the leather at the same time. The headphones are built well (especially for a £50 pair), … The first two things that struck me about the AKG K7XX when I listened to them were the soundstage and the dynamic range. So AKG K712 Pro, while being a pricier option, tends to get more favorable ⭐ reviews than the $187 AKG K702, as seen on the chart below. However the issue with the bass in the AKG K7XX is that first of all, the bass bleeds into the mids almost overpowering it. AKG has a rich history in terms of monitoring headphones, and its K7 series has been responsible for several industry legends. The AKG K7XX comes in a cardboard box with an elegant window to peek at the headphones inside. There’s plenty of good headphones on the market, but not too many great headphones – especially at $200 or less. The only possible complaint is that the sliding of the headband is not perfectly smooth – but it’s just an aesthetic flaw, as it works perfectly well. I purchased this headphone because of the mostly exceptional reviews on both Amazon and YouTube. They're easy to recommend for producers, but those who simply want to listen to music with neutral sound would also do well to check them out. The headphones are entirely made of plastic: the earcups, the frame and every other part is just plain plastic. The AKG K7XX are unequivocally AKG in their design. The Massdrop x AKG K7XX are indeed great headphones however you look at them – and they would still be at two times their price. If one of the four bands of elastic on the K7XX breaks, however, it could be another matter. Hey there! AKG sure knows what they are doing when it comes to quality headphones. The headphones are also incredibly light (297 g), and this really helps in making them more comfortable. The K7XX are both tall and wide, delivering a great space inside the mix. There are no fancy accessories. AKG K7XX (Massdrop) When you buy products through links across our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. The only solution would be to re-wire the headphones to add a line so that there would be separate +/- lines for both channels. The AKG K7XX are insanely comfortable if we take the headband out of the equation. Real velour earpads are quite comfortable. The K7XXs offer little in the way of visual charm. For producers, it’s an easy sell: you’ll be on the receiving end of clinically accurate audio that will let you mix with precision. Compared to the stripped down and cold sound of other AKG models, the AKG K7XX with its added bass really helps bring the fullness in music and makes genres such as jazz and EDM much more enjoyable. This is especially noticeable with tracks such as Molino Moreno by Snarky Puppy, where there’s a lot of instruments playing together including hands clapping and drums. The AKG K7XX is a decent sounding headphone with very good comfort. I do virtually agree on everything you say in this piece, Riccardo. Anything elastic has a shelf life, and I don’t know how long that could possibly be, but if those die: you’ll likely lose part of that comfy feel—if not all of it. They have two-tone navy blue and silver color scheme and an old-school retro design that will work for some. And that’s a very good thing, because this is a design that works and it works pretty well, too! Basically, I … It’s not a gimmick or something just for show—you might not even notice it—it’s an effective solution that adds great support. All the cues that made the design of AKG headphones famous are present: the plastic arches with a suspended headband, the large earcups covered with holes… These are quintessentially AKG. Boy, are these comfortable headphones. While the K702’s originally retailed for $500, the massdrop drop edition K7XX are selling at $200 which brings to the table a significant value for potential customers looking at getting an audiophile grade pair of headphones. Both this fact and the utilitarian packaging are natural consequences of the low price: in order to reduce costs, AKG and Massdrop decided to cut on the unnecessary frills – and packaging was one of those, in this case. Like the lows, the mids have good speed and control; the level of detail is amazing, even more so considering how the detail is kept even in crowded tracks. It’s not sophisticate or luxurious (it’s rather utilitarian, really), but it satisfies the eye without any doubts. There are no creaks or other red flags of poor quality assembly; on the contrary, they appear fairly solid. But, like many open-backed studio monitors I’ve tried over the years, (and recently like the Sennheiser HD 598s) you’re going to have to lean back a tad on the bass in general when you’re producing. Our first custom headphones ever, the Massdrop x AKG K7XX have been an enduring community favorite since they first launched more than two years ago. All that being said, I would take a pleasant feel on the head over the hand every time, so these really are small quibbles considering the K7XX is among the comfiest headsets I’ve ever worn. The AKG K702 share the same style and build as the AKG K701 and AKG K712 PRO. It’s going to be an over-adjustment and you’ll notice it as soon as you switch to a Hi-Fi system or your regular listening headphones (just do it as a test to hear what I’m talking about if you get them). The headphones are able to reproduce both loud and soft sounds at the same time without letting softer sounds lose definition or making louder sounds quieter – in other words, the dynamic range is preserved and there is little compression (if any). Grown Folks by Snarky Puppy) – also thanks to the fact they’re placed in different spots. Which one would you recommend? Unlike the all-black finish of the K52s and the middle-ground K72s, the K92s have gold accents that give them a pop of colour and distinguish themselves as the leaders of the line-up. When you own a K702 and would like it closer to the K7XX and K712 you can consider buying K712 pads. I've yet to come across a moment where I've even considered that my ears need a break. It’s not sophisticate or luxurious (it’s rather utilitarian, really), but it satisfies the eye without any doubts. If you want to get to the heart of your favorite tracks, the K7XX are headphones that you’d be crazy not to consider. I love and had zero issues with these headphones while playing these games and listening to music. AKG has a rich history in terms of monitoring headphones, and its K7 series has been responsible for several industry legends. What’s impressive is that it is not only very wide, but also deep. Bass is deeper and more physical, with a larger impact; midrange is warmer as the upper range is recessed; treble is more prominent and more extended and thus displays details more. About as comfortable as a pair of headphones can get, Plastic, cheap-feeling build quality Massdrop is famous for bringing collaboration products to their online store and it is famous for doing so with well-respected companies in the audio industry. Reviews. As far as my hearing goes (~17 kHz) it is well extended, retaining good volume even at the highest frequencies. Bass then flows to join the mids without any turbulences. These are the most comfortable headphones I've used- no clamping effect, and the ear space is enormous. You’ll find headphones with a flat frequency response like that of the AKG K7XX offer a very detailed sound, but not everybody wants this from their cans. Putting just a little amount of padding, even just a folded fabric handkerchief, makes the K7XX much better (and that’s how I wear them, actually). All this creates an incredibly clean and clear sound, which surrounds the listener with an incredible amount of details. They’ve made a name for themselves over the course of history by introducing some of the most legendary headphones. If warm (yet balanced) tuning with a bit of treble emphasis is your thing, then definitely go ahead: the AKG K7XX are extremely capable headphones that can satisfy even the most demanding audiophiles. The Best Trampolines – Ultimate Buying Guide; Best Rebounder for Lymphatic Drainage – Mini Trampoline; Black Friday & Cyber Monday Trampoline Deal; ... 10 Best Massdrop X Akg K7Xx Reviews. And, like all the best headphones, they’re going to help you hear parts of the mix that you’d never even picked up on before. Disclaimer: I would like to thank Michael at Massdrop for sending out a unit to me. As it is XLR3, it precludes the AKG K7XX from being able to use a balanced connection: even using an XLR4 connector on the amplifier side, there would be no way to then bring all those four lines to the headphones. A small, final note regarding how you can use these headphones. While these aren’t perfect across the whole spectrum, they excel in many areas.   Since then, they’ve received praise from Head-Fi, Super Best Audio Friends, Z Reviews, and more for … Headphone specs: www.massdrop.com page about AKG-k7xx headphones I hope that Gigabyte's engineers are more savvy than their web page authoring folks, because a headphone amp that can drive 600 ohm headphones is no great shakes. In addition to the headphones, the box holds the cable and a 3.5 mm to 6.3 mm adapter. AKG k7xx – The AKG is the most comfortable of the 4 out of the box as it isnt overly snug and the pads are not overly hard. The original AKG K702 had an insane cost of around $600 when they first arrived—far too pricey considering the build quality—but these have recently been selling for around $200 via Drop which is a fantastic value for these headphones. Though I expect most people will want these for mixing in the studio, I still want to recommend these purely for listening at home. Soundphile Review: headphones reviews, earphones reviews, IEMs reviews, speakers reviews, Bluetooth speakers reviews - and more. Earlier headphones almost sound cold and uninviting, while the touch of bass added to the K712 makes it much more approachable. It’s not a blingy gold, but a subtle, almost champagne-like gold. In cheaper headphones, you can hear the limits of the drivers, where it seems like the headphones just can’t quite do your music justice. That’s only my own opinion – you’re free to disagree, of course. Thank you! Natural tonality It was exactly these headphones that were the reference headphones, by which the K7XX Limited Edition was based. They're easy to recommend for producers, but those who simply want to listen to music with neutral sound would also do … Learn more AKG K7XX (Massdrop) 4.5 out of 5, based on 1 Review. I see the AKG K7XX recommended as “gaming headphones” all the time. We decided to fix that by making our own. Inside, you’ll find the headphones, a detachable XLR to minijack cable, and a 1/4-inch jack adapter—and that’s it. If this is specifically an area where you’d focus on when programming or recording, be it when trying to get fat snare sound, to add weight to your kick drum, or to get that “pop” from the bass guitar (like you often hear in funk), you’ll really be able to pin it down here. Treble is a slight bit emphasised in the lower region, but then is a bit jerky with lots of ups and downs and is therefore difficult to describe. At first, the differences seem superficial. If you’re just using these for listening, though, male vocals in particular might sound unimpressive to some listeners because most people are used to overemphasized bass in their headphones. HiFiMAN HE-560, Sennheiser HD 6XX), but the AKG K7XX are in a class of their own. Vast bottom end AKG K7XX (Massdrop) Limited Edition (6000 units). Basically, if the bottom end is loud enough, don’t get that temptation to try and pump any more into it to really get the heartbeat thumping. It goes as deep as 20 Hz, though there’s a bit of roll-off happening between 20 and 30 Hz. Superb technical ability with huge soundstage and excellent instrument separation. The K7XX is more lively and engaging, whereas the HD 6XX is more laid-back and smooth. Careful with those band loops: they’re flimsy. AS you might guess, I have a bigger head. Are they still worth to buy instead of Massdrop's K7XX today? AKG K702. As expected, the AKG K7xx does not disappoint, offering a spacious, wide, high and deep soundstage with excellent positioning and clarity. And the lower power at this region mean you completely avoid the sibilance that can plague vocals—and if your headphones produce that “Sss” sound, good luck ever getting used to it. These come in an all-black version, or all-black with red highlights and both include a few tweaks to the K702 formula to make them more than just the same headphones in a new dress. Unfortunately, they’re not currently available via Drop but whenever they pop back up you should definitely snag a pair for yourself if you’re interested as these are definitely worth the asking price if you value great sound. There is true magic happening with the K712/K7XX, provided you feed them with, for instance, an ifi micro iDSD Black Label or today’s ESS 9038 based Burson Playmate or the latest Dragonfly Cobalt. Featuring its predecessor’s legendary sound and build quality—with a bass boost, matched transducers, and improved comfort—the K7XX … This combination is a great compromise, one that allows me to easily hear everything – and up to the smaller nuances and micro-details – but preventing treble from becoming harsh and fatiguing, so that I can listen to the K7XX for hours on end. One of the best parts of the AKG K7XX’s design is the band. This depth gives lows authority and energy, as well as a full body. If you’ve seen my UM Martian review, I’ve talked about how great it is to see high … The open-back nature allows for an experience close to what studio monitor speakers offer, providing the sensation of a wide stereo picture that you’re always in the center of—but with virtually zero isolation. So, they’re well-cushioned, and lightweight, which is a good thing… but with a plastic build also comes a somewhat cheap feel. They are responsible for the legendary K7 series, among which include the amazing AKG K702. They are truly impressive and I do see why they are praised so much for this two aspects. They have been widely praised as great over-ear headphones and it’s now my turn to confirm that – they are in fact great. Although it might appear self-evident as the AKG K7XX are open-back, isolation is practically non-existent. A removable/replaceable cable is the single most important durability feature to have. It is my first set of open back headphones, and I like the way music is rendered on them. The lower region is satisfyingly deep and very well controlled, with the right amount of presence to be heard and felt (and even a bit more so as to sound a bit warm). Their collaboration with AKG resulted in the Massdrop x AKG K7XX, a revisited K702 with the same appearance but a different tuning. It is accompanied by an accurate imaging ability that places instruments with high accuracy on the stage, making full use of available space and distributing the instruments on the stage, giving each its own spot and therefore making it easy to discern them. Should you then buy these headphones? So if you are serious about wanting a set of quality headphones, then I would say give the AKG K712 Pro a chance, or the less in price AKG K702. 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