For the last few days, I have been reviewing Open Back headphones. Recently I reviewed Sennheiser HD 599 Open Back headphones. When I was testing AKG K712 Pro my mind was comparing these 2 headphones. Though I wasn't doing this comparison intentionally I couldn't stop myself from comparing.
I am sure that many of you guys have already tried some AKG headphones. Though Samsung owns AKG They have their own identity the reason behind this is their world-class Audio gears manufacturing. AKG has been delivering awesome audio products for more than 7 decades. So I am very excited to tell you about my experience with AKG's reference headphones K712 Pro. Without delay let's go for the review of AKG K712 Pro.
Before moving forward let me tell you that AKG K712 PRO is a reference headphone. Now the question is what is meant by reference headphones?. Reference headphones mean headphones that don't alter the audio. They deliver the original audio, true audio without boosting bass or treble.
you will get Just a flat and neutral sound with the reference headphones. So if you are looking for such kinds of headphones this post is for you. Reference headphones are used for accurate sound reproduction.
Pros:
Cons:
Sound
Build
Comfort
Value
Bottom Line:
While writing the summary I would like to compare Sennheiser's HD 599 and AKG K712 PRO. Both headphones are good. Each one has its strengths and weaknesses. HD 599 has more durable construction than K712 PRO. The headband is more comfortable than the K712 PRO.
Now let's talk about the earpads. Earpads of K712 PRO are bigger, thicker, and a lot more comfortable than HD 599. Velour earpads of K712 give better cushioning, better sealing against the sound leak. The clamping force of HD 599 is slightly less than K712. The headband is more comfortable than the leather headband of K712 PRO.
So can we conclude that HD 599 has a better build and comfort than AKG K712 PRO? In my opinion yes! Here HD 599 is winning the race. Now let's turn toward the most important point. What is the audio performance of both the headphones and who is the winner?
I would say AKG K712 PRO is the undisputed winner. K712 has better imaging and soundstage. It has more accurate mids and far better wide and open sound. You can use K712 PRO as a gaming headphone but HD 599 has some limitations. It's not as open and wide as the K712 PRO. It doesn't have bright treble and deep, immersive bass and sub-bass as compared to K 712 PRO.
For casual listening HD, 599 is good but if you want the Hi-fi listening experience and studio mixing K712 PRO should be your first choice in my opinion. If you compare the audio performance K712 PRO can be a better gaming headphone than HD 599. Now let's discuss the price. AKG K712 PRO costs $370 and for HD 599 you need to pay almost $200.
I would suggest you decide your preference first so that it will be easy for you to make the final decision. For casual listening HD, 599 is good because it's cheaper compared to K712. If you are looking for durable open-back headphones HD 599 again won the race. But if you want the best performance K712 PRO is far better than HD 599. Though it costs more it's worth it.
How is the Design and Build Quality of K712 Pro?
K712 Pro is lighter as compared to HD 599. Though the difference in weight is not too much. HD 599 is almost 250g whereas AKG K712 Pro weighs 235g. Now let's turn toward its headband. K712 Pro has a leather Suspension headband. If you compare it with HD 599 it has a totally different suspension system.
I think HD 599 has a better comfortable headband. That doesn't mean the K712 Pro isn't comfortable. I had to spend some time with the leather headband of the K712 Pro. It was a little bit stiff at first. This little stiffness was giving unnecessary pressure on my head. But after a few days, it was doing good. Though it's not as comfortable as HD 599.
The complete plastic construction made the K712 Pro ultralight but that doesn't mean it's less durable. Construction is solid and durable but not as much as HD 599. above the leather headband, there is a plastic railing. Ear Pads are extremely comfortable with having memory foam padding.
Padding is thick enough that gives premium comfort and the spacious inner area of earcups gives perfect sealing against the noise. When I tried HD 599 I observed velour earpads on it and I didn't like them. Memory foam is my favorite padding material and I think it gives better cushioning, and comfort.
Though the earpads are replaceable they are a little bit costly. Earcups can move in 360Β°. These rotating ear cups give better listening and comfort. K712 Pro comes with an ordinary-looking carrying bag and 1 coiled cable. That coiled cable doesn't look premium. I feel it is made up of cheaper material but it's better to have something than have nothing.
I don't know why they didn't give me a straight cable. They should include it. There is a Mini XLR on the left side to connect the cable. It's a 62-ohm headphone and though it doesn't need an amplifier, you can add it to your setup that gives you minimal distortion.
Why do you need an amplifier for AKG K712 PRO?
As I said An amplifier is not a mandatory device with K712 PRO but Rated Impedance for K712 PRO is 62 considerably high ohms. But why does it have a high impedance? because high impedance gives low distortion. but they aren't too loud. Now I can say that the coin has 2 sides. Some may want louder sound while others love low distortion. So It's a matter of everyone's preference.
How is the Sound Performance of K712 Pro?
K712 PRO is an Open-Back dynamic headphone with 40mm dynamic drivers and a 10 Hz β 39,800 Hz frequency range. The most important pro of K712 Pro is natural sound and accurate imaging.
If you ask me about the audio I have many things to tell you about AKG K712 PRO but the one line defines the story. K712 Pro is the perfect combination of accurate soundstage and accurate imaging. This is the reason K712 Pro is a perfect gaming headphone in my opinion. While playing the game it gave me the pinpoint location of the enemy and the awesome soundstage gives the ultimate experience of playing the game.
Though the bass is lean it's better than HD 599. The Sub-Bass is significantly better than Sennheiser HD 599. Treble is also comparatively brighter than HD 599. The strongest area of K712 PRO is mids. mids are amazingly neutral and natural. This is the reason they are perfect for Studio Mixing and recording. And it also gives a fantastic Hi-Fi Listening experience. If you ask me the positive points about the audio of K712 PRO I would say Superb Mids, nice wide and open sound, accurate imaging, and soundstage. Overall It's a smooth, accurate, and open sound. 8.5 out of 10 for the audio of AKG K712 PRO.
Whatβs in the box?
- K712 PRO Headphones
- Coiled Cable
- Premium Carrying Bag
Who should get K712 PRO ?
- An Audiophile who loves hi-fi listening
- It's best for mixing and mastering