AKG K371, An In-Depth Look at the Popular Over-Ear Headphones
by Samuel Kalenga on Sep 21, 2024
It’s an industry with staggering choices, and part of the fun is actually deciding which set of headphones will sound the best. Will it be the notorious HiFiMan HE400i wired version, or the HiFiMan Ananda, or maybe the one you worked so hard to save up for – the distinctive-looking new Fostex TH900 MK3 headphones? Or could it be the confidently substantial Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X over-ear design, rich and warm, or perhaps the lighter, sleeker AKG K620 PRO X with its mic? Panasonic, MEElectronics, Sennheiser – the options are truly mind-boggling.
And suddenly I’m reeling, as if I’d just asked Google Assistant about the weather halfway through enjoying some 16-bit ADSR. ‘There’s so much choice! Will any of them sound good enough? Will any of them sound right?’ I almost let the feelings of overwhelming choice wash over me again, but then I recalled and remained firm in my resolve: a particular pair of headphones has emerged from the vast sea of choice as a favourite among audiophiles, probably the next wonderful headphones I’m going to buy, and arguably one of the rarely mentioned – but most consistent and clear – studio headphones for the past five years: the closed-back studio headphones with large ear cups: the AKG K371.
Oh, and did I mention it also appears to be a largely unanimous favourite within the realms of media professionals and music enthusiasts, with its highly recommended Gl channel, or ±0dB channel? Having said that, if you’ve read this far, I must assume you know that this is a sound-engineering-direct gear review of the AKG K371, so let’s not waste any more of your time; let’s get right to it, shall we? AKG K371: the specifications Before we delve into the AKG K371’s specs, properties, sonic qualities and value proposition, do keep in mind that, just like highly regarded musical instruments, the K371 essentially comes in only one flavour, but it does come in three varieties: gold, silver and three.
Design and Comfort: Crafted for Extended Listening
Every aspect of the AKG K371’s design reveals a studied commitment to form and function, starting with its over-ear design intended to snugly fit and completely block outside noise. The generously sized earcups are angled to align perfectly with the outer ear, fitting snug but comfortably around all head sizes. Another great feature of the K371s design is the memory foam used in the earcups. This soft, yet highly resilient material moulds around the ears and creates a gentle but quite secure seal, both a highly effective noise blocker and creating one of the most comfortable fits in an over-ear design best used for extended listening sessions.
The headband is adjustable as well, allowing you the opportunity to fit the K371 to your head shape for a more personalised and comfortable experience. The headband is made from a study and durable material that’s padded all around with a soft yet airy fabric material that adds to the comfort along with offers airflow for the wearer avoiding a sweaty experience. AKG K371’s design gracefully adheres to a sturdy durability formula that employs strong materials ruggedly used to give these headphones extra staying power to withstand the testing rigours of frequent use.
Connectivity and Flexibility: Built for Versatility
Multiple usage is another strong point of the AKG K371. The headphones come ready to use with a 3.5mm jack cable that is detachable. This design makes the K371 compatible with practically all audio sources available on the market. You can connect them to your smartphone, notebook, computer, or an external device such as a portable rdio music player. The cord is removable, so you won’t run into problems with compatibility, and can easily connect the K371 with your desired device.
The elimination of a fixed cable makes the headphones more durable and practical. A damaged cord will be easily replaceable, and you won’t have to bring the whole product to the service shop. Plus, it’s longer than average, which ensures that it won’t get tangled in the growing mass of cords at your desk. The K371 is also portable. A foldable design is always a great selling point when it comes to travelling with headphones. These can be easily stowed away in a suitcase or backpack.
Sound Performance: A Balanced and Detailed Sonic Landscape
Where the AKG K371 truly shines is in its sonic performance, where its sound signature is balanced and detailed with a slight emphasis on bass. The care and subtlety in its tuning ensure that the bass remains impactful and punchy while simultaneously refraining from bloating and smearing the midrange and the treble.
The bass is only emphasised to the appropriate degree, resulting in a bass response that, while audiophile in its purity and accuracy, still packs a punch. The midrange is also clear and articulate with great detail. Instruments sound natural and authentic, and vocals are unblemished. Pair the midrange detail with the transparency and spaciousness of the headphones’ soundstage, and you have an impressive pair of headphones for genres such as classical, jazz and acoustic music, where the finer details of each individual instrument and their respective tonal qualities can make or break your experience.
Every aspect of this light and airy soundstage – likened to a performance hall by many – lends itself to reinstating a sense of space to the music, creating a realistic and engaging experience, drawing you so close that inevitably, you find yourself as one with the performers on stage. Treble frequencies are well-articulated and revealing, for a nice detailed presentation and crisp high-frequencies, with good upper high-end. That means the delicate shimmer of cymbals is reproduced with nice air, and high frequency high notes soar with nice shimmering brilliance.
The K371 doesn’t come across as too bright or harsh, and the treble is very nicely balanced between smoothness and clarity. This makes for absolutely nice and natural-sounding treble, which isn’t sibilant or too harsh. You can listen to the K371 for long periods of time without any harsh fatiguing sound. The K371 has mega headroom; it doesn’t distort at high volumes, as many other headphones do. Well-constructed and very precisely tuned, the K371 is a great headphone for studio professionals and audiophiles demanding a transparent and uncoloured sound, and a high degree of dynamic range.
Noise Isolation: A Quiet Oasis for Your Music
The closed-back, airtight construction of K371 effectively cancels the ambient sound, which makes it an ideal pair of headphones that allows for a full immersion into your music, cutting you off from the distracting noises, particularly in an open space, like on a plane, bus or in a loud cafe.
This fact alone can be a primary reason to buy these headphones if you want to isolate your self from external noise and just listen. By aiding in ‘eavesdropping’ on the music without additional interference from noises in the surrounding environment, the closed-back design largely contributes to the K371’s excellent acoustic performance. The purity of the sound, with all the softly whispered details, is very important for studio recording, mixing and mastering, where accuracy in audio reproduction is everything.
However, prolonged use for a several hours straight in a hotter climate might cause the amount of heat build-up that could become uncomfortable for the user. Although the foam oval-shaped earcups are very well-ventilated, it could potentially lead the user to take multiple short pauses to cool off from the heat. Again, this is an infrequent problem that could be easily avoided if the wearer is aware their usage environment.
AKG K371 BT: Wireless Freedom with Uncompromised Sound
Wireless listening heads will get a similarly compelling option. Labeled the AKG K371 BT, the wireless version retains the sonic strengths of the wired model, and adds compatible Bluetooth 5.0, which has become the go-to Bluetooth version in audio gear. Bluetooth 5.0 has low latency, strong signal, and good range, so there should be minimal lag in data transmission and you’ll be able to stream audio even if you wander around your house.
The BT headphones are also equipped with a built-in microphone for handsfree calls, avoiding the need to carry around an extra dongle. And speaking of handsfree, the AKG K371 BT scores high marks in the battery category. Its battery life is rated up to 30 hours, so you can do some serious listening without needing to break out the charger. This makes it a perfect headphone for travelling on airplanes as well as for long commutes on buses, trains, and boats.
The ability of the K371 line to sound so good over wireless channels shows that the makers of the K371 really grasped what audiophiles need from a headphone – anywhere. Wireless listening heads will get a similarly compelling option. Labeled the AKG K371 BT, the wireless version retains the sonic strengths of the K371, and adds compatible Bluetooth 5.0, which has become the go-to Bluetooth version in audio gear. Bluetooth 5., strong signal, and good range, so there should be minimal lag in data transmission, and you’ll be able to stream audio even if you wander around your house. The BT headphones also offer the option of handsfree calls, fit with a built-in microphone for phone calls, which you can take without your phone actually being connected.
Finally (and borrowing from my favourite ending for my electronics reviews), the AKG K371 BT scores high marks in the battery category, with its battery life being rated up to 30 hours. This means that you can do some serious listening without needing to break out the charger. This makes it a perfect headphone for travelling on airplanes as well as for long commutes on buses, trains, and boats. The ability of the K371 line to sound so good over wireless channels shows that the makers of the K371 really grasped what audiophiles need from a headphone – anywhere.
Key Features of the AKG K371
- Closed-back, over-ear design for optimal noise isolation
- Memory foam earcups for a secure and comfortable fit
- Detachable cable with 3.5mm jack for compatibility with various devices
- Balanced and detailed sound signature with slightly accentuated bass
- Wide soundstage for an immersive listening experience
- Excellent noise isolation for focused listening
- Durable construction for long-lasting use
- Foldable design for convenient portability
- Available in both wired and Bluetooth versions (K371 BT)
AKG K371 vs. AKG K361: A Detailed Comparison
The AKG K371 and AKG K361 are both from AKG's headphone line and are very popular amongst students. The K371 is associated with a slightly more balanced and detailed sound signature, whereas the K361 is considered slightly warmer and bassier. The K371 gets the edge for a wider soundstage as well. The K361 is a little more budget-friendly as well. Which one is better? It completely depends on your personal preference. So, if you like a more neutral and detailed sound and a slightly wider stage, you’ll probably prefer the K371. If you’re after something a little warmer and with more bass, go with the K361. Both are great headphones and the best one for you will be the one that works best for your particular tastes.Conclusion: A Triumph of Sound and Value
The AKG K371 is the best general-purpose, high-end over-ear headphone I’ve found. It ships with a fixed, tangle-free cable, but it has a detachable cable connection, so if you want the freedom of wireless or a better cable with OCC copper, you have that option. The sonic profile is well-balanced, exciting and detailed, the plush foam ear pads are extremely comfortable for hours of wear, the headband is also comfortable, and the isolation is excellent.
I would recommend these for almost all kinds of listening scenarios, from music listening for pleasure, to pro musicians who need a great pair for the studio or stage. Unless you have specialised needs like extreme bass extension, or a focus on one particular type of music, these will handle every situation gracefully. These really are one of the more rare ‘no-compromises’ products in the market. They sound great, they look good, and they work well. For me, they’ve exceeded the memory of less-than-great intertwined-cable cans that’s been lingering romantically in my mind for years.
Right out of the box, with the stock cables attached, I liked the AKG K371 better than any other headphone less than $1,000 I’ve heard. Since then, I’ve shipped out dozens of matching pairs, and all of them earned rave reviews from their new owners. Clearly, if I could only have one headphone, I might still stretch for the excellent Sennheiser HD800S, but the AKG K371 isn’t far behind. It really is a best-in-class headphone.
FAQs
- For mixing and mastering? They are well suited yes, such a balanced, detailed signature means you can hear what’s happening in your audio With this in mind, maybe a little confused that we’ve labelled the K371 as a good mixing and mastering headphone. Well, bear in mind that this headphone is hardly a true studio monitoring headphone and perhaps not suited to critical listening applications. If you are going to be a professional working in audio, you should invest in a studio monitoring headphone for critical listening.
- The frequency response measures the response of the AKG K371? Frequency response 10Hz-40kHz.The explanation that it is the frequency that measures how the AKG K371 headphones are able to replicate the recordings.The AKG K371 with a range of 10Hz to 40kHz gives the listener a very wide range, in which it is able to listen from the lowest notes to the highest notes of music.This frequency, with the lowest bass to the highest sounding treble it recreates is clearly heard and controlled so that it plays exactly what is aimed called for.
- What is the impedance of the AKG K371? The AKG K371 has an impedance of 32 ohms, so it should be very easy to drive indeed, especially with portable devices such as smartphones and laptops. The K371’s low impedance means that even with a low-power device, you should have no issues getting to satisfying output volumes.
- Are the earpads on the AKG K371 replaceable?Yes, the earpads on the AKG K371 are replaceable. Having replaceable earpads is handy because you can personalise your headphone’s feel and sound by changing the earpads. You can purchase replacement earpads at reputable retailers online, or directly through AKG. Replacing your earpads can be a good way to extend the life of your headphones and/or freshen up their look. Or you may just want to try the headphones out with different sound signatures.
