AKG Pro Audio K712 PRO, Wired, Over-Ear, Open Back, Reference Studio Headphones, Flat Wire Voice Coil, Black

First of all, these are great headphones for the money. They have an excellent sound stage, are very neutral sounding with a clean and accurate bass... That is, if you have the right equipment. Despite having a reasonably low impedance, if you want the high fidelity sound that you're expecting you'll need plenty of power. All my tests were conducted with 320kbps MP3s or loseless audio files. I tried these cans with my LG G3 cell phone just for the kicks at first. Due to the impedance, they're a little bit on the quiet side but I was able to get them to a comfortable level at full volume, but, they are still very much underpowered. On some tracks, most notably on anything by Mastodon, there is a slightly consistent crackling noise I did not experience on other set ups. It is almost like a very subtle clipping. Now honestly this didn't bother me too much as I had no intentions of using these headphones connected directly to my phone, but as a simple test. In most tracks, the mid ranges sound reasonably alright. Not particularly clear or good reproduction but present. The treble sounds somewhat low quality and fake, but the more exaggerated echoes of the vocals sound clear and crisp. The bass is present but does not have a lasting effect and does at times sound rather weak. The sound stage of the headphones on the G3 is notable, but certainly not the highly esteemed sound stage the AKG brand is typically well known for. I received some of the similar results with my FiiO E10k DAC and Headphone Amp combo, retailing at usually around $90-100, but with an overall increase in mid range clarity and sound stage. The phony tremble still remained, and the bass surprisingly now sounded even less present. It had a more lasting effect due to the power increase, but it wasn't as present in the music. The crackling was gone now. The sound stage was larger, but still not notably big. Vocals and instruments now had more noticeable echo to them (as they are supposed to) but it was still not as noticeable as it is intended to be. Finally, I hooked these bad boys up to my current set up which is a Schiit Bifrost DAC and Schiit Lyr 2 headphone amplifier and the results were instantly noticeable. The mid range is beautifully clear and well represented, not more than anything else but not less either. The bass is articulate, defined, present, and deep, but like so few headphones on the market, not overpowering. The treble, is like everything on this headphone, beautifully clear and not piercing whatsoever. The sound stage is wide, and really helps to display the intent of the recording, whether a factory, studio, or basement. Vocals echo as intended. These headphones sound very neutral and really do showcase the track as it was intended. So what about comfort? These headphones are very light and comfortable on my head, the earphones themselves have very wide openings for your ear. I have slightly malformed cartilage in my left ear so usually after about four hours that ear will become slightly fatigued, but I feel nothing on the other ear. In summary, I'm extremely pleased with these headphones due to their well represented ranges and extremely clear audio fidelity, however, if your equipment is not higher grade it will be showcased through the headphones.

For those of you looking to buy a really good set of headphones without breaking the four-figure barrier, these are a great choice. However, please be aware, these are neither noise isolating nor noise cancelling. Also, they have fairly high impedance and need an amp to really shine. For those of you folks who might be new to high quality headphones, I'll explain what those terms mean. For the rest of you folks, feel free to skip over this section. :) Noise Cancelling - this is a feature that is regularly touted as being desirable. To some extent it is, but it might not be what you want either. Noise cancelling headphones have hardware and programming that actively cancels out background noise. These tend to be desirable for a people who use their headphones in noisy environments. They tend to work best in high white-noise environments, such as planes, etc. They tend to be less effective when the noise is something like a lot of talking or yelling. But, there is a trade off. By using space and power to cancel noise, you sacrifice sound quality. So, while the Quiet Comfort line, by Bose, will provide decent sound on a plane, they will not cancel other kinds of sound (like yelling kids) very well. And while they might sound good to the average listener, to date, they are not capable of audiophile sound. Noise Isolating - this is a headphone that physically seals sound out. These headphones will completely enclose the ear and, generally, press fairly tightly against the head. They are completely closed in order to keep outside sound out. They tend to be less effective blocking white noise, but better overall at blocking outside sound. Again, with these, there is a sound trade off. Because they are closed, in a nutshell, there is some "echo" inside the headphone. Essentially, the sound of whatever you're listening to will bounce around inside the headphone and will result in some distortion. While noise isolating headphones can have very good sound, they will always have a lower sound ceiling than open headphones. (And lest I be misunderstood, I'm not saying that all noise isolating headphones have inferior sound compared to all open headphones. I'm saying that they will always have an inherent handicap that open headphones will not have.) Ok, the above said, the K712 Pro's are open headphones. I've probably spent about 40 hours listening to music on mine so far. As is true of most good headphones, they require some burn in time. While the sound was eye-openingly good right out of the box, they have definitely improved with use. (According to what I've read, they should continue to noticeably improve until about the 100 hour mark.) Now, I'm no stranger to good headphones. While I've never listened to cans that sell for the price of a used car, I own a pair of Sennheiser HD280's and Beyerdynamic DT770's that I've spent a lot of time with. Those are both well-respected, closed headphones. These are my first pair of open headphones, and, all I can say is wow. Big difference. No distortion at all, from Led Zep IV to Beethoven's 9th - the sound is totally clean, clear, and powerful. I'm not exaggerating when I say that, having listened to that particular Led Zeppelin album hundreds of times, I heard things I've never heard before - I could hear John Paul Jones plucking the bass strings on Black Dog. I could hear all the string sections clearly even with the choir singing at full volume during the Ode to Joy. It was unreal. It was sitting front and center at a live performance. You get the idea. Ok, so, a couple of caveats with the K712 Pro's. First of all, they need a lot of power to run at their peak. And because they're open, they're not ideal for mobile use. While this may turn off those who spend all day with earbuds jammed into their ears staring at their iphone screen, it shouldn't be a problem for those who use these cans as they're intended. That is, they're at their best when listened to in a setting where there is access to a power outlet (for an amp) and a small to minimal amount of outside noise. I am fortunate enough to be able to listen to them at work in my office as well as at home (when my young children are in bed that is!). Some of you might be wondering, if I'm spending this much on headphones, why should I buy an amplifier?! Well, like any good speaker, they need power. You wouldn't plug your surround sound system into an iphone and expect its battery to be able to power the speakers. Similarly, these headphones, while they will work plugged straight into a smart phone or tablet, they will not provide their optimal level of sound without a bit more juice. Never fear though. There are plenty of very good, portable amps that will boost these headphones for up to 8 hours on a single charge. Or, they can be plugged directly into the usb drive of your smart phone, tablet, or laptop and will charge as you use them to listen to music or watch movies. (See, eg., for $50, the surprisingly good Creative Soundblaster E1 portable amp. See also the outstanding $300 dac/amp the Meridian Explorer 2. If you're wondering what a dac is, well, the short answer is, it's an accessory that will decompress a digital signal, like an MP3, and will improve the quality of the sound that is sent down the line to your headphones.) Ok, the above said, I'll try to explain why I feel the above headphones deserve 5 stars. Appearance - no score. I, personally, think that these are gorgeous. Their looks reflect their quality (and their price tag!). But, this is a subjective category. Some people hate orange. Some people hate round shapes. Whatever. I like them. You might not. But I think that appearance is probably the least important factor to consider when deciding which headphone to purchase. Moving on . . . Build - 4/5 Ok, these are just a bit more "plasticy" than I would like. I think that high-quality plastic was substituted to keep the weight down (see comfort below). I don't know. I've had them about 3 weeks. I've dropped them a couple of times and they don't have a scratch (yes, I'm a huge clutz). They come with 2 detachable cords, as well as a real velvet carrying bag. The bag looks and feels great, but it's more of a dust cover than a protective device. One cord is a roughly 8 foot, straight cord. Another is a 3 foot, spiral cord. They both snap in solidly and require a button to be pushed to release. The nice thing about this is that, most often, it is a cord that goes bad first in a headphone. Both feel very solid - not cheap at all. But, if you want to upgrade cords (some audiophiles swear by super-expensive, silver cords) you can do so. Or if one goes bad, you can replace the cord, rather than the entire headphone. The earpads themselves are velvet covered memory foam (again, see comfort, below). They are also replaceable, as is just about everything else on these cans. So, again, rather than having to replace the whole thing, if a component goes bad, you can just replace that one component. However, I've read reviews written by people who have used their's every day for a couple years and never had a problem. Also, the headband is a really soft, but tough feeling leather. Comfort - 5/5 These are, hands down, the most comfortable headphones I've ever worn. The memory foam conforms to my head without pressure, and the velvet feels great and stays cool. The headband is self-adjusting. No, really, it is. They are incredibly light for their size. You put them on, you listen to your music, you forget you're wearing them. (Unlike my other two headphones the Senn HD280's and the Beyer DT770's. Because they're noise isolating, they put a pretty good amount of pressure on my head. I have a fairly large, but not a huge head. I still use the Beyer's. I don't use the Senn's anymore; they get downright painful after half an hour or so of use.) The K712's are marvelous. Sound - 5/5 Of course, the most important facet. This is also, possibly, the most hotly contested. Opinions about headphone sound are as common, and can be as extreme, as opinions about a political candidate. One person will think the sound is amazing while another person will think it's just the worst thing ever. I won't bore you with technical data. However, I have looked at the data provided by some very well qualified engineers who have run these through rigorous sound tests and have determined, basically, these are very, very accurate overall - much more so than any mass-market, celebrity-endorsed set of headphones that are out there right now. There are more accurate headphones out there. But, you know, to get a set of headphones that are noticeably more accurate, you'll need to spend a mortgage payment or two, depending on your neighborhood. ;) AKG's are generally criticized for being somewhat lacking in the bass department. These are AKG's answer to that criticism. While the bass remains tight and controlled, it is definitely present. I was watching the HD trailer for the upcoming Star Wars film with these plugged into my amp. I felt like I had a subwoofer strapped to my head - in a good way. It was pretty amazing. For the mids and highs, these are plenty accurate enough for my taste and budget. Maybe someday I'll be a more discriminating (i.e., snooty) headphone user. But for now, these are fantastic. They easily sound better than my Senn's or Beyer's. I am very, very pleased with them and would highly recommend them. Final Thoughts - would I buy these again? Absolutely! Are they the best for riding on a plane or a crowded subway? Probably not, because they'll let in some background noise. Are they going to wow and amaze every middle schooler who sees them because the company that markets them just spent about a bazillion dollars hyping them and paying for celebrities to endorse them? Thankfully, no . . . unless that's what you're into. I'm not judging; just saying. But, you know, they're comfortable enough to listen to all day while working at your computer or while you're at home, and the sound is just phenomenal.

For the price these are a fantastic pair of headphones. Whether you just like listening to music whilst you play games or study, the open-back aspect, the lightness, soft ear muffs and leather makes it feel very comfortable and you can wear them for hours on end without getting sweaty or a headache. Open-backs make it feel a lot more spacious, almost as if you aren't even wearing the headphones, granted you hear background noise but for some depending on where you are it might be a desirable feature. Pair the headphones with a decent AMP or DAC and you will certainly get some banging tunes/audio quality. Personally I have the Topping L30 paired with a D50s and it goes very well with the headphones. So far after 3 years of ownership no dramas, I've dropped them several times and nothing has snapped or broken. All the components have shown barely any signs of wear and tear which is credit to the good quality materials used for the leather and other components. Pros: - Head strap is very flexible and automatically adjusts to your head size making it super easy for anyone to wear them - Ear Muffs easily come off with a twist and pull - Open Back - Super comfortable for long hours of wearing Cons: - MiniXLR adapter (not a common cable) I had to buy a replacement for $50 - You will accidentally forget that you are wearing them because of how soft they are :)

"Unicuique aures eius" Cioè "a ciascuno le sue orecchie"… Questa ironica premessa perché come sempre accade vedo pareri contrastanti su queste cuffie, però in maggior parte di apprezzamento delle loro qualità. E qui mi schiero io, insieme a quelli soddisfatti della resa sonora ed anche della costruzione delle cuffie. Come mio solito parto dagli aspetti progettuali: essenziali come struttura, non si può immaginare di usare meno materiali per delle cuffie, due archetti a filo ed una banda a collegarli, questo è tutto, la solita ben nota e ben affermata filosofia costruttiva storica di AKG. Poi quei due padiglioni enormi alla vista, ma essenziali per avvolgere interamente nel flusso sonoro (aperto) la testa del fortunato ascoltatore. Fortunato perché si ritrova un pregevole prodotto capace di riprodurre molto bene il segnale che riceve. Le plastiche sono di qualità e garantiscono robustezza unita ad una leggerezza così importante per una perfetta comodità nell'uso prolungato: per questo aspetto sono le migliori della mia collezione (paio n° 19). Prima promozione senza riserve dunque per l'aspetto progettuale e costruttivo, unito all'apprezzamento per la fabbricazione europea, senza sciovinismi di sorta in ciò. Riguardo alle prestazioni queste per me sono cuffie molto analitiche, come delle reference devono essere per ripetere il più fedelmente possibile tutto lo spettro audio, e rendono decisamente bene lo spettro, con soundstage ampio e dettagliato. Essendo un fanatico di basso innanzitutto e poi di batteria va da sé che apprezzo quei +3 dB di incremento rispetto alle sorelle "minori" K702, un guadagno che non rende i bassi "pompati" ma dà loro un risalto meritato che attenua la "freddezza" complessiva di molte reference. Esaminate coi miei pezzi preferiti conosciuti a memoria (vedere le mie altre recensioni per i titoli) ho ritrovato tutto ben reso ed esposto, con una soddisfazione complessiva elevata. Un esempio particolare è dato dall' album "Body and soul" di Joe Jackson, registrato e mixato magistralmente, con la sua impostazione jazzistica per strumentazione e stage costituisce un ottimo banco prova per apparecchi musicali, siano essi lettori, ampli, casse o cuffie (a proposito, da "Body and soul" in poi ogni album di Joe Jackson è un capolavoro per registrazione, mixaggio e incisione). Giusto per proporre un titolo accessibile ai più senza avventurarsi in esoteriche registrazioni certificate come audiophile, ebbene qui la libidine si scatena. Ecco, qui le mie orecchie si impongono, come detto… Devo dire che il mio precedente di riferimento per questa classe erano le Sennheiser HD 540 Reference di ben 30 anni fa (purtroppo tragicamente distrutte da molti anni) che con l'impedenza da 300 ohm erano una "bestia" da addomesticare col mio spettacolare Pioneer A-91 D ed erano assolutamente superbe come resa. (Altra parentesi, quell'ottimo ricordo sedimentato in me mi ha spinto, proprio dopo le AKG, ad acquistare in super occasione l'evoluzione HD 540 Reference II). Quindi per me dire che queste cuffie sono difficili da pilotare con discreta facilità non è vero, tanto che provate col notebook sia con scheda Realtek interna che Terratec Aureon esterna si hanno dei buoni risultati, fatto salvo che per avere lo stesso SPL percepito occorre raddoppiare verso l'alto la corsa della manopola del volume, ovvio. Addirittura provate nell'uscita cuffia del piccolo ampli Dynavox CS-PA1 che da "voce" al notebook, rendono piuttosto bene, con volume a fondo corsa, certo, ma la resa è migliore di quanto pensassi. La prova definitiva per chiudere il discorso è stata in due parti (vedere foto allegate): _abbinamento col lettore cd portatile Aiwa XP-205 con DAC interno a 1 bit (sì, un altro dei miei pezzi vintage) con cd "Celloverse" dei 2cellos: ottimo pilotaggio e col volume a fine corsa l'SPL è di tutto rispetto. _abbinamento col lettore digitale xDuoo x-10 con file wav (il vero "uncompressed lossless" !!) dell'album "Laughing stock" dei Talk talk: anche qui ottima resa sonora e col volume a manetta si rischia di perforarsi i timpani ! Comunque per nutrire questa "bestia" AKG prenderò un ampli perché le mie orecchie meritano di godersi tutto quello che può dare ed oggi vi sono molte valide opzioni per creare il giusto accoppiamento anche con cifre ragionevoli. Dunque, tutto questo per confermare che la spesa vale l'impresa, ora che i prezzi si sono assestati ben sotto i 300 € di non molto tempo fa. Ancora adesso purtroppo qualche appartenente alla Banda Bassotti ha il coraggio di chiedere 300 ed anche 400 €, f**k you lousy bast***s! Meno male che c'è Amazon, poi grazie ad un Warehouse Deal ho preso un articolo perfetto scontato del 10% per un piccolo strappo nella copertura della scatola rigida, davvero un super affare. Meditate gente, meditate. __E D I T__ Ho preso questo ampli/eq su Amazon: https://www.amazon.it/gp/product/B01IS81LVW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 L'ho subito recensito perché merita e finora sembra assente dagli acquisti su amazon.it. Strano davvero perché è un ottimo prodotto Inline, marchio di qualità che già apprezzavo, che garantisce il giusto pilotaggio delle cuffie con tutte le opzioni di intervento sul suono che cercavo, ad un prezzo assolutamente basso per la qualità offerta. Lo consiglio vivamente, una volta accettata la inconsueta struttura e provate le sue funzioni si capisce che è un ottimo acquisto. Con questo accoppiamento ora più che mai non riesco a togliermi le cuffie dalla testa… in tutti i sensi.

Awesome headphone for gaming!

Der sehr gut verarbeitete K712 besticht ähnlich wie seine kleineren Brüder (Q701, K701) durch ein luftiges, transparentes und aufgeräumtes Klangbild mit sehr guter Bühnenabbildung, welche etwas näher als beim Q701 erscheint. Je mehr Leistung desto druckvoller das Klangbild im Tief- und unteren Mitteltonbereich. Instrumente werden schön isoliert und sehr gut verortet abgebildet. Der Langzeittragekomfort ist hervorragend. Ähnlich wie schon der Q701 im Vergleich zum K701 einen ausgeprägteren Tieftonbereich hat, legt der K712 hier nochmal druckvoll etwas nach, ohne dass der Tiefton verschmiert oder zu sehr aufdickt. Er bleibt stets klar verortet und reiht sich gut in das Gesamtklangbild ein. Im Vergleich zum K/Q701 würde ich das Klangbild als etwas _satter, wärmer, knackiger, druckvoller und spritziger_ beschreiben, ohne das Bühne oder Analytik beeinträchtigt werden. Der K712 ist bedingt durch seine offene Bauweise nur eingeschränkt multimediatauglich (Filme, Spiele), da der "Subwoofer-Effekt" fehlt, welchen geschlossen Kopfhörer besser vermitteln. Bei einem Preis von derzeit ca. 340€ im Vergleich zum Q701 für ca. 230€ stellt sich die Frage, ob ein Preisunterschied von 110€ gerechtfertigt ist. Ich denke ja, wobei ich zunächst nicht sicher war. Einen halben Stern ziehe ich ab für das teilweise Berühren der Ohren mit dem Stoff vor den Treibern (siehe unten). Was offene Kopfhörer betrifft bin ich mit dem K712 nun endlich angekommen. # Allgemeines Man benötigt einen leistungsfähigen Kopfhörerausgang. Wenn ich den Kopfhörer an meinem iPhone oder Goolge Nexus Tablet betreibe, muss ich sehr laut stellen, damit eine leise bis mittlere Lautstärke erreicht wird. Es handelt sich beim K712 um einen offenen Kopfhörer. D.h. Außengeräusche werden nicht abgeschirmt und Töne dringen aus dem Kopfhörer nach aussen. Das ist bedingt durch die Bauart und sollte beim Kauf berücksichtigt werden. Erst recht wird man diesen Kopfhörer nicht beim Spazierengehen tragen. # Kaufmotivation Ich besaß bis vor kurzem den AKG Q701 , den ich ausschließlich zum Musikhören nutzte und einen Beyerdynamic DT770 32Ohm zum Spielen und für meine mobilen Endgeräte zu Hause. Ich war mit dem Q701 eigentlich schon sehr zu frieden (siehe meine Rezension dort). Wenn ich im Wohnzimmer ungestört einen Film schauen oder Spielen will, nutze ich den geschlossenen DT770, der auch das Umfeld nicht stört. Nun ergab es sich, dass ich viele Tests zum K712 gelesen hatte und dieser ja nun mit einem besseren Tieftonbereich beworben wird. Dann bekam ich ein gutes Angebot für meinen Q701 und fand den K712 bei Amazon über Warehousedeals für 309€. Nunja ich war neugierig und kaufte mir den K712 und verkaufte den Q701. Bei Lieferung stellte sich heraus, dass der Klinkenadapter fehlte, und Amazon erstatte mir weitere 15% auf den Kaufpreis :) Mein Preis für den K712 ist also 260€. # Testumgebung ## Abspielketten * PC + USB DAC Cambridge Audio DacMagic Plus mit integriertem Kopfhörerverstärker + ASIO Treiber + 320kbit/s VBR MP3s mit höchster Qualität * NAD T757 Heimkinoreceiver + 320kbit/s VBR MP3s mit höchster Qualität + BluRay Filme * Bryston BR60 Vollverstärker + Sony SACD Player + diverse hochwertige CDs * Google Nexus 7 2012 Tablet # Tragekomfort Der Tragekomfort ist ähnlich wie beim K701 erstklassig. Im Vergleich zum Q701 fehlen beim K712 die von einigen Hörern bemängelten störenden Kopfbandnoppen. Die Gelohrpolster sind toll und sicher ein Vorteil zum K/Q701. Das selbsteinstellende Kopfband aus Leder ist sehr komfortabel und praktisch. Man bekommt keine heissen Ohren und man hat genug Platz. Jedoch sind die Treiber im Vergleich zum Q701 näher am Ohr, so dass manche das Problem haben werden dass Teile des Ohrs ggf. den Stoff vor den Treibern berühren. Ich glaube das liegt an den Eigenschaften der Gelkissen, die nach einer gewissen Zeit durch den selbst geringen Anpressdruck schmaler werden. Man kann durch die richtige Position der Kopfhörer auf dem Kopf das Problem umgehen. Die Polster des K/Q701 sind etwas starrer. Für Brillenträger sind die weniger starren Gelpolster sicher von Vorteil. Insgesamt also sehr guter (Langzeit)Tragekomfort, wobei ich den Tragekomfort des Q701 trotz der Noppen etwas luftiger empfand. # Klang ## Musik Insbesondere interessiert mich natürlich die angeblich bessere Tieftonperformance. Hier kann ich bestätigen, dass diese im Vergleich zum Q701 tatsächlich nochmal etwas voller und satter ist. Das verleiht dem Gesamtklangbild etwas mehr wärme. Der Bass bleibt stets präzise und verschmiert nicht. Jedoch sollte man nicht erwarten _an die Wand gedrückt zu werden_ wie man es beim DT770 erleben kann. Ich denke das liegt an der geschlossenen Bauweise des DT770. Ansonsten macht der K712 auch alles richtig. Analytischer Klang mit toller Bühne und linearem Frequenzgang soweit ich das beurteilen kann. Im Vergleich zum Q701 ist die Bühne anders ausgeprägt. Man ist näher dran bzw. auf der Bühne. Ist sicher subjektiv, was man lieber mag. Ich habe mich daran gewöhnt und finde es echt gut. Die Tieftonperformance teste ich gern mit dem Elektro-Song Parov Stelar - Love Remix oder dem Dub-Song DubXanne - Walking On The Moon (Walking On The Dub) . Was ich hier höre ist schon echt gut und besser als beim Q701. Der DT770 lässt mich hier allerdings echt abheben ist aber auch unsauberer und matschiger. Ich stellte fest, dass der Tieftonbereich nach einer gewissen Einspielzeit satter, wärmer und etwas druckvoller wurde. Mit dem Song Cassandra Wilson - Come On In My Kitchen teste ich gern die Kontrabassabbildung und eine mitteltiefe Frauenstimme. Was ich hier höre ist schon sehr genial. Viele Kopfhörer wirken bei diesem Song gestresst nicht so der K712. Das zupfen Kontrabassseiten wird sehr gut, satt und trocken dargestellt. Hörbar besser als beim Q701. Noch deutlicher wird es bei dem Song "Siri's Svale Band - Don't Explain". Richtiges Live Feeling kommt auf mit dem Album "Dee Dee Bridgewater - (Live (1998/Yoshi's, Oakland))" z.B. mit dem Song "Stairway To The Stars" und "(I'd Like To Get You On A) Slow Boat To China". Hier überzeugt mich der K712 total. Hat der Q701 aber auch. Die Akustik-Blues Scheibe Muddy Waters - Folk Singer ist auch ein Genuß. Die Aufnahme stammt aus dem Jahr 1962 und wurde 2000 digital remastered. Der Grunch/Metal Song Rage Against The Machine - Know Your Enemy überzeugt mit seinem kanckigen E-Bass am Anfang des Lieds. Auch die später einsetzenden E-Gitarren und das Schlagzeug überzeugen mich. Hier setzt sich der K712 deutlich hörbar vom Q701 ab. Sollte sich der K712 etwa noch mehr Genres erschließen? Was ich zu Dire Straits - Money for Nothing sage? Einfach der Hammer. Das solltet ihr selbst hören. Satter und wärmer als über den Q701 insbesondere der E-Bass und der Gesang. Ich höre viel Jazz. Der Klang zwei meiner Lieblingsalben Gregory Porter - Liquid Spirit (Deluxe Edition) und Diana Krall - The girl in the other room überzeugt mich absolut. Hier wird mir besonders der im Vergleich zum Q701 geringere Abstand zur Bühne bewusst. Das Elektro-Swing Album "Parov Stelar - The Art Of Sampling" zeigt mir deutlich die Spritzigkeit und Wärme des K712. Je mehr der K712 mit Leistung versorgt wird, desto druckvoller wird das Klangbild im Tief- und unteren Mitteltonbereich. Bei hohen Lautstärken beeindruckt die Pegelfestigkeit. ### Testmusik * Cassandra Wilson - Come On In My Kitchen * Diana Krall - Broadway (Album Version) feat. Christian McBride * Diana Krall - Almost Blue * Renee Olstead - Summertime * Melody Gardot - Who Will Comfort Me * Dee Dee Bridgewater - (I'd Like To Get You On A) Slow Boat To China (Live (1998/Yoshi's, Oakland)) * Dee Dee Bridgewater - Stairway To The Stars (Live (1998/Yoshi's, Oakland)) * The Monty Alexander Trio - Feelings (Live) * The Oscar Peterson Trio - You Look Good To Me * Muddy Waters - My Home Is In The Delta * Siri's Svale Band - Don't Explain * Parov Stelar - Love Remix * Lana Del Rey - Ultraviolence * Rage Against The Machine - Know Your Enemy * Semper Oper - Triumpf-Marsch aus Aida * Tony Joe White - Sweet Tooth * Dire Straits - Money for Nothing * Organ Explosion - Mimi Lotta * DubXanne - Walking On The Moon (Walking On The Dub) * Monty Alexander - Crazy Baldheads * Gregory Porter - When Love Was King ## Filme & Spiele Ähnlich wie der Q701 ist der K712 bedingt für Filme geeignet, wobei der K712 vor dem Q701 liegt. Na klar kann man Filme auch gucken und Sprachverständlichkeitt und Musik ist top, jedoch fehlt an einigen Stellen das bebende Subwoof-Feeling, welches ein DT770 durchaus vermittelt. Dieses wird deutlich z.B. bei der tiefen bebenden Stimme in Der Hobbit: Smaugs Einöde [Blu-ray] oder auch während der ersten Schlacht zwischen Nero und der Enterpise in Star Trek [Blu-ray]. Na klar spielt der K712 mehere Klassen über dem DT770, jedoch ist der etwas in das Gesamtklangbild verschmierte Tiefton des DT770 im Multimediabereich ein Vorteil. Hat man keinen Vergleich wie ich z.B. mit meinem Heimkinosystem mit Subwoofer oder dem DT770, mag das nicht auffallen. Das Gleiche kann ich für das Spiel Battlefield: Bad Company 2 attestieren. # Verarbeitung Für AKG's K-Serie typische sehr gute Verarbeitung. Das Kopfband ist aus echtem Leder und die Bügel sind aus Metall mit glatter Lackierung. Sonst Plastik und Velour. # Ausstattung * Klinkenadapter 3,5mm auf 6,3mm * 3m gerades Kabel, sehr hüübsch in dem dunklen ornage * 5m Spiralkabel in schwarz. Das 6m gerade Kabel vom Q701 fand ich besser. Ich persönlich mag keine Spiralkabel. * Tragetasche aus Stoff # Empfehlung Für reine Musikanwendung absolute Kaufempfehlung für den K712. Für Film und Spiele eine bedingte Kaufempfehlung. Der K712 erschliesst sich gegenüber dem Q701 auch Eignung für die Genre Elektro und Rock/Blues, wobei im Elektro Genre der Tiefton des DT770 mehr entzückt. Klar bleibt der K712 im sauberer als ein DT770. Wer sich 2 Kopfhörer leisten kann, dem empfehle ich den K712 für Musik und einen geschlossenen Kopfhörer wie den DT770 für Filme und Spiele.

2年半ほど使っていますが、音場や解像度、音のバランスやクリアさ、どこを取っても素晴らしいヘッドホンです。 少なくとも、その辺の数百円～数千円のイヤホンなどから出てくる音とは格が全く違います。 欠点として、原音再現を重視した製品なので当たり前ですが、音に味付けがありません。 低音も普通に聞こえますが、ただ良い音というだけで今一つ気分が盛り上がらない所があります。 ともあれ基礎性能が高く素直なヘッドホンなので、ちゃんとした据え置きDACアンプのイコライザ機能で味付けしてあげれば、驚くほど良い音で旨味のある音楽を奏でてくれます。