“Great ideas are born in silence” are the somewhat counterintuitive words stamped on the inner flap of AKG’s new K371 wired headphones. However, silence isn’t what comes to mind when you talk about the K371, the new wired counterpart to the capable Bluetooth K371-BT model.
We found the sound of the BT version stood out in a crowded wireless market, and it’s much the same story with this new wired offering. With a big, wide sound and seriously impressive sonic power, the AKG K371 delivers a great listening experience at a reasonable price.
They’ve got the numbers right too – AKG claims a frequency bandwidth of 5Hz to 40kHz, substantial 50mm drivers and a lean weight of just 255g. If you’re looking for a relatively affordable pair of cans that can still pack a punch, you should definitely consider AKG’s K371 model.
Comfort
The wired K371 cans offer a pleasant level of comfort and style. Different experiences are inevitable, but most ears will be well covered, even if we felt a little excessive pressure at the top of the cup during longer listening sessions.
Given the muscle of the K371’s delivery, you might worry that even a listening session at medium volume could fill your room with unwanted audio spillover. Fortunately, the closed-back K371 has no problem keeping the sound where it belongs, which is in your ears and not splashing through a busy sound studio or a bewildered office space.
To build
AKG has once again delivered polished levels of build quality. Scratch the cushioned material of the headband or the outside of the plastic ear cup with a fingernail and you’ll barely make a mark across the pristine surface.
Being wired headphones, the K371 cans don’t offer a huge amount of bells and whistles to play with. Instead, a choice of three wires (a short, straight 1.2m; a long, straight 3m; a coiled 3m) and a 6.3mm adapter complement the standard 3.5mm connection ensure users aren’t limited by too short a cable, and all three cables fit into the headphone jack via a mini-XLR plug.
AKG K371 technical specifications
Type Closed over the ear
Drivers 50mm
Claimed frequency response 5 Hz – 40 kHz
Cables Rolled 3m, straight 3m, straight 1.2m
Weight 255g
The neat and well-designed aluminum sliding mechanism of the headband allows the earcups to move back and forth and rotate back into the headband for storage, and at no point in this process do you ever worry that you’re about to lose your precious headphones break it in half and watch your money evaporate in one fell swoop. It’s not an entirely unique feature, but it’s still relatively rare at this price point.
We were concerned that the similarly designed BT model might reveal a potential weak point where the slider and headband meet due to some rigidity on the outer edges of the band, but AKG has assured us that there have been no problems with the straps breaking the Bluetooth cans.
Sound
AKG markets the K371 as perfect for professional functions such as streaming, vlogging, music production and studio monitoring, but there’s nothing stopping you from using them as your own personal pair of headphones to enjoy your music at home or on the go.
In fact, the K371 offers great sound for both the more casual buyer and the studio professional. What you immediately notice is how meaty the bass is, which gives a lot of punch to the lower end of the sound spectrum. Songs like Muse’s Hysteria or liars Big appetite take advantage of the heavy sound of the K371, even when there are more nuanced offerings, such as Elliot Smith’s Between the bars will be colored by the slight bass highlighting of the cans.
Still, there’s no doubting how crisp and insightful AKG’s headphones can be, and it’s only when compared to their main rival, Røde’s crystal clear NTH-100, that you can detect any room for improvement with regard to the more detailed soundscape of the latter and greater bass precision. But if you want a little more spice for some grunge rock, heavy hip-hop or pulsating musical soundtracks, AKG certainly delivered on that promise.
Pronunciation
AKG has once again delivered a really solid set of headphones that will suit everyone from the professional studio mixer to the casual music enthusiast. The K371 is an impressive pair of cans that benefits from careful construction and robust sound, not to mention high levels of comfort and quality.
Potential buyers should keep in mind Røde’s NTH-100, which goes a bit further in terms of nuance and subtlety, but AKG’s effort offers a powerful, enjoyable sonic experience with confidence and enthusiasm at this price point. To make you feeling the music you listen to, the K371 headphones are a really solid investment.
TO SCORE
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