Akg K712 Pro Reference Studio Headphones Review

I have 2 of these sweet cases. One for my mastering lab AKG K712 headphones and one for my location headphones (AKG K240 MKII). Protection galore. I highly recommend this case.

I had an older version of very much loved AKG reference headphones from the early '90s that were destroyed by my son... after many years of service, many of the plastic elements were held by mini bulldog clamps so good timing for an upgrade, thanks, son! After listening to a lot of alternatives, many costlier, (although for the listening pleasure I have put cost on a low priority criteria scale) the K712 PRO was the right choice: better sound than my previous ones and still the same neutral yet accurate and true experience for my mostly classical and jazz listening. Paired with a SHIIT Bifrost DAC and Valhalla tube amp stack, every instrument is clearly distinct and spatially identifiable. You feel you are in the space with the musicians, be it in a studio or concert hall. Also own a Grado PS500e - a warmer experience perhaps that I enjoy with a more "mobile" red Dragonfly DAC/Amp when working, but I find the AKG's neutrality better for the orchestral music I often listen to. And the comfort fit bears no comparison between them: I can wear the AKGs for hours - not so for the Grados The open back was a must for me as I usually don't like (or need) to feel isolated. In the rare condition I need to withdraw from the surroundings I reluctantly use a Meze 99 classic walnut pair that match the comfort of the AKGs with an enjoyable sound stage but not close in accuracy to my preferred cans. Minor detail: I replaced the velvet cushions with fabric covered AKG ones. Found the sound stage to be even more detailed. The only criticism I would have is the elastic threads holding the headband. After a few years they show signs of fatigue and I don't know how easy it is to replace them. Not a big concern as the excellent comfort does not appear to be affected. Headphone choice is a personal affair. Every ear is different, everyone's sound processing, taste and pleasure seeking is different. The K712 PRO are perfect for me.

Perfect AKG studio headphones

When I first started my headphone journey over a dozen years ago, my first serious one was the K702, which I enjoyed foe several years before trying other company’s offerings, both open backed and closed models, and each brought its own pluses and minuses, but as time passed I gravitated to the AKG K712, which was a nice balance of improved, deeper bass and the huge, open and detailed I was craving. I enjoyed the 712 but then moved up to several different flagship headphones which resulted in me selling my K712. Several more years few by and I was still missing the AKG sound but wanted a more refined version. I hit the jackpot when I discovered the K812. I ordered these direct from the company, and after having throughly enjoyed them for more than a week, I feel that I finally found the flagship headphone sound I’ve been looking for. Everything sounds incredible. Classical and jazz really come to life. Vocals are spot on. I’ve also been using them instead of my stereo system for movies, and they really shine. Crystal clear dialogue and huge, crisp reproduction of the movie soundtracks and effects. These are great all rounders that really deliver the goods. Highly recommended.

At this price point, and after having owned 5 studio headphones over a few decades, AKG K240 MKII, K553 MKII, Sony MDR-7506, KOSS PRO 4AA & 4AAA, I have found THE Referred Personal Listening Tool.

These headphones are exactly what I was looking for when I purchased them almost 30 days ago. Basically I like everything about them: The sound is perfect for what I do in the studio, that is a sound and video editing very clear and transparent with a lot of detail. I think these are the best headphones I have ever owned. The AKG K812 headphones are very comfortable, well/solid built, and easy to adjust while on your head. I also like very much a stand that comes with these headphones. I purchase the headphones with the AKG HP4E 4-Channel Headphone Amplifier - all works great!

Comparing this to AKG K240 Studio monitoring headphones it is not as good. But it's very close. This was the only headphone I could find with a removable cable at this price point. Sound quality is very good but not excellent. This may be that I haven't broken the headphones in yet, but the sound stage is stiff and the treble with percussion is a bit muddled without good separation like on the AKG. These headphones have more emphasis on the low-end than the AKG 240's though. Comfort-wise these headphones fit better than AKG from the get-go -- it took awhile for the AKG's to loosen and stop squeezing my glasses to my head. However, I wish the pads were slightly bigger or oval shaped to fit the ears more comfortably. The padding is very soft. Another reviewer noted that the Polsen's 32ohm drivers cannot be driven by an iPad, but this is not the case. I had no issues when testing with normal volumes on an iPad Mini 2. The AKG K240's are 55 ohms in comparison and are decidedly quieter. A good purchase for good quality monitoring.

Been cross shopping studio reference headphones for A WHILE, finally decided on the ATH-M50x and couldn't be happier for the price. B&H had best price on the internet and shipping was legit lightning fast. Highly recommend both!

Wonderful pair of headphones. Great flat response, I use them for a quick reference away from my studio monitors.

The AKG K240 Studio Pro Semi-Open Stereo Headphones continue to be widely used in recording studios because of quality build, long lasting performance without degradation of sound quality, detailed sound without an overbearing amount of mid highs, light weight for comfortable long wear time, super comfortable soft, wide headband and large ear pads that won't hurt your ears, a semi open design that allows ambient sound without distraction, and an extra long wire that is uncurled so it doesn't put strain on any audio jacks or connections.