AKG 371 replacement

[RHO]

I'm looking for a replacement for an AKG K371. Main reason is that faux leather is flaking off the pads and headband. I've already replaced the pads but the same thing happens within no time at all.
These are not used for critical listening. They will be used for listening to YouTube video's (instructional videos) and podcasts. So the midrange should sound nice.
In the infrequent scenario that I would use them for music listening they certainly should not sound offensive. No EQ will be used.
They need to be closed back.
No IEMs.
They will be plugged directly into a laptop.
I want to spend ~€150 max.
Currently thinking about Beyerdynamic DT770 pro (250Ohm?).
- no pleather earpads
- decent sound
- high impedance = easy to drive from a laptop?
- replacement parts available

Any good alternatives?

 

[pinger]

I actually have those same exact phones. I'm having a similar issue with the earpad "leather" pulling away . I guess its a design flaw? I've only had them for maybe two years. I'll be interested in seeing the responses

 

[ATTI]

- high impedance = easy to drive from a laptop?

no

 

[Phorize]

Alot of people consider the Fiio FT1 to be a good drop in replacement for a k371.

Edit: these don't have official spares channels of course, but on your criteria the only other ones that come to mind are the DT 770 pro and hd 25.

 

[Redacted]

You have to spend loads to get real leather, so we have to put up with fake if on a sensible budget.
There are some here made by ex-AKG engineers. (I'm happy with their cheap ones) -
.

Headphones - Austrian Audio

We’re celebrating five years of Austrian Audio headphones! Five years of passion, precision, pushing boundaries – and thousands of creators, musicians, and sound lovers who made our journey possible. When Austrian Audio was founded in 2017 by a team of former AKG engineers and creators, one...

austrian.audio

 

[solderdude]

I'm looking for a replacement for an AKG K371. Main reason is that faux leather is flaking off the pads and headband. I've already replaced the pads but the same thing happens within no time at all.
These are not used for critical listening. They will be used for listening to YouTube video's (instructional videos) and podcasts. So the midrange should sound nice.
In the infrequent scenario that I would use them for music listening they certainly should not sound offensive. No EQ will be used.
They need to be closed back.
No IEMs.
They will be plugged directly into a laptop.
I want to spend ~€150 max.
Currently thinking about Beyerdynamic DT770 pro (250Ohm?).
- no pleather earpads
- decent sound
- high impedance = easy to drive from a laptop?
- replacement parts available

Any good alternatives?

DT 770 PRO 32ohm (but have to buy a set of EDT-770-V with it) has 1.6m fixed cable. (111dB/V)

DT 770 PRO (32Ω)

back to Beyerdynamic back to measurements home published: Sept-16-2023 322NO SMOOTHING is applied to the shown plots. Most measurement sites have some smoothing applied which ‘irons flat&#821…

diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com

or

DT 770 PRO 80 ohm has 3m fixed cable on it. 105dB/V just slightly more sensitive than HD650

DT 770 PRO (80Ω)

Beyerdynamicback to measurementshome published: Apr-26-2026 NO SMOOTHING is applied to the shown plots. Most measurement sites have some smoothing applied which ‘irons flat’ sharp peaks and ‘wiggle…

diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com

or

DT 770 PRO X replaceable 3m cable (mini XLR-3 on headphone side) and is the most sensitive one (115dB/V)

DT 770 PRO X

Beyerdynamicback to measurementshome published: July-29-2025 NO SMOOTHING is applied to the shown plots. Most measurement sites have some smoothing applied which ‘irons flat’ sharp peaks and ‘wiggl…

diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com

But ... if your ears are not too small.... the DT 270 PRO is a cheap and good alternative. 114dB/V, replaceable not bulky 1.5-3m coiled cord.

DT 270 PRO

back to Beyerdynamicback to measurementshome published: Oct-15-2025, updated: Oct-25-2025 NO SMOOTHING is applied to the shown plots. Most measurement sites have some smoothing applied which ‘irons…

diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com

compared to K371:

 

[RHO]

no

I was not sure about that. You mean the laptop is lacking the output voltage to drive the headphones?
I don't know what chip is used for the headphone amplifier inside the laptop. So I assumed current capabilities to be the limiting factor.

 

[RHO]

Alot of people consider the Fiio FT1 to be a good drop in replacement for a k371.

Edit: these don't have official spares channels of course, but on your criteria the only other ones that come to mind are the DT 770 pro and hd 25.

The FT1 came to mind.
How's the build quality on those? They have fabric/hybrid earpads. At least the part toughing the skin is fabric. So that's a bonus.

 

[solderdude]

consider the DT 270 PRO ... *see post #6

 

[respice finem]

I'm "late to the party", but why not just replace the pads with sheepskin ones? The headband remains a problem though...

Dekoni Ersatz-Ohrpolster AKG K371 - WOD Audio Onlineshop

Dekoni Ersatz-Ohrpolster AKG K371, K371-BT, K361, K361-BT. Diese Ohrpolster sind erhältlich in: Elite Sheepskin, Choice Leather, Choice Suede, Elite Velour.

shop.wodaudio.com

 

[RHO]

You have to spend loads to get real leather, so we have to put up with fake if on a sensible budget.
There are some here made by ex-AKG engineers. (I'm happy with their cheap ones) -
.

Headphones - Austrian Audio

We’re celebrating five years of Austrian Audio headphones! Five years of passion, precision, pushing boundaries – and thousands of creators, musicians, and sound lovers who made our journey possible. When Austrian Audio was founded in 2017 by a team of former AKG engineers and creators, one...

austrian.audio

I'll look into them. I assumed they would fall out of my budget.

DT 770 PRO 32ohm (but have to buy a set of EDT-770-V with it) has 1.6m fixed cable. (111dB/V)

DT 770 PRO (32Ω)

back to Beyerdynamic back to measurements home published: Sept-16-2023 322NO SMOOTHING is applied to the shown plots. Most measurement sites have some smoothing applied which ‘irons flat&#821…

diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com

or

DT 770 PRO 80 ohm has 3m fixed cable on it. 105dB/V just slightly more sensitive than HD650

DT 770 PRO (80Ω)

Beyerdynamicback to measurementshome published: Apr-26-2026 NO SMOOTHING is applied to the shown plots. Most measurement sites have some smoothing applied which ‘irons flat’ sharp peaks and ‘wiggle…

diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com

View attachment 546840

or

DT 770 PRO X replaceable 3m cable (mini XLR-3 on headphone side) and is the most sensitive one (115dB/V)

DT 770 PRO X

Beyerdynamicback to measurementshome published: July-29-2025 NO SMOOTHING is applied to the shown plots. Most measurement sites have some smoothing applied which ‘irons flat’ sharp peaks and ‘wiggl…

diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com

View attachment 546839

But ... if your ears are not too small.... the DT 270 PRO is a cheap and good alternative. 114dB/V, replaceable not bulky 1.5-3m coiled cord.

DT 270 PRO

back to Beyerdynamicback to measurementshome published: Oct-15-2025, updated: Oct-25-2025 NO SMOOTHING is applied to the shown plots. Most measurement sites have some smoothing applied which ‘irons…

diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com

compared to K371:
View attachment 546838

The DT 270 PRO looks like the most balanced one. I'll have to look up the size of the earcups and compare them to the K371.

 

[Misguided]

The FT1 came to mind.
How's the build quality on those? They have fabric/hybrid earpads. At least the part toughing the skin is fabric. So that's a bonus.

I have some FT1s and they are pretty solid.

 

[RHO]

I'm "late to the party", but why not just replace the pads with sheepskin ones? The headband remains a problem though...

Dekoni Ersatz-Ohrpolster AKG K371 - WOD Audio Onlineshop

Dekoni Ersatz-Ohrpolster AKG K371, K371-BT, K361, K361-BT. Diese Ohrpolster sind erhältlich in: Elite Sheepskin, Choice Leather, Choice Suede, Elite Velour.

shop.wodaudio.com

The user (my partner) doesn't want dead animals toughing her ears.
So fabric earpads are preferred.

 

[respice finem]

Ah OK - but in the same link you can find the velour version.

 

[RHO]

Ah OK - but in the same link you can find the velour version.

I had a look at those but it looks like they make the sound quite boomy. Serious lift in the bass region. Something the K371 doesn't need.

They are 1/3 the price of the headphones.

 

[FTB]

The dekoni pads are sh*t, it changes the sound. I tried the velour ones and the K371 looses all of his interest.

The FT1 isn't a good replacement of the AKG : muddy bass, mids peaking.

The Simgot EP5 is decent for its price but you will have to EQ at 100 Hz : https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ffs1...ey=hgele05te41v1qdnmfj2xr3fx&st=upm53jzz&dl=0

 

[ATTI]

You mean the laptop is lacking the output voltage to drive the headphones?

High impedance is harder to drive, not easier

 

[RHO]

It depends. (like everything) If you have a high impedance you need voltage. If you have low impedance you need current. I assumed (seems I was wrong) the output current capability on a laptop to be quite low. So it would not be able to drive low impedance headphones. In many cases it's harder push more current than to supply enough voltage.
From what I gather here the voltage swing on the HP output of a laptop isn't great (so less suited for high impedance loads) and it's current capabilities are adequate to drive a 32 Ohm Beyerdynamics DT770 pro to loud enough levels.

Will the 32 Ohm with velour pads sound similar to the 250 Ohm?

 

[Phorize]

The dekoni pads are sh*t, it changes the sound. I tried the velour ones and the K371 looses all of his interest.

The FT1 isn't a good replacement of the AKG : muddy bass, mids peaking.

The Simgot EP5 is decent for its price but you will have to EQ at 100 Hz : https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ffs1...ey=hgele05te41v1qdnmfj2xr3fx&st=upm53jzz&dl=0

It's all compromises at this price point really. That's why I replaced my k371s with an hd 480 pro that despite being £300 in the UK ticks all of the OPs boxes and then some without the need for EQ or a dedicated amp.

 

[RHO]

Did some ergonomics test. Round pads are a no go.
She tried several headphones and consistently she felt the ones with oval pads to be much more comfortable than the ones with round pads.
My DCA Aeon closed RT is ugly... but very comfortable.