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AKG K371 Review (closed back headphone)
- Thread starter amirm
- Start date
Hi there!
I have AKG K371 and I bought Sony MDR-ZX110 after Amirm review. But the Sony MDR-ZX110 with Maiky76 EQ and velor earpads still sounds better!
I discovered that with these pads purchased on Aliexpress, the AKG K371 become much more comfortable! And these pads also protect the earpads.
I don't understand how and why $9 headphones sounds better and clear (with EQ) and more comfortable (with velor earpads) than $150 ?!
I have AKG K371 and I bought Sony MDR-ZX110 after Amirm review. But the Sony MDR-ZX110 with Maiky76 EQ and velor earpads still sounds better!
I discovered that with these pads purchased on Aliexpress, the AKG K371 become much more comfortable! And these pads also protect the earpads.
I don't understand how and why $9 headphones sounds better and clear (with EQ) and more comfortable (with velor earpads) than $150 ?!
Last edited:
Do you have a link where you bought those earpads?
I bought them here
Feelas
Senior Member
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2020
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Yea that is a sore spot in K371 that shows in many FR diagrams, that there are some weird 2nd harmonic things happening...
I love how these sound but I have two problems with them that makes me not use them:
1) The cable pointing straight down at my cuff/shoulder/traps causes lots of issues
2) The amplification of cable noise in the left cup is very bad. Worse than my Dan Clark Audio Aeon 2 Noire and exacerbated by the bad cable connector placement.
It's so bad in fact that I don't use them at all unfortunately. They should be using a better placed and less bulk connector. There is just no need. They could make these headphones extremely simple by using a split cable instead of a wire through headband and connectors that don't stick out farm from the cups.
1) The cable pointing straight down at my cuff/shoulder/traps causes lots of issues
2) The amplification of cable noise in the left cup is very bad. Worse than my Dan Clark Audio Aeon 2 Noire and exacerbated by the bad cable connector placement.
It's so bad in fact that I don't use them at all unfortunately. They should be using a better placed and less bulk connector. There is just no need. They could make these headphones extremely simple by using a split cable instead of a wire through headband and connectors that don't stick out farm from the cups.
ironwolf60
Member
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- Dec 24, 2022
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i returned mine due to microphonic cable too. its unusable. wish i had known earlier because Rtings review does not mention it, and Amir's review does not mention the severity of the problem
I am thinking I may remove the mini xlr jack and install a 3.5mm jack instead and use a much softer 3.5mm cable.
ironwolf60
Member
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- Dec 24, 2022
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if you can, do it.
after this i will never buy a headphone with m/XLR connector ever again. even the d700 pro X is out of question.
solderdude
Grand Contributor
AKGK371-BT solves the cable issue but you do get other issues as a trade-off.
Lots of additional complications with bluetooth. Replacing the cross headband cable in them sucks in general. If you can get a replacement even else you are digging up wire that has enough conductors etc.
It doesn't look that bad actually on that pair. I have had em apart to look at so far. I have some jacks. I have been wanting to do the same mod on my Dan Clark Audio Aeon 2 Noire as well. Cables on those are overkill. I listen to them fine on my Apple dongle on my PC. Even the Hart cables are heavy and microphonic. I have a Corpse cardas cable for them it's not microphonic but it is still super heavy.
Yep, I always use BT dye to the microphonic cables.
which are? My cloth ears did not yet notice any difference in SQ.
solderdude
Grand Contributor
Battery life .... after a few years.
My son likes wireless headphones and already had to disassemble 2 of them in order to replace the battery.
Not easy to do for the average owner. By that time the pads have fallen apart anyway.
I have built my own cable using this low profile connector: https://www.cabletechniques.com/product-page/lps-ta3-180-low-profile-ta3f-adjustable-side-cable-exit. It us great, no issues with rubbing against clothes. Connector is small and the cable goes out forward instead of down.
Buy him Audeze Maxwell as a gift, I'm sure he will like it
Nice connector there. Haven't seen that one before. Might be an idea! Though I also am curious to try dampening the connector at the cup.
Yep. They are very complicated devices usually with lots of adhesive and proprietary parts. The PCBs inside often have unmarked/custom ICs and very small SMD components. No schematics to go on either when attempting to repair.
solderdude
Grand Contributor
I'm sure he will... no doubt, after several years of usage the battery need to be replaced.Buy him Audeze Maxwell as a gift, I'm sure he will like it
I have attached it to a cable out of Bose QC35 and it fits just right. The only issue was sourcing the connector. It is not exactly popular, and it was even more difficult to get in Europe.
Robin L
Master Contributor
I've been listening to the AKG K371s for quite some time, alternating with the Drop 6XX phones. I'm liking the AKG phones less as time goes on. I know it has more/deeper bass, but the bass it has sounds a bit "tubby". Though the treble goes higher than the Drop phones, the AKG phones sound more "cuppy" and closed in. Even though the measurements suggest that the AKG phones should sound better, my subjective reaction is that the Drop/Sennheiser phones sound better.
One is closed another one is open.
Hope that helps.
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