AKG K371 Review (closed back headphone)

[Phorize]

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.

Same here. I do find that oratory1990s eq improves the bass quite a bit.

 

[Robin L]

One is closed another one is open.
Hope that helps.

I already knew that. I've got other open back headphones (including other Sennheiser phones). But note how the AKG phones stick to the Harman curve tighter than just about any other phones. I guess that metric isn't the only important metric in determining sound quality.

 

[Robin L]

Same here. I do find that oratory1990s eq improves the bass quite a bit.

I haven't used that sort of EQ, was hoping to find a pair of headphones that didn't need EQ.

 

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

I already knew that. I've got other open back headphones (including other Sennheiser phones). But note how the AKG phones stick to the Harman curve tighter than just about any other phones. I guess that metric isn't the only important metric in determining sound quality.

Harman curve will help you determine tonality of the headphone. Other factors are not shown by FR and actually not by any measurement known for now at least.
Hd6xx FR is very close to Harman only in lower bass there is a big drop.
Depending on your music choices and personal taste you can even not notice it much. Because of that and other factors like openness\headstage and other subjective factors can direct you more towards hd6xx.


Harman curve is a guidline, not the absolute truth.

 

[phoenixsong]

I already knew that. I've got other open back headphones (including other Sennheiser phones). But note how the AKG phones stick to the Harman curve tighter than just about any other phones. I guess that metric isn't the only important metric in determining sound quality.

True, I experienced the same. For me following the harman curve in iems is more reliable than in headphones. Probably because of seal (I wear glasses) and maybe other factors like cup resonance

 

[Robin L]

True, I experienced the same. For me following the harman curve in iems is more reliable than in headphones. Probably because of seal (I wear glasses) and maybe other factors like cup resonance

Another problem I've experienced with the K371s is that the pads wear out quickly.

 

[phoenixsong]

Another problem I've experienced with the K371s is that the pads wear out quickly.

Not just the K371 for that matter- at least their K553pro as well

 

[ironwolf60]

Not just the K371 for that matter- at least their K553pro as well

this headphone is made of glass. u can only use 1-2 hours 3 days a week or it will break. actually glass is stronger

 

[Mauro]

These, indeed do not have the 'warmth/midbass hump'.
Also there is another thing to consider with closed headphones and that is seal
Below the K371 with the seal being different

perfect seal, thin armed glasses, thicker armed glasses and a 6.3 plug wedged between the earpads and rig.

Have you tried to close the three ports behind the akg round cap on the ear-capsule to see if it possible to tune them a little less bassy?
I have tried to close two and seems to have an effect (less bass/midbass and as a consequence less in-the-head sound) but without measurements I couldn’t be sure..

 

[solderdude]

don't have one anymore.
I thought bass tuning was fine as is so did not had the desire to tune them differently.
Usually sealing (or partially sealing) holes in the cups of closed headphones has an effect on bass response but when taken too far results in higher odd harmonic distortion (compression at higher SPL) so if you mean small holes in the cups then this can have this effect.

 

[Mauro]

don't have one anymore.
I thought bass tuning was fine as is so did not had the desire to tune them differently.
Usually sealing (or partially sealing) holes in the cups of closed headphones has an effect on bass response but when taken too far results in higher odd harmonic distortion (compression at higher SPL) so if you mean small holes in the cups then this can have this effect.

Got it. Compression makes sense. I have been experimenting with tuning ether cx and akg k371 these days to see which sounds better after “modding”.. fun audiophile stuff.

I really hope that AKG might come out with a new headphone with a similar tuning but much better build quality. In just one year with very light use, pads and upper part of headband peeled off in a very bad way. Horrible quality. Most headphones start to show wear after a few years. I think I will buy an all-plastic AKG K361 to build a frankestein: frAKGestein!

 

[Dazerdoreal]

I finally had the chance to check out some Over-Ears out in a hi-fi store instead of just buying them online. I did not buy anything so far.

I was really positively suprised about the K371. I liked the comfort a lot which I somehow did not at all expect from the looks, the reviews and forum comments. Good timbre too, slightly mid/vocal-centric (that said, I wear glasses).

 

[KikoKentaurus]

So uh guys, how did you solve the flaking (or peeling) "leather" on the headband problem?

It's a real pain to have headphones which sound perfect for their money, but do not last!..

Spoiler

I thought about using some tape though...

 

[Mauro]

So uh guys, how did you solve the flaking (or peeling) "leather" on the headband problem?

It's a real pain to have headphones which sound perfect for their money, but do not last!..

Spoiler

View attachment 382201

I thought about using some tape though...

I peeled off the whole fake leather by hand. The end result is a velvety grey headband. Not fancy but better than flaking. I would say it is not bad.

The next solution I would like to try is a transplant of head..band! You can disconnect the cables from the drivers (few screws) and unscrew the gimbals behind the akg logo (4 screws) and pull the cables out.
I would like to buy a used/open box akg k361 for little money and do the replacement. As the headband is made of plastic.

I have already tried in the past to do an AKG K361-371 transplant by disconnecting only the upper part of the headband with the three cardioid-like symbols but the screw behind is glued in the AKG K361 (not so in the AKG K371) and wasn’t possible.

 

[NexusOne]

Maybe a stupid question; but: Is the sound quality of iem planars like the Artti T10 better than from the k361? I ask because I am looking for a mobile solution.

Should i choose the 361 if clarity is more important?

Does it isolate well with the original pads and does other people here the sound? If these points are important, an iem is probably better?

 

[phoenixsong]

Maybe a stupid question; but: Is the sound quality of iem planars like the Artti T10 better than from the k361? I ask because I am looking for a mobile solution.

Should i choose the 361 if clarity is more important?

Does it isolate well with the original pads and does other people here the sound? If these points are important, an iem is probably better?

Do you wear glasses?

 

[NexusOne]

No .

 

[phoenixsong]

No .

Then closed-back headphones should work well for you- the K371 for example does not for me as I do wear glasses and its bass response is very sensitive to seal breaches. Personally, I have spent over 10 years with various more affordable iems and headphones and speakers. With regards to the points you mentioned (clarity and isolation), it is really very dependent on the model of headphone or iem in question (regardless of whether they are planar or dynamic or closed back). Comfort can also be subjective- for iems the biggest issue is usually about the fit (mitigable to a certain extent by tip rolling), and for headphones it will be clamping force*/top of the head pressure hotspot, pad size (over or on ear) and sweaty ears due to heat buildup. From a purely performance to price ratio though, I have found iems to be undefeated. Of course, soundstage is a separate debate, but that itself seems to be very subjective and varies from person to person even with the same listening gear (eg. in the same reviews thread for the Zero 2 iem, there are both reviewers who praise and criticize the size of its perceived soundstage)

 

[fragzone]

I just got around to applying the Oratory tuning to this headphone. Wow this, might be the best tonal balance I have ever heard.