AKG K371 Review (closed back headphone)

[FTB]

The BT one is a tad brighter in the treble so perhaps they wanted a bit more bass to offset that increased treble.

They probably are just using internal DSP/tone control functionality from the used chip and lifted the bass and treble to make it more interesting for the younger wireless generation.

It's a shame because the bass is obviously too elevated. It's the same level as the Fiio ft1 which was, for me, very difficult to listen, very muddy.

 

[solderdude]

It's a shame because the bass is obviously too elevated. It's the same level as the Fiio ft1 which was, for me, very difficult to listen, very muddy.

I would very likely agree if I had one.
EQ is probably your friend here and seeing that it is BT chances are EQ is always available.

 

[Mandelbrot]

Do you recommend Akg K371 for sound design and music production in a beginner level?I´m looking for a pair of headphones for experimenting and learning modular synthesis in a virtual environment (the program is Vcv Rack 2). I need detail and clarity for checking modulations but i also like bass and body in the sound. I will use it in the headphones output of a Ssl 2 Mk2 interface. Are better k371 or k361 for this purpose?If i use eq,which one will gave me the best result as a sound tool?

 

[tccalvin]

Do you recommend Akg K371 for sound design and music production in a beginner level?

If you need the sub-bass then yeah, it's probably a good pick. Keep in mind that the headphone won't last long, though (the drivers will be fine but everything else won't).

 

[FTB]

I daily use the k371 for 5 years now and it's not torn apart.
Just to say not everyone has built quality problem with their unit.

 

[Mandelbrot]

If you need the sub-bass then yeah, it's probably a good pick. Keep in mind that the headphone won't last long, though (the drivers will be fine but everything else won't).

Not special needing of sub-base, although i´m going to focus on electronic music. I prefer controlled bass. I wonder if i can get the right amount of detail with 371+a good EQ. Some people says 361 is better for clarity in musical production. I´m going to use a lot of sound effects (reverb,delay,echo,granular distortion...) and i need to hear nuances as clear as possible

 

[DVDdoug]

I prefer controlled bass. I wonder if i can get the right amount of detail with 371+a good EQ.

It's easier to reduce bass with EQ than to boost. Sometimes when you boost you end-up overdriving the headphones or amp into distortion.

And you should EQ because otherwise whoever is listening to your sound designs will be hearing less bass than you. Assuming you read Amir's review (the start of this post) you'll see that he didn't recommend any bass EQ... He enjoyed the strong-deep bass! But he did recommend some EQ in the higher ranges.

"Controlled" and "detailed" aren't really defined. With headphones it's mostly about frequency response. Understanding Headphone Measurements (video)

 

[Mandelbrot]

It's easier to reduce bass with EQ than to boost. Sometimes when you boost you end-up overdriving the headphones or amp into distortion.

And you should EQ because otherwise whoever is listening to your sound designs will be hearing less bass than you. Assuming you read Amir's review (the start of this post) you'll see that he didn't recommend any bass EQ... He enjoyed the strong-deep bass! But he did recommend some EQ in the higher ranges.

"Controlled" and "detailed" aren't really defined. With headphones it's mostly about frequency response. Understanding Headphone Measurements (video)

Thanks a lot! I´m a newbie in sound technical questions. So i suppose that k371 is going to respond to eq better than k361?If i reduce bass in k371 the mids can became more clear?

 

[FTB]

Not special needing of sub-base, although i´m going to focus on electronic music. I prefer controlled bass. I wonder if i can get the right amount of detail with 371+a good EQ. Some people says 361 is better for clarity in musical production. I´m going to use a lot of sound effects (reverb,delay,echo,granular distortion...) and i need to hear nuances as clear as possible

The FR of 361 is worse than 371 :

 

[Joe Smith]

The FR of 361 is worse than 371 :

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Not special needing of sub-base, although i´m going to focus on electronic music. I prefer controlled bass. I wonder if i can get the right amount of detail with 371+a good EQ. Some people says 361 is better for clarity in musical production. I´m going to use a lot of sound effects (reverb,delay,echo,granular distortion...) and i need to hear nuances as clear as possible

You should listen to a pair of 361s if you can...I preferred them to the sound of the 371.

 

[solderdude]

K361 K371

 

[Mandelbrot]

You should listen to a pair of 361s if you can...I preferred them to the sound of the 371.

Unfortunaly, it´s difficult to find both headphones where I live. I must buy directly on Amazon.

 

[Mandelbrot]

K361 K371

It seems like they have the same dip around 3k-4k. Between 6k-8k k371 goes up but 361 goes down.

 

[Dk33145]

Just got my pair in. They sound good for the most part with fantastic sub-bass but I can see why people would say it sounds muddy. Playing "Casual" by Chappell Roan on a more expensive set of planars and I can tell how spacey and echoey the song is supposed to be (at least I hope so!) but on these you lose that effect and all those details and you just hear a thin muddy track. But any hip hop type track (played Tate McRae for comparison) and that sub-bass really makes everything come alive. Despite the adherence to Harman curve, I would consider these specialist cans.

 

[drewdawg999]

Made one last mod, replacing stock pads with sheepskin of the cheap Chinese variety.

They were an AliExpress acquisition, only 5 dolla after coupon, coins and sale. They retail for 20, don't know how they absorb all these discounts, works for me. Chose them over Dekoni since those seem to change the sound too much, and were a 10th of the price. So far sounds great, just like before, but comfort is better. Feels cooler as well.

So I got the aftermarket cable, headband pad, now new earpads and they're feeling and sounding awesome. I consider my previous headphone problems now solved, and I prefer no EQ, and listen pretty loud so appreciate the efficiency.

 

[Perpetual Novice]

Upgrade with natural glove leather. Fixed the problem with crack of headband -- you need to glue with elastic glue (ex. B-7000) in the green area.

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A bit late but thanks very much for posting this! I have two pairs of the same headphones that have the same issue. This a great alternative to a lot of aftermarket covers that I've seen.

 

[Yorkshire Mouth]

So what’s the difference between the K361 and K371?

 

[BlueTunes]

I prefer no EQ, and listen pretty loud so appreciate the efficiency.

Be careful with your hearing

 

[Joe Smith]

So what’s the difference between the K361 and K371?

There's a slight difference in the FR curves - look back earlier in this thread to compare (more bass and bump in 7-8k midrange sector). I prefer the 361, most people seem to prefer the 371. There are some very superficial trim differences. Build quality is about the same, they are a little better suited to studio/desk use than carry-around use.

And price of course - the 371 is about $40-50 higher in street pricing.

 

[snowmind]

My K361s sounded weak and lifeless. I read many reviews of the K371 and was worried, imagining that the sound would become muffled or muddy with the bass boost.

The truth is, no! The K371 still sounds analytical, not muffled at all; it maintains clarity, balance, and tonal quality in the mids and highs. The sound is more organic, more natural. It has substance, it has personality.

Therefore, the slight bass boost and the small attenuation in the mid-highs really worked in its favor.

The fact that the K371 is superior lies in its driver, which supposedly has a titanium diaphragm, unlike the K361. So, it's not just about acoustic adjustments and physical equalization inside the headphones. If anyone can confirm...