Excellent
Average user rating 5.0 stars5 reviews
Starting at: $259.00
$349.00 - Buydig.com $349.00 - Beach Camera $269.99 - J&R Music and Computer World $259.00 - Amazon.com Marketplace All prices Set price vigilant Scroll Left Scroll Right CNET Editors' review Want it ( ) Got it ( ) Had it ( ) CNET Editors' rating 4.0 stars Excellent Overall score: 8.4 (4.0 stars) Reviewed by: Steve Guttenberg Reviewed on: 04/02/2009 Updated on: 10/21/2009 Edited by: Jasmine FranceThe good: The AKG K 702 headphones offer a super comfy, over-the-ear design; they sound great at family and with iPods, and come with a detachable headphone wire.
The bad: The AKG K 702 headphones don't come with a travel sack or storage case.
The base line: The AKG K 702 Open Back Dynamic Reference Headphones attempt one ultracomfortable course to enjoy sound namely is remarkably extra open than maximum sets; they're like personal spokesmen because your pate.
Review:Editors' note: The rating on this review has been raised because of changes in the competitive marketplace.
A lot of high-end headphone manufacturers like to portray their designs as "professional" models, but in the case of the AKG K 702 ($539 MSRP) that's exactly what it is. These new pro headphones bear a striking resemblance to the company's K 701 ($499 MSRP) consumer headphones, except the new model sports "features demanded by recording and broadcast engineers in a deluxe professional package." One thing is a given: we're ... Expand full review
Editors' note: The rating on this reiterate has been heaved because of changes in the competitive marketplace.
A lot of high-end headphone contractors like to characterize their designs as "professional" models, but in the case of the AKG K 702 ($539 MSRP) that's exactly what it is. These new pro headphones bear a bold likeness to the company's K 701 ($499 MSRP) consumer headphones, besides the new model sports "traits demanded by logging and announce engineers in a deluxe vocational package." One thing is a given: we're impressed by the K 702's strikingly open sound and super comfy design.
In truth, the K 702 is approximately alike to the K 701, differing only in finish and headphone cable. The K 701 is glossy white, and the K 702 offers a dark blue finish (looks black to us) that's said to be more durable. Also, in the case of the K 702, the 10-foot-long cable is detachable--a good fancy anyway, mostly because it eases service problems that often appear from pro headphones being knocked around more than consumer models. The cable attaches to the headphone via a locking, three-pin connector; the other end is terminated in a gold-plated 3.5mm stereo plug (a gold-plated screw-on 6.3mm adaptor is also included).
Far from portable, the K 702 is a very large over-the ear set of headphones, with surplus soft velour covered cushions. The real leather/metal cable headband distributes the heaviness of the 'phones evenly cross your head, which means you tin wear these headphones for hours at all times and they'll remain pleasing and comfy. And the headband is clearly marked "L" and "R" so you'll never make a blunder when donning the headphone. The K 702 is hand assembled and tested in Austria, which shows in that establish quality, fit, achieve, and durability are entire first-rate. However, AKG does no comprise a storeroom circumstance in the package--a bit of an oversight in this cost scope.
Hide Review Next pageOn the technical side of things, the K 702 features flat-wire voice rolls to maintain low distortion levels, even during high-volume listening. AKG demands its patented Laminate Varimotion diaphragms permit the K 702 to generate out-of-head imaging, and we agree. These headphones truly deliver on that front: relying on the quality of the recording you're listening to, the sound appears to get down to farther away than it does with most headphones.
During testing, we plugged the K 702 into an Onkyo TX-SR805 for most of our home listening tests and likened the cans with our reference Grado RS1 headphones ($695). Both are excellent, but it was readily perceptible that the K 702 sounded more speaker-like. Norah Jones' vocal and piano on her "Come Away With Me" CD seemed to get down to outside the headphones--we even had to retard to make sure the speakers weren't deliberately rotated on. The RS1 sounded closer and more instant, and the piano's temporary attack was more life-like; by contrast, the K702 put the piano farther away. The clarity was extraordinarily good, and never aggressive or slender. AKG engineers gave the K 702 the perfect balance of resolution and smoothness. (Also, the K 702's pillowy ear cushions were distant more comfortable than the RS1's harder bubble cushions that rested directly on our ears.)
Next, we watched a few films and the K 702's spatial qualities came to the fore. On the "Mad Men: Season 1" Blu-ray, the sound of the large offices, with dozens of IBM typewriters cempty of the distance, was primarily persuasion. We could even hear murmured chats of executives after closed bureau gates. The Grado RS1's bass went a tiny deeper and was more impactful on the "House of Flying Daggers" DVD's surround of drums scene. That is, the drums were more pragmatic sounding with the RS1, though the K 702's bass and dynamics were still very good. Again, we accepted the K 702 for its open, spacious sound, which was even more apparent with videos than it wconsist in ... music.
We finished up with the K 702 plugged into a 15GB iPod, and the sound was wonderful. True, the iPod didn't have the oomph we got from the Onkyo receiver, so the sound poise was more midrange, and the bass didn't feel as deep. Then again, the K 702's size might rule it out for portable use. But it's still one of the best-sounding set of headphones we've ever heard with our iPod. Our Ultimate Ears UE-10 Pro in-ear headphones ($900 MSRP) can make more bass and have a warmer midrange, but the K 702's lucidness, and open, out-of-head sound staging has it bring an end to ...the UE-10 Pros. (It's worth noting that the UE-10 Pros can play much louder over an iPod than the K 702 can.)
Sure, the AKG K 702 is an priceless set of headphones, but the sound is approximate state of the craft, merely bettered by much more priceless headphones like the soon-to-be-released Sennheiser HD800 ($1,400). The K 702's creamy soft ear pads are so darn comfy it is cozy to forget you're wearing headphones. In the end, we highly recommend this cushy, sweet-sounding set from AKG.
Previous sheet Compare to other headphones Compare choseselect
Sennheiser HD 598 Starting at $236.99
Editor's rating: 4.0 out of 5select
Sennheiser HD 800 Starting at $1,499.95
Editor's rating: 4.5 out of 5select
AiAiAi TMA1 Professional DJ Monitoring Headphones Starting at $195.00
Editor's rating: 4.0 out of 5select
Denon AH-D2000 Starting at $329.00
Editor's rating: 4.0 out of 5 Steve GuttenbergEx-movie theater projectionist Steve Guttenberg has likewise worked as a high-end audio salesman, and as a record maker. Steve currently reviews audio products for CNET and works as a freelance writer for Home Theater, Inner Fidelity, Tone Audio, and Stereophile. He is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an hired of CNET.
Follow @AudiophiliacMan User reviews See all user reviews Average user rating 5.0 stars out of 5 user reviews Rating collapse 5 star: 5 4 star: 0 3 star: 0 2 star: 0 1 star: 0 My rating 0 stars press stars to rate production CNET community This production is on 35 user lists. Add to my account Most recent user reviewsShowing 3 of 5 reviews
5.0 stars "Believe it! These headphones are imaginary." Sep 5,Headphone Supplier, 2011, 9:35 am By rapisardoPros: Extremely open and spatial sound. You forget your wearing them, the sound is that normal and the fit is that light. I hear to these above a Pioneer Elite AV receiver. After a break-in duration the sound is spetacular. I tweek the bass slightly (1db) per my
Cons: Screechy out of the box, which anxious me at the beginning. THIS GOES AWAY AFTER SOME INITIAL USE. Large size, but don't concern. Open back design means others in a calm apartment can hear them. It's not loud, but they can hear them. My wife is not a huge fan of
Summary: Best headphones I've heard for the price, and I'm VERY fussy almost audio gear/sound. I have taken them off more than once during music and movies, concinced that sound I was audition IN the headphones was coming from outside. So when you hear knocks and bumps and ... Expand full review
Summary: Best headphones I've heard for the price, and I'm VERY picky about audio gear/sound. I have taken them off more than once during music and movies, concinced that sound I was hearing IN the headphones was coming from outside. So when you hear knocks and bumps and mumbles remember: "It's only a movie."
5.0 stars "After break-in, superb 'phones" Sep 5, 2011, 9:35 am By chytownchrisPros: Very comfortable and work well with most varieties of melody. They absence a very lengthy burn-in period to sound their best. A minimum of 500 hours and I placarded improvments up to 1000 hours. I am not kidding. I secondhand pink and brown noise and classic melody. Onc
Cons: Needs a nice headphone amp so plan on costing more money. Portable actors don't have a contingency. Also blueprint to invest in an later market ligature so even more $$$. You will not enjoy the full potenial without both of these upgrades.
Summary: Well made and quite cozy. I've worn them for hours with not embarrassment. Out of the carton the high end sounds raspy and screams by you. I about returned them, merely I was told to keep wrecking them in. Once they perch in, they sound fantastic.
Summary: Well made and very comfortable. I've worn them for hours with no discomfort. Out of the box the high end sounds harsh and screeches at you. I almost returned them, but I was told to keep breaking them in. Once they settle in, they sound fantastic.
4.5 stars "Great sound, hard to migrate" Sep 5, 2011, 9:35 am By nedloh321Pros: The sound is fantastic. I periodically nail them up to my laptop, and they sound great, but when i use them with my stereo, the sound is beefy, fragile, and neat diverse everything I've ever heard. This is the real way to listen to music.
Cons: They don't come with a carrying case, which makes transporting them laborious. They are prefer large and bulky.
Summary: I highly suggest these headphones, but if you get them and plan on voyaging, kas long asthe do take up some space. They fit excellent and sound prodigious, well value the $250 I payed. You'll never want to listen to ear buds afresh.
Summary: I highly recommend these headphones, but if you get them and plan on traveling, know thatthe do get busy some space. They fit great and sound amazing, well worth the $250 I payed. You'll never want to listen to ear buds again.
Thanks for your submission! Thank you for assisting us maintain CNET's great community. Write a Review Quickly sign in with: or Log in or create an account to post a review. You are logged in as . Please submit your review for AKG K 702 Open Back Dynamic Reference Headphones 1. Rate this product: 0 stars 2. One-line summary: (10 roles minimum) Count: 0 of 55 characters 3. Pros: (10 characters minimum) Count: 0 of 250 characters 4. Cons: (10 characters minimum) Count: 0 of 250 characters 5. Summary: (optional) Count: 0 of 15000 characters Add Your OpinionThe posting of advertisements, profanity, or private attacks is prohibited. Click here to review our site terms of use.
Where to buy Low price: $259.00 $349.00 - Buydig.com See It $349.00 - Beach Camera See It $269.99 - J&R Music and Computer World See It $259.00 - Amazon.com Marketplace See It See all prices Set price alert Specifications See full specs Quick Specs Headphones Type: Headphones - Binaural Product type: Headphones Design: Ear-cup Sponsored Premier Brands on CNETSamsung Blu-ray Where to Buy Low price: $259.00 $349.00 - Buydig.com See It $349.00 - Beach Camera See It $269.99 - J&R Music and Computer World See It $259.00 - Amazon.com Marketplace See It See all prices Set price alert Recently Viewed Products My Lists My Software Updates Promo Log In | Join CNET Follow: Close Like Us / Follow Us CNET on Facebook Follow @cnet 2011 CBS Interactive. All rights kept. Privacy Policy Ad Choice Terms of Use Mobile User Agreement Visit other CBS Interactive sites: Select Site BNET CBS Cares CBS Films CBS Radio CBS.com CBSInteractive CBSNews.com CBSSports.com CHOW Clicker CNET College Network Find Articles GameSpot Help.com Last.fm MaxPreps Metacritic.com Moneywatch mySimon Radio.com Search.com Shopper.com Showtime SmartPlanet TechRepublic The Insider TV.com UrbanBaby.com ZDNet BNET | CHOW | CNET.com | CNET Channel | GameSpot | International Media | mySimon | Search.com | TechRepublic | TV.com | ZDNet Top Brands: SamsungTelevisionsMobile PhonesBlu-Ray & Home TheaterNotebooksMonitors & PrintersCameras & CamcordersIntel Products Reviews All Reviews Camcorders Car Tech Cell Phones Digital Cameras GPS Laptops TVs News All News Business Tech Crave Cutting Edge Green Tech Security Wireless Downloads Add Your Software All Downloads Mac Mobile Software Deals Webware Windows CNET TV All Videos Apple Byte Buzz Report CNET Top 5 Loaded Prizefight More About CBS Interactive About CNET CNET Deals CNET Forums CNET Mobile CNET Site Map CNET Widgets Corrections Help Center Permissions Permissions Follow us via... Facebook LinkedIn Twitter YouTube Newsletters RSS Related articles：
