K 240 MK II Stereo Studio Headphones

I own, and love, a pair of AKG KT-553 + Mk II)'s, which are my "go to" headphones for music. These 240's are inferior (no surprise at the much lower price point). But they are great for non-critical use like Zoom meetings. What I love is that this cheaper set uses the same detachable mini XLR cord system as the KT553 cans, and comes with multiple straight and coiled cords. For me, getting the extra cords for my higher end AKG's almost makes the 240's a free bonus at the price. But - make no mistake - theses are very good headphones for under $10O, for sound quality, for comfort, and for value. And, on top of all that, the multiple cords provided with this model just might be a great addition if (like me) you have an embarrassing number of headphones. Either way, solid buy at the listed price. Highly recommended!

If I used one word to describe these it would be balanced. I listen to mostly classical but also enjoy Judas Priest type heavy metal. I don't feel these are lacking in any musical range, but I think their low end is especially enjoyable. When listening to Harnoncourt's Schubert symphonies, some of Orpheus Chamber Orchestra's Haydn, and Haitink's Brahms 4th these phones brought the low strings to vibrant life. The Brahms verified that the brass would come through loud and clear. Brahms is often thick, these phones did the best job I have heard yet of opening things up a bit. Winter's rendering of Bach on the organ was handled with deep polyphonic aplomb. I would say the most fun was a disc called "Macal Conducts Mussorgsky." This is a stunning recording, testing every orchestral color (thanks Ravel.) Wonderfully clear and uncluttered and dramatic with these phones. The Priest was also splendid in both detail and the extensive range and variety of all those luscious rich chords. The stereo soundstage is very distinct and pleasing. I have three other headsets: Sennheiser HD-428, Monoprice 8323, and Koss UR-20. This set makes them somewhat unnecessary. Which it should at three to five times the cost. All of the sets I mentioned are worthy over achievers, by the way. I was pleased with the choice of detachable cords. I use the straight one and find it very easy to drape out of my way. I like this headband adjustment and support system. It is comfortable. It is similar to the UR-20 which is the most comfortable headset I have ever had. I do not, however, like the ear pads. I had high hopes that the velour set would be comfy. No, their ear hole is actually smaller than the pleather and have an overly firm foam padding (maybe they would break in.) I must confess that my ears are somewhat large. So I made a modification that I haven't heard of anyone else doing. I carefully removed the ragged pads from my UR-20s and put them on the AKGs. They fit rather loosely (in fact they rotate easily on the AKG shell), but have much larger oval ear holes and are much more comfy. They are in no danger of falling off and seem to serve the purpose. Everyone is different. What works for one of us will not work for another. This worked for me and was cheaper than plastic surgery on my ears. I guess one testament to these headphones is that I have been listening to music practically non-stop since getting them. I have wanted to explore what I have been missing in my CD collection. These are very fun, clear, and capable headphones. By the way, I use these with a Yamaha RX-V373 receiver and will not be using them with portable devices.

I've been an AKG fan since the late 1980s, when I bought my first pair of AKG K240DF headphones. Over the years, I've owned a few pairs of the 240DFs and a pair of 701s, as well as some Beyerdynamics. I was somewhat disappointed to see on the box that these are now "Engineered in Austria/Made in China" headphones. Ever since Harman acquired AKG, they've been experimenting with the brand and finding ways to extract value. I guess you can't blame them, but it's sad to see a proud Austrian audio company being revamped like this. In all, the build quality on these Chinese-made K240MKIIs is similar to the Austrian-made K240DFs I've owned. The leatherette earpads are the same. The auto-adjusting headband is also the same. Now, however, they are engineered with a detachable cord that joins at the left earcup. AKG also provides some velour-type earpads and a straight and coiled cord. At the price of just over one hundred dollars, you get quite a lot for your money. The K240DFs were about twice as expensive and didn't come with all the extra goodies. As for sound, it generally takes awhile for AKGs using this type of diaphragm to "burn in" and achieve their mature sound. I've got these coupled with a HRT HeadStreamer USB-powered Headphone DAC/Amplifier , which is a good quality USB DAC and amplifier -- I highly recommend HRT's products. I use these cans at work to listen to my music library, which is encoded in the lossless FLAC format. (At home, I use a class A HeadRoom desktop headphone amp and 701s or Beyerdynamic DT770s.) Here are my impressions. First, you need to use these with an amplifier. Even though they are rated at 55 ohms (compared with the professional studio 600 ohm K240DFs), the sound you get when driving them from a phone or average MP3 player is subpar at best. Adding the dedicated headphone amp really opens these up. Second, the sound is pretty good. These are based on a legendary AKG monitoring design and have a pretty even and accurate presentation. There is no undue emphasis at any frequency. The bass is present and well controlled. The mids and highs are coherent, with a smooth midrange and good treble extension. If they sound a bit brittle or bright at first, remember that it takes time to condition the diaphragms to their mature state -- the 701s took a few hundred hours of play before they really achieved that. These are no exception to the general AKG rule. The music is reasonably well detailed coming from the HeadStreamer. However, these do not approach the level of detail and subtlety that the 701s are capable of presenting, and you aren't going to get quite as full a soundstage. But if you don't do an A-B comparison, you're not going to miss that. What you will notice with these over others in this price range is that you're hearing well into the music and that the music sounds really good and accurate. These are incredibly comfortable to wear, too. They fit securely but not firmly -- I wear glasses and these don't bother me at all. The flexibility of the headband will allow you to pull an earcup away to hear someone without wrecking the headphones. In sum, I'd recommend these as a good entry level audiophile headphone. While they're made in China now, they still have the legendary AKG accuracy and the build quality hasn't suffered in any readily apparent way. However, I'd use them for listening at home, not as portable headphones. They really do need amplification to sound their best.

I own a dozen or so high-quality, audiophile headphones. The AKG K 240 MK II are good sounding headphone. They stack neatly in the middle of my collection as far as sound goes, however, these are the most uncomfortable cans I've ever had on my head. 10 minutes, and I'm done.... and for me to rate these any higher than 3 stars, I've got to be more comfortable than that. The bass is punchy, but I prefer a tad more. Mids are clear and the high frequencies are a little subdued. I ordered some Brain Waves ear pads that came a few days after I received these, but they are too small. I'll order some more, for without better pads, I'll never listen to these headphones. I have them on right now. My ears hurt and I'm getting a headache. Keep in mind, I have a dozen sets of headphones. Beyer Dynamic, Audio Technica, Grado, Fostex, Bose, Sennheiser, JBL, none of which are uncomfortable. The comfort is a big issue. These cans are also power hungry. I use a couple of FiiO amps with them and I can turn them all the way up without the AKGs being too loud. They are worthless while out and about with my iPhone. You need volume with these to get the best out of them and they block out very little peripheral sound. I can hear my television right now as well as I can hear it without these on my head. OK, I've had them on for 14 minutes. I'm a hurtin'. I'm not going to send them back because I hope that I can fix this with the right pads, but I can't really recommend these as thy are. You need pads and an amp. Plugged into my Onkyo receiver, they sound very good. If that's what you're looking for, you will like these, again, with some good pads. I will update this if I find the right pads for me. . Ok, I bought some new pads for these 240 MK II headphones. They are much comfortable (Brainwaves). I've had these for over 18 months now and they definitely t sound better with a hundred or so hours on them. They would be of no value to me without the FiiO E18 JUNK IN headphone amp. I think these cans are a little light on the bass. Very good overall sound. Impressive. I have cans costing three times these that don't sound any better. I really love the "semi open" design as it gives one the soundstage of open back cans and the tight bass you get from closed back headphones. I'm happy with my purchase but you need the amp!

I'm probably not an audiophile, but I have a very particular ear. Before becoming a professional classical musician I sold high end car stereos. Right now I'm doing a fair amount of mixing for the orchestra I direct. The Sony MDR 7506's that I had used for years had fallen apart and I was looking for an upgrade. After buying and returning some high end phones and spending a fair amount of time getting feedback from professionals I found the AKG 240 MK II's. Pros: * They sound AMAZING! That's really what matters most. They are clean but warm especially in the high and mids. Not a lot of punch down low but nice full resonance. Sounds more like what music really sounds like than BEATS or BOSE. Not artificiality to the response. Great for mixing or listening to the music the way the sound engineer intended. Incredible detail. The thing that attracted me to them most was the open sound plane. The semi-open design delivers a sound that feels farther away than speaker attached to your head. They really give you a nice 3 dimensional feel to the sound. Clear, full, warm, wide sound plane, no real spikes or harshness -- well done AKG! I spend a considerable amount of time in front of the musicians I'm listening to on these phones as I mix and it sounds as close to being on the podium as any set of phones I have tried. *Comfortable. They come with two sets of pads. I like the felt. Two cords. I like the coiled. They are comfortable and big. I wish they were a little less angled in but I can wear them for a couple of hours before I need a break. Cons: * Not super efficient. Listening to classical music on your phone or even iPod, sometimes you can't get it as loud as you might like. They are made to plug into a sound board or computer. *Not all that portable. The Sony MDR 7506 fold up smaller, came with a bag, and were just easier to throw in your bag. These are large, don't fold, and are not all that portable. *The semi-open design means that as I'm listening others can hear pretty easily what I'm listening to and I can hear other noise as well. If you want sound isolation then you're better off with a closed-ear design. Summary: I give them 5 stars because the cons are only cons if you are trying to use these phones for purposes other than the intended use of these phones. They aren't intended for jamming on the train or on the beach. They are intended for mixing or audiophile listening. Plug them into your amp or soundboard and they are an incredible value. I was at a radio station as they were playing some of our recordings and when they swapped the phones for the 240's I was sold. They are a fantastic, professional sounding phones at a bargain price. I listen to rock on them as well and they do fine but for a classical music lover I think they are even better suited. Everything is warm and clear and even. No harsh peaks like with the Sony's no exageratted mids and lows like the Sennheiser's I returned. What can I say, when I listen with these it sounds more like it sounds when I'm on the podium. That's what I wanted!

The AKG K 240 MK II differs from the K 240 studio ( used in many recording studios) in two important ways: Two cables are now included. One is the standard light weight cable, the other is a coiled cable. Headphone cables can break, now you already have a spare. Second, the ear cushions have been made softer for a better fit. This improves the bass response. An alternate pair of ear cushions have been included as well. Use what works best for you. All other parts appear to be the same (in design but not always in appearance) including the drivers. The sound is the same, but it is easier to get good head contact with these new phones, thus fuller bass is assured. A B listening tests of the two models went as expected, no difference in sound, other than loss of bass in the old pair when they were not put on exactly right. The sound is the best I have heard for the money. To get better sound, in my opinion, you will need to spend much more money for a pair of Stax electrostatic phones. Listening tests were done on classical music for the most part. Opera, choral music, piano, and orchestra CDs and DVDs were used. What is remarkable is the transparency, the ability to hear so many inner parts in a complex choral work, such as the Brahms Requiem. There is no smearing of fast coloratura singing, such as found in early operas, a serious problem with even high end speakers. Rock music testing was done using Roger Waters DVD "In The Flesh live". These phones handle lots of bass very cleanly. If the bass seems less than it should be, bear in mind that your body is not being shaken by the music, only your ears. The semi open air design gives a very open stereo image that is very similar to sitting in a balcony seat overhanging the stage at Boston Symphony Hall. Bass- treble balance of the phones also matched the sound heard live from the front balcony. For people who sit farther from the orchestra these phones may sound a little short on bass. To me having the tonal balance and spacial aspects match a real location in a real hall is nice. I sing in choirs more than I attend concerts. The phones also simulate the sound I hear when I am positioned center stage. Of course, there is a difference, nearby voices don't stand out listening on phones. I get the feeling of listening from above center stage or below. These phones do not produce a " inside the head" effect which is also nice. Highly Recommended, with a warning, you may not like your speakers after you get addicted to these phones.

Arrival: Came in a cool looking box. Easy to open. Headphones, with a 3m straight cable, and separately wrapped coiled cable. The standard leather pads come attached to the set, while the velvet pads are separately wrapped. The gold-plated screw-on 3.5mm to 6.3mm adapter was also present and separately packaged. No complaints 10/10 Sound: Out of the box, the sound was a little tinny, but after 24+ hours of use the set warmed up a bit and most of the tin was gone. The music sounds crisp, clean, and clear, with great highs and smooth mids. The bass is decent, but not very heavy. The set gives a very balanced sound. There is a bit of leakage due to the semi-open nature of the headphones, but it isn't too bad if you're using normal volumes. With 55 Ohms of resistance, most devices can drive the set just fine, however you might need use a slightly higher volume to compensate. I would say an amp is not necessary, but if you have the space and money for one then it would be worth it. For the price 10/10 Build: The plastic build is a bit disappointing; it feels cheap, but at ~$100 for a pair what can you do. The self adjusting headband works well. The pressure on the ears from the set is minimal, which is great for me. Detachable cable makes moving them around quite easy. 8/10 Style: They look great, but the blue "AKG" and "K240 MK II" buttons seem a little tacky. I like the look of the originals better 8/10 Conclusion: Great set of headphones. If you don't need the extra cable and ear-pads, get the original. Clear sound all around, though if you're all about that bass the K240s might not be for you. Very comfortable with a solid but not too tight fit on the ears. 10/10 for sound (for the price) feel and comfort. 8/10 for the build. The detachable cable is awesome, but I'm not a fan of the plastic build. I'll probably pick up a set of the originals as a backup.

They're okay... They have very balanced audio, crystal clear to the point where you hear things in songs you've never heard before. Also decent for gaming, very light. However they don't fit over the ears well, kinda feel like they're just floating over your ears. And they are not very loud when at max volume, plus the bass is very subtle which isn't a huge problem for me but can be for many. So far the durability is good very flexible which is cool.

スタジオモニタースピーカーで聞いたときのような無理のないバランスの取れた音域とオープンエア独特の開放的な音が大変気に入っております。 非常にお手頃価格の優れた商品だと思います。

Very comfortable, these headphones give very clean and balanced sound. I accidentally damaged the identical one I had before and which worked well for many years, so I replaced it with a new one. It's well worth buying on-line, being about half the Canadian retail price - a substantial saving! In case you're wondering what the problem was, I disconnected the coiled electrical cord to repair it with epoxy cement: the outer sheathing had separated and exposed the inner wires where they join the jack plugging into the headphones. The repair was no problem, but I did not align the pins properly and pushed hard to make the jack go back in. That reduced sound to almost always coming through the right cup only. I suspect it is one or two of the three pins inside the headphone receptacle with contact problems. So it's for sale for only $40.00 if you want to try and repair it. You can reach me at [email protected] if you're interested. 2020 01 31

Dobrze grają.

Produto maravilhoso, eu comprei pra estudar contrabaixo, e o fone é muito confortável e bom som

The build quality of the headset is delicate. The cable durability is good. I have read a lot of reviews online, mostly old ones. These have been well regarded for studio work. Old tracks like Enrique Iglesias latin songs on youtube sound excellent with these. Modern songs are a hit and miss. Look, I have always been a earphone person, didn't have experience with headphones before getting these. What I can tell you is that these headphones benefit from a headphone amp. I was able to build one myself for it but others may need to invest in one. For studio use I can't really comment on it. I can say these are not bass heavy, the top end is also not tiring. The midrange sounds good. In old days these may have been great in the studio because tracks were recorded in a particular manner. In modern days, IEM are more effective for listening to nuances in a track, I can imagine that being very useful for referencing the way music is made nowadays. Anyways, I'm giving these a 5 star rating for nostalgia. By the way, the amazon basics headphone shell case doesn't fit these correctly, the leather headband gets squeezed and gets deformed if left in the case for weeks long.