AKG K712 PRO Review - Superb Flavorful AKG Sound

[@michaelfreiberg8057]

The majority of reviewers make what i think it's a mistake, criticizing the cheap build. A light headphone, made of flexible plastic and having flexible joints, will not brake when droped. A heavy headphone, made of rigid plastic or other materials, and having a rigid construction, will brake at the weakest point. Besides it will be very heavy and unconfortable

[@metal571]

This is a very good point actually, especially considering how generally highly reliable the HD 6x0 series has been over the years despite being "plasticky" as well

[@millenwagon]

K712 has great build quality imo, it feels nice and premium in the hands, the leather headband feels very high quality and the pads are absolutely superb. A mega comfortable, lightweight and pretty headphone with superb sound

[@jarekzahary]

I just apply your eq settings and WoW. You're my new guru!

[@bandhanjha8563]

What EQ do you use ?

[@kierimrie2404]

@@bandhanjha8563 If you use Windows you can use a software named "Peace EQ". Allows you to make custom eq profiles

[@metal571]

EqualizerAPO and then Peace, Peace is just a frontend to configuring APO

[@headphonefanboy623-4]

This is a very good headphone. I remember the mid range being a little dry when I heard it, but I might've heard a different iteration of the 712. I'm pretty happy with my family of HD 600, HD 650, and Momentum 2.0, but I still like to try different things and your analysis is terrific

[@quinto34]

my k712 needs more power than my HD650 04:40 sound!

[@smithwilliam19]

Nice review. I've had my K712s for a few months now and I really like them. Classic rock like Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd sounds great. The soundstage is outstanding, and I really like the comfort. Thanks for the review and keep up the great work.

[@ShikataGaNai100]

I have one of the last sets of AKG K712 Pros actually made in Austria.

[@Spyre_aint_it]

Where do they make them now? In China? A shop in Czech Republic says they are from Slovakia.

[@metal571]

Slovakia last I checked, yes

[@Mainwong]

@@Spyre_aint_it Hi, I got mine in 2016 and they are made in Slovakia. The last batch from Austria in somewhere 2015. Now I see only K812s/K872s are still made in Austria. Anything lower range than K712 are China made like K701/2 K612.

[@jvburnes]

Austria, then Slovakia and now China I think. I also have an Austrian set. One of the reasons I sent them back for repair when one of the pivot pieces broke (my fault, not theirs).

[@metal571]

Really no longer Slovakia? Sigh

[@MackBXIII]

Your voice is very soothing. You could do radio lol

[@metal571]

+Max XIII mostly the microphone proximity effect honestly

[@johnbutner2570]

Wish I could downthumb you honestly XD

[@johnnylawrence.]

or help putting someone to sleep....

[@pqr590]

I swear I've heard him on GTA San Andreas radio...

[@jamespeck2638]

Metal has put a lot of money and effort into getting his voice to sound as good as it does. It does not sound like that by accident. He is a very conscientious person in everything he does, I feel. One in a million, or billion, if you will.

[@shmenged]

Hey metal! love the video! Would you recommend another headphone worth ~$300 (or within that price range) that is more suitable for mixing jazz/hip hop than these K712 s? These look pretty comfortable! haha

[@terrylarson7596]

Great review, I have a pair of Vintage HD 600 that I brought out of the box after 20 years of storage. I was looking for something more interesting, I ordered a pair.

[@hornblenda6]

I have these, and I really admire the bass here. For me it sounds very neutral, although for many it is a bit above that, but pretty flat and having great extension to my ears. It reminds me the Momentum Over-ear rev1 bass in regard of tightness, and extension. K712 doesn't beat hd600, but for having something different they are a good option. Brighter, more spatial, more shouty, less boomy in the bass but tighter and much better extended. A nice refreshing change from hd600. The pinnacle of an old AKG sound signature. (Signature in the sense of a specific "nasal" midrange). Lol, I wrote the above after first minute of the video, and now when I'm watching further on I can hear you using the exact same terms to describe them :)) Well, nice to have an agreement here ;) Edit: I dont like the suspension system though... These rubbers are too weak, will degrade with time, headphones slide down too low on my head and ears. Had to mod them a bit by adding a limiter od the sliding part so they stay where they should :)

[@metal571]

Hah that tends to happen, it seems like many people hear similarly to me and those usually become my subscribers :)

[@hornblenda6]

Yup, been one of them for several years now ;-) Although, my tonal taste is less towards neutral and more towards mellow sound than yours, I guess. Mostly talking about the "body of the sound". I know it is a bit coloured, but it is very enjoyable to listen to. Cant say that about lean sounding perfectly neutral sound... It also depends on the genre. Thus I tend to switch cans back and forth depending on the mood and the music ;-) I like your channel very much. Very informative. I tend to keep coming back here!

[@michaelfreiberg8057]

i bought those used for about 100 euros and played around with eq using a discrete graphic eq between my dac and amp. i tried your settings, experimented with my own settings and finally, i kept everything flat except a 1.5db boost at 125 Hz and 4db boost at 60 Hz. it sounds good to me that way, doesn't change their character, it only balances them a bit

[@happyreeper1]

Wearing one right now i can say they only fall short on comfort..and just barely. They're very light and the earmuffs are extremely comfy. The band however is just kinda meh. Its not bad but its not great either. Personally I think it would be better with a more elastic like band or just an added cushion of some kind. On the other hand if you are wearing a hoodie or a hat you can end up so immersed(even without a hat or hoodie sometimes) and forget you are wearing them. Definitely more professional than luxurious but still epic sound quality.

[@nissanbling]

I know absolutely nothing about equalization, but I like the settings/tuning/EQ preset you've provided, it sounds great.

[@Hakku1403]

AKG 712 pro is an amazing headphone. i love it over all that Chifiman and Sennheiser crap.

[@ReinhardtBuhr]

Will my Audio Interface Presonus Quantum 2626 drive these headphones?, Thanks.

[@battsonbikes1919]

yes

[@michaelfreiberg8057]

as volume yes, as max performance, no

[@MrRoberacer]

I have been using AKG 501, 701,702 for years. They are all similar in terms of impedance that way. You need a powerful amp for sure. I found my Focusrite Scarlet doesn't quite have enough jam where my older Steinberg seems to be acceptable but I have a Harmon Kardon receiver and it does them a lot more justice. BTW it isn't just the volume that changes. They take on new life. Better bottom for one.

[@DurvalLacerda]

Will the Fiio K3 or the FX Audio DAC-X6 be able to drive it?

[@codersexpo1580]

First, thank you for the review! I know this is an older vid, but if you still track comments...I had a question. I got a pair of these on EBay for $128.00 (which I found an unbelievable price compared to other listings). The seller is sylpods and it was an "Open Box" product. When I got them they looked brand new (no original box/packaging) and came with both the straight cable as well as the coiled one...no 1/4 inch adapters or bag though. They appear genuine but the sound when compared to a set of Bose I have....seem very quiet and not super impressive. You said @:48 they need an amp to be louder. What kind of amp would do the trick for a person using them with electronic drums for example? I have them plugged into a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 and listening to Superior Drummer 3 along with a recording.

[@enhanceish]

the 2khz peak is AKG tuning signature, somebody hates it but I enjoy it very much

[@samarthasr]

The 712pros or the HE400se's from Hifiman?

[@sleepnaught]

Would you recommend these as an upgrade over the Q701? Really like these, but the bass is just too lacking.

[@SpencerSalva]

If you want more bass out of the Q701s, and are cool with modding your headphones (and probably voiding any warranty you might have), do a search for 'AKG Q701 Bass Mod'. Some claim it makes them almost identical to the K712.

[@ВалерийТрач-у2м]

less bass - more control and detail

[@MrRoberacer]

Think mixing. Just like with studio monitors the eq is designed to help you to get the mix to translate well. They are not flat on purpose. I have found that to be true but the magic eq curve seems to be different for different people. What you are explaining is they have a sound that is closer to a Tannoy dual concentric monitor which is what I found their predecessors to be as compared to some of the other monitoring specific headphones on the market. My experience is you need to pick a style and get used to working with that style. A producer I used to work for did everything on NS10's and he is well known internationally for his work. I can't for the life of me make NS10's work. Like Andrew Scheops I know Tannoy dual concentric and they go everywhere with me. I purposefully own two sets too. Vintage matters there too. Find your thing and build your entire monitoring rig around that. The thing is they are not really designed for audiophile use. They would be way to honest for that.

[@questionableidentity1]

i love this

[@pedecia]

Thanks I was looking for an open back headphone and was leaning towards the HD 600 but after seeing many positive review on the K712 Pro I am re-thinking in getting one of this instead. I need something for Jazz and classic music mostly as I am using the Audio-Tecnica MSR7 for others genres and very happy with it.

[@richardfu7400]

Fantastic, detailed, and consistent review, as always. This channel deserves more exposure!!

[@mull-sd9dz]

Hi, can someone please clarify what exactly is meant by "amplification is needed to get the most out of these headphones " . I've never really considered a good set of headphones before and i have the Denon D-M41DAB and now i am looking at seperates like the Oknyo C-7070 CD player. Will these drive headphones like these ok or is a separate headphone amp also needed ?? Any info will be greatly appreciated 👍

[@arnefackel5532]

Hey man, nice video! I do have a question.. I'm searching for open back headphones.. I really love listening to music for the joy, but I'm also starting to produce music at home. 70% is still listening.. . But for my use I'm also looking for a neutral sound signature, which I'm not really used to... Do you recommend getting these and equalize them for a better neutral sound signature or getting an alternative? Thank you! I really would appreciate an answer :)

[@indopleaser]

comparing the review style to others, enjoy openly acknowledging and referring to the innerfidelity graphs.tylls' graphs are the best tool, along with reviews. to ignore them is wasteful. hearing the headphone helps to comprehend the graphs having once looked at them. great job.

[@metal571]

+indopleaser I find most of the time my impressions tend to match the graphs, but not always. So I'm here to confirm or deny whether the cans really sound the way they measure or not

[@chadwinters4285]

I just read on your twitter feed that you met Zeos yesterday. Does he look as great as his hands ?

[@metal571]

+Chad Winters lmao I love this question. All I'll say is he's a cool dude and has a crap load of gear. He knows what good sound is too, but isn't as picky as I am.

[@miladesn]

are these worth getting these days? Made in China and all that? I just want something HD800 like for a thinner wallet. I want to use it for games/movies, for music I have other headphones.

[@mattialemboluscari8774]

Guess what? 712 likes right now 😂

[@hellbendert35]

this is what i hate about this, this guy has better reviews than 99% of the clowns that are shitting them out in the last 2 years.

[@metal571]

And yet *still* the audience thought I was paid to do each one, so buhbye now, but at least we've still got Resolve back over at the headphone show

[@andrasnelhiebel6726]

I may change my opinion on the K712 and keep them. I have been testing my headphones for the last few hours, and it might be what I was looking for (reference for mixing). Tonally it was easily the most neutral, even with its bumpy upper midrange. It is not at all bad though, I could listen to anything without any significant fatigue. But what really steals the show is its awesome dynamics. Easily the best what I have heard from a dynamic headphone (my Stax still beats them though). The clarity is simply amazing! I just don't like this stupid headband mechanism, it feels uncomfortable and loose at the same time. On the other hand I am pretty sure I will sell the K550. It is fairly neutral, and has a nice soundstage, but their clarity is significantly worse than that of my M50x. I was surprised as well, but it sounded way more diffuse. Also I do not find them with these huge pads particularly comfortable.

[@metal571]

Lol if you have Stax I don't see a reason to own these. And you should try the 650 before picking these. They sound way too far off for me to recommend them to anyone for mixing. But who knows, I'm not a pro audio engineer, but I know what monitors sound like, and this deviates pretty far from that.

[@andrasnelhiebel6726]

Technically speaking you are right, the Stax sound better, and have more clarity. On the other hand they are not very comfortable, need a special amp to carry around (and I have a 30 year old SRM-1 weighing 4 pounds, LOL), they are more fragile, and they have a HUGE 2k peak - contrary to the K712 I MUST EQ those. They are what they are, audiophile toys rather than working horses. And perfect for that! If you have the chance to listen to them, use it. They redefined the term clarity in my head. Telling that these sound way off from speakers is a bit ambiguous, since there are significant variances in speakers as well. And you did not even consider the room! This is a common misconception that if a headphone sounds like a monitor then everything is fine and dandy. I think it is more like having good reference points, where you can tell that none of them show significant errors in your mix. Many pros even check their mixes on earpods, as a huge number of the people will hear them on those. I am not a great pro either, just starting this profession, but I find the K712 as a reasonable reference point. If the midrange is right on these is right, it will pretty much sound good on anything else. Also dynamics is an important factor, since many of the processing techniques (compressor, delay, etc) are more time-related than frequency related. My problem with the HD600/650 is that they sound way too polite. I never had this "wow" effect from their dynamics as I had with the K712 last night. Also I find them a bit too dark, but that is just my personal preference. I like sparkling treble. At some point I will definitely invest into an HD800.

[@metal571]

+Andras Nelhiebel yeah read my mind. If you need tiny details and don't mind the forward treble the HD 800 sounds like a good tool

[@vincenthusvh]

What are your thoughts on the AKG k612 pro? Thanks in advance!

[@dirtharris]

metal571....Would you choose AKG K712 Pro ahead of AKG Q701? Cheers!

[@nonenothing4412]

he mentioned that yes

[@michabarlev4449]

Can you review the K7xx and make a comparison of the all line AKG K7xx,K701,k702,Q701,K712.

[@metal571]

Nearly impossible to get a sample of each of those at the same time. I've heard them all already though, I'd still pick the 712 every time

[@jvburnes]

The nice thing about the K712 Pros is that if they need repair you send them into AKGs professional studio maintenance facility rather than their consumer group. Extremely professional support.

[@twoseater4152]

Hey man awesome review as always. I was wondering if these headphones are worth buying over the Sennheiser HD 599's for $50 more as I just got the 599's and am debating on returning them. What would be your opinion on this?

[@ludwig2952]

Lol I just watched a k712 vs hd599 video from Wheezy Tech, he’s done a great job

[@twoseater4152]

@@ludwig2952 Yeah I picked up the HD599 6 months ago for $110 on Amazon and I absolutely love them. At that price it was simply a no brainer for me as that is half the price of the k712's.

[@JohSno]

You are giving away free for what Sonoworks are charging ~ €80. Your EQ recommendations for a flatter/better sound are spot on.

[@metal571]

I actually think it's even better. Equalizing by graphs alone does not really sound quite as good to me as using graphs as only a guide, and doing the EQ myself by ear

[@JohSno]

@@metal571 Any recommendations/ideas on dac/amp to match this? I'm new in quality headphone sound world. I've just got K712pro and will be getting a secondhand Audioengine D1 amp/dac to get me going. Later, after waming my feet, will be thinking to upgrade to the likes of O2/Odac, SMSL SP200, Bottlehead Crack etc.

[@metal571]

@@JohSno for most people I'd just buy a Grace SDAC from Drop and a JDS Atom. That'll power everything except the HE-6s and LCD4s of the world

[@JohSno]

@@metal571 Hey, yeap, order now done. Other sites also agrees on Grace's SDAC and JDS Atom. Thanks mate.

[@ChrisKeyman]

Sundara are better over these?

[@jvburnes]

I think proper component matching and drive is key here. The K712 is capable of very rich and extended sound when you do this. I'm currently using the K712 with a Project Ember hybrid amp and a Raytheon 12AX7 organ tube and its magical. I recently took my K712s to the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest and it sounded fantastic with both the Shiit Magni 3/Modi 3 stack as well as the Woo Audio WA8 DAC/Amp. I think the WA8 is using Russian 16N16B-V subminiature tubes.

[@questionableidentity1]

nice

[@bratosin1]

I just got this and yes a very wonderfull and natural sounding cans , the comfort is amazing, I made a short testing with my hd8dj and the akg sound more natural and open but you it comes to earthquake shaking sub bass the k712 can't compete with hd8dj , u can ad 12 db on 30hz and 12db on 60hz and they just smile on you ,like they saying: this is your best shot lol ? With the k712 u can't do that , but they don't lack bass and sub bass by any means , just they can't take extreme eq because the drivers start to distort very bad , also the senns has 95ohms and the akg 62 but the senns are 30%louder at the same volume level , mids and highs are pretty much the same , I give the edge to k712 only because sounds more natural , but is not a huge diff

[@quicksilver_x]

Just cancelled the 702 and ordered 712

[@filipedecarvalho3390]

I've been testing both this headphone and the Beyerdynamic 880 Pro in the last few days, and I think I prefer the Beyerdynamic, however the fact that the latter doesn't have detachable cables is a real dealbreaker for me. I'm really trying to like the AKG, but I find that something is missing (I listen to a lot of Jazz so maybe it's the highs that are boring). Any idea of how I can properly adjust the configuration on an equalizer? I'm using a Mac.

[@ISellSigals]

'very plasticy build'. what, you mean the two small headband bits? that is the only plastic lol...what would you have it made from? metal?

[@fuzzybaffy]

Definitely agree that the AKG is more of a "flavor" headphone, than a "reference" headphone. But AKG just does it so well, which is why they're so popular, heh.

[@fastandbulbous6282]

fuzzybaffy coming from a new audiophile is this better than the 7xx?

[@IISocratesII]

+FAST AND B U L B O U S Yes, at least in the opinion of most, these were made to fix some of the issues people has with the K702's (which is what the K7XX's are, same driver), more bass quantity and extension being the main thing, still not bassy by any means, but satisfying, the K7XX's will sound a little bass anemic for a new audiophile.

[@fastandbulbous6282]

IISocratesII well rip I already bought the k7xx

[@ether2434]

How good they are, i have heard that tubes specially on k712 are amazing, more than just different, better, is it true?

[@fastandbulbous6282]

TheJAVELIN CoRbAtO yes the sound quality on top of the comfort makes them amazing headphones and one of the most confortable

[@millenwagon]

Great review, it’s nice to see you appreciate these for a more fun listen. I think that’s the most important thing of all. I have some final e5000 and whilst they warm and powerful they’re such a joy to listen to!

[@warfam_clan6933]

It's funny that you should mention Tyll because your voice, to me, could quite possibly be a ringer for a younger Tyll Hertson.

[@metal571]

That would be scary

[@polvorin15764]

Bought a pair unused from a radio moderator for 180€ and a Fiio k5 Pro from eBay USA for 155$, can't wait to have them home...

[@Kowalus]

which amp i need to pc??? to drive AKG K712??? thank you

[@timgarcia923]

Boo, I wanted to get the K701 for the pretty white color and you’re making me lean towards the K712 for the sound 😅

[@metal571]

+Tim Garcia honestly they are somewhat similar and the K701 is a bit less colored in the mids. Could buy both and send one back lol

[@Mr.Plutonium]

I use these for gaming and there aren’t any headsets better than this one for footsteps. You feet like a god with these. I’ve used other pro headphones too

[@questionableidentity1]

LOL, no kidding. You can pinpoint exactly where they're standing behind the wall

[@i.e.sergio]

I just got my K712s in the mail two days ago, and I am pleasantly surprised to see that they can be run above everyday listening comfort off my phone. You can definitely forego amps in some cases, I have an S7 and my little Bravo tube amp can run it cleanly as well.

[@mariocomeq1961]

Can I used this headphones with my computer or telephone and get a good sound? What's the role of impedanz 62?

[@austinstrange2946]

hey metal! i have hd650. I wanna switch up for some different tone . philips X2 or akg k712 pro

[@Thome90]

in the description there are only 5 Frequencies....but i have 11 different frequencies in my peace plugin (10 /21/42/83/166/333/577/1000/2000/4000/8000/16000/20000) what should i do with the other 6...just ignore them and let them stay the same way? or is there a way i can also only get the 5 frequencies that are in the description ( 20Hz to 13000Hz)

[@metal571]

You can ignore them completely. Just copy my frequencies and copy the Q value and dB level into 5 sliders

[@Thome90]

awesome thanks

[@PaulinOsakanow]

I got these too when living in Japan only trouble these have is that the tiny elastic bands that control the height at which they sit on your head lose their elasticity over time and that causes discomfort for me, they sink down now and pull my ears with them, bugger because I love these.

[@stanstaniboy7655]

Lmao I had them for one year and yeah those strings that attach the headband to the frame did loose some elasticity already. I wonder if there's a way to open them up and change those? Maybe you could pull the headband in position and fasten it with some zip ties? Crude I know, but oi, maybe it works.

[@shiningforceukdj2008]

the best mixing headphones under $400??? really natural sounding, and wide they translate well to monitors, the mids sounding off is done on purpose to ensure the crossfeed problem is eliminated as much as possible ,

[@nonenothing4412]

can you elaborate how it helps with crossfeed

[@DurvalLacerda]

Will the Fiio K3 or the FX Audio DAC-X6 be able to drive it?

[@doublecrossedswine112]

My stoner senses are tingling

[@metal571]

Everybody says that but it's not me lol

[@kleinball]

Anyone have any experience with using an Apogee One DAC to power these cans? Any help would be appreciated.

[@NonPremiumID]

I do not know, but any headphone amp is good to drive a 62ohm headphone, especially one with a DAC at 24-bit/192khz.

[@oysteinsoreide4323]

I have a AKG K 242 HD. I thought I had a hearing problem, but it was caused by a huge dip in the 500-600Hz range. So it's not good for mixing. But it sounds ok in general.

[@TheFishFTW]

Hey Im in the middle of making an Audio system for desktop with a DAC and an AMP and Open Back headphones. I had the DT 990 Pros but they broke after 5 years. I didnt actually run them properly I didnt have an amp or anything for them♿ dont ask why. Anyway I would like to get a fairly similar soundstage that is around the same bassheaviness as the DT 990s but is also accurate and preferably open back. I tried the HD 650 with Soundblaster E5 but I kinda hate how flat and boring they sound and to me they kinda just sound too sharp to my ears. Ik I would need a better amp and DAC for the HD 65. Apparently the HD 650 should have more balanced highs than the DT 990 but to me they just hurt my ears and I would rather hear the sort of more warm sound of the DT 990. Im in no way a sound expert but I wonder if I should get the AKG k712 pros and which amp and DAC I should get with them. Looking for around 200-300€ Amp/Dac combo with below 300€ headphones. Preferably deliverable to EU. Also I have a big head so less clamping headphones are prefered. ♿

[@SpookyGhost999]

I have tinnitus, so I bought a milian acoustics svt for the noise isolation they have, so I don't have to turn up the volume for listening when I'm on the bus. I was wondering if you could review them, or recommend headphones with noise isolation for people who want to listen music in noisy environments without having to blast the volume. Best headphone channel, great content :)

[@metal571]

+Piwi probably would go through IEM route or grab a Bose QC35

[@bluex217]

These confuse me because they are impossibly cheap now at around 100$ or LESS... are they still up there in terms of sound, barring price?

[@metal571]

I still see the K712 hovering around 270 bucks on Amazon US, but they used to be a lot pricier than that. Not sure it's worth it sound wise vs Sundara

[@SatanDynastyKiller]

I have ordered the 702, 712, HD-58X and the HE4XX to go with my HE-35X that I bought 6 weeks ago. Looking forward to hearing them all, and how they go with the music I listen to. Need to up my amp game next..

[@metal571]

Oh boy. 35X measures super terribly so that should be an interesting difference

[@ludwig2952]

Which one you kept lol

[@GL-hk3xb]

Thanks a lot for the reviews 👏🏻Your finding and information so “natural” and teach us so much on how to evaluate the headphones. Would like your advice as I am quite struggle to which one to choose for an additional pair of headphone : K712 or K702 (which much cost competitive), Sundara or buy the Annada which cost much higher. I major use the headphones for listening classical music. I wanna the details and soundstage. Able to separate each instruments for chamber music/Jazz. No need for large stage but delicate recital hall size if possible. Also the Cello part need enough Bass support. I have owned a pair of DT770 and HD6XX. I have given the DT770 to my friend years ago as the headband a bit short for myself and cause pain but I still cherish the soundstage and details of a closed headphone. I bought it after watched your channel and first time I ever try a closed headphone able to have soundstage with much details which is unbelievable plus only cost under $120. Without the support of am dac and still sounds great. I keep the HD6XX and change the cables with silver which improve the clarity. But still I prefer DT770 for the sound imaging details, fantastic soundstage. Everything above standard, no need to concern about burn in, amp Dac matching and competitive cost. Only if it comes with longer hand band.

[@metal571]

Sundara

[@themastroiannis]

thanks for your prompt reply. exactly! that is the problem with the 650...lack of bass. as well as a big stereo image (at least to my ears). the stereo image is beautiful but not when you want a more "clinical" audition. I saw your review of the DT1990 where you describe the great bass response and extension and was wondering if that is the way to go.... ??

[@bandhanjha8563]

Any portable amp that can power these ? Budget is 100 to 150$

[@stanstaniboy7655]

They get loud with just my phone, but the only way I did extract that deep bass they have is over my FiiO K5 which outputs 1'5mW into 32Ohms. It's too powerful though, if possible I would go with something like 1W into 32Ohms.

[@bandhanjha8563]

@@stanstaniboy7655 what phone do you have ?

[@stanstaniboy7655]

@@bandhanjha8563 oh nothing fancy a cheap 150$ Motorola. It was also loud enough at max settings with any other cheap phone I tried around home. They are not hard to drive per se, but really open up and give a lot of nice bass when powered properly. If you find a portable amps capable of outputting 1W into 32Ohms, you'll be fine. 1'5W into 32Ohms was too much for these (I had the volume knob at 10 o clock, at 11 it was REALLY loud and bassy, at 12 absolute earrape).

[@fortyinch]

Try the toppings portable.. I got the nx1s.. The cheapest. And a ifi hip dac. I use it with dt770 80ohms and monolith m570 32ohms. Both amp dac power it well.

[@gumbyno5808]

A headphone newbie here. I need some help on deciding what amp and/or dac I would need for these. Budget options would be helpful!

[@stanstaniboy7655]

Eo! I had these, if you're in EU go for the FiiO K5 (non pro, the one with the dock). This thing was so powerful, I couldn't use it on high gain with the AKGs and they are only 130€ prime shipped over Amazon. Other options are Magni3, Heresy, Atom. I actually would recommend the Atom. It has 1W vs the 1'5W into 32Ohms the FiiO K5 outputs, which was just too much for the K712 Pro's.

[@gumbyno5808]

@@stanstaniboy7655 thanks so much!

[@stanstaniboy7655]

For DAC/AMP combo, go with the FiiO K5 Pro if you're in EU. If not, then there's stuff from Shiit and JDS Labs in US for cheap. I wouldn't buy a cheap DAC though. I only ever had a TEAC UD301 and I swear it's hard to tell the difference between that thing and my on-board PC audio. The Teac has def more details, but it's just not worth it considering how pricey it is.

[@gumbyno5808]

@@stanstaniboy7655 ah right. I'm not in the EU or the US, but I will check local prices for all of these. Thanks again :)

[@stanstaniboy7655]

@@gumbyno5808 oi no problem m8, let us know what you got

[@IamY00t]

712 likes. Should I downvote? Decisions

[@divinecurrent9053]

I had these years ago when they first came out, but I didn't really know about or use EQ back then. But I am curious now how well they would compare to my other mid-fi headphones (HD650, 58x, and R70x) with the right EQ. Sounds to me you thought these are better technical performers compared to the Sennheisers and other headphones in the price range.

[@metal571]

Yeah but these days I'd never tolerate them, just too annoyed by the treble. Then again what else is new lol

[@divinecurrent9053]

@@metal571 Update, I got a pair and tried some EQ on it. But I just can't get the upper mids to sound right... even with EQ and doing sine sweeps. You were right about the odd wide hump throughout the entirety of the lower mids. Bass is great, treble has surprisingly good resolution. But in the end, I prefer my 58X actually. I also could not get a proper seal with the pads on my head, so one side was always louder than the other. Maybe not enough clamp, could be a faulty pair but I doubt it.

[@ivanaylov303]

A very different view of K712, I appreciate that. I'll be glad if you can find K612 and compare them. K612 is supposed to be flatter on whole spectrum, with little veil in upper highs.

[@metal571]

+Ivan Aylov yeah 612 still measures kind of bright but the mids look closer to correct from graphs I've seen

[@MattM310]

Hi, do you think you could give me a small rundown of the sound comparison between these and the k550s? Thanks.

[@hha8356]

shush

[@gryphongryph]

Nice review, is there a chance that you will review the Denon AH-D7200 closed headphone?

[@hankolasmith4487]

Great review! I needed this video to hold me over.

[@RojasTKD7]

I used to own a pair of K712s and enjoyed the. I wouldn't call them bassy, but the bass was very enjoyable. It reminded me a little of the K553 in that the bass had this special quality to it. No where near the amount of bass of the X2 (also once owned lol), but as you said much better defined. They where also good for gaming.

[@Hellgastify]

Which of these two (K712 vs X2) would you recommend more for all-round listening (movies, games, all kind of music)? No matter the price. Thx

[@metal571]

Would rather have an HD 600 for all around listening

[@einsatzgruppen777]

great video! keep up the good work! what headphone is suited for Jazz? i listen to a lot of Miles Davis, Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea, Diana Krall, John Coltrane, McCoy Tyner, Oscar Peterson, etc. What is ur recommendation? Thank u kindly!

[@AMitrovic1]

Can’t say I can help as I’m in the same boat, but I listen to the same exact stuff. I was considering getting DT 990s and then EQing the treble down. But I don’t want to have to readjust it every time a new song plays... Hope you’ll let me know if you find anything!

[@metal571]

Depends on how much money we're looking at

[@AMitrovic1]

Hey dude, thanks for the reply. Not sure about my comrade above, but I was shooting for something under $250. I just got done looking at the AKG K702... from what I read they are good if you have the right amp. I’m still worried that the bass won’t be as pronounced. What are your thoughts? Aside from jazz, I listen to a lot of bass-heavy fusion (think Vulfpeck, Snarky Puppy), also Radiohead. Is there anything else you think I should look into? TBH, I spent the better part of tonight researching this and now my head hurts lol. It would be great to get some direction. I think I’ll make a trip to Guitar Center and try to see if I can listen to some of these for myself. I’m a newb, but I don’t want to get something that I’ll end up hating in a year, you know what I mean?

[@metal571]

Listening is believing, and will be the easiest way to find out quite easily if you like things like the quite sibilant Beyers so I'd definitely visit GC

[@AMitrovic1]

metal571 Hey bud, just wanted to give you an update - after doing some more research and watching other reviews, I settled on the Hifiman Sundaras. It was out of my original price range, but I think I made a good choice. They just seem to be designed for music listening whereas others are more for audio monitoring/production. I’ve been listening to them and I’m really happy: there’s no sibilance and the EQ is nicely balanced. Overall, it’s really pleasant to listen to music through these and I feel like I won’t have to change headphones for a long time after this. Provided they don’t meet with any unfortunate accident, that is. Thanks again for doing your reviews. They were a big reason in why I went with these versus the DT 990s. Btw, if our friend above ever goes back to read these comments - I’m listening to In a Silent Way today and the sound is just coming alive. I’ve got a FLAC file of Kind of Blue on the back burner after this which I’m really excited about. My advice is that you won’t be disappointed by the Sundaras if you listen to jazz. Just make sure to get some good quality audio because it makes a HUGE difference.

[@olymoon2008]

Yes, very good heaphones. Until the elastic that supports the ear cup get lose, then go try to repare it...

[@metal571]

Yeah this happens to all the AKGs that use this headband. It's fixable but pretty annoying to take all that apart

[@claudiecotet7927]

thanks, very good review. ps: does anybody know something about johnson and mitchell electrostatics? go for 199$

[@claudiecotet7927]

mitchell and johnson . sorry, british

[@stanstaniboy7655]

I swapped my K712 for a HD650 and boy is the HD650 BORING. I want my K712 back :(

[@metal571]

Lol if you like listening to your music through some weird interesting coloration yeah the 712 is a lot more unique. 650 delivers the music as-is and nothing more, but definitely with less of a soundstage unfortunately. I'd also try Sundara

[@stanstaniboy7655]

@@metal571 Yeah I am having right now a bit of a love hate relationship with them. So much better in mids and treble, but where is that BASS and HUGE soundstage :'( There is just no wow factor as with the AKG's. I am right now saving up a bit for a Audeze LCD1. Looking at graphs this might end up being my end game (minus the soundstage, oh well) Sundara... Nah I am afraid of the QC too much but I absolutely did consider them too. Maybe I should go for it though, there's a store near me who has them for 250€.

[@stanstaniboy7655]

@@metal571 oi metal m8, what do you think of the r70x, would those be a midterm between the 712pro and HD650? Do they have any soundstage?

[@metal571]

@@stanstaniboy7655 nah R70x is kinda boring. Sounds like an HD 650 but with more grain

[@stanstaniboy7655]

@@metal571 hmm, I'll go and check out the Sundaras. Once bought (if I'll even buy them), I'll pray to the Headphones Gods for them not to break.

[@mtbboy1993]

I need a durable headset, with metal, I don't might the weight, it has to be comfortable, every thing has to be easily replaceable, and all screws or bolts have to be easily accessible to tighten them down if they loosen, it has to have a self adjusting headband, Detachable cable, and audio has to be accurate as in recording. it has to be made of metal, & strong materials. do you know of any that fit my requirements? I have been looking for years I haven't found any thing that fits my needs, even some of the most expensive headsets on the market seems to be garbage. how is the durability of the AKG K712 PRO? Do you know which material the orange headband things are made of? MY concern is if it's plastic that will wear out due to friction, or of its alloy painted orange, or if it's plastic that will break. also the ear cup pivot is a concern.

[@Hirnlego999]

Without watching many videos could you say which ones are the best neutral sounding headphones that you have? I'm on AKG 273 Pro, but I'm looking to possibly improve things a bit more with lss distortion and more comfort. (K701 are to me too bright, lacks bas and DT990 has a loudness-sound that is also becomes quickly fatiguing to listen to)

[@motap001]

Thxs for the review. Just a FYI. I purchased the 7xx from Massdrop. Those are the q701's with the 712 earpads. They run $199.00. Thxs again.

[@MykWazowski]

Ok, I've been watching a lot of your headphone reviews, so thank you for that. I have had the opportunity to demo many headphones. HD600, DT1990, Fostex Purplehearts, all of them were good and all had their weaknesses, I have sensitive ears when it comes to highs (8k-12khz) give or take. I think I preferred the Fostex models the most from the 3, but would most likley get the ebony or mahogany, the Dt1990's were an awesome build and super comfortable but the highs (harshness) killed my ears. And I haven't had too much time with the HD600's I need a more powerful amp. Do wish they had a tad more bass (subbass) if possible. So after trying all these out I still preferred my ATH-M50's! They just have a fun sound that my ears enjoy, nice wide soundstage...Like everyone says "sound is so subjective" Giving that I'd like to find something similar to that soundstage if possible, maybe an open-back/simi open-back? I was leaning towards these. What do you recommend? I listen to a lot of styles, mainly rock, with some jazz every-now and again, usually more modern music, but do prefer well produced , well recorded/mixed albums. Thanks!

[@metal571]

Well, I'm not sure how high your budget goes, but the 712 is, as I said, going be a problem for treble sensitive folks like you and me.

[@MykWazowski]

metal571 Thank you sir. Budget is not that big of an issue, obviously I’d like to get the best bang for my buck, but finding a set that I’ll enjoy is key. Funny that I’ve tried multiple sets ranging from $99 to $600 and to my ear and preferences the ATHM50’s just sounded the best, and I wanted to keep listening to albums. I think I’m going to try out the ATH-1000Z art monitors, being I seem to enjoy AT, ZReviews gave them high marks, although I don’t always agree with him....you should try and get your hands on them. Cheers!

[@MykWazowski]

Also, thanks for posting your eq curves, I've used them a few times and seem to work well with my preferences as well.

[@metal571]

Just know three things if you go that route. First, reselling that headphone will be extremely difficult so try to buy from somewhere that allows returns. Second, don't expect it to sound even close to similar to the M50. Third, the fit on those high end ATs is generally awful since they are missing an up/down pivoting gimbal for the earcups, which is usually why I recommend going no higher than the A900X/A990Z. But neither of those would be a significant upgrade from the M50 either.

[@MykWazowski]

metal571 Indeed, I’m fortunate to have a dealer that carries many different headphones and has also let me return them after a week or so of listening. I will say I do enjoy my HD600’s balanced, with a tube amp. With a bit of high shelf cut and a bit of low end boosted, it’s just I don’t always have time for that system and am looking for something that will work well with my portable Onkyo DPX1A. I did score a set of balanced modded M50x’s that come with a couple custom balanced ends, one 2.5mm balanced end and one XLR so I’m excited to get those in a few days, Even though the M50’s don’t need much power to preform, the Onkyo will utilize 2 if it’s Sabre amps when switching, I’m not expecting to be blown away but maybe a little more detail...Maybe the M50’s are just my headphone. Haha!

[@peplegal8253]

Between this and the K702 (chinese) which one for Classical and Jazz ??? (differences in soundstage)

[@killertaxi100]

Anyone compare the K712 to the K501? I have the K501's, and I'm wondering if its worth the upgrade?

[@thiscorrosion900]

I don't like the cheap build elements on some of these AKGs. I just got Pioneer DJ X7s and they are seemingly built like tanks, for the money. I doubt they sound as sublime as open back AKG studios, but it's really two different animals, of course. But the build quality was just one of my considerations. I already own Hifiman HE400Is, so I've got the home front covered, needed a portable pair that was closed-back. Even the Hifimans are built more solidly. I bought a pair of Sennheiser 600s or whatever they were a few years back, and returned them, because, they sounded very dry and boring as you mention herein. I just haven't been knocked out by Sennheisers yet. And the ATs were even worse, horrendous-sounding screechy cans.

[@flegint]

Any better options for a $250 open-back reference neutral-sounding headphones in 2022?

[@hkhudadad]

can a fiio x7 mk2 with ama3 run these propperly?

[@Christianlhj]

That's a nice pop filter

[@giacomoAGargento]

what would you recommend: AKG K712 pro, Philips Fidelio X2 or Sennheiser HD598sr? I am looking for a balanced and detailed open back headphone with a nice soundstage, mostly for listening to rock music. I am new to the hi-fi world and i would like something that allows me to distinguish every instrument, I just bought a pair of bose qc25 which didn't satisfy me in that field.

[@idrinkxango08]

Hey Metal... question for you or anyone else... my budget is 300... Do I purchase the SHP9500s + mic + boompro and POSSIBLY dac/amp for future higher end headphones? It's a toss up with that or the AKG K712s which I've been eyeballing for a week... dac/amp would need to come later. I also don't want to pass up on the SHPs since they are a steal in price.... These or the AKGs would be my first pair of open headphones purchased. I've spent countless hours watching different reviews and have narrowed my results down to these two headphones since I mostly play CSGO / listen to music. Upgrading from HyperX Clouds.

[@v_tourer5713]

Hi metal571...!!! Have seen u reviewed beverdynamic Dt1990 with another channel name. Thanks for the insights u gave me, BTW I would like to complement my hd600 with good soundstage headphone. Is the detail retrieval of 712 pro on par with 1990 pro. I would mostly use it for music nd movies with little gaming. Which would u prefer? I couldn’t test both of these in my country which is too costly. Kindly help me in deciding. Thanks a lot....

[@dcoverzsessions]

these are better than akg k 612?

[@dominicboucher5759]

Very good review, thanks! I’m looking for an open-back pair to complete my closed back lineup (which includes K551 that I love for their quite flat response and incredible comfort). I had a pair of HD598 but I sold them because they doesn’t have enough clarity for my taste. So, I’m looking for the best “listening experience open-back pair” between the Q701 and K712. Which one is the most enjoyable in terms of listening experience? I mostly listen to rock, folk, jazz and classic.

[@metal571]

+Dominic Boucher if you like the 551 I would get an HD 6x0 series. 600 if you like about the same brightness of the 551, 650 if you like darker than the 551

[@dominicboucher5759]

metal571 You think HD600/650 is much fun and enjoyable to listen than Q701/K712?

[@metal571]

+Dominic Boucher I like relatively accurate headphones. Depends. This sounds like something you may have to compare for yourself, I probably can't tell you which you'd like more

[@leighj3717]

HD600 vs K712, which is good for music like hard rock, heavy metal, thrash metal and glam??

[@doublecrossedswine112]

Neither. You want V-shaped headphones for that. Trash metal guitarists turn the mid knob way down and the distortion knob way up. This is not a good combination of things to listen to on headphones that will bring the mids back out and on top of that accurate reproduce high levels of distortion. This will be a disaster. V-shaped. Or "fun" it is usually referred to as well.

[@KingdomKey57]

@@doublecrossedswine112 Exactly lol, look into anything Beyerdynamic like the 990's. Very V-shaped

[@doublecrossedswine112]

@@KingdomKey57 I have a set of Tygr 300 R's. Not sure where they fit in Beyers lineup but they are awesome as hell for $200.

[@ВалерийТрач-у2м]

I wonder what the material with which they dampen the capsules in these headphones is called

[@Thome90]

is the lack of "center" an issue with the k702 as well? planning on getting them since they are only 15€ here in germany

[@metal571]

Yeah 701 and 702 have that unnatural width stage thing going on

[@Thome90]

ok i just bought the K712 pro for 205€ i just have one last question (i'm sorry) will my FiiO E10K Olympus 2 be OK for powering these? will it be better than with my mobile phone? or is a better Amp a "must have", will it change the sound significantly? i heard they respond well to tube amps (whatever that means, lul) thanks...again...watch your live Q&A a few minutes ago, thank you for your videos

[@neil9658]

What's better the AKG 712 pro or Q701?

[@Sagdiyevas]

712 pro

[@bratosin1]

I have k712pro for almost 1 year so my impressions: 1. One of the most comfortable headphones ( light clamping , soft memory foam,big earpads) 2. Don't be fooled by the impedance, they are very very very hard to drive , my note8 or my sony vaio, barrely moves them at max volume to 60% of my normal volume listening to music ( and I don't like to blast volume , I.m not retarded) 3. Clean driver, perfect highs , great detail 4. Midrange a little weird( thiny voices and maybe to distant sounding) but still pleasing to listen , very clean and detailed sound 5.sub bass, present and very nice and textured but lack impact , so that type of bass that u hear but u can't feel is that make sense , they roll off at 50hz , they reach down to about 20hz but only if you blast volume at crazy levels, below 20hz they are pretty much dead, my sennheiser hd8dj can go easily to 5hz and at 20hz they still have energy to literally shockwave your head , but is closed and is pretty normal

[@metal571]

That's the big thing people keep forgetting about this AKG series; don't be fooled by the impedance as these are very inefficient drivers so take a lot of power to get them loud.

[@davidmason8212]

The sound 4:30

[@mattialemboluscari8774]

ZA SOUNDO

[@V_E_G_E_T_A_R_D]

Which one would you take for gaming (competitive gaming where footsteps matter) between the k701, k702 and the k712? I keep hearing that the K712 have the best soundstage, but on rtings that's not what they're saying? I currently have the HD58X Jubilee and i am not a fan of them for gaming at all. Used to have the HD558 and the HD598, and loved them much more than the 58X's.

[@michaelfreiberg8057]

i own the 612 pro and the 712 pro. the difference is that the 612's have more blurry details towards the center. the 712's are precise everywere. the 612 are way cheaper