K371 REVIEW - ALMOST Excellent

[@DMS3TV]

EXTRA NOTES: 1: I’m NOT using miniDSP ears rig because of its 4K artifacts so the 4K dip ISNT a result of that. 2: my rig is NOT calibrated for the harman target which would MASK many of this headphone’s FR shortcomings. 3: the harman target is fine but I believe it has no place in professional settings. It’s a subjectively based curve generated by averaging people’s EQ preferences.

[@thizguy519]

Do you think it's a up grade from the kph30i I want that low end.

[@DMS3TV]

@@thizguy519 certainly

[@baconepic7728]

@@DMS3TV how does it stand up compared to the dt770 pro 32 or 80 ohm when paired with a btr3?

[@ellef9331]

Please get some knowledge about how measuring headphone actually works. Then get the approriate gear. Then come again and reinvent your judgement.

[@aristotle_4532]

Don't worry about Harman. It has a physiological basis, and that's why many engineers calibrated their headphones using EQ since the early 90s, but don't worry about it. Headphones cannot be saved by calibration. It will only fix the problem macroscopically. The energy of a band will be correct, but headphones operate drivers in their full region, way into breakup, with nasty resonances that sound very bad in lyrics, brass and percussion. There is no way around it with the present implementations. All headphones are terrible references compared to monitors. Frequency response, stereo image, reverberation, etc. It can't be fixed because the breakup region that gives us the clues is very random. Portable listening will of course prevail, and home speaker systems will eventually become rare. One day, we will only master audio to Apple headphones or perhaps Huawei. I'm surprised that's not a trend already.

[@ivayloivanov3744]

4:53 are you sure you have done the measuring right, because there are other k371 graphs over the internet looking way flatter than this one

[@josuad6890]

exactly my thoughts. Crinacle's and Oratory1990's is really flat when compensated with harman target. But DMS's measurement is... what the actual duck? that is just waayyyy too bloated for no good reason at all.

[@svlagonda7417]

This guy's graph definitely makes no sense and doesn't come close to others I've seen for this headphone. How did he test it? Did he have the wrong setting or make an error?

[@josuad6890]

@@svlagonda7417 it's the good ol' AKG QC stuff. the unit is defective, that's all. it happens to this unit, and happens to the K371 BT he reviewed.

[@jayjaygolden5123]

it looks similar to most k371 graphs to me?

[@jayjaygolden5123]

@@josuad6890 this one might not be compensated for harman?

[@WheezyTech]

These graphs look quite similar to mine, although the ones I showed on my vid used the MiniDSP HEQ compensation curve which is based off Harman curve. I used this compensation because this headphone is designed and tuned to Harman curve. I also did a measurement using the HPN compensation (DF) and it looks a lot like this. A 20db difference between the top of the bass shelf and the lowest point of the 4k dip. I don't know if I would say they are bassy, but then all of my headphones get EQ'd to Harman curve so thats the sig I like and am used to. Not sure I agree with the distant vocals tho, mine make vocals pop. Horses for courses etc. AKG really need to up their QC game.

[@vm6038]

To my ears, the mids on my K371 sound very close to those of the HD6XX. There's no 4k dip that I can notice. Vocals sound great and present. I compared the two side by side. I do also own the K553 and those sound V-shaped to me compared to the K371 - the mids are less present on the K553, the highs stand out more and the mid bass is more boomy. K553 is the one that has recessed vocals in comparison. The K371 sounds decidedly more neutral and natural to these ears - again, closer to the HD6XX and HD58X. I only hear sub bass boost on my K371, but no mid bass emphasis at all. In fact, some people consider the K371 to be too light in the mid bass with not enough punch there. I think they are just neutral in that region. Your graph however, shows a big boost up to 200 Hz, which is clearly not there with my pair. That boost indicates a very strong mid bass which is completely at odds with what I and others are hearing... I am thus pretty sure that your unit is defective. I was going to buy another pair of K371, because I love them so much, but now hesitate even more as there appear to be some units that aren't tuned properly. Wheezy reviews even measured one that had horrible channel imbalance, where the two channels sounded completely different.

[@oleadsr8186]

Same here. I have 361 and 371 and i have no idea what he is talking about. 371 is not bass heavy and not punchy at all. Its athmospheric, clear neutral phones with a soundstage much wider then hd600

[@brownchair2698]

@@oleadsr8186 Wut. Wider than the hd 600? I don't believe that

[@chickenpasta7359]

@@brownchair2698 I have a pair of 6XX and for open backs these are very narrow sounding. My HE4XX with the filter removal mod sounds much wider in comparison. Not very hard to find wider cans than the Sennys

[@brownchair2698]

@@chickenpasta7359 Thats the 6xx though. Thats known for being narrow. The 600 is fairly wide.

[@Clout_chasing_boy]

Its a stupid review by dms. K371 is remarkably similar to 650 in tonality

[@luigismilazzo]

Evidently you have a differently tuned or a defective pair

[@kingdaka3737]

Been here since the Sennheiser hd598 Cs review (1k subs) and so stoked to see you collab with Linus, congrats DMS!

[@KittanBachika]

dude omg i saw you in the ltt video ^^, how the f did you end up there

[@jdssurf]

Bought the 371. They sound amazing and detailed to me. Extremely happy. Make sure the audio source your listening to isn’t shit, some of my iTunes downloads are shit, then go check the same song elsewhere, amazing. You can eq them for pleasure, or most of the time they sound great, super happy.

[@user-gp5md9tb3w]

What about gaming or KZbin?

[@oBlissi]

@@user-gp5md9tb3w I'm joining the question... Spotify is a good audio source?

[@johngotti8544]

Your right depends on the source your hearing some sound really terrible but look for that same song with a better source sounds really good

[@tommy9682]

Me too, so happy! Best headphones for those price

[@hy7968]

@@oBlissi Apple Music is better since they have lossless but you’ll need wired headphones for lossless since Bluetooth just doesn’t have the bandwidth to support it.

[@Xyrium]

Thanks for this review! It looks like you got a bad seal when you tested these. See Rtings measurements, they run various tests against them. -4dB in the upper treble. What are you using to test headphones? TOtally agreed on the build quality, or actual design quality, the plastic is complete garbage.

[@mrcrunch8000]

I am still surprised by the talk of these being bass heavy. Maybe I have a faulty pair but the first thing I noticed was how aggressive I thought they were. While mine go very deep my hd58x seems more impactful and overall warm. I find the treble on mine very crisp and present. Maybe it is the way mine seal, idk.

[@HungryCheff]

I like the new background and setting you're going for, but damn could you hold that camera still for a second.

[@Juanixtec]

So you dislike the Harman curve huh. And flat plate couplers screw measurements horribly if you use another compensation curve on top is going to be by far worse. There are no problems with tonality in this headphone, other than subjective ones of course. However, both Sean Olive and Oratory's measurements (both using trustworthy simulators) show that they indeed follow their target.

[@Juanixtec]

However this is weird, by no means, this should sound without any midrange, they should, in fact, have a very similar tonality to the HD600 in the midrange and treble...

[@DMS3TV]

The two pairs I’ve had have been pretty rough. Measurements on my flat plate, a set of ears, and a KU100 all show the same dip. Sweeps when listening confirm. Either it’s got tonality problems or QC is just that bad where I’ve gotten mistuned units.

[@DMS3TV]

I don’t dislike the harman curve. I dislike its attempt at association with a professional product.

[@Juanixtec]

@@DMS3TV Harman is a Preference curve, While Diffuse field is a more "neutral" because compensates things rather than ask people and pros for opinions. Still, Both should work just fine because they are both targeting measured and known reactions, If you mix or do whatever a pro does with them then you should, in theory, mix with a good reference in comparison. Still, idk what is happening with that midrange. It puzzles me because it should sound like HD600 series midrange, it makes no sense! HD midrange is as close as Harman as it gets...

[@Antares-dw9iv]

@@Juanixtec If that is a QC issues it persists to this day, I recently got them and I've never owned a headphone with more distant mids, I actually came here because I was wondering if they were defective. I can confirm pretty much everything said in the video and they definitely don't sound anything like my HD 600s in the mids. Then again it might just appear that way because of the massively elevated bass, but even compared to the DT 770 (from memory sold them a while ago) and my m40xs the mids sound extremely distant, on some tracks it's almost like they are being played through a speaker on the other side of the room. I am debating exchanging them for a new pair, but seeing as QC issues apparently change the sound from unit to unit it really makes me wanna stop bothering with them. They are ok enough sounding as they are and extremely comfortable but I think I might return them and get DT 770s again and either learn to deal with cable or mod it.

[@octagest]

I don't think that fr graph is right bro

[@DMS3TV]

Listen to a pair. They’re horribly sucked out sounding.

[@octagest]

@@DMS3TV DMS I haven't heard the 71s but I own a pair of 61s and vocal clarity is the best I've ever heard. Though the only other headphones I own are the k702s and the kph30i's. The frequency response graphs in Oluv's video show the mids and lower treble are less even on the 61s than the 71s, but still don't have anywhere near as big a dip as the 71s you reviewed. The first thing I noticed when I got my 61s was how much more easily I could hear the lyrics to songs. I heard people say things on my first listen with the 61s that I'd been misshearing for years.

[@DMS3TV]

tohnk and see the vocals on the 71 are insanely distant and veiled. Very different. Several people have told me the 61 is much better.

[@octagest]

@@DMS3TV If that is the case I'm glad I got the 61s. I thought I was making a compromise in the evenness of the midrange for less bass (I don't think I like the bass shelf on the 71s going by Oluv's sound demo). But it appears I didn't as the 61s more closely match my preference in both bass and midrange.

[@thecrazylipser]

@@octagest Oluv modifies his measurements according to his hearing. He's the most dedicated reviewer and I'm a huge fan, but I take it with a grain of salt. I've spent an hour switching between the 61 and 71 today and my conclusion - 61 is a bit shouty on the mids and highs, the 71 does have an unclear midrange due to it's intense sub bass. It might be more accurate technically, but the real life result is overbearing amount of bass, not a revealing pair at all, but could be fun. I see a monitoring use for the 361 though.

[@DragonClawBG]

For those of you that are interested: I'm pretty sure these can be tuned to sound very close to the K550 and vice versa. I recently replaced the drivers of my K550 MKII with ones for K371 (keeping the K550's tuning) and observed very little difference. Bass and most of the mids are almost indistinguishable, the upper mids and highs are slightly different. They are still IMO a bit on the sharp side of things, but the peaks are centered differently and are less unpleasant. Also, the K371 drivers respond better to damping - a think layer of felt is all I need to adjust them to my liking, where as with K550's original drivers I needed much more damping, resulting in the 'air' frequencies suffering too much. I believe the layer of acoustic paper stuck on the grill in front of the driver is what's causing the treble to take such a deep dive in these. I've experimented with covering some of the K550's holes with toilet paper and the result I get is pretty similar. I used to own the K371, too, but ultimately sold them as I liked my K550 better. However, I've come to realize I sometimes miss their more relaxed sound without any mods and intend to get another pair soon.

[@universeman657]

I am going to have to disagree with you on the claim that these should never be used in a studio. I got the k371 and used them for a bit to do some music production, and I can actually hear more flaws in a mix in these than I can in the hd6xx, and after getting used to the sound signature, mastering is also easier to make sound better in these.

[@DMS3TV]

Two cases here your 6XX has blown drivers OR your source can’t power them because the 6XX and the K371 aren’t remotely comparable in terms of quality.

[@universeman657]

DMS the source isn’t very strong, but it is still a good thing to have easy to drive studio monitors, and they still work well. I just think they deserve more credit.

[@brownchair2698]

@@universeman657 The sub bass is the only thing that is somewhat high in these cans. The bass is lean. Idk whats up with dms' graph

[@ExSkyCyclePilot]

Not sure what headphones you have, but they are nothing like the K371s I own. Is it possible you wound up with a cheap knockoff? Mine sound like the Harman curve - a little extra bass, and neutral from 200 Hz and up. The bass on these is nowhere near as prominent as that of the DT-770 or M50x. And, I've looked at least a dozen other frequency graphs, and none of them are even close to what you describe. Most show the frequency response landing close to the 2018 Harman curve. Most graphs I've seen were created with the GRAS analyzer, which is the gold standard. I do, however share your concerns about durability. Mine seem fine, and show none of the construction issues you mention, but only time will tell how durable they are. And finally, they may be marketed as professional headphones, and I could see them getting used in studios the same way the DT-770 gets used, and the DT-770 has way more bass and treble than the K371. I know. I've owned both, and neither are neutral reference headphones for mixing.

[@DMS3TV]

I got several pairs and they all measured/sounded different. It’s gotta be a QC problem.

[@ExSkyCyclePilot]

@@DMS3TV Sure sounds like it. There were definitely problems during the first few weeks of production. I wonder if they've address those issues. The ones I have sound exactly as I would expect them to, based on the Harman curve. Tonally, they are similar to my HiFiMan Aryas, but with a little added bass/sub-bass - although at one tenth the cost, they lack the detail, sound staging, etc.

[@luigismilazzo]

The vocals are very forward. Early messy pair?

[@iridescentgherkin]

It's important to note that miniDSP E.A.R.S. measurements are notorious for consistently dipping at around 4kHz for almost all closed-back headphone measurements. It seems to be a problem with the cylindrical tunnel design of the silicone ear canal, or some other anatomically incorrect aspect or flaw in the system. I'm not being negative or trying to cause any problems or misunderstanding, I just ant to help increase the quality of reviews and people understanding of how to interpret the miniDSP EARS. On 2nd thought, It might be a real dip that the EARS is coincidentally causing to appear much worse than it is, and it might just be bad enough anyway without the extra emphasized dip anomaly. Either way, it's something to look out for in other measurements. :)

[@DMS3TV]

I don’t use miniDSP EARS for this exact reason.

[@iridescentgherkin]

@@DMS3TV oh wow, which system are you using? I don't recall the measuring jig you used from any previous videos.

[@DMS3TV]

greq I’ve been using the same flat-plate for 3 (almost 4) years to maintain consistency. After that amount of time I can comfortably say that dip isn’t an artifact.

[@MM-ul3pg]

would you say these are better than the DT770 pro's

[@brownchair2698]

Absolutely. The dt 770 is cursed

[@ScrattleGG]

got the philips fidelio x2 and a set of passive b&0 75w passive speakers. What would you get for it all having the pc as an output? I'd like some sort of dac/amp to eliminate my pc noise, but can't find something that'll power both in a smart way without having to switch wires manually. is a dac with two output and then a sep amp for the speakers the smartest? or something like an audio interface? Got up to 250 dollars

[@alejandroschmidt3284]

Hello!!! Can you please advice me about the best closed back headphones for mixing and master then? @metal571 says K371 are the best cosed back for mixing and mastering but you say they sucks, then @metal571 says the K553 are super V shape and you say are the best, it;s super confusing, please help!!! I need to mix music on trains, buses, planes and bars, thanks a lot!!!

[@johngotti8544]

Yo these morons don’t know shit get what you fell is better these dumb asses don’t know shit

[@subjecttochange9320]

I agree with your opinions overall, but somehow your response curve looks a lot different than anyone else's I've seen so far. Yet another borked copy maybe? Because I can't really say either of my copies sound like your response graph between 3-7K

[@iridescentgherkin]

This is because he's using different compensation data. MiniDSP EARS comes with 2 types of compensation data - "HPN" = Diffuse Field compensation - this is similar and somewhat comparable to what you will find on Tyll's Innderfidelity graphs. Still the best comparison between miniDSP EARS graphs is only with other EARS graphs. The other is "HEQ" is basically an 'equal loudness' compensation that aims to represent a truly neutral signal as a horizontal line. This compensation will appear to emphasize treble and slightly mute the bass.

[@DMS3TV]

I’m not using miniDSP ears. Many other people are compensating for the harman curve which will hide that massive dip.

[@lukenycz7967]

Does the Harman Target need revamped since most headphones dont follow it at all?

[@mesaoneCCK]

Regarding the asymmetries in how the pads meet the housing, did you find that you could rotate the pads a bit to fix it?

[@NinadMithbawkar]

There are possible gaps between pads and the cups because the pads are removable. Simply remove the pads and put them back..this doesn't seem to be a build issue to me

[@1rexrex]

Have u tried the headphones while having those holes in your earlobes corked. Or do they act like some sorta "XTRA BASS" type venting system?

[@DMS3TV]

They make no difference to sound in or out. I’m not much a bass person.

[@theplourde]

For general, casual listening for music would you say these are a good buy?

[@oleadsr8186]

Anyone else hears it like the provided frequence graph? I hear it less less bassy then HD280 and nothing like graph provided here. They sound just like mid-fatter version of k361 with a bit subbass boost (that you dont meet much in music itself). The RTINGs graph actually represents what i hear and its completely different.

[@DMS3TV]

It seems QC varies a lot on these. I had several pairs that all measured differently.

[@SmSm-li9ek]

Hi dms i need to know akg k371 vs sennheiser ie 200 vs aria 2 which will be best for music i also listen to background scores from movies

[@jayjaygolden5123]

didnt the k550 have a similar treble dip?

[@MrLimaify]

I've bought mine few days ago and they do not sound at all as you describe them

[@turtleneck369]

Doesn't Samsung bought AKG 2 years ago or so ? I wanna try k371 but QC issues are putting me away

[@brownchair2698]

Its fine now.

[@blackstrobe69]

First batches were bad, now is fine.

[@WillJukedTheBox]

the harman target doesn't have a huge dip like that does it?

[@ChrisKeyman]

Which one would you suggest for studio use? Mixing and mastering. Thank you !

[@DMS3TV]

The cheaper brother, K361 and also the HD560S

[@ChrisKeyman]

@@DMS3TV something with better instrument separation? A planar maybe?

[@Ministerofmadness_]

are you the linus tech tips of headphones?

[@trumpfakerap3592]

You state "heavy clamping" ... I have TMJ (jaw issues). Just bought and have to return Beyerdynamc 770 Pros ... could not wear for even 5 minutes! Was looking at these ... a rule out now.... Any recommendations for TMJ sufferers? Need closed, am pro musician (sax, piano). I have AKG 271 Mk. ii, no TMJ issues. Worn out, need new ones but want more closed (noisy environment). Thanks...

[@thecrazylipser]

I'm on the verge of purchasing - Do you have any thoughts on the K361 which has significantly less sub bass? Thanks!

[@cxmxc]

Did u make the music on this vid?

[@jevule130bpm7]

which closed back would you go for mixing ? i know it would be better off with a semi or open can but if you had to choose one? i'v had the athm50 together with sonarworks correction , please advise thank you!

[@dragos8839]

I'm looking to buy these headphones and convert them to bluetooth so I can take them to the gym. Any thoughts ?

[@Bumper210]

Just wondering, have you tried AKG K701?

[@Forwhomthebelltolls24]

Don't know what studios are using those, but in my experience in studios for last 20 years, no one uses expensive and real ' flat' headphones. We musicians mostly use cheap Sony V6/ 7506/ DT 770/ HD25 ( drummers) and the mixing guys mostly use speakers ( not very expensive ones,mid tier at most) NOBODY uses expensive cans in real studios where real music is recorded with real instruments ( not talking about laptop producers) Most of the videos in KZbin where some audio engineers using very expensive cans are staged.

[@DMS3TV]

Pretty much every studio I’ve worked in around Nashville used $500-1k headphones. The common ones are DT1990 and LCD-X. For musicians monitoring usually the same DT880/770/7506.

[@jevule130bpm7]

my graph doesn't say the same.. :/

[@hazi5961]

Unfortunate you had build quality issues. Also, you may have gotten a dud cause my pair has flat sounding bass with no drop until 1k. No 17 decibel dip that I can hear, but I absolutely hear the peak from 6 to 7.5 khz when listening to aggressive rock or metal. BBK by Korn fully displays the 6 to 7.5 khz peak (1st 30 seconds of the song). I really do feel that you either have a unit with extreme variance or is defective.

[@hy7968]

I bought a K371 that had hinges that are a bit too loose and for some reason had no sound coming out of the left earcup after two months of moderate use. It sounded pretty good while it was still working. Fortunately I managed to get it replaced through warranty and the new pair I got had solid hinges and it was working as intended and did not have any tuning issues or channel imbalance.

[@brianyau9812]

I have a feeling that your pair is defective because even compare to my 6XX and CD900st, my K361(which is 90%similar to K371) does sound 3-4db boost in sub bass, but that's all. If you get time, check out raw FR measured by oratory1990. The dip does not present in his graph. However, I truelly agree that marketing K36/71 as "professional headphone" is a missed opportunity coz my CD900ST just sound MILES flatter than the AKG. btw from what I've heard from headphone subreddit, the QC of K361 is much better than that of K371 coz no one ever have issue on K361

[@iledan2d]

Yeah, I wouldn't bet on the K361 not having any issues. Got the K361 model last month and the right side tab that holds the silicone/rubber headband has fallen off, I could see that the plastic that was keeping it locked-in was deformed. AKG says that this is "end-user damage", they will not send a replacement headphone and they won't even repair them, clearly it's my fault that they have poor quality. I used to own some of their models like the K121 Studio, K141 MkII, K550 MkIII, K712 Pro, but these K361 have the worst build quality of them all. I don't think I will be buying anything made by AKG in the future.

[@DMS3TV]

Brian's guitar 自high系列 both my pairs measured the same. Most people are calibrating their rigs to the harman curve which will hide all of this headphones FR problems. The dip is definitely there.

[@brianyau9812]

@@iledan2d Oh thats such a shame. Too bad they have such a bad QC

[@brianyau9812]

@@DMS3TV Maybe that's why I think something is missing in this headphone. It feels like there is a hole in certain frequency range. Maybe I should wait for you review and buy K553 which is selling for $89 and I think I will suit my taste much better...

[@Juanixtec]

@@DMS3TV How is calibrating to Harman hiding the dip?

[@DrHaydoPotato]

"calls 150USD headphones cheap" Im on the wrong channel

[@julianneubauer1927]

In regards of good audio it kinda is.

[@mattsch21]

$150 is just about entry level for mid-fi

[@bratosin1]

150 is very very cheap , the entry entry level quality headphones start at 400.500 , and the very best ones cost 1500 .2000 ( few of them reach 4000.5000,6000 us dollars)

[@dariomladenovski7047]

for headphones 150$ is nothing lol

[@RIMweg]

150 for a headphone isn't cheap. People saying it's cheap because there are $6000 headphones is like saying a $150k car is cheap because there are cars that cost millions

[@Mr_Wh1]

Sennheiser HD600 vs HD650?, on a upgraded V-Can V3?

[@josuad6890]

huh. what an odd graph. Crin's and Oratory's graph are really like Harman with no weird dips. Seems like a QC issue?

[@DMS3TV]

Terrible QC

[@ResolveReviews]

Great review man.

[@hamzasaeed918]

When is the video with Linus coming?

[@DMS3TV]

Within a week I believe. On his channel.

[@antonhelsgaun]

It's been on floatplane for a while

[@claytonl724]

I'm brand new to this audiophile idea and I'm just kinda wondering where to start and even what all the information that I hear about some of these products means. Maybe you could do a introductory video or series talking about how to get started in this area, some budget full setup recommendations, and what all the jargon actually means. Just discovered your channel and already learning. Keep up the good work!

[@DMS3TV]

Yes! It's in the works! As well as recommendations for people entering the hobby!

[@joseg8747]

nice, look into hifiguide forums! it's really good for everything of the kind!

[@SatanicJamnic]

Linus sent me.

[@colt2266]

In your opinion what do you think is the best studio headphone on the market?

[@henryorsomething]

People nut themselves over the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pros. They're still discounted in Beyer's cyber Monday deals I think.

[@Orteth]

For gaming, this or the Fidelio x2hr?

[@greenthunder1000]

For gaming? What do you think you’re gonna hear someone breathing? All you need is surround sound and the ability to hear footsteps. Done.

[@LRJameson]

Just seen you in the ltt video and I really need to ask this. Have you ever listened to songs like blue powder by Steve vai and rubina, always with me always with you by Joe satriani these songs to me sound amazing too me and I'm not in the place to listen on actually decent sound gear. Would really love to hear back from you. Cheers

[@ganyimiklos]

I use this for mastering. It’s not bassy,, when you working sub bass heavy instruments, you hears every detail and you can nail that easily. The mids are amazing, these tuned perfectly. (I had Audeze, Senn, everything and use this always…)

[@Chase-yg5no]

DUDE this video format is awesome, DMS! I haven't heard it myself but judging from all the graphs as well as Oluv's sound demos, mixing with this thing would make tracks sound downright shouty overall.... Just picked up a K553 because of this, thanks!

[@AceDeclan]

These headphones are within 1dB on the Harman Response Curve

[@DMS3TV]

Yep.

[@johnellison3173]

Hmmm, great review but now there's conflicting information on these. I dont think Metal571 had this issue with the 4khz drop

[@DMS3TV]

Because the harman curve calls for the drop. They basically put people in a room and let them EQ things until they liked the sound. Then averaged those results. It’s a sucked out bass boosted nightmare.

[@fabienlarvor8283]

@@DMS3TV It is based on approximating the ideal Harman listening room frequency response (so, what would anyone hear with an ideal speaker setup) first. User preference is more for fine tuning, so it's definitely not as subjective as you're making it out to be. Also, from other measurements I've seen (reddit's Oratory1990) and direct comparison to Harman curve, that's still a noticeable drop at 4k, so it's not something the target curve is really "responsible for".

[@DMS3TV]

Fabien Larvor I’ve got measurements of this headphone compared to plenty of others. It’s the only one that consistently has the same dip. The replacement pair measured the same.

[@fabienlarvor8283]

@@DMS3TV oh I agree there's a dip. I just say that dip is not because of following the target curve.

[@metal571]

There's a really narrow dip at 4k in oratory measurements so not really conflicting, I just didn't notice it at all in listening though

[@Angel-nh4sw]

can u test the j-lab in ear bluetooth headphones and compare them to the best u have heard they actually changed my life i have no idea how they got so much quality in those tiny speakers their literly the best i ever heard

[@Tommy-TwigFan]

You still recommend them?

[@DMS3TV]

I recommend the K361 more

[@Tommy-TwigFan]

@@DMS3TV Any particular reason?

[@Donsploitation]

Steadycam build quality is AKG

[@D-av]

I must say I'm very puzzled by this review. @Metal571 and @Oratory1990 praised these headphones very much yet you rather bashed them. How subjective and personal audio must be...

[@DMS3TV]

I think they’re fine for personal use. My problem is with them being called a “professional headphone”. The thought of anyone mixing or monitoring on them is scary.

[@D-av]

@@DMS3TV Yeah, I get it... well sort of :) Why? Because your thoughts such as: "extremely bassy, lower treble very (x5) sucked out, vocals extremely distant" are IMHO much more general than just professional view. If that is really the case I can't imagine how would you describe some other headphones that are really extremly bassy, or extremely vocal distant. I think your objections are so grave that even no audiophile or casual audio enthusiast could enjoy their sound. And why I have so many doubts about it - take look at these measurements (and they are pretty believable I think - oratory1990 talked about them quite favorably) : www.rtings.com/headphones/1-3-1/graph#1671/3161/431 Midrange is very very very ;-) similar to the DT880.

[@JKHYT]

Vocals are *extremely* distant?? What are you smoking my dude? They're slightly recessed yes, but it's not something that wrecks the tonality as a whole like you seem to imply. I think you're putting too much weight behind reading a graph versus just listening to them. Either that or you prefer an extremely forward/shouty response.

[@DMS3TV]

I prefer neutrality. Compared to the average, these have distant vocals. I don’t measure anything until after I’ve written my review script.

[@JKHYT]

Fair enough. I only have 6XX and 4XX to compare to but the vocal range in the 371's doesn't sound drastically more distant than either of them to me. Definitely doesn't sound as forward as 6XX but the 6XX is so rolled off in the low end that it's hard for vocals to not sound forward.

[@matthiasg.222]

would you test the Technics F70N maybe? just got them and I love em. natural sounding with a deep bass if needed. I d love to see a response graph of it. In my opinion they re something lile the Beyerdynamic Aventho wireless but over ear and with ANC plus a more "silky" sound. Hope I could tease you enough to try them :-) (they re btw the better option to a crappy Bose 700 or Sony)

[@n.o.b.s.8458]

NGL dms changed my view of these, which was both good and bad. I really liked the sound of these. They reproduce bass instruments very accurately. Bass guitar in particular really shines, and sounds a lot like im standing in a room with a bassist playing. However, they do lack a lot of detail. On DMS’s other recommendation, I bought the hd 560s. They are leaps and bounds more detailed, with basically every other instrument sounding more clear, and with much better imaging. It’s nice to have a pair of each, since they have such different sound profiles. For more info, feel free to check out my review!

[@Fedaalis]

This was a headphone I just couldn't bring myself to get rid of... I guess it comes down to the reasons DMS mentions: It's a nice headphone for just listening without wanting to look at intense detail... Also I love the feel and texture of it. I also like it for conference calls. Isolation & comfortable (to me)

[@maomao180]

He prolly got a dud, his K371 measures different from everyone else on the internet.

[@adityasharma2870]

Please get a tripod stand to mount your camera. That camera shake is very annoying.

[@J1.329]

Excellent review You discussed all of the relatable issues and overlooked aspects of these headphones that I was concerned about

[@pastaboinch]

It sounds like you're judging the headphone purely based on your chart that to me looks a bit inaccurate relative to many other reputable sources of frequency response testing online. Sure maybe your testing rig is not "calibrated" to the harman target, but i'm not sure what it's even calibrated to given how starkly different this chart looks relative to others online. I haven't even tried these headphones but I'm curious about them because from my experience working at many studios with artists, producers, and engineers the harman target reigns supreme. It may not be as bright as many audiophiles prefer, but it's a good middle ground between audiophile, brighter frequency responses, and typical bass heavy and boomy average consumer grade products. Granted, pretty much all of the professionals I've worked with only use a pair of average headphones for tracking, while they do all of their actual work with giant studio monitors (which are usually tuned more or less near the harman curve). The way you're describing shelves, dropoffs, and roll-offs in this chart to me sounds more like your distaste for the harman curve itself, not these headphones in particular. Because a "drop-off" on one chart may be a hump on another, strictly depending on how the measurement tools are tuned. Your measurements just look so wildly different from the others online that I find it almost useless to draw any conclusions upon it.

[@DMS3TV]

I always listen and write down my conclusions before measuring. Measuring shouldn't be the main tool for evaluation. That said, since then I've switched to using an IEC60318-4 for my measuring rig. Headphones that adhere tighter to the harman target like the Aeon Noire absolutely I love. Same with the K361. I definitely don't think its the best target, but it can certainly sound great. The 371 though has always sounded like a bloated hollow mess to me.

[@jimis3167]

Will you review Ollo auio S4R??

[@SoundWaveTrax]

This is a more accurate graph which shows this headphone closely follows the Harman target: www.dropbox.com/s/9ftqm1c13xjcqgv/AKG%20K371.pdf?dl=0 The 58X and most Sennheiser open backs are kinda terrible for mixing bass. They have the typical mid-bass bloat that gives kick drums and bass this unnatural thickness that will trick you into thinking there's more bass than there is. This is due to the increased impedance at the primary resonance of the driver. For mids and highs I suppose something like the HD650 or Elex would give you better detail and a more analytical tonality but most people use those terrible Audiotechnicas anyway so the K371 is an improvement.

[@DMS3TV]

Your rig is calibrated to the harman target correct? That would be why it measures much better for you.

[@SoundWaveTrax]

@@DMS3TV Oratory has a head and torso simulator.

[@keithmiddlehurst4036]

Mine are fine from New no problems at all. Your supposed to turn the arms the correct way. They fit well on the head, and are comfortable and the headphones covers fit correct. I admit to you, I do 'not' find them 'Bassey' at all, but, specially when they new, they sound toppy and good, or open on vocals. I found my K175's far more bass heavy.

[@dhruvmeena96]

your measurement rig is old try IEC 711 thats a proper coupler all old coupler are obsolete

[@Soil_skies]

Im into metal in general and the recording sometimes are harsh when it comes to trebles . For the price and the treble sensitivity i have. This are amazing. I don’t even EQ this .

[@fheart2415]

You were great on The HEADPHONE Show. Just watched the 2 hour video. I learned a bunch of stuff. Thanks!

[@tricogustrico]

Why the awful porn music background, it make it hard to tell what you are saying.

[@DMS3TV]

porn music???? Lol

[@BurningBushPedagogy]

DMS is sometimes strange and it could be all based on, me too me too, or his measurement. When something is labelled Studio or professional, you dont know or you cant jude it from your measurement. you need to actually use it in the real world, mix a song with it, and check out if it translates. Because while many people look at V shape as non professional, so they automatically think pro studio must be flat or nothing hyped. But in order to hear faults, you need to raise certain frequencies, flat will hide many things, and you mix wont translate in other listenning environment. if there isnt enough bass or enough highs, and your headphone sounds smooth all pleasant, then it will not let you see what problem your mix will have in speakers and headphone with too much highs and lows. So W shape is really needed, or use several headphones and speakers, which each has the exergerated frequencies, and then you tweak you mix to sound right in all the other monitors. Stop judging studio headphones when you didnt actually practically try them to mix or master. This is lame mentality, judging something based on if its popular or not, DT 770 pro are far from flat, HD 600 has not bass, has not enough treble, just because its sounds pleasing in the audiophile world doesnt mean its also good for mixing. anything can be good for mixing, as long as they sound clear and clean. the frequency is all that matters. not all hearing 1 to 3 khz in various headphone are created equal. some headphones even with their not so flat can be great for mixing. audeze been used for mixing but it wasnt originally meant for that.

[@etl4711]

I...think you might need to double check your graph...

[@DMS3TV]

I have. You’ll notice many people who show these measuring “flat” have their rigs calibrated to the harman target... which hides most of the flaws.

[@HiCZoK]

It's a difficult choice to me. Seems like it rivals with pro82 and dt 770 32 ohm. All have low impedance and pleather pads. Any recommendation what should I get? I am looking for bombastic but somewhat accurate and detailed sound. I listed to soundtracks, some edm, some 8-16bit music and play games on pc and ps4 (so low impedance)

[@brownchair2698]

K371 ez

[@MrNorbyte]

I don’t know what’s up with this love, hate relationship on the internet. In Audiophile circles, in perceived or real debates, belief disputes, I think the achievement and approach of the Harman curve, (Harman target) can be one of the keys. I am thinking of the inexplicable phenomena when it comes to very expensive devices using cables, spikes, etc. buy one for the parameters of an already flawless system. Akg recognized why it would not be possible to bend and tune the curves to the physiology of human hearing in the first place. And really, my music woke up, full of life. Also recommended for critical listening, product sound is absolutely neutral. Despite his cheap looks, I think his voice has become top notch. The human ear is most sensitive in the frequency range of exactly 3 kHz to 6 kHz, due in part to the resonant effect of the length of the auditory canal. Those with good ears can hear negative decibels (less than 10-12 W / m2) at 3 kHz to 5 kHz. Therefore, attenuation between 3-4kHz in AKG_371 is not a bad solution in terms of their physiology.

[@1337sim1]

I can't recommend this AKG K371 either... The seal doesn't work for me and the cable microphonics are horrible!!! I tried to shop for a 3rd party one but didn't work out 😢 I really wish this could be my closed back alternative to HD6XX 😓

[@JeffreySaxophoneTallNewton]

High clamp force = rule out (for me, TMJ issues). Cheap build quality also. I had 271 Mk iis for years and cable kept wearing out and eventually so did the cans.

[@chickenpasta7359]

So Oratory1990 did do a measurement for these and his results are usually spot on, and I consider him trustworthy because he does measurements professionally for the company he works for. Stock measurements are near flat, and the EQ preset he created make these even flatter sounding. It wouldn't be outlandish at all to use these in a professional sense. I think it is safe to say that these can be used in a "pro" way. While I would not mix on these primarily, they are great in a pinch.

[@DMS3TV]

Flat to the harman 2018 target curve. Which has significantly elevated bass over traditionally accepted professional target curves. That said, the 371 seems to have a lot of QC problems with unit variation. For comparison I've loved the k361 much more than the k371 and find them more better suited for pro work. 👍 edit: Also Oratory1990 is a great resource I agree.

[@mikesecor6074]

just download an equalizer to make it sound better. I just received it for Xmas, we will see. The build? Yea, we will see with that too. Your title does not really match up with what you actually said.

[@ozisike]

Anyone have suggestions for headphones for around 200 CAD?

[@brownchair2698]

These are pretty good actually

[@blackstrobe69]

k371 are pretty good, regardless.

[@eliotjacobsen4361]

Yeah, definitely fun personal listening (one of my favorites). but not for mixing. So you’re right, for that reason not “pro”. I’ll listen again for width of treble dip. Doesn’t bother me. I like them a lot.

[@anhiirr]

I already own HD58x And have a 1st edition pair of K7xx with a fading Left channel/solder issue. As far as my at home gaming/music listening/content consumption cans. Just looking for something to offer a somewhat ideal user experience when im working/charging my car. Something with somewhat prnounced bass or an EQ feature. For when im watching movies/shows or enjoing my more bass oriented genre. Currenly ive reached these k371 bc theyre available locally at a guitar center for around 209$....but at that price point im looking at Sony 910N and 250$ sennheiser momentum 3 as far as "options at 200$ or more". Id like to snag some sony xm4's if they were on sale for around 250$ but currently they arent and the ear cup is completely sealed off on my JBL 700BT from some shoddy glue. So id like something with "more Prestige" as far as branding/build quality and these seem to be "on the edge" of quality build quality if not lesser. So im really only willing to overlook build quality if the sound signature is generally worth its USE/consumption. TBH im leaning towards the MOMENTUM 3 even though the battery life isnt so high i have a type c MAH mini charger so its never really going to be an inconvenience when im on the go unless i forget to charge them. Sound signature/fun sound is mostly what im going for with the most capable sound/genre capable or larger staging to help acoomodate different genre. Weight isnt much of an issue either as ill mostly be stationary for my listening. If possible i may return the momentum 3's if in the window of purchase the XM4 happen to go on sale. But the sonys and sennheisers do offer some EQ from their in house apps....sony having Ldac and a better EQ feature-esque app. Using tidal master for most of my listening at home or on the go

[@gigabuyceps]

YOU ARE PROOOOOOOOOOOOOO pls review Hifiman Edition XX. Oluv too slow on that review. Can't wait.

[@alexdiehl7835]

Yikes, this has me concerned. Overall the reviews and frequency responses I've seen have shown the headphones are quite neutral, but I didn't consider the Harman response curve. Not sure if DMS's opposing view is solely because of the Harman curve hiding the peaks of the headphones, or if the headphones DMS reviewed were off as a result of the QC fiascos. I was ready for these for Christmas, but the more issues I see with these cans, the more I think K553s will be a safer bet. Still, I am looking for more fun casual headphones and the K553s are more large-sized studio headphones. Either way, to DMS, thanks for the honest opinion! Hopefully, this sorts itself out.

[@brownchair2698]

Dms' fr measurements are either scuffed or he had a bad pair

[@avishekghatak2176]

The bass is not neutral at all. It has a massive sub bass boost which I like but again maybe not so much as a "professional" monitoring headphone. Also for pro headphones a slightly brighter than neutral treble is preferred while the 371 swings the other way.

[@lifehacker123]

Eh honestly since AKG have been bought by Samsung they lost something for me. Heard from so many people that the quality is just not the same compared to the headphones that have been developed in Austria. Seems like moving the development to cheaper countries in eastern europe did not benefit the headphones.

[@brownchair2698]

Akg k371 is like the only non cursed closed back for under 200 dollars lol

[@UncutRaw]

every video I saw on youtube i understood that these headphones are good for mixing more than everyday listening and better for pro apps than for enjoying music but this channel is way different and says it all reverse LOL idk what to say but i cant accept this man words idk why

[@DMS3TV]

If you care about mixing go for the K361 over the k371

[@UncutRaw]

@@DMS3TV you serious? How about audio Technica ath 50x?

[@DMS3TV]

@@UncutRaw m50X is a bad choice for mixing. The bass and treble are heavily boosted (both audible and measurable). I imagine the people recommending it don’t mix on calibrated equipment.

[@UncutRaw]

@@DMS3TV thanks ... so appreciated ... Honestly i should go and listen to thos headphones now with these things you told me and thanks because of that

[@frykauf]

Please: critical review of the Ollo Audio S4, that "seems" like it should be the headphone for professionals. (two models btw, closed&open - review of both would just be so awesome)

[@andersbuhl640]

To anyone considering buying the AKG 371 (BT), I can honestly say they are well worth their price tag! Did a lot of research and considerations including this well-presented review before choosing to go for the 371 and was not dissappointed! Yes, the only thing I found was I have to adjust them each time I put them on so they set perfectly on my ears, but you can easily hear when they are settled right for you on your ears, so no big problem at all. Also, I find them very comfortable wearing for a long time and don't find them too tight on my rather big (sweaty head). Great sound, too, but I do not not have that much to compare with in that matter. I am extremely satisfied with the sound quality.

[@GQLewis]

@AKG I bought the AKG #K371 headsets and they are garbage. I rarely used these headphones, and after about two years - the ear pads are falling off and the headband is shredding as if I've taken them to war. I have the Audio Technica R70 and those things are a beast. I have had them for at least 4 years and they still look brand new as a testament to how well I take care of my gear. Really disappointed #AKG

[@lightfalcon1]

Anyone here from ltt?

[@krayozmines]

Thanks for the review

[@hazi5961]

Also, I stumbled across a fun warm sounding set of IEMs for under $55. If you want a nice chifi IEM to review, the Guideray gr-i58 is a steal for the price. It could have better treble extension, but for $55 I won't complain.

[@briancaulfield7251]

Nice review. After reading so much about them I decided to order a pair from Amazon as they were on discount. Haven’t used them much but I probably won’t keep them. I think they’re pretty good as a closed back headphone for the price but I don’t know if the tuning is for me either. My biggest issue is that the upper mids sound more forward than anything else, so I don’t hear much bass, and the cramped soundstage makes them sound aggressive especially with heavier music.

[@brownchair2698]

What do you expect? They are closed back. They image well, but the stage is a little narrow