AKG Pro Audio K371 Wired Over-Ear, Closed-Back, Foldable Professional Recording Studio Headphones, Studio Monitor Mixing, Podcast, DJ Stereo Headsets, Black

To preface this review, audio is always subjective, especially when listening for fun. I prefer neutral headphones. I like to hear the whole track in a very analytical and detailed way. That means the lows, mids and highs are all evenly represented without any washing out, muffling or muddying of any piece of the song. My daily driver for all kinds of music is the Audeze LCD-X, a high end reference headphone that is considered by many to be too analytical and detailed for casual listening.I've been in the market for closed back headphones for a bit now. I initially was planning to get some Meze 99 classics/neos. They are phenomenally light and comfortable and exceptionally well built. but after trying them I found that they tend towards being heavy in the bass which I found muffled the mids and left the highs with something to be desired. The other thing I didn't like was that the Mezes will "woof" leaving the enhanced bass muddy and fuzzed out, which is something a lot of people enjoy. I'm not one of them.Now, onto the AKG 371s. These headphones are neutral. Not quite as neutral as the LCD-X. But comparing these AKGs to a pair of headphone that cost more than five to six times as much is unfair. But I think it's warranted since they punch up extremely well given their price tag. The 371s trend towards neutral sound, leaving the bass tight and clean, not overpowering the mids while leaving the high clear enough to listen to without becoming fatiguing or painful. Playing games with them is great, I can hear everything from the booming explosions of grenades and tank shells to the high pitched crack of gunfire while hearing footsteps all at once without it becoming muddled together or painful to listen to. Music is fantastically clear and enjoyable to listen to, they are easy to drive so you don't need a dedicated amp to get them to that comfortable volume you want. Even when I'm sitting six feet from a noisy swamp cooler that clarity sticks around making it easy to listen to what I want without damaging my hearing in the process.They are light, but sturdy. They don't feel cheap, and have metal in the right places. They also have a removable cable, meaning they're way more likely to hold in the long term. They also fold up for easy storage or transport. The pads are leather and very plush, but big enough to accommodate my elephant ears. And on that note I've worn these for upwards of ten hours at a shot and they haven't gotten hot or uncomfortable to wear in that entire time.The only real negative I have is if you have long hair, the hinges and pads might grab it if you're lazy when taking them off leading to a bit of pulling. But two handing them on and off completely mitigates that issue.In short I love these headphones, and they're the best ones I've bought in this price bracket in a long time. They're not bass cannons, but they also weren't meant to be. If you want that bone shaking bass, look elsewhere.But, if you want to hear what's really going on in that booming bass note. Or even just pick out some new bits of detail in your favorite song, maybe give these a shot. They'll be different to your classic gaming headset or Beats. But different can be fun.

I've had these about a week now and I'm thrilled with the sound quality, whether I'm listening to pop, jazz, or a half dozen other genres. Sound is exceptionally clear with a very good sense of space and immersion in the sound. I've seen some criticism of both from people who prefer open-back headphones, so be realistic about what you can get from closed-backs, but from the perspective of someone who only uses closed-back headphones (with an under $200 budget) this is an amazing soundstage. Also blocks ambient noise pretty decently - they're obviously not noise-cancelling, but it nearly mutes the sound of typing on my keyboard, for example. (Note that from poking around at reviews, it seems there's been a quality control issue, so if you get these and the sound is fuzzy/muffled it's likely a production flaw, not how these were meant to sound)People seem divided on whether the bass is "too much" or "non-existent"... I find the bass a lot less punchy than I've had from some other phones, and in a song with subtle bass or mostly mid-bass the result is... subtle. It's not pumping it up at all. But if a song has substantial sub bass, you'll be feeling it. Instead of punching you in the eardrums, it surrounds you and makes you feel the rumble through your skull. And yeah, on some songs it can be pretty intense, but that's been rare for me. But it does also vary depending on the placement on your head, and that's my biggest criticism: the fit.So, these are HUGE earpads. I feel like I can slide them around a full inch and they still easily contain my ears. If you have a small head, they can extend far enough down your jaw that the seal is iffy. Clamping force isn't great - if I'm wandering around, bending over to pick stuff up, these will slide around a fair amount, and I worry about them falling off. And depending how far forward or back I have them, and the angle they're sitting at, I get very different sound quality. I seem to get the richest, bassiest sound when the headband is resting far back on my head and the earpads pretty far forward, but the weak clamping means that they feel like they're about to fall off in that position. Which is frustrating, but I find the sound quality very satisfying even in different positions, so I can deal with it. At least my ears aren't cramped and the earpads are very soft and comfy, and the fit might not be as much a problem for people with larger heads.The build feels very sturdy to me, with and the cables provided are honestly thicker and sturdier then the cord that came with my laptop. The padding is very soft, feels luxurious. Overall very pleased with this purchase.