AKG K52 High Performance Lightweight Closed-Back Monitoring Headphones

Product Information

It remains questionable, however, why AKG was of the opinion to bring three models onto the market, which differ so slightly. But this is not really different with their K7 series. In any case, the K72 & K92 do not represent any added value for me compared to the K52. The AKG K52 Headphones promise to give great performance whether you're in the control room, the live room, or outside the studio listening to music. They provide the proper amount of performance in a straightforward, but ultimately efficient chassis. You'll be hard pressed to find something that does a better job at this price than these headphones do. What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

The headband is self-adjusting and therefore adapts to the shape of the head. Even large skulls should not have any problems with the AKG K92. The wearing comfort on the head is therefore good and if the headband does not offer any significant additional padding. With the ear pads the comfort looks a little different. For the first moment it is not bad at all, because they cover the whole ear and find a good mixture of padding and stability. However, the pads are quite flat and therefore the ear bumps against the inside. This can cause unpleasant pressure in the long run. The cable is non-detachable, features an industry-standard 3.5mm plug, and is longer than usual at 2.5m. The design is extremely tangle-prone, as is the length itself, so it's best to keep the cable bundled up. Also included is a 3.5mm-to-6.3mm adapter pin, but no carry case. This is the core of what makes a good headphone. The driver is the little speaker inside the headphone and defines what it sounds like. at 40mm it is certainly on the larger side for cans at this price range but that means better detail, better clarity and a more accurate representation of what you are listening to. 18Hz-20kHz Frequency RangeAKG is known for making professional-grade gear that can stand the test of time, and the K52 headphones are no exception. We put them through extreme testing and abuse to ensure they’ll handle anything you throw at them: Our regimen of drop-tests simulates exaggerated falls. 80,000 cable bend cycles at both end points ensure the cable won’t break or underperform. And intensive driver testing - a prolonged series of 3W bursts each half second - means that the drivers won’t fail when you really need them. The headband is self-adjusting and therefore adapts to the shape of the head. Even large skulls should not be a problem for the AKG K52. The wearing comfort on the head is therefore good, even if the headband does not offer any significant additional padding.

Timing is snappy, and there's a remarkable amount of balance and agility on show. For those on a budget, these are a no-brainer. That said, if you can afford to stretch your budget by just a tiny amount more, consider upgrading to the more polished K72 (above). The durability of the leatherette cover can also be questioned. Reminds me a bit of the SENNHEISER H201, which thinned out over time, but that is pure speculation. This exceptional level of audio isolation is due to a new acoustic chamber, which sits between the ear cup and the hinge that connects to the headband. Our innovative design gives you the freedom to move your head in any direction, without letting sound in or out. With the K52, you’ll enjoy a private workspace, no matter where you choose to create. To ensure sturdiness and durability, the AKG K52 is subjected to mechanical, electrical, and acoustic tests. And rigorous driver testing (a long sequence of 3W bursts every half second) ensures that the drivers won't fail when they're most needed. They made the ear cushions replaceable to preserve your investment over time because they are often the first components to show wear and tear. The K52 is designed for professionals, with great performance and a stylish style to match.Guitars sound crunchy and have a nice amount of weight and muscle underpinning each strum. The instruments don’t overcrowd the vocals, either.

Noise cancelling is good, but not quite as effective as a pair of Sony WH-1000XM5 or Bose NC700. Need to eavesdrop on the outside world? AKG's handy Ambient Aware button lowers the volume and the noise-cancelling. While the NC700NC aren't class-leaders, they do offer a solid performance at a good price. The mids together with the highs are actually a worsening of the K52. The not fast enough bass dropping leads to an unnatural emphasis of the lower mids, but around 1-2 kHz they fall even lower than those of the little brother. This hollows them out even more and causes more obfuscation. What the sonic upgrade to the K52 should represent here is a mystery to me. The fixed cable (3.5mm) measures a good 3m and an included adapter allows us to use a 6.3mm output. The cable looks robust, but is too long for mobile use.The K240 MKII professional over-ear, semi-open headphones are a long-time standard in studios, in orchestras and on stages around the world. Its advanced Varimotion 30 mm XXL transducers deliver solid low end, accurate mids and crystal-clear highs. The semi-open design provides the airiness of open headphones with the powerful bass response of closed designs. The rhythm is agile and full of energy. There could be more to the way the K52s handles dynamics, but it’s enjoyable enough.