The long-awaited AKG K701/712 shootout. Which of these headphones should you buy? What are the differences between them? Which group of people benefits most from this type of sound? I’ll be answering all of these questions and more.
We’ll find out the differences between AKG K701 and K712. These are open-back headphones that are worn over the ear. Despite their modern design, the headphones can only be used as wired headphones.
[amazon box=”B000EBBJ6Y,B00DCXWXEI” template=”table”]AKG K701 vs. K712 Comparison Chart
| Model | AKG K701 | AKG K712 |
| Weight | 0.65 lbs | 0.65 lbs |
| Length | 8.27″ | 8.3″ |
| Width | 7.09″ | 7.3″ |
| Height | 4.33″ | 4.3″ |
| Type | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Enclosure | Open-Back | Open-Back |
| Material | Leather headband, plastic, velour padding | Leather headband, plastic, memory foam |
| Transducer | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Noise Cancelling | No | No |
| Wireless | No | No |
| Wired | Yes | Yes |
| Microphone | No | No |
| Impedance | 62 Ohms | 62 Ohms |
| Lowest Frequency | 10Hz | 10Hz |
| Highest Frequency | 39800Hz | 39800Hz |
| Sound pressure level | 105dB/mW | 105dB/mW |
| Neodymium Magnet | No | No |
| Active Noise Cancellation | No | No |
| Passive Noise Reduction | No | No |
| Detachable Cable | No | Yes |
| Cable Length | 3m | 3m |
| Adjustable Headband | Yes | Yes |
| Foldable | No | No |
| Built-in control buttons | No | No |
| Voice control | No | No |
| In-line control | No | No |
| App control | No | No |
| Touch control | No | No |
| Control functions | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Wi-Fi | No | No |
| Stereo Speakers | Yes | Yes |
| Battery | No | No |
| Water resistance | No | No |
| Light indication | No | No |
| 3.5mm Male Connector | Yes | Yes |
| Travel Bag Included | No | Yes |
| Interchangeable ear pads | No | No |
| Color | Maroon/Grey | Black & Orange |
| Warranty Period | 2 Years | 2 Years |
AKG K701 and K712 Descriptive Comparison
Design
While the K712 shares similar design features with the AKG 701, it differs in some minor ways in terms of color scheme. There are large, circular open-back ear cups that are covered in suede-like padding, which gives them a premium look and feel. The size and bulk of these headphones may not appeal to some listeners, and they will be noticed more for their size than their style.
With sizeable circular ear cups and a self-adjusting headband, the K701 looks almost identical to the K702 and K712. These headphones feature open-back earcups that are well-padded and covered in a suede-like fabric, giving them a premium appearance. As with the other headphones in this series, they are bulky and a little oversized for casual wear.
Build Quality
The AKG K712 headphones are decent in terms of build quality, but they are not as good as the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO headphones. A dense ear cup design and a flexible headband allow this headset to tolerate greater physical stress than average. Many moving parts are present in the adjustable headband padding. Consequently, there are many possible weak points where wear and tear could damage the headphones.
While the AKG K701 has a decent build quality, there are many moving parts. A dense earcup design and a flexible headband allow these headphones to handle a great deal of physical stress. In order to adjust the padding, there are many moving parts on the headband. At these points, the headphones are susceptible to wear and tear.
Related Post: AKG K240 Studio vs K240 MKII
Comfort
It is incredibly comfortable to wear the AKG K712 headphones. With the headband design, you won’t feel too much pressure on your head. Most listeners can easily fit the large ear cups around their ears, but some may find them a little too large. The bulky design of these headphones is not suitable for everyone, but they offer a comfortable listening experience.
K701 headphones are very comfortable. The well-padded ear cups fit comfortably around most ears and are lightweight for their size. When listening for extended periods, they don’t cause fatigue.
Stability
As with the AKG 702 and the AKG 701, the AKG K712 headphones are not stable and easily fall off your head when doing sports. Their fit is not snug enough, and they are only comfortable for casual listening sessions. Detachable cable locks into the ear cup and is designed to pull the headphones off your head if they get hooked on something before disconnecting. It is clear from their design that these are not sports headphones.
Using AKG K701 headphones for sports or outdoor activities is not recommended. During physical activity, the ear cups will slide off your ears, and if the cable hooks onto anything, it will yank the headphones off your head.
[amazon box=”B000EBBJ6Y,B00DCXWXEI” template=”table”]Portability
AKG K712 headphones are among the largest headphones we’ve reviewed so far. Furthermore, they are bulky and cumbersome and cannot be foldable. A retro headband design and non-laying ear cups also contribute to the large size of the headphones. It makes carrying the headphones around hard, and they’ll only fit in a backpack or large bag.
Like the K702 or K712 Pro, AKG K701 headphones are large, bulky, and not very portable. They are quite large because of the retro headband, and since they do not fold into a more compact shape, they are cumbersome to carry around without a bag. It was disappointing that they didn’t come with a case or pouch.
Related Post: AKG K701 vs K702
Sound
AKG K701 provides well-balanced bass, mids, and treble. These headphones offer a wide frequency range with decent bass, an excellent midrange, and superb treble. When comparing K712 to K701, the bass is richer, enveloping, and clear enough to hear each bass note individually. There is a wide and dimensional stereo presentation.
Noise Isolation
There is a poor level of isolation with AKG K712. As expected from open-back headphones, these headphones do not provide isolation below 1KHz. A 3dB/Octave roll-off occurs above 1KHz, so the filter won’t be effective at blocking outside noise above this frequency. The open-back design of the AKG K712 headphones causes them to be quite loud and leak a lot. Compared to most open headphones, the K712’s leakage profile is narrower. Generally, open headphones leak less above 4KHz, but this is rather unusual.
There is poor isolation with K701. The AKG K701 does not isolate below 1KHz due to its open-back design. Above that, they achieve about 12 dB of isolation, which isn’t great.
Its performance is poor in terms of leakage. Leakage occurs most frequently between 200Hz and 20KHz, which is quite a wide range. As a result, those around you can hear the K701 leakage because it is quite loud.
App Support
No app is compatible with these headphones.
Features
There is no difference between these headphones in terms of their technical characteristics. These headphones have a sensitivity of 105 dB and an impedance of 62 Ohm. They operate between 10 Hz and 40 kHz in terms of frequency response.
[amazon box=”B000EBBJ6Y,B00DCXWXEI” template=”table”]What is in the Box?
AKG 712 Headphones
- AKG 712 Headphones
- 1/8″ to 1/4″ Adapter
- Audio cable (x2)
- Manual
AKG 701 Headphones
- AKG 701 Headphones
- 1/4″ to 1/8″ Adapter
Related Post: Beyerdynamic DT 770 vs DT 880 vs DT 990
Conclusion
In comparison with K701, K712 is a bit better. Both models offer similar bass levels, but the K712’s upper mids and highs are higher than the K701. It reflects a fuller presentation overall and less detail upfront.
