AKG K240 Review
Studio Semi-open Pro Studio Headphones
Introduction
In this article, we delve into a detailed analysis of 264,507 user reviews from various languages worldwide to examine the AKG K240. This analysis is performed by the RR artificial intelligence and updated daily with newly submitted reviews. The RR AI utilizes a complex algorithm to first scrutinize user reviews for credibility, filtering out unreliable ones. It then proceeds to dissect and evaluate the valuable insights within these reviews, providing users with ratings regarding the features of this product. Based on these assessments, users can make informed decisions about whether this product is suitable for them or not.
Ratings Based on Features
These results are a summary of user reviews of the AKG K240. For example, 87% of 141,374 users who have commented on the Sound quality of the AKG K240 have given positive feedback.
Highlighted Customer Reviews
Showing 21 to 40 of 289 Reviews
Nice Headphones. Good Sound. Very Comfortable
AKG K240 Studio Headphones
Reviewed by John P. on Reverb
I'm a long time user and lover of akg240's...i got my original pair, which i still use every day back in 1986 and i've mixed all of my albums and everything i've ever recorded with them. honestly, i have a few other pairs of headphones too but i don't really "trust" them to give me back what i'm putting in. namely sony mdr v6's...ok but to me they sound crispy. i've also got another pair of sony's which i rarely use, sony cd-750 which i only use if i need to use 3 headphones for tracking. these aren't useful for any critical work. i rely on the akg240's for that and i've done well with them except that lately it's bothered me that they are a little lacking in gain and i've been waiting some more of that in a headphone. i did a little reading about these studio phones and thought as a backup pair i would give them a chance. i'm glad i got them. they are definitely louder than my older akg's, which is something i wanted. they are alot more comfortable and they feel lighter. the sound is, overall pretty accurate to my hearing. i don't think they are as transparent and honest as my old ones these seem a bit "smoother" where the old ones hide nothing, but i like them. as i say, these fill a need for me and for that they're great. ... More
Nice and comfortable
AKG K240 Studio Professional Semi-Open Stereo Headphones
Reviewed by Frank on B&H Photo Video
I am a video editor and was looking for a pair of comfortable headphones to use while editing dialog. I saw these come across my email as a special from B&H at a great price. I got them and couldn't be happier. The sound is clear and not too boomy in the bass. I could wear them for extended periods without any discomfort. They are open back design so outside noise will be an issue if you're using them in a crowded or noisy location (I don't). For my uses they are great. I have been using a pair of headphones from Sennheiser (HD 280 Pro) for years, but they often felt too heavy on my head. To my ears the Sennheisers have a slightly better sound (very slightly or perhaps I am just very used to their sound), but the AKG are much more comfortable during prolonged use - and for my purposes, that's the biggest factor. The detachable cable is also a nice feature, which my Sennheiser does not offer. I give the AKG K240 four stars because I think the build quality could be bit better. The Senheissers are built like a tank, the AKG's build is not quite as good - but they do sound great and are very comfortable. ... More
Might even buy a second pair
AKG K240 Studio Headphones
Reviewed by Rosie on Guitar Center
I bought these to use with my baby grand electric piano so I didn't annoy my neighbors at 3am..... I thought I would only use them when I had too as to not annoy people But I actually LOVE using them They sound better than the piano itself!
My favorite pair of headphones
AKG K240 Studio Headphones
Reviewed by NateJames on Guitar Center
These were the headphones I used throughout my short radio career. The AKG K240 is, in my opinion, the best pair of headphones for radio hands down. The semi-open back design and comfortable fitting construction make this lightweight set of ear speakers simply perfect for segue's between segments. You can hear everything your machine is doing, and everything your voice is doing. Being able to hear both natural room audio and mic audio really does make a difference in the quality of your production. After working with these headphones for radio broadcasting and production work they quickly became the only pair I used for any other application, be it home recording, mixing and mastering or otherwise. The AKG k240s outperform any other even more expensive headphones that I've tried over my many years of working in production. However, loaning them to a friend to play their games with is a bad idea. These headphones are not designed to be bashed against desks or thrown against walls. These are designed to be cared about. Don't make my mistake, never let a gamer use your AKGs!!!! (Heading to the store to replace mine today.) ... More
Initial Evaluation... adequate for my purposes
AKG K240 Studio Professional Semi-Open Stereo Headphones
Reviewed by Eric on B&H Photo Video
I initially bought a different brand that cost virtually the same, and the only difference physically being the other was a closed design. My use is making my own recordings by miking acoustic guitars and vocals, then mixing. I found the other headphones to have too much bass, and even these, in my opinion, have too much bass, which I think is unfortunately common for this price range of headphones. Too much bass while mixing down causes your mix to be complicated, and also impedes your hearing and the balance of bass, mids, and treble. This obsession with heavy bass is to me annoying, and drowns out the rest of the mix. To all bass players on the planet-- Stop drowning out the other musicians and killing our ears! Anyway, these headphones have a more balanced, flatter sound, but STILL have too much bass. I used to have a pair of (then) expensive Pioneer headphones in 1971 that had tone and volume controls. Don't believe i've seen any today that offer especially, tone. I haven't done any mixing with these headphones yet, but I think they will improve my mixing by showing a more balanced tonal range. Lastly, I picked this set out after reading reviews on a headphone review website. ... More
Ads
Great Cans for Recording
AKG K240 Studio Headphones
Reviewed by brad lathrop on Guitar Center
While I am a firm believer that you should mix and master using a quality set of monitors, sometimes you need to go to a set of cans to really isolate something you are working on. I was a little hesitant about the price so low, however, was pleasantly surprised when I received them. They are very true response over the entire range. You won't be disappointed!
Bait and Switch
AKG K240 Studio Professional Semi-Open Stereo Headphones
Reviewed by Matthew on B&H Photo Video
I gave this same model a 5-star review when I bought my first pair around 2008, citing excellent sound quality for the low price. I recently ordered a NEW pair because my old ones were getting a little worn. I immediately noticed they didn't sound nearly as good as my 14 year old pair, even after a lengthy break-in. The sound was thin and the construction just felt a lot cheaper. On looking them over and comparing them to my old ones I noticed they were conspicuously missing the "MADE IN AUSTRIA" label on the left ear piece. "They didn't" I said to myself. I look at the package and it says "MADE IN CHINA". They did, apparently. If you're going to buy a pair of these, or any other new products from AKG, keep it in mind that any reviews from a few years ago are essentially for a different product that no longer exists. They're about $50 cheaper than the ones I bought 14 years ago but the quality just isn't there anymore. At this price point I would recommend the Grado SR60 as the best value, with the Sony MDR series a close runner up. ... More
20+ years in radio and still great headphones
AKG K240 Studio Headphones
Reviewed by Michael Snider on Guitar Center
I bought a set of these in 1988 when I was in broadcast school. I have been using the my entire radio career and they still sound AWESOME. In fact I paid more for mine then than these cost now. I have had to maintain them with soldering wires back in because a radio station is a rough place on cans. But I LOVE these headphones. I also use them for home recording, mobile dj, anywhere I need headphones.
Fine, but not what I expected
AKG K240 Studio Professional Semi-Open Stereo Headphones
Reviewed by Brian on B&H Photo Video
Very nice sounding 'phones, but if you're expecting them to sound like classic K240s, you'll be disappointed. The old, Austrian-made K240s are absolutely flat in their response, which is what made them standard monitoring 'phones in recording studios. Ironically, the K240 Studio does not have the flat response that studios demand, instead, they have a scooped response, with emphasized low frequencies and somewhat less-emphasized high end. That's what the market demands these days, so I guess, give AKG credit for listening to their customers. They are very nice-sounding headphones, though, and I can't imagine that anyone would not like their sound. A minor point: They are also slightly less comfortable than my old K240s, the headband is not as large. Don't get me wrong - overall, they are a very nice set of headphones. ... More
Great for studio, home, and other indoor uses
AKG K240 Studio Professional Semi-Open Stereo Headphones
Reviewed by Eli on B&H Photo Video
I use this as a my home studio headphones. I'm a video producer and a bit of an audiophile so i take sound seriously. This are wonderful in terms of sound stage and clarity and are very different from my Audio-Technica ATH-M50x which i use now only as field headphones. The AKG are a lot lighter in terms of weight, you don't feel them on your head at all and can spend hours with them. They are very comfortable with large diameter of the ear cups. They are very much not portable, they don't fold and they are not built to withstand abuse on the field. for Home or studio use they are great and worth every penny. This are semi-open headphones which is great for me to use at home or at the office since it doesn't shut you out completely from the environment like the M50 does. I use it with Audioengine D1 amplifier and it works great. ... More
Just a beautiful product!
AKG K240 Studio Professional Semi-Open Stereo Headphones
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Unlike many consumer grade headphones, these do not overemphasize the base. Instead they deliver a wonderfully flat response curve that lets you hear the music as it was recorded. I understand now why the K240 is often consider to be a standard in many recording studios. As impressive as the sound was, it may surpassed by the comfort of these headphones. I could wear these 12 hours a day and not fatigue. These are also a great value as they are half the price of the newer K240 Mk II. My only disappointment is that Harmon has shifted manufacturing out of Austria, and they are now made in China. ... More
A Huge Disappointment.
AKG K240 Studio Headphones
Reviewed by Diddy on Guitar Center
So I recently replaced my old K240s (old enough to say Made in Austria on them) with these new ones and I couldn't be more disappointed. I don't know what harmon kardon have done to these things but the open and clear sound is all gone. The bass was always lacking in the 240s but now there is nothing below about 170hz. Pushing the bass does nothing, it's simply not there. To add to that, smeary mid range and harsh high end. I used these for tracking mostly but these are useless even for that. I will be returning these.
The best pro headphone for $$$
AKG K240 Studio Professional Semi-Open Stereo Headphones
Reviewed by Marty on B&H Photo Video
Basically since AKG released this same version as the "Mark II" , the way I see it, you are getting a very high end, professional studio grade headphone for a fraction of what they used to charge!! I also own the updated version of these K 240's and I can assure you, for the money, these original 240 AKG's are an unreal value !! You will not be disappointed! Very true audio reproduction and super solid and professional build quality. The ONLY reason I would not recommend these is for use as a headphone for a drummer. These are semi-open design, so you do get some ambient room noise bleed-through. Long story short, incredibly accurate audio that does not color the sound so what you hear is basically what the end result will be. Pick up a couple at these prices! ... More
More than just headphones...
AKG K240 Studio Headphones
Reviewed by Burgerboy21 on Guitar Center
Please don't ask me how or why I discovered this, but I had my headphones in a mic port of my interface (I was using the detachable wire to test a mini-XLR connection I soldered and reattached the headphones, forgetting to put the wire back in the headphone port.) and weirdly enough I discovered on accident that these headphones can be used as a microphone. So I was sitting there looking like an idiot with my mouth in the earphone while my brother judged me harshly across the room. But anywho, they have good sound. I don't really know many other studio headphones so I don't have much to compare it to, other than my K52 (K240 is better), but I have no reason to complain (yet). I do like the detachable wire; it's quite convenient. And the semi-openness is either a good or a bad thing, depending on the situation. ... More
They dont lie!
AKG K240 Studio Headphones
Reviewed by DrumKey on Guitar Center
There is a reason why these headphones have been around for so long and used in professional studios - They dont lie when it comes to sound. They don't enhance or detract from the sound. Just a flat response every time. You wont find Beats headphones lying around the mixing console in professional studios but you will with the K240's. Serious sound guys wont mess with junk headphones or eye candy because they look cool when wearing them. If you cant handle the truth get headphones like Beats! If you want the truth then get these!
good enough, but...
AKG K240 Studio Headphones
Reviewed by Joe M. on Reverb
I'm hardly a headphone connoisseur, this being the second pair of headphones I've owned in my adult life. And my headphone budget is about $50. But compared to the Koss UR40's I owned for 15 years, I don't think these are as good. They don't seem to have the detailed, crystal-clear top end; they sound just the tiniest bit muddy by comparison. They are also bulkier and heavier, and not as loud. I thought that Koss didn't make the UR40's anymore because I didn't see any on Reverb, but I checked their website and they do indeed still make them, for less than I paid for the AKG's. For the price I paid, I wouldn't quite say these are disappointing -- they get the job done -- but I will probably replace them with the Koss. ... More
Serenity now! Nice cans!
AKG K240 Studio Headphones
Reviewed by Kosmo Kramer on Guitar Center
I have an old set of Austrian-made K240 headphones that are almost 30 years old and still work great. The new K240 are on par with the old ones and I got them for half the price. Perhaps some of the "professionals, and audiophiles" with the negative reviews have lost some hearing over the years. I've used these headphones in many recording studios ... they are Jeff Porcaro approved.
Still sound great.
AKG K240 Studio Professional Semi-Open Stereo Headphones
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Though I still have a pair of the old school Austrian AKG K-240 headphones I bought around 1985 that I still love the sound on, I wanted a pair with 55ohm resistance and a 3.5mm mini plug that I could use on my portable equipment. Out of the box, there seems to be a lot more bass (although maybe that is the result of the lower resistance?) The new ones sound very good, but not quite as clear in the midrange. I will have to burn these in for a few hundred hours as some people recommend then do another compare. But unless you flip back and forth, they both sound excellent. ... More
True Classic
AKG K240 Studio Professional Semi-Open Stereo Headphones
Reviewed by Dave on B&H Photo Video
These are my go to headphones when I watch TV late at night. I have many different Headphones.... These are so neutral and flat that you know they are giving you a real idea of what the engineers did in the studio. You can really play them very loud... and they just cruise along. Comfortable too. If you use them with an IPhone they play OK... but I find they really need more power to work for me. Very smooth accurate sound... great in all ranges... no fatigue whatsoever... but you should have them in a real amp... any decent receiver should be fine. ... More
AKG K240 Work Horse All Good The Real Deal
AKG K240 Studio Headphones
Reviewed by MicGuy on Guitar Center
Having owned several professional recording studios over the years, a pair of K240's are always near the console. They don't "Make things sound great", they're just Accurate. When A/B ing between studio monitors and the phones, there's no drastic surprises, like "there's way more bass then on the monitors. This is true of course if your listening on accurate un hyped monitor speakers as well. People spend way too much money on "signature" headphones. The AKG K24's will let you know what you've got in the mix and are a great value.
