POSITIVES

Broad sound stage

Natural tonality

Rich mids

Vast bottom end

About as comfortable as a pair of headphones can get

NEGATIVES

Plastic, cheap-feeling build quality

Can remove some power from vocals

High-end could be more impressive

Precise audio and comfort are where it counts when it comes to reference headphones and the AKG K7XX reference headphones excel in both of these areas. They're easy to recommend for producers, but those who simply want to listen to music with neutral sound would also do well to check them out.

AKG has a rich history in terms of monitoring headphones, and its K7 series has been responsible for several industry legends. Among them are the 65th-anniversary AKG K702 reference headphones, upon which the Limited Edition K7XX—being reviewed here—are based. These come in an all-black version, or all-black with red highlights and both include a few tweaks to the K702 formula to make them more than just the same headphones in a new dress. The K7XX has been around for several years now, and have appeared exclusively on Drop a number of times. So, they’re clearly in demand, but are they any good?

Who are these for?

Audio engineers. If you work with audio at all, these are worth looking into as they’re going to give you an accurate depiction of the audio that you’re working with.

Anyone who enjoys a flat response. What is a flat response? Basically it means that the headphones don’t make any one note in the frequency range sound louder or quieter than any others. It obviously isn’t perfect, but to get a clean listen to the music that the engineer mixed, these will get the job done.

People who don’t want to spend a ton of money on a quality pair of cans. While $200 isn’t cheap by any means, the original version of these are much more expensive. So if you want that high-quality AKG sound at a cheaper price, these are a great option.

What’s in the AKG K7XX box?

AKG’s Limited Edition headphones arrive in a huge box without much in the way of extras. Inside, you’ll find the headphones, a detachable XLR to minijack cable, and a 1/4-inch jack adapter—and that’s it. The headphones themselves are similarly uncomplicated, with no buttons, dials, or controls of any kind. The message from AKG is clear: put these on, sit back, and listen.

How are the AKG K7XX built?

The K7XXs are open-back reference headphones, meaning they’re predominantly aimed at those producing music or critical listening rather than the mass market. The open-back nature allows for an experience close to what studio monitor speakers offer, providing the sensation of a wide stereo picture that you’re always in the center of—but with virtually zero isolation.

Sure, you can still use these to listen to music purely for enjoyment (spoiler alert, I will later recommend that wholeheartedly) but they’re designed for a natural, uncolored sound rather than being specifically tweaked to boost, heighten and otherwise manipulate the audio for more vibrancy.

A photo of the AKG K7XX headphones and the packaging on a green desk.

Seen here in the red variant, the AKG K7XX also comes in pure black.

The K7XXs offer little in the way of visual charm. Once you get past the fact they have red highlights—where many other reference monitors are simply black, gray or silver—you’ll realize that this is just about where the aesthetic appeal ends. They’re built from quite plain pieces of large plastic, with a couple of brushed plastic sections and a leather head strap.

I've yet to come across a moment where I've even considered that my ears need a break.

Boy, are these comfortable headphones. I’ve been wearing them for most of my work days for weeks now, and I’ve yet to come across a moment where I’ve even considered that my ears need a break. This is partly thanks to the lightweight build and elastic headband system; the leather strap slides up and down the red frame assisted by four pieces of elastic, allowing the headphones automatically adjust to the size and shape of the person’s head they’re placed on. It’s not a gimmick or something just for show—you might not even notice it—it’s an effective solution that adds great support.

Man holding AKG K7XX's in hand with velour earpads and red frame in focus.

Real velour earpads are quite comfortable.

The other part of this comfortable design comes from the cups themselves. These huge discs feature a fierce combination of velour padding and memory foam—and your sensitive ears will likely fit completely inside