AKG K702

What’s Included?

The K702 impresses from the off, with its packaging featuring an elegant folding design that presents the headphones beautifully. A cable and jack-mini jack adapter are presented alongside the headphones themselves.

Aesthetics

At first glance, these headphones seem a little sinister in their appearance. I mean this in a positive sense, by the way. The matt black finish of its earpieces, the black velour padding and black leather accents, and silver plastic elements combine for a piece of hardware that wouldn’t look out of place in a Mad Max movie.

Materials

AKG utilises plastic components rather than metal ones for the most part throughout its construction. This is accented by other quality materials, such as 3 mm thick leather, for a slick outer aesthetic that feels great to the touch. The matt black cable offers good grip performance, with a tangle-free design to ensure no hassle when listening on the go. The cable itself is securely attached to the headphones via a mini XLR plug.

Handling

The replaceable velour ear cushions really boost the wearing comfort here, with a soft texture that feels great against the ears themselves. The flexible suspension of the headband also ensures an optimum fit, with the headphones easily accommodating all manner of head shapes and sizes. The model that I tested has a flat bottom, reminiscent of the more expensive Anniversary version. Once on, you’ll be relieved to know that contact pressure is very low with these headphones, with no discomfort evident during long listening sessions.

Sound

As far as I’m concerned, the sound performance of the K702 is fantastic. The stereo image is pleasantly wide, with convincing signal dynamics and depth gradation. However, the extremely linear frequency response range means these headphones aren’t going to impress lovers of loud volumes and big bass changes. In fact, they’re very discreet in the bass ranges, although they also allow for a delicate and differentiated assessment in the lower bass ranges. The midrange is handled well enough, with linear reproduction. High frequencies, even at the extreme end, are reproduced in stunning detail. Transients are also reproduced with finesse. All in all, the K702 sounds composed, if a little cool. That being said, you can’t really criticise these headphones for reproducing sounds in a more realistic manner.

Areas of Application

Due to its tonal properties, it’s difficult to decide which genres are best suited to playback on the K702. With studio, rock and metal genres, listeners can benefit from the impressive transient richness. With pop, dance and urban music, the differentiated detail at lower frequencies comes into play. A linear midrange and good treble reproduction offers a simplified sound when listening to acoustic genres, such as jazz or classical.
The K702 is ideal for mixing applications, making them an ideal consideration for those after something to use at home or in the studio. Alternatively, the everyday listener will find plenty to enjoy thanks to quality signal analysis and impressive sound reproduction.