AKG K240 Studio Review

Founded in 1947, in Vienna, Austria. AKG designed and manufactured the world’s first dynamic cardioid microphone. Over the years, they have received numerous awards for their innovative approach to audio technology and continue to deliver high-end professional solutions today.

Will will be taking an in-depth look at one of those products in our AKG K240 Studio review…

Overview

The AKG K240 Studio headphones are a low-budget entry-level product with many applications. They are reliable headphones that have been around in one form or another since the 1970s. They are very much a formula that has worked, and AKG is sticking to it.

AKG products were originally manufactured in Austria but are now made in China. But are they still made to the same quality and specifications as their predecessors?

Let’s find out and see if these are one of the best studio headphones currently on the market…

Design

To be honest, the AKG K240 Studio headphones feel and look a little cheap to me. But these compromises are necessary to produce studio-quality headphones at this low price.

They are built from a combination of plastic, metal, synthetic leather. These look old school, which they are, as this design has been around a long time, with its mixture of shiny and matte plastic with some gold trims. However, they are very light, coming in at around 2.4 grams.

Comfort…

The headband features a floating design that adjusts itself. This allows for flexibility, so they feel comfortable regardless of the size or shape of your head without the need for further adjustment.

The earpads feel a little thin but are good enough to get a good seal around your ears. They are made of synthetic leather, which can become hot and sweaty over time, especially if you are using them to rehearse drums, or record vocals, or something where you are moving around a lot.

However, replacement pads are easy to find if need be. But they are very durable, and you shouldn’t need replacements anytime soon.

Durability…

After a little research, most customers seem very happy. Even after a couple of years of hard use in rehearsal spaces, users find the AKG K240 headphones still perform great and look like new. This makes them some of the most durable headphones on the market.

Semi-open back…

These are a semi-open back design, but I think they have as much sound leakage as regular open-back headphones. The problem with any open-back headphones is that they are not truly portable. And you will greatly annoy anyone sitting next to you if you try to use them on a bus or train.

Unlike in-ear headphones, you won’t experience much ear fatigue over extended listening using the AKG K240 Studio headphones. This is in part due to the comfortable design but also because a lot of sound gets vented out of the back of open-back headphones.

Mini XLR port…

These headphones come with a detachable 3.5mm cable and a mini XLR input port. The mini XLR port is quite a good addition on a headphone at this price and ensures that you do not compromise the audio quality.

The cable feels fairly strong, but some users have complained about the durability. Let’s be honest here; if you take care of headphone cables, they will last for years; however, if you stand on them, sit down on them, or pull them to within an inch of their lives, they are not going to last, it’s pure physics.

But, if you are the heavy-handed type, these again are easily sourced on the internet if need be.

Performance

The AKG K240 Studio headphones have a very neutral sound with a frequency response of 15- 25,000Hz. For some of the best budget headphones on the market, they are very well balanced.

Sound quality…

This headphone design has survived a very long time; therefore, AKG are doing something that users like. The sound quality and balance are outstanding at this price, and for most applications, you would be hard-pushed to find anything as good.

I think the change of manufacturing location really hasn’t affected the quality of AKG products too much. Overall, these headphones don’t feel too dissimilar to the pair I used to use in the early 1990s.

Bass…

For this type of studio headphones, the bass is pretty punchy. However, if you compared them to a more expensive pair of headphones, you would probably say they are lacking in bass. The mid-bass and sub-bass are good in the overall balance but are not going to get you excited too much.

Mid-range…

Here you have a smooth and warm mid-range, but it can feel a little undefined. As far as vocals are concerned, with a little push on the high mid-range from a good EQ, you can achieve a clear and crisp signal that doesn’t sound honky.

High-range…

The high-range is pretty crisp and clear and not excessively bright. Again you may find yourself again wanting to push the high frequencies with a good EQ for more detail. Concerning vocals, remember that pushing the highs too much can cause a reasonable amount of sibilance.

The overall sound is pretty well balanced and clear for a pair of studio headphones at this price point. However, you will more than likely find yourself adding some EQ to achieve more detail.

Sound-staging…

The sound-staging on these headphones is perfectly adequate for the suggested uses. But, don’t expect any kind of immersive experience when listening to your music.

Uses

The AKG K240 Studio headphones are great headphones for recording vocals or other studio instruments. They are also great for use in rehearsal spaces and can be used at length without ear fatigue. I also think they are very useful for pre-production and editing, but I wouldn’t trust them for more intricate work.

Furthermore, if you are looking for the best podcasting headphones, they are certainly a good option. This thanks to the very neutral vocal response of the AKG K240 headphones.

AKG K240 – Specifications

AKG K240 Studio Pros & Cons

Looking for Something Else?

Find the right headphones or earbuds for whatever you’re into. Check out our in-depth AKG Perception 220 Review, as well as our reviews of the Best Wireless Workout Headphones and the Best Waterproof Headphones for Swimming you can buy in 2023.

Final Thoughts

The AKG K240 Studio headphones are some of the best entry level professional headphones on the market. They are not perfect but sell very well and seem to be able to handle being roughly used in tough conditions.

They are great for rehearsal work and studio recording, but I couldn’t see myself mixing with them or doing anything too intricate.

If you are someone on a budget looking for a durable pair of headphones to get the job done, you really can’t go wrong with a brand like AKG. Especially at this price.

Until next time, happy listening.