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We've recently released our Test Bench 1.6 update for Headphones! Read the Latency R&D Article to learn more.

AKG K702 Headphones Review

Tested using Methodology v1.5
Review updated Jun 22, 2016 at 12:01 pm
Latest change: Test bench update Jul 07, 2021 at 02:42 pm
AKG K702 Picture
8.2
Neutral Sound
4.0
Commute/Travel
5.1
Sports/Fitness
4.8
Office
4.6
Wireless Gaming
6.7
Wired Gaming
1.7
Phone Calls

The AKG K702 are great, comfortable headphones for critical listening but are mediocre for everyday casual use. Their open design doesn't block any noise and leaks enough to be distracting. They're not made for commuting or to use at the gym but are ideal for appreciating high-quality audio in a quiet environment.

Our Verdict

8.2 Neutral Sound

The AKG K702 have excellent sound quality for neutral listening. They're comfortable and reproduce tracks with great fidelity. Bass mids and treble are well balanced, and the well-designed, large, and open ear cups give them a spacious soundstage. They'll sound great with high-res audio and an amp.

Pros
  • Great audio reproduction.
  • Comfortable design.
Cons
  • Open-back design; they leak a lot.
  • No ambient noise isolation, by design.
  • Big and bulky headphones.
4.0 Commute/Travel

The AKG K702 purposely don't block any ambient noise, which is not ideal for the level of noise on a busy commute.

Pros
  • Great audio reproduction.
  • Comfortable design.
Cons
  • Open-back design; they leak a lot.
  • No ambient noise isolation, by design.
  • Big and bulky headphones.
5.1 Sports/Fitness

The AKG K702 aren't designed for sports. Too unstable and cumbersome for use while doing any strenuous physical activity.

Pros
  • Great audio reproduction.
  • Comfortable design.
Cons
  • Open-back design; they leak a lot.
  • No ambient noise isolation, by design.
  • Big and bulky headphones.
4.8 Office

The AKG K702 aren't designed for office use unless you work in an isolated environment.

Pros
  • Great audio reproduction.
  • Comfortable design.
Cons
  • Open-back design; they leak a lot.
  • No ambient noise isolation, by design.
  • Big and bulky headphones.
4.6 Wireless Gaming

The AKG K702 aren't suitable for wireless gaming.

6.7 Wired Gaming

Pros
  • Great audio reproduction.
  • Comfortable design.
Cons
  • Open-back design; they leak a lot.
  • No ambient noise isolation, by design.
  • Big and bulky headphones.
1.7 Phone Calls

The AKG K702 aren't suitable for phone calls.

  • 8.2 Neutral Sound
  • 4.0 Commute/Travel
  • 5.1 Sports/Fitness
  • 4.8 Office
  • 4.6 Wireless Gaming
  • 6.7 Wired Gaming
  • 1.7 Phone Calls
  1. Updated Jul 07, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
  2. Updated Feb 11, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
  3. Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
  4. Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
  5. Updated Feb 16, 2018: Converted to Test Bench 1.2.
  6. Updated Aug 10, 2017: Converted to Test Bench 1.1.
  7. Updated Mar 01, 2017: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
  8. Updated Jun 22, 2016: Review published.
  9. Updated Jun 20, 2016: Our testers have started testing this product.
  10. Updated May 24, 2016: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Compared To Other Headphones

See our recommendations for the best headphones for music, the best over-ear headphones, and the best headphones for studio.

AKG K701

The AKG K702 are slightly better headphones than the AKG K701, but overall are very similar. The K702 have a detachable cable that is easily replaceable if damaged, which makes them a bit more durable and better-built, but that’s about it. Most people won’t hear a difference between those two models.

AKG K712 PRO

The AKG K712 PRO and the AKG K702 are almost identical save for a few differences in design and frequency response. The K702 get a bit more bass but also sound brighter - unfortunately, to the point of sounding a bit sharp. The K712 will sound less harsh to most people, but their soundstage isn't as impressive.

Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO

The Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO and the AKG K702 are both great headphones for critical listeners and have very little difference in performance. Sound-wise, the AKG might lack a bit of sub-bass when compared to the Beyerdynamic and could sound a bit sharper on higher frequencies. On the other hand, the AKG don't feel as tight as the Beyerdynamic, which is more comfortable for long listening sessions. However, the AKG are well-built but don’t feel as durable since they don’t have a full metal frame like the Beyerdynamic. The AKG are also a bit more open-sounding, and they come with a very long and detachable cable while the Beyerdynamic have a short, coiled cable.

Philips Fidelio X2HR

The Philips Fidelio X2HR are better for neutral sound than the AKG K702. The Philips have a more neutral sound profile, which some may prefer, deliver bass more consistently, and have a much more stable fit. On the other hand, the Philips have a significantly better passive soundstage performance. 

AKG Q701

The AKG Q701 are basically the same headphones as the AKG K702, but with slightly better sound performance. However, the Q701 are more expensive for such a marginal difference. The Q701 have bumps on the headband and come with an extra 20-foot cable. Another small difference is that Q701 comes with a Quincy Jones line logo on the earcups that close the cups, but that doesn't seem to make any noticeable difference in our measurements.

Sennheiser HD 560S

The Sennheiser HD 560S are better for neutral sound than AKG K702. They have a more neutral sound profile, a more stable fit, and are less prone to inconsistent bass and treble delivery. On the other hand, the AKG are better-built and create a more open-seeming, speaker-like passive soundstage. 

Philips SHP9500

The AKG K702 and the Philips SHP9500 are both great audiophile headphones if you like a neutral sound. Their sound profiles are similar overall, but the AKG sound even brighter. They can sound too harsh and piercing for some people, so the Philips are a better option if you prefer a smoother sound without losing much detail. The Philips are also more comfortable for long listening sessions, although the AKG feel more durable.

Sennheiser HD 600

The Sennheiser HD 600 and the AKG K702 are both open-back, over-ear headphones that are similarly suited for critical listening. While the Sennheiser have slightly less low-bass than the AKG, they have a better-balanced treble range and are more stable on the head. At the same time, the AKG are more comfortable and have a wider soundstage that's perceived as coming from in front rather than from inside the listener's head.

Beyerdynamic DT 880

The AKG K702 and the Beyerdynamic DT 880 are both great audiophile headphones if you like a neutral sound. They have fairly similar sound profiles, although the AKG adds a bit of extra emphasis to the clarity and detail of vocals and instruments, while the Beyerdynamic emphasize more of the sibilance range.

Beats Solo Pro Wireless

The AKG K702 are better for neutral sound than the Beats Solo Pro Wireless. The AKG are much more comfortable over-ear headphones. Thanks to their open-back design, their passive soundstage is perceived as much more open and spacious. On the other hand, the Beats are more versatile Bluetooth-only headphones. They have a much better build quality and an ANC feature that does a great job blocking out ambient sound. They're also more stable, so they're less likely to slide off your head during light physical activity like a walk.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Type Over-ear
Enclosure Open-Back
Wireless No
Transducer Dynamic

The AKG K702 share the same style and build as the AKG K701 and AKG K712 PRO. They have a two-tone navy blue and silver color scheme and an old-school retro design that'll work for some. The open-back ear cups are large and circular and covered in suede-like padding that gives them a premium appeal. However, they're pretty big and bulky for everyday use.

8.0
Design
Comfort
Weight 0.65 lbs
Clamping Force
0.9 lbs

The AKG 702 are very comfortable headphones. The large ear cups easily fit around most ears, and the headband design doesn't put much pressure on the head. They might be a little too large and bulky for some listeners, but they deliver a comfortable listening experience that doesn't cause soreness even on long listening sessions.

0
Design
Controls
OS Compatibility
No Controls
Ease Of Use No Controls
Feedback No Controls
Call/Music Control No
Volume Control No
Microphone Control No
Channel Mixing
No
Noise Cancelling Control No
Talk-Through
No
Additional Controls No
7.1
Design
Breathability
Avg.Temp.Difference 4 °C
5.2
Design
Portability
L 8.3" (21.0 cm)
W 7.3" (18.5 cm)
H 4.3" (11.0 cm)
Volume 253.74 in³ (4,158.04 cm³)
Transmitter Required No

The AKG K702, like the AKG K712 PRO, are big and bulky headphones that are not portable. They don't fold up into a more compact format, and the ear cups don't lay flat to take less space either. The retro headband design is also quite large and results in cumbersome headphones that will only fit in a backpack. There's also no case or pouch, which is disappointing.

0
Design
Case
Type No case
L N/A
W N/A
H N/A
Volume N/A
7.5
Design
Build Quality

The AKG K702's build quality is decent. They have dense ear cups, and their headband design is flexible enough to handle an above-average amount of physical stress. However, the headband has a lot of moving parts for the adjustable padding. These are potential weak points where the headphones could get damaged through wear and tear.

5.5
Design
Stability

These headphones aren't tight enough and will easily fall your head if used while running. They're not designed for sports and only stay in place during casual listening sessions. The ear cups will sway and slip off your ears, even during mild physical activity. Also, the detachable cable locks into the ear cups and will pull the headphones off your head before disconnecting if ever it's hooked on something.

Design
Headshots 1
Design
Headshots 2
Design
Top
Design
In The Box

  • AKG K702 headphones
  • 1/8" to 1/4" adapter
  • Audio cable
  • Carrying pouch
  • Manual

Sound
Sound
Sound Profile
Bass Amount
-4.24 dB
Treble Amount
0.02 dB
7.7
Sound
Frequency Response Consistency
Avg. Std. Deviation
0.46 dB
Sound
Raw Frequency Response
7.6
Sound
Bass Accuracy
Std. Err.
3.23 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
64.42 Hz
Low-Bass
-6.13 dB
Mid-Bass
-1.54 dB
High-Bass
2.03 dB
9.0
Sound
Mid Accuracy
Std. Err.
1.32 dB
Low-Mid
1.46 dB
Mid-Mid
-0.43 dB
High-Mid
0.87 dB
7.1
Sound
Treble Accuracy
Std. Err.
4.24 dB
Low-Treble
2.85 dB
Mid-Treble
3.75 dB
High-Treble
-5.79 dB
7.4
Sound
Peaks/Dips
Peaks
1.84 dB
Dips
0.83 dB
9.1
Sound
Imaging
Weighted Group Delay
0.18
Weighted Phase Mismatch
2.4
Weighted Amplitude Mismatch
0.29
Weighted Frequency Mismatch
1.49
8.3
Sound
Passive Soundstage
PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.)
1.74 dB
PRTF Size (Avg.)
4.38 dB
PRTF Distance
12.42 dB
Openness
9.4
Acoustic Space Excitation
8.2
0
Sound
Virtual Soundstage
Head Modeling
No
Speaker Modeling
No
Room Ambience
No
Head Tracking
No
Virtual Surround
No App
8.7
Sound
Weighted Harmonic Distortion
WHD @ 90
0.067
WHD @ 100
0.110
Sound
Test Settings
Firmware
No Firmware
Power
Passive
Connection
Wired
Codec
PCM, 24-bit, 48kHz
EQ
No EQ
ANC
No ANC
Tip/Pad
Default
Microphone
No Microphone
Isolation
1.7
Isolation
Noise Isolation
Isolation Audio
Overall Attenuation
-4.96 dB
Noise Cancelling No
Bass
-0.25 dB
Mid
-0.41 dB
Treble
-14.01 dB

Poor isolation. Due to their open-back design, these headphones don't offer any isolation below 1kHz. Above 1kHz, there's a 3dB/octave roll-off present, which won't be effective in blocking outside noise.

2.4
Isolation
Leakage
Leakage Audio
Overall Leakage @ 1ft
60.55 dB

Poor leakage. Although these headphones are quite loud and leak a lot, the leakage's profile is narrower than most open headphones we have measured. The roll-off in the leakage above 4kHz is rather uncharacteristic of most open headphones.

Microphone
Microphone
Microphone Style
Integrated
No
In-Line
No
Boom
No
Detachable Boom
No
Mic No
0
Microphone
Recording Quality
Recorded Speech
N/A
LFE
N/A
FR Std. Dev.
N/A
HFE
N/A
Weighted THD
N/A
Gain
N/A
0
Microphone
Noise Handling
SpNR
N/A
Noise Gate
No
Speech + Pink Noise Handling
N/A
Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample N/A
Speech + Subway Noise Handling
N/A
Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample N/A
Active Features
0
Active Features
Battery
Battery Type
No Battery
Continuous Battery Life
N/A
Additional Charges
N/A
Total Battery Life
N/A
Charge Time
N/A
Power-Saving Feature
No
Audio While Charging
No
Passive Playback
Passive Headphone
Charging Port None
0
Active Features
App Support
App Name No App
iOS No
Android No
macOS No
Windows No
Equalizer
No
ANC Control
No
Mic Control No
Room Effects
No
Playback Control
No
Button Mapping No
Surround Support
No

No compatible app.

Connectivity
0
Connectivity
Bluetooth
Bluetooth Version
No Bluetooth
Multi-Device Pairing
No
NFC Pairing
No
Line Of Sight Range
N/A
PC Latency (SBC)
N/A
PC Latency (aptX)
N/A
PC Latency (aptX HD)
N/A
PC Latency (aptX-LL)
N/A
iOS Latency
N/A
Android Latency
N/A
0
Connectivity
Non-Bluetooth Wireless
Non-BT Line Of Sight Range
N/A
Non-BT Latency
N/A
9.5
Connectivity
Wired
Analog Audio
Yes
USB Audio
No
Detachable Yes
Length 9.80 ft (2.99 m)
Connection
1/8" TRS
Analog/USB Audio Latency
0 ms
Connectivity
PC Compatibility
Analog
Audio Only
Wired USB
No
Non-BT Wireless
No
Connectivity
PlayStation Compatibility
PS4 Analog
Audio Only
PS4 Wired USB
No
PS4 Non-BT Wireless
No
PS5 Analog
Audio Only
PS5 Wired USB
No
PS5 Non-BT Wireless
No
Connectivity
Xbox Compatibility
Xbox One Analog
Audio Only
Xbox One Wired USB
No
Xbox One Non-BT Wireless
No
Xbox Series X|S Analog
Audio Only
Xbox Series X|S Wired USB
No
Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless
No
0
Connectivity
Base/Dock
Type
No Base/Dock
USB Input
No
Line In
No
Line Out
No
Optical Input
No
RCA Input
No
Dock Charging
No
Power Supply
No Base/Dock