Get insider access
Preferred store
Your browser is not supported or outdated so some features of the site might not be available.
We've recently released our Test Bench 1.6 update for Headphones! Read the Latency R&D Article to learn more.

AKG K240 MKII Headphones Review

Tested using Methodology v1.5
Reviewed Dec 12, 2016 at 04:15 pm
Latest change: Test bench update Oct 14, 2021 at 11:10 am
AKG K240 MKII Picture
7.5
Neutral Sound
3.7
Commute/Travel
4.7
Sports/Fitness
4.6
Office
4.2
Wireless Gaming
6.3
Wired Gaming
1.6
Phone Calls

The AKG K240 MKII are semi-open, critical listening headphones with an above-average sound. They're comfortable to wear and deliver an immersive audio reproduction. Unfortunately, they're not the most versatile headphones. They perform poorly in loud environments and their bulky, cumbersome build is a bit unstable on the head.

Our Verdict

7.5 Neutral Sound

The K240 MKII are built to be neutral listening headphones that deliver an immersive audio reproduction. They have a great soundstage for a semi-open design and reproduce instruments and vocals well enough to please most neutral listners. However, they lack a bit of bass and do not sound as crisp and clean as some of the other models in AKG K series

Pros
  • Above-average audio reproduction.
  • Lightweight and comfortable design.
Cons
  • Very sensitive to ambient noise, by design.
  • High leakage, by design.
3.7 Commute/Travel

Not designed for commuting. They have semi-open ear cups that let the ambient noise of your surroundings seep into your audio. Hence in loud environments like a bus or train, they will not perform well.

Pros
  • Above-average audio reproduction.
  • Lightweight and comfortable design.
Cons
  • Very sensitive to ambient noise, by design.
  • High leakage, by design.
4.7 Sports/Fitness

Not meant for sports. They're big and bulky and difficult to carry around on your person. They're also quite unstable and will quickly fall off your head if used while running.

Pros
  • Above-average audio reproduction.
  • Lightweight and comfortable design.
Cons
  • Very sensitive to ambient noise, by design.
  • High leakage, by design.
4.6 Office

Subpar for office use. They leak a lot, which means people will be able to hear what you're listening to. They also don't block enough noise for lively offices.

Pros
  • Above-average audio reproduction.
  • Lightweight and comfortable design.
Cons
  • Very sensitive to ambient noise, by design.
  • High leakage, by design.
6.3 Wired Gaming

Pros
  • Above-average audio reproduction.
  • Lightweight and comfortable design.
Cons
  • Very sensitive to ambient noise, by design.
  • High leakage, by design.
1.6 Phone Calls
  • 7.5 Neutral Sound
  • 3.7 Commute/Travel
  • 4.7 Sports/Fitness
  • 4.6 Office
  • 4.2 Wireless Gaming
  • 6.3 Wired Gaming
  • 1.6 Phone Calls
  1. Updated Oct 14, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
  2. Updated Mar 02, 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 Dec 12, 2016: Review published.
  9. Updated Dec 10, 2016: Our testers have started testing this product.
  10. Updated Sep 12, 2016: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Compared To Other Headphones

Superlux HD 681

The Superlux HD 681 and the AKG K240 MKII are similarly designed headphones, but the Superlux have an overall better-balanced sound profile. The Superlux produce much deeper bass with less clutter in the mid-range but sound a bit harsh and even piercing in the higher frequencies. The AKG have a smoother treble and feel better built.

Samson SR850

The Samson SR850 are a bit better than the AKG K240 MKII for neutral sound. The Samson have a brighter, more detailed sound profile and significantly better bass accuracy, which some listeners may prefer. They're also less prone to inconsistent audio delivery. They may sound sharp or harsh to some, and the AKG create a slightly more immersive, speaker-like passive soundstage.

Beats Solo Pro Wireless

The AKG K240 MKII and the Beats Solo Pro Wireless are designed for different uses. The AKG are designed for audiophiles. They're more comfortable and have better passive soundstage performance. However, the Beats are better for casual use. They have a wireless design, a better build quality, and a mic so that you can take calls on the go. They also have an ANC system that can block out a great amount of noise around you and a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer.

Test Results

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

The K240 MKII have a similar design to the rest of the K series. They keep the familiar old-school headband and circular ear cups, but the materials used in this build do not feel as premium as those used on the K702 and K712 PRO. They also have a pretty bland color scheme, but the understated look may work for some. Overall these are decent looking headphones, but they feel a bit cheap.

7.5
Design
Comfort
Weight 0.53 lbs
Clamping Force
0.7 lbs

The K240 MKII have a pretty comfortable design. They're quite lightweight for their size and they're not too tight on the the head. Also the ear cups are sufficiently well padded that they won't cause any soreness during long listening sessions. However, the circular shape and size of the ear cups do not always fit well around larger ears. Also, the lack of padding on the headband slightly decreases their comfort level but isn't particularly noticeable once you have the headphones on.

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
7.0
Design
Breathability
Avg.Temp.Difference 4.3 °C
5.1
Design
Portability
L 9.0" (22.9 cm)
W 7.1" (18.1 cm)
H 4.1" (10.5 cm)
Volume 265.00 in³ (4,342.55 cm³)
Transmitter Required No

The K240 MKII are not portable headphones. They have a bulky design that doesn't fold or have ear cups that lay flat to take less space. They will be a hassle to carry around on your person and will only fit into larger bags. They also don't come with a case so keeping them in your bag with other items might not be the best way to transport them.

0
Design
Case
Type No case
L N/A
W N/A
H N/A
Volume N/A
6.0
Design
Build Quality

Decent build quality. The MKII have a similar design to the AKG K701 and K702. They have moderately dense circular ear cups that can survive a couple of drops without being damaged. However, like the rest of the K-series, the headband has a lot of moving parts that will deteriorate over time with regular wear and tear.

5.0
Design
Stability

These headphones are not designed to provide a stable fit during physical activity. The slack headband isn't too tight on the head, which is good for comfort but unfortunately, makes the fit unstable in most situations. They're a little bulky and cumbersome and will fall if you tilt your head too far back during casual listening sessions. Therefore they won't be good headphones to exercise with. The cable is detachable but locks into the ear cups, so it will still yank the headphones off your head if hooked on something.

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

  • AKG K240 MKII Headphones
  • 1/8" to 1/4" Adapter
  •  Ear-cup cushions (x2)
  • Audio cable (x2)
  • Manual

Sound
Sound
Sound Profile
Bass Amount
-5.08 dB
Treble Amount
-2.89 dB
6.9
Sound
Frequency Response Consistency
Avg. Std. Deviation
0.65 dB
Sound
Raw Frequency Response
6.4
Sound
Bass Accuracy
Std. Err.
5.4 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
71.27 Hz
Low-Bass
-10.52 dB
Mid-Bass
-1.6 dB
High-Bass
3.25 dB
8.5
Sound
Mid Accuracy
Std. Err.
2.05 dB
Low-Mid
2.4 dB
Mid-Mid
-0.01 dB
High-Mid
-2.06 dB
7.4
Sound
Treble Accuracy
Std. Err.
3.94 dB
Low-Treble
-2.16 dB
Mid-Treble
-0.52 dB
High-Treble
-9.55 dB
7.1
Sound
Peaks/Dips
Peaks
2.06 dB
Dips
1.08 dB
8.5
Sound
Imaging
Weighted Group Delay
0.24
Weighted Phase Mismatch
8.81
Weighted Amplitude Mismatch
0.49
Weighted Frequency Mismatch
1.76
8.0
Sound
Passive Soundstage
PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.)
4.09 dB
PRTF Size (Avg.)
4.54 dB
PRTF Distance
15.14 dB
Openness
9.4
Acoustic Space Excitation
7.3
0
Sound
Virtual Soundstage
Head Modeling
No
Speaker Modeling
No
Room Ambience
No
Head Tracking
No
Virtual Surround
No App
6.7
Sound
Weighted Harmonic Distortion
WHD @ 90
0.212
WHD @ 100
0.887
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
1.4
Isolation
Noise Isolation
Isolation Audio
Overall Attenuation
-3.84 dB
Noise Cancelling No
Bass
0.13 dB
Mid
1.38 dB
Treble
-12.66 dB

Poor leakage. Although these headphones are marketed as semi-open, their isolation is on par with fully open headphones. Therefore, they provide no isolation up to 2KHz, and the isolation they achieve above 2KHz is well below average.

3.7
Isolation
Leakage
Leakage Audio
Overall Leakage @ 1ft
55.29 dB

Poor leakage. These headphones leak a considerable amount, due to the semi-open-back design. The majority of the leakage is between 500Hz and 10KHz which is a broad range. The level of the leakage is also quite high.

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 9.45 ft (2.88 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