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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 K371 Headphones Review

Tested using Methodology v1.5
Reviewed Dec 18, 2019 at 10:52 am
Latest change: Writing modified Aug 08, 2022 at 11:19 am
AKG K371 Picture
8.0
Neutral Sound
4.8
Commute/Travel
4.9
Sports/Fitness
5.5
Office
4.3
Wireless Gaming
6.3
Wired Gaming
2.1
Phone Calls

The AKG K371 are very well-balanced over-ear wired headphones. They have an incredibly accurate sound reproduction that's well-suited for a wide range of music genres and content. Unfortunately, they have a very unstable fit, and will likely fall off your ears with even a fairly small amount of head movement. They're comfortable, though, and feel fairly well-made with a premium look thanks to their faux-leather finish on the headband. Overall, if you want a pair of headphones for listening to music at home, these are a good choice.

Our Verdict

8.0 Neutral Sound

The AKG K371 have a well-balanced and neutral sound profile. Their bass and mid ranges are both remarkably accurate, and their treble range only has a few minor peaks and dips which likely won't be audible to most people. Unfortunately, they aren't the most consistent between reseats on your head, as their ear cups are prone to leaving gaps. This means that you may notice different bass and treble response depending on the fit you achieve, and those with glasses will likely have a hard time getting a proper seal.

Pros
  • Very well-balanced and neutral sound profile.
  • Fairly premium old-school style.
Cons
  • Very unstable and prone to falling off.
  • Poor noise isolation.
4.8 Commute/Travel

The AKG K371 aren't recommended for commuting or travel. While they're comfortable, unfortunately they do a very poor job at isolating sound, and won't help block out the engine rumble of buses or planes at all. They also don't support Bluetooth connectivity, meaning you will always have a wire connecting to your phone, which may get snagged or caught on things. Like all over-ears, they're also quite bulky, and even when folded up, can't be slipped into a pocket.

Pros
  • Very well-balanced and neutral sound profile.
  • Fairly premium old-school style.
Cons
  • Very unstable and prone to falling off.
  • Poor noise isolation.
4.9 Sports/Fitness

The AKG K371 aren't recommended for sports due to their very unstable fit. Even light exercising will cause them to slip on your ears, and they fall off very easily. They also don't breathe very well due to their over-ear design, so they will cause your ears to sweat more than usual while working out.

Pros
  • Very well-balanced and neutral sound profile.
  • Fairly premium old-school style.
Cons
  • Very unstable and prone to falling off.
  • Poor noise isolation.
5.5 Office

The AKG K371 are adequate headphones for using in the office. They have a comfortable fit, which is good for long days at the office, and they don't leak very much audio, so you should be able to listen to your music at high volumes without bothering those around you. However, they don't do a very good job at blocking background noise, so if you work in a noisy office, they won't help block out chatty co-workers.

Pros
  • Very well-balanced and neutral sound profile.
  • Fairly premium old-school style.
Cons
  • Very unstable and prone to falling off.
  • Poor noise isolation.
4.3 Wireless Gaming

The AKG K371 are wired-only headphones that can't be used wireless.

6.3 Wired Gaming

The AKG K371 don't have a microphone so may not be the best choice for gaming. While they can be plugged into the controller of either an Xbox One or PS4, this will only work for audio so you won't be able to talk to other players if you're playing online. On the upside, they have a very well-balanced sound profile and are comfortable enough for long gaming sessions.

Pros
  • Very well-balanced and neutral sound profile.
  • Fairly premium old-school style.
Cons
  • Very unstable and prone to falling off.
  • Poor noise isolation.
2.1 Phone Calls

The AKG K371 don't have a microphone and therefore can't be used for phone calls.

  • 8.0 Neutral Sound
  • 4.8 Commute/Travel
  • 4.9 Sports/Fitness
  • 5.5 Office
  • 4.3 Wireless Gaming
  • 6.3 Wired Gaming
  • 2.1 Phone Calls
  1. Updated Aug 08, 2022: We’ve added a comparison with the HiFiMan HE400se in the ‘Comfort’ test. While they're open-back headphones, they still offer a more comfortable fit, but at a similarly low price point.
  2. Updated Oct 14, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
  3. Updated Feb 17, 2021: We've retested and raised the score of the Comfort test.
  4. Updated Feb 17, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
  5. Updated Dec 18, 2019: Review published.
  6. Updated Dec 13, 2019: Our testers have started testing this product.
  7. Updated Dec 13, 2019: Early access published.
  8. Updated Dec 05, 2019: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  9. Updated Nov 28, 2019: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Compared To Other Headphones

The AKG K371 are decent studio headphones with a very well-balanced and neutral sound reproduction. They look fairly premium thanks to their faux-leather finish, and feel fairly well-built despite being mainly plastic. Unfortunately, they have a very unstable fit that is quite prone to inconsistencies among different reseats on your head. See our recommendations for the best studio headphones, the best audiophile headphones, and the best closed-back headphones.

Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO

The Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO are better over-ear studio headphones than the AKG K371. The Beyerdynamic have a more stable fit and feel more durable. While they both have very well-balanced sound profiles, the AKG are slightly more accurate, but their fit is more prone to inconsistencies among users. On the upside, the AKG leak considerably less audio.

Sony MDR-7506

The AKG K371 are slightly better over-ear studio headphones than the Sony MDR-7506. The AKG have a much more accurate and well-balanced sound profile, leak less audio, and have a detachable cable. On the other hand, the Sony's frequency response is much more consistent among users, feel slightly more stable on the head, and are more portable.

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x

The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x are better over-ear studio headphones than the AKG K371. The Audio-Technica have a more stable fit that feels much better built, and their frequency response is more consistent among users. On the other hand, the AKG's sound profile is slightly more accurate and leak less audio.

RØDE NTH-100M

The AKG K371 are better over-ears for neutral sound than the RØDE NTH-100M. While both headphones feel comfortable, the AKG's sound profile is a lot flatter, accurate, and neutral, which some users may prefer. They also block out a bit more background noise and leak less audio at high volumes. However, the RØDE are better-built and come with a detachable boom mic for gaming.

AKG N700NC M2 Wireless

The AKG N700NC M2 Wireless are more versatile headphones than the AKG K371. While both headphones are comfortable, the N700NC M2 are better built, have active noise cancelling to help block out ambient noise around you, and have a mic so that you can take calls on the go. They also have a companion app with a parametric EQ so that you can adjust their sound to your liking, and they support multi-device pairing. However, some users may prefer the K371's wired design.

HiFiMan HE400se

Depending on your usage, you may prefer either the AKG K371 or the HiFiMan HE400se. The AKG are closed-back headphones, which are well-suited for listening sessions where you want to block out background noise and reduce audio bleed. They also have a more neutral overall sound profile, which some users may prefer. However, the HiFiMan are open-backs, which are designed to let sound escape the ear cups in order to create a more immersive soundstage. They're more comfortable, better-built, and are able to reproduce audio more consistently. 

Sennheiser HD 598 Cs

The Sennheiser HD 598 Cs and the AKG K371 are very similarly performing over-ear studio headphones. While the Sennheiser have a more stable fit with in-line controls, the AKG have more accurate sound reproduction and leak much less audio.

Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2017

The AKG K371 and the Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2017 are two different headphones that are designed for different uses. If you want a gaming headset with a boom microphone, get the Astro. On the other hand, if you're looking for a clear and well-balanced sound profile, go with the AKG.

Beats Solo Pro Wireless

The Beats Solo Pro Wireless are better for most purposes than the AKG K371. The Beats are wireless headphones that have a significantly better build quality and a much more stable fit. They isolate you from much more ambient sound, thanks to their ANC feature. On the other hand, the AKG have a more neutral sound profile that some listeners may prefer. They're also much more comfortable.

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Test Results

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

The AKG K371 are wired over-ear headphones with a fairly retro look with some modern elements. They have a similar look to the Sennheiser Momentum 3, except with more plastic and less metal. The headphones are all matte-black, with a faux-lather finish on the headband and synthetic leather padding on the ear cups.

7.5
Design
Comfort
Weight 0.57 lbs
Clamping Force
1.2 lbs

Update 02/17/2021: After user feedback, we've reassessed and raised the scoring of this test from '7.0' to '7.5' to better-reflect real-life usage.

The AKG K371 are comfortable over-ear headphones. They have plush ear cups with thick, soft padding and they don't squeeze too tightly on your head, so you're able to wear them for long listening sessions without feeling too fatigued. That said, if you have large ears, they can touch the drivers inside the ear cups, and become uncomfortable over time. If you're looking for more comfortable audiophile headphones at the budget level, it's worth considering the HiFiMan HE400se. Even though they have an open-back design, compared to the AKG's closed-back design, they don't clamp as tightly on your head.

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

These headphones have no controls on them so you'll have to use your device to control your media.

6.3
Design
Breathability
Avg.Temp.Difference 6.3 °C

Like most over-ear headphones, the AKG K371 aren't the most breathable and trap heat inside the ear cups. These headphones may not be a good option for working out, as you'll likely sweat more than usual while wearing them.

5.7
Design
Portability
L 7.4" (18.8 cm)
W 6.6" (16.8 cm)
H 3.1" (7.9 cm)
Volume 150.70 in³ (2,469.52 cm³)
Transmitter Required No

While these headphones do fold up, unfortunately they're still quite bulky and may not be the most portable option. On the upside, they come with a decent pouch to protect them from scratches when in a backpack or purse.

6.5
Design
Case
Type Pouch
L N/A
W N/A
H N/A
Volume N/A

The included pouch with these headphones is decent. While not as good as a hard case, the pouch itself feels quite well-made and has a cinch top to keep things from getting inside. It should protect your headphones from some minor water exposure and scratches.

7.0
Design
Build Quality

The build quality of the AKG K371 is decent. While they're mainly made of plastic, there are some touches of metal and synthetic leather that make them feel a bit more premium. The wire going from the ear cups to the headband is purposely exposed, and stretches to its limit when the headband is extended, which is concerning. If you're looking for better-built AKG headphones, consider the AKG N700NC M2 Wireless.

5.0
Design
Stability

The stability of these headphones is disappointing. They slide off the ears quite easily even during a light jog, and will likely fall of easily if you run to catch the bus. Also, if the cable gets snagged on something, it'll likely pull the headphones off your head, as it locks into the headphones themselves. While they should stay on your head fine if using at home, these headphones are not recommended for more strenuous uses, like at the gym.

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

  • AKG K371 Headphones
  • Pouch
  • 10 foot straight audio cable
  • 4 foot straight audio cable
  • Coiled audio cable
  • 1/8" to 1/4" Adapter
  • Manual

Sound
Sound
Sound Profile
Bass Amount
0.19 dB
Treble Amount
-1.99 dB

The AKG K371 have a fairly neutral and well-balanced sound profile that should be suitable for all genres of music. They have a slight over-emphasis in low-bass which may add a bit of extra thump, and their almost perfectly balanced mid-range means leads and vocals will be present and easy to hear. There's a slight dip in mid-treble which may make sibilants (S and T sounds) and cymbals sound slightly dull, but this may not be audible to everyone.

6.1
Sound
Frequency Response Consistency
Avg. Std. Deviation
0.9 dB

The frequency response consistency is mediocre. Unfortunately, the ear cups don't provide a very tight seal which results in different people experiencing their sound profile differently. They're prone to gaps between the ear cups and the head, and people with glasses or long hair will likely experience variations in their bass and treble range.

Sound
Raw Frequency Response
9.1
Sound
Bass Accuracy
Std. Err.
1.15 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
10.91 Hz
Low-Bass
0.51 dB
Mid-Bass
-1 dB
High-Bass
0.87 dB

The bass accuracy of the AKG K371 is outstanding. The response is flatter and more neutral than that of the RØDE NTH-100. As a result, mixes have adequate thump, rumble, and boom that doesn't overwhelm vocals and lead instruments. Note that bass delivery varies noticeably across users, and is sensitive to the quality of fit, seal, and whether you wear glasses. The response here represents the average bass response and your experience may vary.

9.3
Sound
Mid Accuracy
Std. Err.
0.96 dB
Low-Mid
0.77 dB
Mid-Mid
0.13 dB
High-Mid
-0.83 dB

The AKG K371 are also remarkably accurate in the mid-range. They follow the target curve almost perfectly with almost no deviations, providing present and accurate leads and vocals.

7.7
Sound
Treble Accuracy
Std. Err.
3.41 dB
Low-Treble
-0.38 dB
Mid-Treble
-1.07 dB
High-Treble
-9.32 dB

The treble accuracy of the AKG K371 is great. While there's a slight overemphasis in the high mid-treble range, this in a high enough frequency that it likely won't be noticeable to most people. However, the small dip in low mid-treble may be noticeable, and may cause cymbals and some vocals to sound a little dull, though this may not be audible to most people.

7.9
Sound
Peaks/Dips
Peaks
1.4 dB
Dips
1.03 dB

The peaks and dips performance of the AKG K371 is good. The biggest dip is in mid-treble, which may affect the brightness and detail in that frequency, though this likely won't be too audible for most people.

8.4
Sound
Imaging
Weighted Group Delay
0.2
Weighted Phase Mismatch
4.26
Weighted Amplitude Mismatch
1.13
Weighted Frequency Mismatch
1.84

The stereo imaging of these headphones is great. The GD graph shows the group delay is below the audibility threshold for the entire range, which results in tight and accurate bass and treble ranges. The L/R drivers of our unit were also well-matched, though these results are valid only for our unit and yours may perform differently.

4.8
Sound
Passive Soundstage
PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.)
3.2 dB
PRTF Size (Avg.)
4.06 dB
PRTF Distance
6.25 dB
Openness
5.1
Acoustic Space Excitation
2.3

Like most closed-back headphones, the AKG K371 have a sub-par soundstage. Although there’s a lot of pinna interaction, it isn’t really accurate. While this results in a relatively large soundstage, it feels unnatural and inside the listener’s head.

0
Sound
Virtual Soundstage
Head Modeling
No
Speaker Modeling
No
Room Ambience
No
Head Tracking
No
Virtual Surround
No App
7.7
Sound
Weighted Harmonic Distortion
WHD @ 90
0.343
WHD @ 100
0.112

The weighted harmonic distortion performance of the AKG K371 is very good. It's within good limits through the entire range and while there's a small bump in treble, this won't be audible to most people. This will result in a clear and pure audio reproduction.

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
4.8
Isolation
Noise Isolation
Isolation Audio
Overall Attenuation
-14.15 dB
Noise Cancelling No
Bass
0.95 dB
Mid
-10.25 dB
Treble
-34.06 dB

These headphones don't have ANC and do a poor job at blocking out background noise passively, especially in the bass range. This means that these headphones won't do anything to block out the low engine rumble of bus and planes, though they're passable at blocking out background chatter and work environment noise.

8.0
Isolation
Leakage
Leakage Audio
Overall Leakage @ 1ft
33.85 dB

The AKG A371 leak very little audio, and most of the audio leaked will be thin-sounding. While you should be able to turn your music up fairly loud in most environments without bothering people around you, you still shouldn't blast your music in very quiet situations, like a library.

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

These headphones don't have a microphone, so the recording quality hasn't been tested.

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

These headphones don't have a microphone so the noise handling hasn't been tested.

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

The AKG K371 are wired-only headphones that don't require a battery.

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

The AKG K371 don't have a dedicated companion 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

These headphones are wired-only and don't support a Bluetooth connection.

0
Connectivity
Non-Bluetooth Wireless
Non-BT Line Of Sight Range
N/A
Non-BT Latency
N/A

These headphones are wired-only.

9.5
Connectivity
Wired
Analog Audio
Yes
USB Audio
No
Detachable Yes
Length 4.00 ft (1.22 m)
Connection
1/8" TRS
Analog/USB Audio Latency
0 ms

These headphones have a detachable audio cable and come with three different cables: a 4 foot straight cable, a 10 foot straight cable, and a coiled cable. The input on the headphones is a Mini XLR, but the included cables all adapt to a standard 1/8" plug on the other end.

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

The AKG K371 can be plugged into the controller of an Xbox One to be used for audio, but they don't have a microphone.

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

These headphones don't have a base or dock.