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
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.
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Great audio reproduction.
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Comfortable design.
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Open-back design; they leak a lot.
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No ambient noise isolation, by design.
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Big and bulky headphones.
The AKG K702 purposely don't block any ambient noise, which is not ideal for the level of noise on a busy commute.
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Great audio reproduction.
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Comfortable design.
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Open-back design; they leak a lot.
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No ambient noise isolation, by design.
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Big and bulky headphones.
The AKG K702 aren't designed for sports. Too unstable and cumbersome for use while doing any strenuous physical activity.
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Great audio reproduction.
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Comfortable design.
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Open-back design; they leak a lot.
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No ambient noise isolation, by design.
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Big and bulky headphones.
The AKG K702 aren't designed for office use unless you work in an isolated environment.
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Great audio reproduction.
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Comfortable design.
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Open-back design; they leak a lot.
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No ambient noise isolation, by design.
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Big and bulky headphones.
The AKG K702 aren't suitable for wireless gaming.
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Great audio reproduction.
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Comfortable design.
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Open-back design; they leak a lot.
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No ambient noise isolation, by design.
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Big and bulky headphones.
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
- Updated Jul 07, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
- Updated Feb 11, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated Feb 16, 2018: Converted to Test Bench 1.2.
- Updated Aug 10, 2017: Converted to Test Bench 1.1.
- Updated Mar 01, 2017: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
- Updated Jun 22, 2016: Review published.
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Compared To Other Headphones
See our recommendations for the best headphones for music, the best over-ear headphones, and the best headphones for studio.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The AKG K702 and the Philips SHP9500 are both great audiophile headphones if you like a neutral sound. Their sound profiles are fairly similar overall, but the AKG sound even brighter. They can sound a bit too harsh and piercing for some people though, 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.
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.
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.
Test Results
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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