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 they're ideal for appreciating high-quality audio in a quiet environment.
Our Verdict
The AKG K702 are inadequate for sports and fitness. Their clamping force feels light, and as a result, they're not stable enough to stay put with physical activity. In addition, the headphones are bulky and wired-only, making them inconvenient for exercising.
Very comfortable design.
- Open-back design; they leak a lot.
- No ambient noise isolation, by design.
- Big and bulky headphones.
Not very stable.
The AKG K702 are poor for traveling. Due to their open-back design, they leak a lot of your audio, which will disturb other passengers. They also can't meaningfully isolate you from the noise around you while on the go. Plus, they're bulky, don't fold down any smaller, and they're wired-only, which limits their versatility for travel.
- Great audio reproduction.
Very comfortable design.
- Open-back design; they leak a lot.
- No ambient noise isolation, by design.
- Big and bulky headphones.
The AKG K702 are bad for office work. Their open-back build doesn't block out your workplace racket and leaks a lot of your audio into the office. While they feel comfortable to wear for long stretches and they reproduce your audio well, they're not suitable for the workplace unless you have a private office and don't need Bluetooth or a built-in mic.
- Great audio reproduction.
Very comfortable design.
- Open-back design; they leak a lot.
- No ambient noise isolation, by design.
- Big and bulky headphones.
The AKG K702 are wired-only headphones, and you can't use them wirelessly for gaming.
The AKG K702 are alright for wired gaming. They don't include a microphone, so if you game with others, you'll need an external mic. Otherwise, they're comfortable and lightweight, and their open-back design and PRTF measurements provide an immersive sound. However, they also have weak bass. Their sound is smooth with clear mids and treble. However, the headphones' group delay and stereo mismatch impact their stereo image. If you're a really active gamer, the headphones can shift around.
- Great audio reproduction.
Very comfortable design.
- Open-back design; they leak a lot.
- No ambient noise isolation, by design.
The AKG K702 are very good for audio reproduction accuracy. Their sound profile is flat with a fairly balanced and bright top-end and a roll-off in the bass range, which is expected for open-back over-ears. The frequency response is smooth in the bass and through most of the mid-range, though there are a couple of peaks and dips in the treble that can sound relatively harsh or dull. Their PRTF mimics a pair of angled reference monitors for an immersive listening experience. However, their group delay and stereo mismatch results indicate a fairly loose low-bass response and a slightly different L/R stereo field. That said, stereo matching can vary with different headphones.
The AKG K702 are terrible for noise isolation, which is expected for open-back headphones. They very slightly muffle trebly sounds, but in all, they leave environmental sounds unaffected and able to reach your ears.
The AKG K702 don't include a microphone.
The AKG K702 have excellent frequency response consistency. Over repeated listening sessions, they deliver a predictable sound with only minor deviations in the high-mids. There's a slight variation in the bass for long-haired people, but it's quite subtle.
Performance Usages
Changelog
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Updated Jul 11, 2025:
This review has been updated to Test Bench 2.0, which adds the following tests: Stereo Mismatch, Group Delay, Cumulative Spectral Decay, PRTF, Harmonic Distortion, and Electrical Aspects. In addition, we've added updated results for Isolation, including Noise Isolation - Full Range and Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios. We've added new performance usages and updated the text throughout the Sound tests and side-by-sides.
- Updated Jul 10, 2025: We've converted this review to Test Bench 2.0, which updates our sound tests and adds performance usages. You can read more about this in our changelog.
- Updated Jul 04, 2025: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.8, which updates our target curve and Sound tests. You can read more about this in our changelog.
- Updated Jun 27, 2025: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.7, which updates our Noise Isolation test. We've also expanded the scope of this test to include Common Scenarios in addition to Voice Handling and Wind Handling.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The AKG K702 come in one color, 'Black.' If you come across another variant, let us know in the comments.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
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 K712 PRO include an extra cable and drawstring pouch, and they're tuned a little differently than the K702. Both roll off low-end, but their tunings are broadly similar with comfortable fits. Most people will enjoy the pair they find at the best price.
The Philips Fidelio X2HR and the AKG K702 are both solid options for audiophiles looking for open-back cans. The Philips deliver bass more consistently and have a much more stable fit. On the other hand, the AKG have a smooth sound with fewer peaks and dips, particularly in the treble.
The AKG Q701 are very similar to the AKG K702, but with a slightly brighter sound and an extra cable. However, the Q701 are typically more expensive for such a marginal difference. 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. If the extra cable doesn't justify the price difference, the K702 are quite similar, though.
The Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO and the AKG K702 are both great headphones for audiophiles and have very little difference in performance. Sound-wise, the AKG 's bass doesn't extend as low when compared to the Beyerdynamic. On the other hand, the AKG don't feel as tight on the head as the Beyerdynamic, which is more comfortable for long listening sessions. However, the AKG don’t seem as durable since they lack a full metal frame like the Beyerdynamic. The AKG also have a more immersive design, and they come with a very long and detachable cable while the Beyerdynamic have a short, coiled cable. Which you'll prefer depends on whether you like the flat mid-range on the AKG or want a thicker-sounding low-midrange on the Beyerdynamic.
The AKG K702 and the Beyerdynamic DT 880 are both great audiophile headphones if you like a flat sound profile. They have fairly similar tunings, although the AKG add 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 600 and the AKG K702 are both open-back, over-ear headphones that are similarly suited for critical listening. While the Sennheiser reproduce slightly less low-bass than the AKG, they have a less bright treble range that can be less fatiguing over long listening sessions, plus they're more stable on the head. At the same time, the AKG are more comfortable with a slightly brighter top-end.
The AKG K702 and the Philips SHP9500 are both great audiophile headphones if you like a balanced sound without a lot of low-end. The AKG have a tension-fit design with bigger ear cups, which is comfortable but not as stable. However, you may prefer their more immersive and consistent sound and slightly lower distortion with a touch more bass. The Philips are a bit more comfortable for long listening sessions and provide a rather bright treble.
The AKG K702 are better for neutral sound than the Beats Solo Pro. 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 of 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.
We've upgraded our Headphones Test Bench to 2.0! This update brings several key changes to our tests and usages, making it easier than ever to interpret our sound results based on your personal preferences. You'll also find a brand-new interactive graph tool featuring multiple targets (including our own!) for you to explore and compare.
For a full breakdown, check out our changelog, which includes detailed commentary from our test designer explaining the rationale behind our update.
We'd also love to hear your thoughts: your feedback helps us keep improving, so join us in the comments!
Test Results
The AKG K702 have broadly flat sound profile. The tuning rolls off the low and mid-bass, like most open-backs, while the high-bass offers a solid boom on kicks, and the mids are neutral. Tuning in the bass and mid-range are broadly similar to the SoundGuys.com Studio Curve. Their high-mids into the low-treble are more boosted than our target, which can sound somewhat harsh, but overall, the highs are balanced.
These headphones have excellent frequency response consistency. Their round ear cups and tension-fit headband help you hone a predictable fit and sound between sessions. There are slight variations between different people in the mids, but it's pretty subtle. In our tests, there was a bit of reduced bass on the left side with our long-haired subject.
The bass profile target compliance is okay. Like most open-back headphones, their low-end is weaker than our target curve. Kick drums in songs like 'Only Love Can Break Your Heart' by Saint Etienne playback with a good amount of boom, but deeper bass frequencies lack depth and thump.
The AKG K702's mid-range target compliance is superb. The range adheres to our curve well, with a slight de-emphasis in the center of the mid-range. Instruments and voices are reproduced sounding balanced and natural.
The headphones have remarkable treble profile target compliance. Overall, the treble is balanced for bright and articulate vocals and clear cymbal harmonics. An emphasis in the low-treble and part of the mid-treble can sound a little harsh, considering the under-emphasis of the bass region.
The AKG K702 demonstrate excellent peaks and dips performance. Due to the frequency response's bass roll-off, there are minor wobbles in the low bass, but the rest of the bass through the center of the mid-range is very smooth. The upper mids have minor L/R mismatch, but it's subtle. In the treble range, there are more peaks and valleys that can sound harsh on vocals and guitar solos and piercing on crash cymbals. Meanwhile, the dip can sound relatively dull on some vocal tracks.
The stereo mismatch is fair. The weighted amplitude mismatch is pretty tight between the drivers. However, the right driver has a mismatch from the left driver in the mid-range and above, which shifts the stereo image somewhat to favor the left side. Their weighted phase mismatch is a bit elevated but falls within inaudible thresholds for the most part. Our results are only valid for this unit, and your headphones may exhibit different results.
Their group delay is mediocre. Low frequencies play back with inconsistent timing, which can cause the bass to sound blurry and not very defined. The delay is considerably tighter in the high bass and above, allowing for a transparent sound in these higher registers.
These have very good PRTF performance. They interact with your outer ears and somewhat mimic the effect of an angled monitor.
These have amazing harmonic distortion performance. Pushing each tested frequency band to 94 and 104 dB/SPL produces low enough distortion to ensure your signal is free of impurities.
Depending on your audio source, these headphones don't necessarily require an amp to drive them.
These are the settings used to test these headphones. Our results are only valid when used in this configuration.
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 good. 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 and will easily fall off 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.
Their full range noise isolation is bad. Due to their open-back design, these headphones don't offer any isolation below the treble region. There's a subtle muffling effect in the treble, but it's ineffective at isolating you from your environment.
These are terrible at isolating you from the noise in common scenarios. They reduce the sharpness of high-pitched noises, like squeaky door hinges, but leave your environment's noise unimpeded.
The AKG K702 have poor leakage. Although these headphones leak a lot, the sound that escapes into the space is very bright and harsh. It's also audible in most environments.
No compatible app.
These headphones include a long mini-XLR cable that terminates in a 3.5 mm (1/8") jack. An adapter is included for plugging into 6.35 mm (1/4") headphone output ports.
You can plug these headphones into the headphone out of your PC for audio.
You can connect the headphones to your PlayStation controller's headphone jack for audio only.