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 2.1, which features minor updates to our sound tests.
- 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 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 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 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 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.
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