Our Verdict
Great headphones for neutral listening. They're comfortable and have an excellent sound quality that reproduces tracks with high fidelity. They also have an open back design, which gives them a broad and spacious soundstage.
- Great audio reproduction.
- Comfortable design.
- Leak a lot, due to open-back design.
- Bulky and unstable headphones.
- No isolation from ambient noise, by design.
Not optimized for commutes. The AKG K712 PRO don't block any ambient noise.
- Great audio reproduction.
- Comfortable design.
- Leak a lot, due to open-back design.
- Bulky and unstable headphones.
- No isolation from ambient noise, by design.
Too bulky and unstable for sports headphones. The AKG K712 PRO will slip off your ears while exercising.
- Great audio reproduction.
- Comfortable design.
- Leak a lot, due to open-back design.
- Bulky and unstable headphones.
- No isolation from ambient noise, by design.
Not intended for office use. Unless you work in an isolated environment these headphones will leak and be distracting.
- Great audio reproduction.
- Comfortable design.
- Leak a lot, due to open-back design.
- Bulky and unstable headphones.
- No isolation from ambient noise, by design.
- Great audio reproduction.
- Comfortable design.
- Leak a lot, due to open-back design.
- Bulky and unstable headphones.
- No isolation from ambient noise, by design.
Changelog
- Updated Jul 07, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
- Updated Feb 13, 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.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
See our recommendations for the best open-back headphones, the best audiophile headphones, and the best over-ear headphones.
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 K712 PRO are slightly better headphones than the AKG Q701. Sound-wise, they perform better in the bass and treble range, while the Q701 have a more even mid-range. The K712 also have better frequency consistency, especially in the bass range. People wearing glasses shouldn’t hear any loss in bass. The K712 also come with a pouch and a coiled cable, but not a 20-foot cable like the Q701. They are still very similar headphones, but the higher price on the K712 might not be worth the investment for the little differences.
The Audio-Technica ATH-R70x are slightly better for neutral sound than the AKG K712 PRO. the Audio-Technica have more bass overall and a more neutral midrange, resulting in a warm mix with clear and present lead instruments and vocals, which some users may prefer. The AKG, on the other hand, have a better-balanced treble range, so vocals and sibilants will sound crisp and detailed. However, their passive soundstage doesn't feel as natural and open as the Audio-Technica.
The AKG K712 PRO are slightly better open-back headphones overall than the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO. The AKG are more comfortable, have a much wider sound, and deliver audio more consistently. While the two are a similar frequency response, that lacks low-bass but features detailed mids, the AKG have a wider, more immersive soundstage.
The HiFiMan Sundara 2020 are better for audio reproduction accuracy than the AKG K712 PRO. The HiFiMan are able to reproduce a bit more low-bass, which some listeners may prefer, and they don't need a headphone amp. On the other hand, the AKG come with a longer, 10-foot audio cable. They're also much more breathable and lightweight.
The AKG K712 PRO and the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO are both very good audiophile headphones, though they have fairly different sound profiles. The AKG have a very smooth, neutral sound, but lack quite a bit of bass, while the Beyerdynamic sound quite a bit more excited, with a lot more bass and a much brighter treble. They can sound quite sharp and piercing, though, so the AKG are a better option if you're sensitive to sounds in the higher frequencies.
The AKG K712 PRO and the Superlux HD 681 are both great audiophile headphones if you like a balanced sound. The AKG are better built and have a more comfortable fit. They also have a smoother treble response that can lend itself to longer listening sessions without the worry of ear fatigue.
The AKG K712 PRO and the Beats Solo Pro are designed for different purposes. The AKG are over-ears that are suitable for neutral sound. They have a comfortable fit, a better passive soundstage performance, and come with a coiled audio cable, which some users may prefer. However, the Beats are better-suited for casual use. These wireless on-ears feel better built, have a more neutral default sound profile, and their ANC can significantly block out more background noise. They also leak less audio at high volumes, have a mic so that you can take calls on the go, and their H1 chip allows you to pair them with your Apple devices.
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 K712 PRO share the same design as the AKG 701 and AKG 702 with few minor differences in color schemes. The open-back ear cups are large and circular and covered in a suede-like padding that gives the headphones a premium feel. Sadly, they may be too big and bulky for some listeners and will stand out in a crowd more for their size than their style.
The AKG K712 PRO are incredibly comfortable headphones. The headband design does not put too much pressure on your head. The large ear cups easily fit around most ears but might be a little too large for some listeners. They deliver a comfortable listening experience, but their bulky design is not for everyone.
The AKG K712 PRO are one of the biggest headphones reviewed so far. Like the AKG 702, they are bulky, cumbersome and do not fold up into a more compact format. The ear cups also do not lay flat to take less space and the retro headband design is quite large. This results in a headphone that's hard to carry around, and that will only fit in a backpack or large bag.
The AKG K712 PRO come with a suede-like, fabric pouch that looks stylish and doesn't add much bulk to the headphones. Sadly, it also doesn't offer much protection from falls, accidental drops or water damage.
The AKG K712 PRO headphones have a decent build quality, but not as good as the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO. The ear cups are dense, and the headband design is flexible enough to handle an above-average amount of physical stress. However, the adjustable headband padding has a lot of moving parts. This means a lot of potential weak points where the headphones could get damaged through wear and tear.
These headphones like the AKG 702 and AKG 701 are not stable and will easily fall your head if used while doing sports. They're not tight enough and will only stay in place during casual listening sessions. The detachable cable locks into the ear cups and will yank the headphones off your head before disconnecting if ever it's hooked on something. These are not sports headphones, and it shows in their design.
Poor isolaton. These headphones don't offer any isolation below 1KHz, which is expected of open-back headphones. Above 1KHz, there is a 3dB/Octave roll-off present, which won't be effective in blocking outside noise.
Poor leakage. The AKG K712 PRO headphones are quite loud and leak a lot, which is due to their open-back design. The profile of the leakage is narrower than most open headphones we have measured, similar to the K702. However, the drop in the leakage above 4KHz is rather uncharacteristic of most open headphones.
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