AKG K240 Semi-Open Studio Headphones Review

If you’re looking for a pair of reasonably priced yet great sounding headphones, you’ve probably come across some models from AKG.

Their K-240 headphones offer above-average quality, both in terms of audio and build quality.

But let’s see what else these bad boys have to offer!

AKG K240 Semi-Open Studio Headphones Review

At first glance, the K-240s may look like just another stylish pair of headphones that probably doesn’t sound that good.

While AKG definitely focused on the design of this model, no corners were cut in terms of audio quality and longevity!

Rocking the definitely not that common semi-open design, these headphones truly offer a unique listening experience, which you may or may not like.

Key Features:

• Semi-open design
• Self-adjusting headband
• Detachable cable
• Flat frequency response

For just over $50, you really do get great quality.

It’s clear that each component of these headphones was well thought-out, in order to provide the user with the most comfortable and convenient listening experience.

The K-240s are surprisingly lightweight, probably because they are almost completely made out of plastic.

That, however, doesn’t mean that they feel cheap. At this price point, going with plastic instead of a metal build is a sacrifice worth making, especially considering how these sound!

Pros:

• Very crisp audio
• Lightweight and comfortable
• Well built

Cons:

• Poor noise isolation
• Not everyone will like the flat response

Who are the K-240s for?

The K-240s are marketed as semi-open studio headphones.

That being said, it’s important to note that due to the unique design, not all studio engineers and producers will find this model to be satisfactory.

Recording bands can get pretty loud, and not having the isolation that closed-back models provide can sometimes be a dealbreaker.

This also goes for casual music enthusiasts, as rocking these headphones in a bus or on a train won’t give you the privacy or the music quality you’re used to with closed-back cans.

Other than that, any kind of entry-level audiophile/budget studio engineer will probably find the K-240s as great-sounding and convenient. If you’re used to booming lows, skip these ones as they’re pretty flat.

What makes the K-240s stand out?

Once again, we’re looking at the semi-open design. Apart from the pros and cons we’ve just mentioned, this approach can solve some of the problems you may have encountered before.

Wearing these on your head after hours on end shouldn’t be too uncomfortable, as the sound escaping from the back exerts less stress on your ears. The soundstage is noticeably bigger as well, but definitely not as big as you’d get with open-back headphones.

The self-adjusting headband design is a must-have if you ask me. It’s so simple yet effective. And it eliminates the stress points on the headphones, which are usually the first to break!

The detachable cable is not just a convenience but makes replacing a damaged one much easier. The connection on the device itself is a micro XLR, which is something you don’t see every day!

And finally, the flat frequency response. Without this feature, no headphones would truly be considered as “audiophile” or “studio-grade”. This model simply manages to reproduce the tunes naturally and truthfully.

What the users had to say

With a quality to price ratio this good, it’s no wonder that the K-240s have over 1,000 reviews online.

“These headphones sound amazing all across the frequency range”

“For under $100, you can hardly find a better pair of studio headphones”

Most of the complaints that users had were regarding the quality of the included cable, and the lack of bass.

”I had to replace the cable after just a couple of weeks”

“Lacks bass, hip-hop and EDM don’t sound good on these”

Do have in mind that the cable is easily detachable, and, once again, that this model is meant for studio recording/producing, hence the lack of bass.

Additional info

The detachable cord is 3m (10 feet) long.

You may need an amp to get the optimal results. Otherwise, you will have to turn up the volume more than usual.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a pair of inexpensive, lightweight, and most importantly, solid sounding flat frequency headphones, the AKG K-240s may just be for you.

At this price point, you can’t really ask for more. They are very practical and offer a unique middle-ground experience between closed and open back headphones.

That’s pretty much it! I hope that you found this article useful and that it helped you in choosing the right headphones for your needs.

As always, thanks for reading, and I’ll catch you in the next one.