With the sale of Harmon to Samsung many in the hobby including my self worried about what would happen to AKG. I'll admit that their most recent flagship headphones have left me with a luke warm impression... however I'm excited to say I feel with the K371 they've finally started getting it right...again! Namely, producing a product that is mostly free of those "quirks" and simply excels at it's given price point! Speaking of price, it's new in store MSRP is $149, how ever there are retailers that often have them at $129 new and there's an abundance of second hand and slightly used "open box" stock that sits just below $99.
Thankfully the plush pads and overall shape of the K371 maintain a seamless seal on my head even with glasses. The headband and gimbals, while made of light weight plastic, have a nice mix of strength and flexibility. I don't have any concerns of them breaking nor do I find the clamp to be overwhelming.
Sound Signature
I felt overall the K371 has a slightly bright neutral sound with a lean harmonic presentation. There is a slight sub-bass boost with a fairly linear mid range and some slight top end emphasis. It's sound stage was sufficiently open with average precision and cohesion overall. It's presentation was fairly natural, neither aggressive nor too relaxed with better than average detail and transient clarity.
It reminds me a lot of how I remember the original K550, well balanced and fairly linear, but without the often unpredictable seal. I'm quite happy to see another headphone on the market which achieves this level of balance.
Source and Amplification Pairing and Scale
Comparisons
Comparisons were done volume matched and will be listed initially with a Greater Than Rank ( x > y ). Details regarding the individual comparisons will follow as in some cases I felt there were qualities regarding an individual trait that were more different than simply better or worse. In those cases an equal sign ( = ) is used.
For this review I listened to K371 alongside a few other headphones while enjoying music, television and some gaming.
Relating to the Low Frequencies I'm listening for texture, body, and impact
Body
- E-MU Purple Heart > DT 177X GO > HD 25-1 ii = K371 >Sony MDR V6
Texture
- Sony MDR V6 > DT 177X GO > K371 > HD 25-1 ii > E-MU Purple Heart
Bass Impact
- DT 177X GO > Sony MDR V6 = K371 > E-MU Purple Heart = HD 25-1 ii
Regarding the Mid-Range Frequencies I'm listening for richness, detail, and naturalness
Richness
- DT 177X GO = E-MU Purple Heart > K371 = HD 25-1 ii > Sony MDR V6
Detail
- Sony MDR V6 = DT 177X GO > K371 > HD 25-1 ii = E-MU Purple Heart
Naturalness
- DT 177X GO > K371 > E-MU Purple Heart > HD 25-1 ii > Sony MDR V6
Regarding the High Frequencies I'm listening primary to the Response, so Withdrawn vs Forward
Withdrawn or Dark
- E-MU Purple Heart > DT 177X GO > K371 > HD 25-1 ii >> MDR V6
Forward or Bright
- Sony MDR V6 >> HD 25-1 ii > K371 > DT 177X GO > E-MU Purple Heart
Regarding Sound Stage I focused on "Openness" or a lack of congestion and excessive overlap between various audio elements of the composition.
Openness
- Sony MDR V6 > DT 177X GO = K371 > HD 25-1 ii > E-MU Purple Heart
Regarding the Presentation or qualities of the Envelope I'm listening for emphasis on either the;
Leading Edge, Trailing Edge and balance between the two.
More Aggressive
- Sony MDR V6 >> K371 = HD-25-1 ii > DT 177X GO > E-MU Purple Heart
More Laid Back
- E-MU Purple Heart > DT 177X GO > K371 > HD 25-1 ii >> Sony MDR V6
Balance
- K371 = DT 177X GO > E-MU Purple Heart = HD 25-1 ii > MDR V6
Regarding Detail I'm listening for how audible and discernible transients are.
Detail
- DT 177X GO > MDR V6=K371 > HD-25-1 ii = E-MU Purple Heart
While I love the overall performance of the K371 I feel it has the MOST value as a first headphone or an upgrade from older outdated entry level headphones or newer "consumer" headphones in and around the $100 price point. While I appreciate that it is able to outperform higher priced headphones like the V-Moda M200 both for all purpose listening and as a studio headphone, it doesn't quite have the same level of detail and nuance as a product like the DT 177X GO which can be found for around $325 second hand or $449 new when it's in stock.
I did enjoy it quite a bit more than my own older 2015 HD 25-1 ii, but that is a headphone that I own and use while for it's robust overbuilt build quality and aggressive passive isolation. Mostly when I'm working out, running or flying with a dedicated DAP and some heavy EQ!
I did enjoy it quite a bit more than my own older 2015 HD 25-1 ii, but that is a headphone that I own and use while for it's robust overbuilt build quality and aggressive passive isolation. Mostly when I'm working out, running or flying with a dedicated DAP and some heavy EQ!
For individual comparison I choose to focus on two well know closed back headphones, one a more modern offering and another an older well known but still some what relevant "vintage" product.
E-MU Purple Heart with CAL Pads vs K371
What I found however is the E-MU Purple Heart even with upgraded pads sounds some what stuffy in comparison to the K371. Vocals have a nice rich body but come across a bit muffled as do a variety of other instruments. All of this is further compounded by the recessed top end response as well.
The K371 on the other hand has less congestion without the stuffy or muffled vocal response. Some may find the K371 to be a tad bit bright but I don't consider it offensive or intrusive by any means. K371 provides better detail and clearer transient edges as well.
The K371 on the other hand has less congestion without the stuffy or muffled vocal response. Some may find the K371 to be a tad bit bright but I don't consider it offensive or intrusive by any means. K371 provides better detail and clearer transient edges as well.
An as much as I like the Purple Heart I don't feel it's really competitive these days given it's limited avability and poor durability.
Sony MDR V6 vs K371
So that said, I wouldn't advise purchasing a MDR V6 these days and if you own one I feel K371 would be an excellent upgrade. While it's not quite as detailed or open the MDR V6 is most often painful to listen to give how rough and excessively forward it's top end is.
Not to mention the non removable coiled cable on MDR V6 is heavy and cumbersome, K371 has both a removable straight and coiled cable.
Concluding Thoughts
I found K371 to be excellent, it's build quality, overall ease of use and sound are outstanding at this price point. I really enjoyed it with iFi Zen Dac as well as a variety of other products, but even without a dedicated Dac/Amp K371 sounds fantastic.
There are more detailed headphones with the same overall tonal balance but most that I've heard cost around twice as much, for music enthusiasts and really any one wanting an affordable closed back headphone I feel the K371 is the choice to pick!
There are more detailed headphones with the same overall tonal balance but most that I've heard cost around twice as much, for music enthusiasts and really any one wanting an affordable closed back headphone I feel the K371 is the choice to pick!
