Firstlook: AKG's new bluetooth studio headphones - K845BT
- Company: AKG by HARMAN
- Model: K845BT
- Weight: 9.9oz
- Color: Black
- Price: $299.95
- Website: http://us.akg.com
About:
AKG has consistently led the pack on quality high performance studio headphones. With the new K845BT headphones AKG aim's to set you free with studio quality sound, NFC connectivity, Comfort and portability. We feel that all good technology feel as though it's been here all the time and with AKG's newest addition they are defiantly on track.{C}
First Thoughts:
{C}The fit, finish and quality are hands down great as expected from AKG. I am a little bit bias and love AKG headphones. My daily editing headphones are Quincy Jones K701's. I personally look for the ability to recreate the exact sound the artist intended and not the way I think it should sound by tweaking the characteristics of the sound.
The ear cups are not so big as my K701's and yes this is comparing apples and oranges here. But for an on-the-go over the ear cup, my ears fit very comfortably. The ability to adjust the positioning of the cups is very well thought out, giving you about 30 degrees and the ability to lay them flat.
The pads feel very soft and firm gave me a great seal. Again they got those cup angles down pact. I would have liked to have the option of a cloth ear pad as well. However, I'm not sure as to how they would effected the sound. Ear Pad replacement was given some thought as well. **By slipping the edge of the ear pad through a gap on the bottom of the cup's base and twisting, one can apply the ear pad around the entire cup edge without having to pull and pinch all the way around.**
These headphones are not only Bluetooth compatible AKG has gone as far to add a NFC chip. Giving you the ease of pairing with a tap with a supported device.
As I follow bluetooth progression over the years, their advancements in sound quality never cease to amaze me. These headphone are no exception. I've tried going back and forth between the built-in 3.5mm bypass jack and Bluetooth trying to differentiate the difference in sound quality. I must say that you will need a good ear to hear any slight difference due to compression.
Specs:
- Connectivity Technology: Wired/Wireless
- Wireless Technology: Bluetooth/NFC
- Cable Length: 3.94 ft
- Sound Mode: Stereo
- Impedance: 32 Ohm
- Sensitivity: 102dB SPL/V
- Minimum Frequency Response: 20 Hz
- Maximum Frequency Response: 20 kHz
- Maximum Input Power: 50mW
- Features: 2D-Axis Folding Mechanism, Fold-flat, USB Charging
- Earpiece Design: Over-the-head
- Earpiece Type: Binaural
- Driver Size: 50mm / 1.97"
- Color: Black
- Material: Leather
- Form Factor: Circumaural
What’s included:
- 1 pair AKG K845BT headphones
- 1 straight cable
- 1 mini-USB to USB charging cable
Final Thoughts: (after a week of use)
I found after a week of use that AKG has stepped up and succeeded in establishing a studio quality bluetooth headphone. If you are given the opportunity to give these headphones a listen definitely do so.
AKG has done a great job cutting out the ambient noise with its protein leather ear cushions, letting you immerse yourself into your music of choosing. With its 50mm drivers recreating a large soundstage, you will feel as though you're in the front row. With incredibly crisp clear detailed sound across a large frequency spectrum. With the ability of hitting high and low notes without distortion or an uncomfortable feeling while maintaining a firm and defined sound allows you to tackle all genres of music.
Once you immersed yourself in your favorite artist’s music, You will not want to put down these headphone. Luckily I ran into no issues with battery life. I ran a good 4-5 hours stretches 2 days in a row without an issue. I don’t think I will ever have enough free time in one sitting out last the battery.
These headphone are also given a built-in mic which lets you give commands and take calls. This way you don’t have to fumble though turning it off to accomplish a task. I found that Siri on my iPhone5s work flawlessly. However, I suggest if you're going to have a real conversation on the phone to go ahead and have it on the phone. This mic acts more like a speakerphone mic with the same results as such.
There are built-in Bluetooth controls on the bottom of the right side. Letting you adjust the volume, Pause, Play and answer call. There are a few things to point out. First of which every time you turn on bluetooth it will restart the volume to default position, which is great to know so you don’t damage your ears or speakers by accident. The next thing would be, when pressing the button there are no audio beeps letting you know they are pressed. However, you do here hear a beep when you max out the volume. The final thing to emphases is there is no way to skip forward or backwards. You will be required to pull your device out for this.
I was not able to get my hands on an android phone to test the NFC features. But will post an update when I do. In the mean time if you have used the feature please leave a comment and tell us your thoughts on it
Teasing was done with about 40 hours of burnin. Using the OSX app Burnin with the Pink setting. I normally burn in for 100 hours before calling it quits. Some headphones this makes a huge difference so far with these it’s very subtle and as it stand don’t think it's needed however I’m not though to my 100 hour mark I will report back when I have.
Disappointments: (small nit-picking)
- Lack of music control
- Microphone lacking for any real phone conversations
Would of like a cloth earpad as well (However this could effect the sound quality)
SideNotes:
I was not able to get my hands on an android phone to test the NFC features. But will post an update when I do. In the mean time if you have used the feature please leave a comment and tell us your thoughts on it
Teasing was done with about 40 hours of burnin. Using the OSX app Burnin with the Pink setting. I normally burn in for 100 hours before calling it quits. Some headphones this makes a huge difference so far with these it’s very subtle and as it stand don’t think it's needed however I’m not though to my 100 hour mark I will report back when I have.
