Member Reviews: AKG Acoustics K-240 Semi Open Studio Headphones

AKG K-240 Studio are at least the 4th (really 5th or 6th?) iteration of K-240 design, which started with the K-240 Sextett in the 1970s, themselves a circumaural version of supra K-140. The basic idea behind the "Sextett" design is that the main diaphragm drives six passive radiators, which enhance ambience and spatial imaging. Now, while this is a very good idea for headphones in an era when most headphone amps were powerful enough to drive 1200-ohm and even 2400-ohm headphones, unfortunately modern amps have not been able to keep up and thus the K-240 and K-271 have a reputation of being power hogs. Really modern device (cell phones', pocket players', netbooks'...) headphone outputs...

A complete no brainer: if used at home probably the best headphone you can buy for this money, they fit comfortable and have excellent sound. There are better sounding headphones out there but you have to reach much deeper in your wallet.  They are not suited for travelers in my opinion.

Ok, so I only spent 3 euros on these at a flea market. The catch was that the original stereo plug had been replaced and botched (all the cables were in the wrong place), so I had to re-solder them. After 10 minutes they were good as new(ish).    Compared to the AKG K141: they seem to have a wider sound stage probably due to the larger cans and thicker pads. They're seem less analytical with regard to treble and mid emphasis in the k141.  The bass has more authority and slam than the 141's, the only problem is that this might be fatiguing at high volumes for some. The biggest difference between the two is the bass, which have better extension and authority - no boom...

They didn't cost me an arm and a leg, but they sound great!

  I got a free $75 giftcard for Walmart and decided to use it online to get the best headphones they have since there's nothing else I really want from Wally World.   The best pair happened to be these K240s.   The K240s are the type of headphones that really appreciate a good burn-in. I see it almost as a test of worthiness.   Previously I wasn't the type to do burn-in as my Sennys didn't really benefit from it and it always seemed like superstition anyway. Upon my initial listening tests of the K240s I was rudely introduced to what many term "recessed mids", and underwhelming bass. I immediately felt that I needed to list these on eBay and rinse away...