AKG Pro Audio K872 Master Reference Closed-Back Headphone

Really liked the K812s when I had them on loan a few years ago but couldn’t justify owning them while having the Sennheiser HD800S at the same time.
2017

But currently needing/wanting a closed backed back phone of similar sonic character took a leap of faith on a new pair of the closed back K872s, which some have touted as an improvement over its opened back predecessor, and glad I did.

Yes these have been targeted toward the professional recording industry but still not too sure why some have such a negative comment on these and the K812s, maybe they like their music or the recording to be homogenized, or they don’t like the audio truth or just swayed by some reviewers preferences/opinions. As for the K872s it may be just that a closed back phone is rather similar to stepping into an anechoic room and not to everyone’s liking. But based on over 50 years of personal headphone use for recording and music listening both the K812 and K872 are IMHO wonderful windows into the recording and the music, such a long and big advancement over my first AKG 240DFs back in the 70s or over even the K700 series having owned for many years the K701, K7xx and the K712s.



I haven’t listened to all the competition but that’s not the point, these AKGs are right up there with the Sennheiser HD800/S’s, and even surpass them in some areas. Base definition, depth and imaging detail come to mind as well as truthfulness of vocal and instrument timbre, dynamics are also top notch along with pristine non-granular extended highs. Observably the Senns, by their physical nature are more open sounding, as are the K812, but with absence of outside noise/sounds the K872s put you in the studio, more akin to having a live feed and for a closed back phone their staging is not closed in at all, width is rather very good. The AKG are also rather very chameleon in nature, transporting one to each recording venue, even from track to track, from a rich full bodied sound to something more anemic in nature. If one is wishing to tailor their headphone station to a particular sound these are not the best choice.

Subjectively, obviously the AKGs are not everyone’s cup of tea, especially those locked into a warmer more polite presentation but I cannot for the likes of me see where these K872s can be improved upon in any objective manner without diverting from the truth of the designers goal, a professional monitoring tool.

So IMHO the AKG K872 are an excellent refined tool as stated "Master-Reference-Closed-Back-Headphoneare" and are not a compromise in anyway when it comes to enjoying music, they can be pumped up if one wants their Rammstein served up loud without any compression, or quietly reproduce the most delicate sounds of classical and jazz recordings…so when I’m required to use a closed back phone, or just craving a different flavor from my Senn HD800S or HD660S I actually now happily welcome the opportunity, sort of an open and closed case.

Should mention that I did audition the Sennheiser HD820 after their release but found them a departure and a bit unbalanced from the HD800/S, may need a revisit but I’m a happy camper for now.

The physical appearance of the K872 looks like the same as K812, but with little differences.
Contact pressure of the K872 a trace less, but I can not measure and confirm this.
The external damping is very good. I hardly hear the opening and closing the CD loading next to me.
The holder of the ear pads and the cover of the converter is changed compared to the K812.
The ear pads can be removed only by means of a small enclosed tool - the reason is the required tightness.
The K872 is so I was assured, fit with injected cable in the case, had this not been tried but.
Bass - very deep and dry, very good resolution, with a bit more pressure as K812, but not load or pushing.
Mid's - clear, very good resolution, nearly looks like the same as K812 but a bit warmer.
Heights - clear, very good resolution, a bit softer as K812, no sharpness.
Spaciousness, stage - wide-ranging, enough deep (for an headphone), space between musicians.
The K872 can be heard effortlessly long.
.....
I had heared a lot of CD/SACD's
Meyer Records Vol1 (no. 140); Meyer Records Vol2 (no. 160); Ester Fellner Via del Campo (Meyer Records no. 156); Allan Taylor, Leaving at Dawn (Stockfish); Jan Erik Lundqvist, Leonard Cohen auf Schwedisch #2 (Meyer Records no. 148); Hans Theessink, homecooking;
Grieg: Peer Gynt Suites, Holberg Suite, Sibelius: Finnlandia - Herbert von Karajan, Berliner Philharmoniker, DG;
Gustav Mahler, Symphonie No.1, Blumine, Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, David Zinman, SACD;
Singer: Clearly, the respective pitch accordingly, especially with Ester Fellner and Jan-Erik Lundquist very expressive playing.
Orchestra: Broad staggered; good detectability; Heights not intrusive, well resolved; Mid's no negative anomalies; Bass punchy, dry, non-intrusive, cymbals and drums can develop a brute force with Gustav Mahler's Symphony No.1 already, cellos and double basses plump but not bloated.
.....
Dimitri Schostakowitsch, Symphonie Nr.8, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Bernard Haitink, DECCA 
Track 3 „Allegro non troppo“
Transitions and detectability - violins, violas, cellos, contrabass are very well reproduced.
Good depth staggered arrangement - drums, timpani, cymbals.
In the fortissimo passages, the brute force of the orchestra is very well noticeable.
Bass punchy and reaches deep down, but is not intrusive or drawing.
.....
Camille Saint-Saëns, Orgel-Symphonie No.3, Berliner Philharmoniker, James Levine, Orgel: Simon Preston, Deutsche Grammophon
Track 3: 2. Allegro moderato - Presto - Allegro Moderato
Track 4: 2. Maestoso - Allegro - Molto allegro - Pesante
Detectability of individual orchestral groups very good, enough space between them, the width of the stage corresponds to a good place in the Konzerthaus, depth for headphones good.
Organ Passage good coloration, punchy, massive.
In the horns I could not fault it, punchy but in balance with the rest of instruments.
Drumbeats punchy, dry.
What I wrote above in Schostakovitsch, Symphony No. 8, applies here.
.....
Paul Dukas, Der Zauberlehrling, Berliner Philharmoniker, James Levine, Deutsche Grammophon (from the CD above)
Track 5: Der Zauberlehrling
This piece fully confirmed my impressions above.
Bass is reproduced dry and not oversubscribed.
 
Discussions here
http://www.head-fi.org/t/803263/akgs-new-k872