bryaudioreviews
100+ Head-Fier
The Ultimate Dekoni Earpad Guide for AKG k361/k371 
The only earpad guide you need
INTRO:
Other than the terrible stock earpad that comes with the AKG k361/k371, I absolutely LOVE the k371. The tuning is perfectly Harman neutral, the build is light and comfortable, the cables are detachable, the foldable cups make it portable,The AKG k371 is easily one of the BEST closed-back headphones you can buy under the $200usd price tag.
But the earpads…. They suck. Big time.
The stock earpads break seal easily, they do not isolate noise well, they DO NOT work well with glasses (at all), and they aren't the highest of quality. Think I am exaggerating? Just type "AKG k371 seal" in Google and find it out yourself.
Because of how horrendous the stock pads are, I've always looked for 3rd party pads to try on my AKG k371. After months of searching, I think I've finally found my favourite(s).
Thank you @DekoniAudio for sending these earpads over for testing. I am not at all compensated by them and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Before I start my review, a few quick things to note:
With that out of the way, let's start the review.
1. STOCK AKG K371 EARPADS
Pros:- Sound: as neutral and balanced as it gets. Midrange focused, with balanced bass and treble. Nothing is overemphasized with the midrange taking the crown.
- Comfort is ok. Although soft and plushy, they get "sticky" easily and the pads flatten easily. Causes fatigue on your ears.
- Seal: Breaks seal too easily. I can't even tilt my head to the side without the seal breaking. Very annoying.
- Will not work at all with glasses on. The seal is almost non-existent. Expect a huge loss in the bass if you wear glasses.
- No, unless you are the lucky few who find the stock pads to work perfectly for them without any sort of fit/seal issues.
2.5/5
2. DEKONI CHOICE SUEDE, $49.99USD
(link - https://dekoniaudio.com/product/dek...replacement-ear-pads-for-akg-k371-headphones/)Pros:
- Sound: Sounds very close to the stock AKG k371 earpads, but better in every way. Bass is deeper and fuller thanks to the much better seal. But other than that, it sounds nearly identical to the stock pads.
- Comfort: The most comfortable earpad I've tried for the k371. Doesn't trap heat and won't make your ears sweaty.
- Seal: All the Dekoni pads I've tried give good seal. This one is no exception. Fits my head like a glove!
- Works exceptionally well with glasses too. Probably the best earpad to get if you wear glasses. (Do note that there is still a slight loss in bass, but the loss is quite minimal)
- If you do sweat a lot, these will absorb your sweat so do make sure to clean them.
- If you want more bass/treble, these are not for you.
- Definitely. These are easily my favourite earpad out of the bunch. I really like how the k371 sounds so the neutrality offered by the Choice Suede is great. Not to mention, they fit me really well, even with glasses on! 10/10 would recommend this to anyone who wears glasses.
5/5
3. Dekoni Choice Leather, $49.99usd
(link - https://dekoniaudio.com/product/dek...replacement-ear-pads-for-akg-k371-headphones/)Pros:
- Sound: Gives the k371 a more V-shaped sound signature. Bass is fuller and punchier, treble is slightly more energetic is sparklier. Overall, makes the k371 more fun-sounding. However, the midrange does sound a tad bit thinner.
- Comfort: Very plush and soft to the touch. Feels very good on your skin, especially in a chilling environment. However, these do trap heat.
- Seal: Just like the other Dekoni pads, they seal well.
- They work decently well with glasses too, though not as well as Choice Suede.
- Just like most leather earpads, these do trap heat. So be sure to use them in a cooled environment.
- Midrange does sound slightly backwards and thin (very slightly). Not a deal breaker but worth noting.
- If you find the k361/k371 boring and would like them to sound more fun, then the Dekoni Choice Leather should definitely be up your radar. These give the AKGs a more "v-shaped" sound by giving oomph to the bass and sparkle to the treble. Recommended.
4.5/5
4. Dekoni Elite Velour, $49.99usd
(link - https://dekoniaudio.com/product/dek...replacement-ear-pads-for-akg-k371-headphones/)Pros:
- Sound: Gives the k371 a brighter, livelier, and more intimate sound signature. If you find the k361/k371 lacking in the treble, this is definitely the earpad for you. Treble is livelier and brighter, upper mids are more emphasized, vocals are slightly more forward and sibilant. Basically, everything is more forward and more intimate. Midrange and bass also sound thinner.
- Comfort: I'd rank this 2nd in terms of comfort, right below the Choice Suede. They do not trap heat and feel very "cushiony". However, they are just a tad scratchy.
- Seal: I'd rank these as having the 2nd best seal, right below the Choice Suede. Fits my head really well.
- Works really well with glasses too! Again, I'd rank them a level below the Choice Suede. Recommended if you wear glasses on a daily basis.
- These are slightly too bright for my taste (I like bass). The slight sibilance to the treble bothers me a tad bit too.
- Midrange and bass sound thinner.
- I would recommend these to people who find the k361/k371 lacking in the treble. If you want your AKG k361/k371 to sound brighter and livelier, the Dekoni Elite Velour is for you.
- Personally though, I do not see myself using the Dekoni Elite Velour as I find it to be a bit bright for my taste.
3.5/5
5. Dekoni Elite Sheepskin, $69.99usd
(link - https://dekoniaudio.com/product/dek...replacement-ear-pads-for-akg-k371-headphones/)Pros:
- Sound: These make the AKG k361/3k71 sound warmer, smoother, and thicker. Bass is thicker and fuller (without sounding bloaty), the midrange is full and lush, treble is sweet and smooth. Gives the k371 a slight analogue/tube-ish sound characteristic. Reminds me of my Final e5000 IEMs.
- Comfort: These earpads are thick and slightly firmer than the Choice Leather. They are quite comfy too, but I'd rate them a level below Choice Leather. These do trap slightly more heat than the Choice Leather.
- Seal: Seal is good on these too. However, they aren't the most compatible with glasses thanks to the pads being firmer (Still seal much better than the stock pads with glasses)
- These might sound too warm for you. Not the most versatile.
- The pads are slightly firmer than Choice Leather. Not the most compatible with glasses ( still much better than stock pads)
- If you want the k361/k371 to sound warmer, fuller, and smoother, then yes. I recommend the Dekoni Sheepskin earpads. Personally, I like warmth and bass, so the Dekoni Sheepskin is right up my alley. I really like how lush the midrange is, how full the bass is, and how smooth the treble is with these pads. So yes, I recommend the Dekoni Sheepskin.
4.5/5
Rankings:
In conclusion,
All 4 Dekoni earpads are great in their own ways. They all offer different sound signatures for different preferences and all of them elevated the AKG k361/k371 in a certain way. If you are in the market for an earpad replacement for your AKG k361/k371, I hope this guide helps you.Thank you for reading
Last edited:
