Performance:
How we perceive the quality of the sound coming out of a relatively small stereo headphone speaker differs from one person to the next. Humans can only hear sounds in the 20Hz to 20kHz frequency range. We naturally lose the ability to hear anything above 12kHz to 15kHz as we age. That is why one person may claim a set of stereo headphones are the greatest on the planet while the next person claims that the same pair is a piece of junk. It’s all very subjective and depends on factors such as your ability to hear a wide range of frequencies, the type of music you like to listen to and your purpose for buying them in the first place (for home, for work, for portable MP3 players, for late night TV viewing and so on).
The K 242 HD stereo headphones have a 15Hz to 25kHz frequency response, which means that they can reproduce hefty lows and soaring highs. Stereo headphones generally require an adjustment or “burn-in” period that helps to loosen the diaphragm and the driver so they can faithfully reproduce sounds in the frequency range for which they were designed. Many people claim to hear an improvement in sound quality after the burn-in process, and insist that the sound quality only gets better the longer you use the product. These stereo headphones sound great straight out of the package and should in theory sound fantastic after they have been fully broken in. In our testing, we experienced tones and effects that we never noticed before in music that we’ve listened to many times in the past.
The around-the-ear, semi-open design allows low frequencies to come through loud and clear without overpowering the music. The bass is tight and crisp, but not too hard and overdriven. Some people like harder bass, but you need to be careful that you don’t damage your ears with all the thumping.
The mid-range frequencies are handled very well and come through incredibly clean. Live performances sound incredible, and if you close your eyes you can almost see where every instrument is placed in the mix. However, because the mid-range is so well-defined, these stereo headphones will point out every imperfection that can be found in low-quality MP3 conversions or streaming media. You’ll want to stick with high-quality, less compressed audio files and movies when using the AKG audio headphones.
The treble is very clear and nearly flawless. Cymbals and synthesizers sound like they belong in the mix and are never too bright or harsh. The clarity of the upper frequencies let you pick out little nuances and musical elements that you might not notice with another pair of stereo headphones.
AKG rates these stereo headphones as a studio-quality professional product, but they are also suited for home and personal use. The 10-foot cable makes them ideal for home use as it gives you ample room to move around and is long enough so you can comfortably watch TV or listen to music while lounging on the couch. However, if you plan to use them with portable devices while you are out and about, the length of the cable can be a bit cumbersome. Also, volume levels may be lower than you are used to when you are plugged into portable devices.
Features:
These stereo headphones weigh in at 8.5 ounces, which means they are very light and can be worn comfortably for long periods of time. If you have large ears, you might find them uncomfortable to wear after extended use if your ears do not fit properly into the ear cups. Instead of using artificial leather (pleather) ear pads, these headphones use soft velour to cover the ear pads to provide superior comfort and to wick away moisture so your ears won’t sweat when the weather is warm.
The audio headphones use gimbal-suspension to support the ear cups and an unbreakable metal frame to ensure that the ear cups rest gently on your ears without squeezing your head. The self-adjusting metal frame also makes them very durable while maintaining their light weight and comfort.
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