AKG K361 Headphones Review

The AKG K361 have a warm and balanced sound signature. The tuning straddles the line between a more multi-purpose tuning like our target curve and the Harman IEM target curve (which isn't surprising, considering AKG and Harman are owned by the same company), while the top-end is a little more analytical, like the SoundGuys.com Studio Curve. The headphones inject a bit of extra high-bass than any of the reference frequency responses, which adds boominess. Their mid-range is relatively flat, allowing for clear and detailed reproduction of vocals and instruments. However, their treble fluctuates a bit, losing detail in the low treble, introducing sharpness in the upper region of the mid treble, and ultimately losing brilliance and sparkle past the upper range of the high treble. It's worth noting that sensitivity to the highest frequencies varies from person to person, so not everyone will notice these fluctuations in the top end.

These headphones also had issues consistently replicating their frequency response during testing— from session to session, you might experience less thumpy bass and more unpredictable treble.

Their frequency response consistency is poor. The soft earpads and lighter clamping force contribute to difficulty in achieving a good seal, which impacts their ability to deliver a consistent sound across the audible range. This issue is especially apparent if you have long hair or wear glasses, which break the seal, resulting in a big roll-off in bass compared to the raw frequency response measurement.

These headphones follow our target curve remarkably well in the bass range. They have a slightly elevated response across most of the range, resulting in mixes that sound full-bodied and deliver satisfying thump. In tracks like Billie Eilish's Bad Guy, the rhythmic kick hits with noticeable weight, enhancing the track's rhythm and intensity without bleeding into the mid-range. However, their bass performance can be inconsistent—difficulty getting the right seal between listening sessions can lead to an underwhelming bass experience. It's worth taking the time to seat them so you don't get too much or too little bass.

The AKG K361's target compliance is fantastic in the mid-range. Their response is flat across the range, reproducing smooth mids with clear and detailed vocals and instruments.

The AKG K361 have very good treble target compliance. The treble range is slightly underemphasized and warm, but it still gets close to our target, with a shot of sparkle in the mid- to high-treble. A dip in the low- to mid-treble reduces the presence of vocals and instruments. However, their response is a bit uneven, so certain upper harmonic frequencies from cymbals can surprise you with sharpness.

Their peaks and dips performance is adequate. The headphones are mostly smooth in the bass and mid-range, with only minor peaks and valleys for even reproduction of bass guitar and keys. However, their treble has notable peaks and dips that can narrowly exaggerate harshness and sharpness, or dull detail and clarity, depending on the pitch.

The headphones have decent stereo mismatch performance. The L/R drivers are tightly matched, so each side sounds about the same volume. There is a little weighted frequency response and weighted phase mismatch. However, since these mismatches occur in the rather high treble frequencies, where there isn't much audio content and are approaching the thresholds of human hearing, these deviations aren't audible, so the stereo image is effectively preserved. These results are only valid with our pair and may differ from other units.

Their group delay is subpar. Due to the peak representing a delay in the low-bass and the dip in timing that follows in the mid-bass, bass frequencies can sound somewhat loose and a little messy.

These closed-back headphones' PRTF measurements are sub-par. While they interact with your outer ears' pinnae, the effect doesn't mimic the sense of space you'd experience with an angled reference monitor.

The AKG K361 have remarkable harmonic distortion performance. At 94 dB/SPL and 104 dB/SPL, each tested frequency remains clean and unadulterated with artifacts.

These headphones don't need an amp to achieve adequate listening levels, so you can plug the cable directly into your PC or console controller.

These are the settings used to test these headphones. Our results are only valid when used in this configuration.

The AKG K361 are over-ear headphones with a retro design similar to their sibling, the AKG K371. Their primarily plastic construction is finished in matte black, while their ear cups are styled with synthetic leather padding. They have an external sliding track for adjusting their fit, with the manufacturer's logo printed onto the hinges. Their ear cups are mounted to an articulated arm, so you can flip one of them to the side while you record a track.

The AKG K361 feel comfortable. These headphones are exceptionally lightweight for over-ear headphones and have a light clamping force, so you'll be able to wear them for longer listening sessions without fatigue. Their headband and plush cup padding distribute weight well and won't put pressure on those with glasses. That said, while their ear cups have good depth, they may feel too narrow for users with wider ears.

These headphones aren't very portable. While their hinges let you fold the ear cups upward into the headband, they still take up a fair amount of space. On the plus side, their detachable cable makes them easier to fold and pack up.

These headphones come with an okay carrying pouch. It's made of thin fabric with a soft interior and rough exterior. While the pouch will keep your headphones well contained with its cinch top, it won't protect your headphones from prolonged weather exposure or impacts.

The AKG K361 headphones have a decent build quality. Their construction is primarily plastic, which feels light and comfortable but slightly cheap. The ear cups are covered in soft, premium-feeling faux leather, while the headband padding feels more plasticky. The yokes are solid, and the input cable moves smoothly with the ear cups. Their cable is also detachable and has a locking mechanism to keep it secure. On the downside, the hinges attaching the ear cups to the headband aren’t very sturdy and can sometimes slip between locked positions.

These headphones have mediocre stability. While the clamping force keeps them in place during casual listening, if you're immersed in an energetic track and nod along to the music, the headband moves around a lot. However, they're unlikely to fall off unless you're running around or headbanging for a prolonged period. These headphones are also wired only, so their cable can get caught on obstacles, especially if you move around.

• AKG K361 headphones
• Drawstring pouch
• 1/8" TRS to 1/16" TRS audio cable (3.01m / 9.88ft)
• 1/8" TRS to 1/16" TRS audio cable (1.18m / 3.87ft)
• 1/8" TRS to 1/4" TRS adapter
• Warranty documentation
• Folding instructions

These headphones have sub-par noise isolation performance. They purely isolate passively, and don't have the lower-range mitigation provided by active noise cancelling systems. As expected, they don't do much to block out low frequency noise like footsteps from neighbors a floor above. However, they do manage to tackle higher frequency noise in the treble, like the squeaky recline of your office chair. Depending on your head shape and other factors that affect seal quality (like glasses), these headphones can perform differently in noise isolation, especially if you move around.

These headphones have poor noise isolation in common scenarios as well. For the same reasons mentioned in Noise Isolation - Full Range, these headphones don't tackle bassier noises like the thud of car and office doors slamming shut. They're also not great at handling ambient chatter in an airplane cabin or in a bullpen. Fortunately, their passive isolation does mitigate treble noise, like hissing breaks from large vehicles.

These headphones have good leakage performance. Most audio won't be very audible in the average home or office, with your closest neighbors hearing a thin-sounding replica of your favorite podcast or track if you have your volume fairly loud.

These cans are passively driven and have negligible latency. They also come with two detachable 1/16" TRS to 1/8" TRS cables at 3.01m (9.88 ft) and 1.18m (3.87 ft). The 1/16" jack goes into the headphones and has a unique locking mechanism; if you're shopping for an aftermarket solution, you'll need to make sure to snag a cable with a compatible lock. You also get a 1/8" TRS to 1/4" TRS adapter, making them compatible with pro gear and casual products alike.

Most PCs can drive these headphones without an amp via connection to your computer's headphone jack.

These headphones can be plugged into a PlayStation controller for audio output. However, you'll need an external microphone for audio input.

The AKG 361 can be plugged into an Xbox controller and be used for audio output. However, you'll need an external microphone for audio input.