The AKG K702 are great, comfortable headphones for critical listening but are mediocre for everyday casual use. Their open design doesn't block any noise and leaks enough to be distracting. They're not made for commuting or to use at the gym but are ideal for appreciating high-quality audio in a quiet environment.
Our Verdict
The AKG K702 have excellent sound quality for neutral listening. They're comfortable and reproduce tracks with great fidelity. Bass mids and treble are well balanced, and the well-designed, large, and open ear cups give them a spacious soundstage. They'll sound great with high-res audio and an amp.
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Great audio reproduction.
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Comfortable design.
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Open-back design; they leak a lot.
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No ambient noise isolation, by design.
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Big and bulky headphones.
The AKG K702 purposely don't block any ambient noise, which is not ideal for the level of noise on a busy commute.
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Great audio reproduction.
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Comfortable design.
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Open-back design; they leak a lot.
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No ambient noise isolation, by design.
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Big and bulky headphones.
The AKG K702 aren't designed for sports. Too unstable and cumbersome for use while doing any strenuous physical activity.
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Great audio reproduction.
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Comfortable design.
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Open-back design; they leak a lot.
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No ambient noise isolation, by design.
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Big and bulky headphones.
The AKG K702 aren't designed for office use unless you work in an isolated environment.
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Great audio reproduction.
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Comfortable design.
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Open-back design; they leak a lot.
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No ambient noise isolation, by design.
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Big and bulky headphones.
The AKG K702 aren't suitable for wireless gaming.
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Great audio reproduction.
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Comfortable design.
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Open-back design; they leak a lot.
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No ambient noise isolation, by design.
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Big and bulky headphones.
The AKG K702 aren't suitable for phone calls.
- 8.2 Neutral Sound
- 4.0 Commute/Travel
- 5.1 Sports/Fitness
- 4.8 Office
- 4.6 Wireless Gaming
- 6.6 Wired Gaming
- 1.7 Phone Calls
Changelog
- Updated Jun 12, 2025: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.6 , which updates how we measure latency. We've updated and renamed the following test groups: Wired Connection, Bluetooth Connection, and Wireless Connection (Dongle). We've also added new codec latency measurements and provided an audio sample of recorded latency.
- Updated Jul 07, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
- Updated Feb 11, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
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Compared To Other Headphones
See our recommendations for the best headphones for music, the best over-ear headphones, and the best headphones for studio.
The AKG K702 are slightly better headphones than the AKG K701, but overall are very similar. The K702 have a detachable cable that is easily replaceable if damaged, which makes them a bit more durable and better-built, but that’s about it. Most people won’t hear a difference between those two models.
The AKG K712 PRO and the AKG K702 are almost identical save for a few differences in design and frequency response. The K702 get a bit more bass but also sound brighter - unfortunately, to the point of sounding a bit sharp. The K712 will sound less harsh to most people, but their soundstage isn't as impressive.
The Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO and the AKG K702 are both great headphones for audiophiles and have very little difference in performance. Sound-wise, the AKG 's bass doesn't extend as low when compared to the Beyerdynamic. On the other hand, the AKG don't feel as tight on the head as the Beyerdynamic, which is more comfortable for long listening sessions. However, the AKG don’t feel as durable since they lack a full metal frame like the Beyerdynamic. The AKG also have a more open, immersive soundstage, and they come with a very long and detachable cable while the Beyerdynamic have a short, coiled cable.
The AKG Q701 are basically the same headphones as the AKG K702, but with slightly better sound performance. However, the Q701 are more expensive for such a marginal difference. The Q701 have bumps on the headband and come with an extra 20-foot cable. Another small difference is that Q701 comes with a Quincy Jones line logo on the earcups that close the cups, but that doesn't seem to make any noticeable difference in our measurements.
The Philips Fidelio X2HR and the AKG K702 are both solid options for audiophiles looking for open-back cans. The Philips deliver bass more consistently and have a much more stable fit. On the other hand, the AKG have a significantly better passive soundstage performance.
The Sennheiser HD 600 and the AKG K702 are both open-back, over-ear headphones that are similarly suited for critical listening. While the Sennheiser reproduce slightly less low-bass than the AKG, they have a less bright treble range that can be less fatiguing over long listening sessions, plus they're more stable on the head. At the same time, the AKG are more comfortable and have a wider soundstage that's perceived as coming from in front rather than from inside the listener's head.
The AKG K702 and the Beyerdynamic DT 880 are both great audiophile headphones if you like a neutral sound. They have fairly similar sound profiles, although the AKG adds a bit of extra emphasis to the clarity and detail of vocals and instruments, while the Beyerdynamic emphasize more of the sibilance range.
The AKG K702 and the Philips SHP9500 are both great audiophile headphones if you like a balanced sound without a lot of low-end. The AKG have a tension-fit design with bigger ear cups, which is comfortable but not as stable and leaves more room for inconsistent audio delivery. However, you may prefer their more immersive sound and slightly lower distortion with a touch more bass. The Philips are a bit more comfortable for long listening sessions and provide a smooth top-end.
The AKG K702 are better for neutral sound than the Beats Solo Pro. The AKG are much more comfortable over-ear headphones. Thanks to their open-back design, their passive soundstage is perceived as much more open and spacious. On the other hand, the Beats are more versatile Bluetooth-only headphones. They have a much better build quality and an ANC feature that does a great job blocking out ambient sound. They're also more stable, so they're less likely to slide off your head during light physical activity like a walk.
Test Results
The AKG K702 share the same style and build as the AKG K701 and AKG K712 PRO. They have a two-tone navy blue and silver color scheme and an old-school retro design that'll work for some. The open-back ear cups are large and circular and covered in suede-like padding that gives them a premium appeal. However, they're pretty big and bulky for everyday use.
The AKG 702 are very comfortable headphones. The large ear cups easily fit around most ears, and the headband design doesn't put much pressure on the head. They might be a little too large and bulky for some listeners, but they deliver a comfortable listening experience that doesn't cause soreness even on long listening sessions.
The AKG K702, like the AKG K712 PRO, are big and bulky headphones that are not portable. They don't fold up into a more compact format, and the ear cups don't lay flat to take less space either. The retro headband design is also quite large and results in cumbersome headphones that will only fit in a backpack. There's also no case or pouch, which is disappointing.
The AKG K702's build quality is decent. They have dense ear cups, and their headband design is flexible enough to handle an above-average amount of physical stress. However, the headband has a lot of moving parts for the adjustable padding. These are potential weak points where the headphones could get damaged through wear and tear.
These headphones aren't tight enough and will easily fall your head if used while running. They're not designed for sports and only stay in place during casual listening sessions. The ear cups will sway and slip off your ears, even during mild physical activity. Also, the detachable cable locks into the ear cups and will pull the headphones off your head before disconnecting if ever it's hooked on something.
Poor isolation. Due to their open-back design, these headphones don't offer any isolation below 1kHz. Above 1kHz, there's a 3dB/octave roll-off present, which won't be effective in blocking outside noise.
Poor leakage. Although these headphones are quite loud and leak a lot, the leakage's profile is narrower than most open headphones we have measured. The roll-off in the leakage above 4kHz is rather uncharacteristic of most open headphones.
No compatible app.
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Comments
AKG K702: Main Discussion
Let us know why you want us to review the product here, or encourage others to vote for this product.
Update: We’ve converted this review to Test Bench 1.6, which updates how we measure latency. We’ve updated and renamed the following test groups: Wired Connection, Bluetooth Connection, and Wireless Connection (Dongle). We’ve also added new codec latency measurements and provided an audio sample of recorded latency.
- 21010
Hello tr27 ! The build quality is very good, better my hd598 and edition XS, I love it so light and Its earcups are more enveloping than the HD598 but less so than the XS edition, but against the two, it wins the battle for comfortable wear over long or short periods. On the XS edition, I had to add a piece of foam under the headband to raise the earcups, and on the other hand, it prevented pain on the top of my head after an hour of wear, because yes, a feeling of pain on the top of my head with the XS edition is to be expected. The HD598 is good, but its earcups lack width for my situation.
The difference between the K702, HD598, and XS: I would say that the K702 is more enjoyable with all styles of music; even bass-heavy music doesn’t dominate, but it integrates very well with the music. The XS is the model where the bass is more prominent, and I enjoyed it more with movies like Jurassic, etc., but with music with bass closer to 20Hz. The HD598 requires a good headphone amp. I have the Zendac v2 IFI, but I find that my old Pioneer VSX-921K amp amplified the HD598’s capabilities more; it’s the one that lacks the most bass.
Conclusion: Of these three models, I much prefer the K702; it has a more balanced sound, is more comfortable to wear, and is cheaper! No need for a headphone amp. However, compared to the other two, it requires a very long break-in period before it truly reveals its capabilities.
- 21010
Hi ! I just buy this headphone after the Hifiman edition xs (I resell it : too big for my head and not stable) I like very much this AKG, it’s yours frequency response constancy and most important for me, your passive soundstage test who push me to buy it ! And I don’t regret this choice, this AKG is awesome passive soundstage and very comfortable, more my hd 598 too ! So can you tell me your comment on the passive soundstage of the AKG K702 (there isn’t comment in your review testing about this) thanks very much for all the times that you made for these testings ! I talk about your website all around me (commercial website, at work, with my family and friends too) you’re a great website ! Stephane from Reunion Island !
what do you think about the build quality and overall difference in sound and build? especially for jazz on the xs? I am about to go opposite direction, from k702 to hifiman xs. because i found while k702 were good for jazz, they still felt like in some songs they were lacking punch.
- 21010
Hi Lps, We appreciate the feedback. Performing Test-Bench Updates takes valuable time, and sometimes we need to weigh the benefits and impact of bringing headphones to the latest test bench. In this case, your comment sparked some internal discussion, and we have decided to bring them to the latest Method v1.8 We cannot say at the moment what the timeline will be since we are working in batches and have a long backlog of headphones to do.
Cheers, Dagobiet.
Hi ! I just buy this headphone after the Hifiman edition xs (I resell it : too big for my head and not stable) I like very much this AKG, it’s yours frequency response constancy and most important for me, your passive soundstage test who push me to buy it ! And I don’t regret this choice, this AKG is awesome passive soundstage and very comfortable, more my hd 598 too ! So can you tell me your comment on the passive soundstage of the AKG K702 (there isn’t comment in your review testing about this) thanks very much for all the times that you made for these testings ! I talk about your website all around me (commercial website, at work, with my family and friends too) you’re a great website !
Stephane from Reunion Island !
- 43230
These are such an important headphone in terms of the cost-to-sound quality value they offer. Can you please update them to methodology v1.8 as they will continue to be popular well into the future.
Hi Lps,
We appreciate the feedback. Performing Test-Bench Updates takes valuable time, and sometimes we need to weigh the benefits and impact of bringing headphones to the latest test bench. In this case, your comment sparked some internal discussion, and we have decided to bring them to the latest Method v1.8 We cannot say at the moment what the timeline will be since we are working in batches and have a long backlog of headphones to do.
Cheers, Dagobiet.
- 43230
These are such an important headphone in terms of the cost-to-sound quality value they offer. Can you please update them to methodology v1.8 as they will continue to be popular well into the future.