AKG K812

All of the individual components that connect the detachable cable to the main headphone body are a technical treat, a real feast for the eyes. The adjustment points at the headband also make a great impression, appearing both well thought out and robust in practice. What’s more, a touch of real wood rounds off the construction, putting a final stamp of sophisticated style to these inspired headphones.

Wearing Comfort

With a weight of 400 grams, not including the cable when attached, the K812 is anything but a lightweight option. However, despite the noticeable bulk, the wearing comfort of these headphones isn’t hampered in the slightest. Nothing pinches at the temple or crown, there’s no awkward poking or prodding and the ears themselves have plenty of breathing space. It seems to me that special care has gone into the design of these headphones to ensure the heftier weight is distributed incredibly well, otherwise I’d struggle to explain the lack of any discomfort or noticeable contact pressure. I have to commend AKG on this feat and also think it’s only fair to flag up this is a benefit often seen in their products. It’s definitely an area of expertise for the manufacturer and one where they have once again pushed the limits of processing to see what refinements can be realised.

Sound

My first impressions when listening to the K812 was these headphones provide a brilliant sense of balance across the spectrum. When I listen more carefully, I did notice something about the treble, however. In my opinion, the lower treble range has a slight grain to it. It’s by no means a shortfall that will derail your impression of the sound capabilities of these headphones, but I would have liked some finer resolution here. Elsewhere, the basses are tight and well represented. I particularly enjoyed the mids, with the K812 coming into its own here. Again, a remarkable balance is a treat to listen to.

AKG headphones characteristically sound unrestrained when it comes to three-dimensionality, with the manufacturer having struck the right balance perfectly. Towards the sides, things spread nicely. Toward the front, I would have liked a little more, at least to my hearing tastes. Combined together, the result is a showstopper. The dynamic behaviour of these headphones also delights, particularly noteworthy as AKG headphones tend to compress a little in this respect. This is far less pronounced here, with the K812 offering a warm and fleshed out sound with good dynamic foundations.