Explanation: In contrast to the full review, the QUICK VIEW only provides a brief tonal and functional overview. Either I haven't been able to spend enough time with the headphones, where the rating has to be taken with a grain of salt, or I don't consider it particularly worthwhile in terms of sound. I will mark which of the two variants applies with "Time", or "Average". The weighting of sound and handling is 2:1.
frequency range: 16 - 28000 Hz | sound pressure level: 104 dB | impedance: 55 Ohm | dynamic
Sound 7
Bass Mids Trebles Stage Imaging
6.5 6 7.5 7.5 7.5
Handling 7
Processing Comfort Earpads Headband Weight
7 7 6 8 239 grams
Total 7
Price 75 €
Quick View reason: Average
Intro
The K271 MKII is a closed headphone, which is supposed to be especially suitable for studio work. Personally, I hear no reason that would justify this, as it lacks a natural sound reproduction and puts too much emphasis on the mids.
Handling The K271 MKII is optically a closed version of the K240 MKII, which in its old version was the inspiration for many Superlux models and their descendants.
The construction is very robust and will surely survive a frustrated throwing away of the headphones. Also the removable mini-XLR-cable (3m - 3.5mm jack cable & 5m spiral cable) is an added value, as well as the "automatic switch-off" when taking off the headphones.
The K721 MKII comes with two types of pads (imitation leather and velours), but I recommend using the leather pads, which also offer better comfort, as the velours pads do not seal well enough, have less padding and make the K271 MKII sound even more sterile. Changing the pads is a bit tricky. The wearing comfort of the self-adjusting headband is not much to criticize.
Sound
With the K271 MKII, AKG has gone too far with their mid-range philosophy. Because the bass shines with absence, which can't really be justified with a neutral sound (it says goodbye from 100 Hz) and the K271 MKII therefore sounds like with a built-in low-cut, it focuses strongly on the mids. However, these sound too thin and unrealistic. Add to this an exaggeration of the 2kHz region and an unusual peak around 500 - 700 Hz and the K271 MKII sounds a bit like a cardboard box.
Yes, the mids have good clarity and detail, but if I had to mix with it, the sound characteristics of the K271 MKII would make me create a mix that would be inedible with other headphones or equipment. I still find the high frequencies the most successful, even if the complete signature seems a bit inharmonic and unnatural. Nevertheless it is quite transparent and has a high information variety, even if sometimes a bit artificially inflated.
Stage and imaging are not really worth mentioning, but for closed headphones the K271 MKII sounds quite airy. However, the placement of instruments and voices is not the most realistic.
Outro The K271 MKII has received some good reviews, especially for professional use in the studio and for mixing. I can't quite understand this, because the K271 MKII seems neither neutral nor natural to me. It sounds more or less false, unemotional and too much midrange accentuated..
What works: Song Genre Cannonball singer-songwriter, partly 80s pop/rock
Damien Rice
What does not work:
Song Genre Don't You Worry pretty much everything that requires bass, but
R. City classical music also lacks body
Thanks to Sattler Electronic Showtronic AG for providing the test headphones.
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