AKG K271 MKII review: Excellent affordable studio headphones

AKG has a long and storied history building high-end studio gear, including some of the most versatile and clean-sounding microphones you can get. But the company has also long-built some of the finest studio headphones, and in fact, has been doing so for over 75 years. But despite that experience, it’s still making many of those studio headphones very affordable — and the new AKG K271 MKII headphones, a follow up to 2003’s K271, sit in at only $139.

The new headphones have a lot to live up to. The original K271 headphones were well-respected affordable studio headphones, offering an accurate sound response and a workhorse-like design. So what’s new — and are the new cans worthy of the AKG K271 name?

AKG K271 MKII design

The AKG K271 MKII headphones don’t reinvent the wheel when it comes to design, but in many instances, that’s a good thing. The first thing you’ll notice when you take them out of the box is how lightweight they are, coming in at only 240 grams. They may have a slightly scaled-back look to them, but the result is a light frame that puts comfort first.

One of the most interesting things about the design of these headphones is their self-adjusting mechanism. The headband extends and retracts as needed when you put the headphones on your head, and while you might have to pull them down a little to get the perfect fit, they rest comfortably and securely in place after you do so. It’s a pretty smart design and makes it easy to switch wearers as you go.

Despite the low price point, the headphones come with a range of helpful accessories. In addition to the ear cushions that come pre-installed on the headphones, they include a second pair of ear cushions with a soft-touch covering. Furthermore, they come with two different detachable cables: one straight and one coiled, as well as a 1/8-to-1/4 inch adapter. The cables connect to the headphones via a mini XLR connector, making them easy to replace if needed.

Are they the most premium headphones out there? No, they’re not. However, they feature a design well-suited for studio use—sturdy enough to handle some rough treatment and built for overall comfort.

I will say, however, that, like the previous generation model, the earcups don’t swivel or rotate at all, which can make them a bit uncomfortable when they’re not actually on your ears. It’s difficult to wear these headphones on one ear or around your neck for an extended period of time. It’s not a huge deal, but it’s something to keep in mind nonetheless.

AKG K271 MKII comfort

The AKG K271 MKII headphones are built for comfort, and indeed they are comfortable to wear for extended listening sessions. This is largely thanks to their lightweight build, which ensures the headphones don’t exert too much pressure on the top of your head.

Other factors contribute to the comfort as well. For instance, the clamp force of the earcups isn’t too tight, and while they can get slightly warm during long periods of use, it’s not overbearing and is to be expected. That was mostly true when using the velvet earpads.

AKG K271 MKII sound

The AKG K271MK2 headphones have a frequency response between 16Hz and 28kHz and, for the most part, offer a relatively accurate and neutral audio response. Keep in mind, however, that these aren’t necessarily designed to be the most high-fidelity headphones out there, and they’re not perfect by any means.

That said, they get pretty close in their price range. The sound is generally balanced, offering good detail in the high frequencies, and a solidly flat mid response. The bass response isn’t bad, though the headphones did struggle a little to pump out some of those ultra-low frequencies, and the bass in general felt slightly laid back compared to the rest of the frequency range. But this isn’t unexpected for headphones in this price range, and I wouldn’t necessarily argue that they underperformed. You’ll just need to keep in mind not to overly boost low frequencies if you use these headphones to mix.

I found it easy to mix vocals and guitars on the headphones, though due to the slight bass dip, mixing bass synths and guitars was slightly more challenging. Even then, though, I was still able to get good basic levels and a good initial mix that I could tweak on monitors down the line.

Overall isolation on offer by these headphones is pretty good too. They are closed-back headphones, though they don’t necessarily completely block out the world. They also managed to limit bleed well, making them a good option for recording.

Verdict

The AKG K271 MKII headphones are a workhorse for studio use in their price range. They’re comfortable and lightweight, and offer a reasonably accurate frequency response while limiting bleed, making them a good choice for both mixing and recording. Anyone looking for an affordable pair of studio headphones that can do it all should consider these.

FAQ

Are the AKG K271 MKII good for studio use?

Yes. The AKG K271 MKII headphones are good for both recording and as mixing reference headphones, and they make a great choice for budget studio headphones.

Are the AKG K271 MKII open or closed?

The AKG K271 MKII headphones are closed-back headphones.