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Reviews For: AKG 240

Category: Headphones & Boom-microphone Headsets

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Review Summary For : AKG 240
Reviews: 19MSRP: 159.00
Description:
Studio headphones.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.akg-acoustics.com/english/headphones/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00194.7
WB5AGF Rating: 2023-03-22
Two Types - The (old) Austrian Hi-Z & Chinese Low-Z Styles Time Owned: more than 12 months.
(I am a 'believer' in the original (600 Ohm) Austrian made AKG K-240 Headphones. WD5CPZ (SK) gave me a pair as a college graduation present in 1978. This review is for that, original, style.)

The original K-240 Headphones are wonderful ... so long as you have a quiet place to listen in. Being of 'open-back' design they offer virtually zero isolation from local noise.

There are going to be instances where insufficient audio drive is available because 600 Ohm headphones take more Voltage (and less current) than do lower impedance designs (which need more current but less Voltage).

AKG K-240 Headphones are wonderfully light on the head and the ear pads are nicely sized and fit over the ears easily. (I wear glasses and this is important to me.)

The only 'negative' thing that I can say about my (Austrian-made 600 Ohm) K-240s is that, after 40+ years the over-the-head support (a thin plastic strap) has broken. Amazingly the ear pads are still in good condition.

(Update 22 March 2023)

In my original review of the 600 Ohm AKG K240 Headphones I concluded by commenting that the over-the-head (a pliable soft plastic) strap had broken. Since then I have implemented a 'fix' without having to purchase a replacement part. (So far as I know the over-the-head strap used in the (currently produced) Chinese made K240 (low-Z) Headphones will fit the older (Hi-Z) Austrian-made K240s.)

Years ago a friend (and former college professor), WB5GLJ (SK), made a mobile mount for a tube-type HF radio out of cardboard ... gluing multiple layers together and then letting it set-up while squeezed together. So long as the cardboard remained dry the mount worked just fine. (I suspect that applying a waterproofing spray to the cardboard would have eliminated that potential problem.)

Taking a cue from my old professor I went digging through the bag of dry materials in my pantry that are waiting to be taken out to the recycling bin on the back porch ... I was looking for 'smooth' cardboard.

Cereal boxes provided what I was looking for.

I took the old (broken) over-the-head strap and traced its outline on a retrieved piece of cereal box smooth cardboard and cut that so it had the correct outline. Then I took a second piece of cardboard and cut it so that it matched the first. Then I stuck the two together using a common glue and placed them under some bricks. After 24 hours the two pieces of cardboard (cut to the outline of the over-the-head strap) were firmly bonded to each other.

I cut the appropriate holes (and slots) in the cardboard strap and installed it in my old K240 Headphones; it worked just fine.

The only thing remaining on my to-do-list, before I declare the strap replacement work 'done', will be to remove the cardboard strap from the headphones and spray it with a suitable black paint ... after drying it will be reinstalled on the headphones.

- WB5AGF
N7TAT Rating: 2021-03-11
Good to Great? Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought them for use with my Yaesu HF rig. I always use headphones and my Sony MDR-7506 were wearing out. The Sony's have a very deep and bright sound. Much emphasis on low bass and crystal clear treble. They sound great but I'm not convinced they are all that accurate. But I digress.

These AKGs are more mid-focused than the Sony's. The Bass response is present but not emphasized. Upper mids and treble are sufficient for good clarity but not at the expense of the middle mids.

For ham use I find the AKGs much better than the Sonys. AKGs are lighter and more comfortable than any headphones I've tried. Overall sound is perhaps a tad dark when listening to the rig. I suspect many would call them "warm" or "smooth". I can tweak the low cut in the rig to compensate and they work quite well.

I also have a set of Kenwood HS-5 headphones. The Kenwoods have a much more limited frequency response and sound higher pitched than the AKG due to their low cut. The HS-5 headphones fit on the ears rather than over and I find them less comfortable. The higher pitch they impart to the background noise is more tiring to listen to.

For now, the Kenwood HS-5s go on the shelf and the AKGs become the main cans.


For Ham use the Sony's reproduce too much high hiss.
N2MDV Rating: 2021-02-23
Fantastic in the studio, or on Kenwood rigs! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Got mine from a musician, before he passed away. It was his studio standard, as these headphones are pretty much the studio, on-air, standard for the Baby Boomer DJ's. And, you have to just try these to hear why. I've DJ'ed for years with the Sony Studio Standard type, the Gen X standard really. But, if you have a great HF receiver / transceiver capable of some nice, natural audio, these headphone will bring out that quality. Try them with most Kenwood rigs. It's my understanding that these will bring out the quality on the Drake R8 receivers as well, and I'm sure that they do. Chances are, if you get a hold of a pair of these headphones, you'll hang-on to them until you die.
K2WO Rating: 2021-02-08
Fantastic Headphones! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I was looking for a good set of headphones for CW. Based on the great reviews here, I decided to try the AKG 240 headphones. They are fantastic! I got the "Studio" version because it has a 55 ohm impedance. They work great and sound great, perfect for CW or phone, with plenty of sound volume capability. They are the most comfortable headphones I've ever owned and they are built well. Highly recommended.
KC2RGW Rating: 2020-09-19
These are great for radio, neutral and articulate Time Owned: more than 12 months.
These are airy, light, low clamping pressure, very comfortable to wear for long periods.

The sound profile is neutral and transparent. They have nice articulation in speech ranges and the new "Studio" version are only 55 Ohms so they are very easy to drive. The original version are 600 Ohms and need a bunch of power to drive them well.

They are open back phones so they are not really noise isolating and if you have them loud and are next to someone, they will hear the chattering. I like the open back design because you can talk with them without needing to hear yourself or feel that odd "dead" feeling that noise isolating, closed back cans give you. it's also handy if someone walks up to you because you can talk through them easily.

I have a few different pairs of phones and these are the most neutral sounding and comfortable over long periods.
K1WJ Rating: 2016-07-22
AKG 240 Studio Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Bought at Guitar Center for $69 in July of 2016. QC seems very good. Comfortable to wear. Screw on 1/8th adapter makes nice solid connection. So far so good, hope it lasts....73 K1WJ
OE5CSP Rating: 2014-12-18
The K3 and AKG240 Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Trying to find decent headphones, which fit a certain receiver can be challenging .The K3 sounds good if you tailor the EQ, find the right AGC settings for the given situation/band and back down the RF-gain.I´ve tried several headphones for my radios.So I´ve got a favourite headphone for each of them.I got the AKG 240 MK I on the used market.They were built in Austria, and they are my favourite phones for CW.They sound great, reducing the hiss and they are comfortable, but after some hours of wearing them they start aching my ears a bit. SSB is also good, but I slightly prefer the Yamaha CM 500 for this mode.The Yamaha is better for digging out the weak ones but for rag chewing and general listening I use the AKG.
KW6LA Rating: 2013-12-04
Very Nice Time Owned: more than 12 months.
These are considered the studio standard in circumaural open back headphones for good reason. The sound reproduction is excellent, with clear bass and midrange and a very balanced profile through the entire frequency spectrum.
Got to be the most comfortable headset ever, and you can wear them for hours.
KI0Z Rating: 2011-12-06
Very well made,Great for many Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Speakers and Headphones are as most know a judgement call. some love them others would not even try them. The AKG 240 is very well constructed. Impressive! However for my very good hearing not my pick. Not that they are bad just that others work better for me. The MDR-V150 @ $14 on the web was outstanding in the 160 CW contest with the IC-7800. You must learn to wear them over and above the ear like Military style to balance tonal levels. Another that is very good is the Yaesu YH77STA the newer ones. again It's what works for your hearing and learning the military style of listening which is a BIG PART OF IT. GUD LUCK & DX. I returned them on Amazon oh what an easy return.you get your tracking # at home and take it to ups,no filling out any paperwork or payment. I like Amazon !!
KB5ZAU Rating: 2011-01-19
Im not the only one who loves these! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I was glad to see my favorite pair of headphones shared with so many here. I bought these for a mixer board with my Hammond A100 and Mellotron recording work. Then later a large scale part 15 AM array and now with my Heathkit modified HW-7 QRP rig which is rated for 1000 OHMS. I can't recall how they work with my Hammarlund but great for all solidstate gear as these are top notch performers. Lightweight too and don't fall apart!