AKG K 450 Premium Foldable Headphone

by AKG

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 9 x 8 x 3 inches ; 14.4 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0028N78C0
• Item model number: K450BLU
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: July 1, 2009

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

From the Manufacturer

Sixty Years of Quality Sound, Sixty Years of AKG Expertise

For more than 60 years, AKG microphones and headsets have been synonymous with professional audio excellence. Since it was founded in 1947, AKG has been passionately delivering superior-sounding, cutting-edge products. Within months of the company’s founding, its microphones were being used by radio stations, theaters and jazz clubs. A mere two years later, AKG headphones were introduced to the marketplace.

AKG products quickly established a reputation for superior performance, and many musical artists started relying on them when it came to performing and recording. World-renowned artists used AKG products back in the 50s, while many of today’s most recognized artists swear by AKG products for live concerts and studio recording.

More than 60 years and 1500 patents later, AKG continues to create innovative and exceptional-sounding products for both professional and personal use. So it stands to reason that the AKG K 450 mini on-ear headphones deliver outstanding performance, unparalleled comfort and unmatched reliability. Choose the brand that the pros have chosen for so many years. Hook up your iPod, or connect your stereo or nearly any other audio device to the AKG K 450 mini on-ear headphones and enjoy the ultimate listening experience.

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Folds for easy transport

Your Personal Live Concert--Whenever You Want

Stand Out from the Crowd

When you want the ultimate upgrade, look no further than the AKG K 450 mini on-ear headphones, which offer the ultimate in comfort, reliability and style. The K 450s offer a number of high-end comfort features usually found only on more expensive headphones. They feature upgraded super-soft ear pads and a padded headband for an incredibly comfortable and personalized fit, making them perfect for both extended listening and everyday use. Featuring a lightweight design, their unique 3D-axis folding mechanism allows you to store them in their stylish carrying case (included with the headphones). The foldable K 450s make perfect travel companions, wherever you may go. To make them even more convenient and comfortable, the K 450s come with detachable single-sided cables in two lengths. And if you happen to have an older iPhone, there’s no reason to worry--the K 450s are compatible with older versions. When it comes to style, you’ll definitely stand out, thanks to their beautiful navy blue design. Fold and go. Unfold and settle in.

Super-soft ear pads and padded headband provide a comfortable fit

Superior Sound

The K 450s are designed to deliver the ultimate personal listening experience from virtually any portable device with high-output sound, excellent frequency response and wide dynamic range, all while creating an environment that naturally blocks out any ambient noise. By using a closed-back design, the K 450s deliver improved performance and rich, detailed sound that’s free of distortion, even at high listening levels. High-performance drivers reproduce low frequencies down to 11 Hz and high frequencies out to nearly 30 kHz with stunning extension and detail. Their wide dynamic range, high output and noise blocking feature make the K 450s the ultimate high-performance upgrade for nearly all of today’s audio devices.

High Quality in a Compact, Portable Package

The hard gold-plated jack plug and contacts resist corrosion and enhance sound clarity, while the 99.99% oxygen-free cable improves sound quality.

Reliable Compatibility

You can use the K 450s with your home stereo, portable DVD, CD and MP3 players and many other audio/video players. With their slim, tapered connector, the K450s are compatible with all versions of the iPhone including first generation models. They’re an ideal upgrade to any portable device.

What's in the Box

• One pair of AKG K 450 mini on-ear headphones with a 1/4-inch adapter
• Two cable lengths
• Premium carrying case

Product Description

When you want a the ultimate upgrade to typical on ear headphones, look no further than the AKG K 450 mini, on-ear headphones. Deisgned to deliver true AKG performance - high-output sound and excellent frequency response - from virtually any portable device, including iPhone, they are the ultimate high-performance upgrade for an improved personal listening experience. By using a closed-back deisgn that fits comfortably on the ear with new Supersoft ear pads, the K 450s deliver stunning dynamic range and rich, detailed sound that is unparalled by other on-ear designs. AKG has even made tucking these headphones away very easy as the patented 3D-Axis folding mechanism allows you to fold these heaphones into an easily transportable size. A single sided, detachable cable gives you high-end customization for the ultimate in comfortable listening. Include a premium carrying case and you have headphones that will transport your listening experience to a whole new world.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'm listening to my AKG 450's as I write this., December 16, 2009

By 

John "johnatmry" (Monterey, Ca. USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: AKG K 450 Premium Foldable Headphone (Electronics)

AKG's K 450 are titled "Premium Foldable Headphones" -- they are exceptionally good headphones for travel. I bought mine two months ago. I broke them in through continuous playing for about seven or eight days. I haven't found a high quality hp that didn't benefit greatly from such a ritual. I've taken the 450's on business trips and use them at home as well, while working. They are light, comfortable, well-built, and easily fold up for trips.

I'm listening to Richard Goode's recording of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 2 as I write this review. Here are my notes. The sound-stage is stable and offers a full stage for the orchestra. First and second violins are separate, distinct, and well balanced. The violas and cellos have their own places. I can easily distinguish cello and bass parts. String tone is exquisite: soft and tectured with no sign of shrillness. Piano and orchestra are balanced and filled with nuance. Woodwinds are easily distinguished by tone and location on the stage. When asked to "chirp" that's exactly how the oboe section sounds. Right now soloist and orchestra are putting out a lot of sound -- I can hear high strings and winds balanced against the piano, with excellent (nondistorted) bass notes form the low strings.

Just now I switched to Peter and the Wolf (Ormandy's recording) to see if I could distinguish the french horns playing the wolf's theme; I could and followed the three parts without trouble. Vocals (Bach BWV 207, for instance) are almost too good to stop. For all of this I had the K 450's plugged straight into my iPOD. The 450's sound better with a hp amp and even better with a DAC + hp amp! The AKG K 450's are highly recommended. Five stars.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Very Good Balance in Portable Headphone Design, January 4, 2011

By 

Andre M. Behrens "Thai Food Devotee" (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: AKG K 450 Premium Foldable Headphone (Electronics)

We can argue all day about the merits of the Sennheisser HD 650 vs. the AKG K701 vs. Your Grado Of Choice vs. Beyer 880's. Many have, and many will continue to do so. Sound dynamics end up being deeply personal, and often dependent on source material. The correct answer is AKG K701, but nevermind that.

When it comes to portable headphones, the factors are more complex. I have owned most of Sennheiser's normal protables, including the PX100 and the PX200, I've tried the AKG K81DJ. I've owned a couple of Audio Technicas. I *love* the Denon ATH-1000s, which aren't really portable, but really want to be. I've used multiple IEMs, including Shures and Klipsches. I'm always looking for a good pair of Portable cans.

Let me tell you: These are good.

Let's start far afield of the audio aspects: These are comfortable, and in a protable context, that is a big deal. I have tried IEMs. I have tried lots of tips. I have lived with them. I have joyed at the isolation on the subway. But I take a three hour train ride on most weekends, and I've yet to try an IEM tip that doesn't get to me, and then there's the ear-wax. So for me, over-ear is just the way it has to be.

So I've tried the Senns, the AKGs, anything audiophiles I know seem to like. The PX100s feel kind of cheap to me, the K81DJ had a clamp I couldn't handle, and a chord long enough to hang a rogue cowboy.

These K450s are of very high quality (with a price to prove it), and they are comfortable for long stretches. I've worn headphones that were more comfortable on first wear, but few that stayed comfortable over a longer listening session.

On audio merit, I can only say that I found myself making happy little sounds whilst walking around New York and riding the Subway. If you are in a high-noise environment, all the sound quality in the world will be fighting to get noticed, and much will be lost. Hence the pleasant surprise of how well these K 450's managed in a noisy environment. You get the isolation of a closed set, but enough gets through that you don't lose track of the world. The music thus delivered sounds balanced. Nothing to write home about with multiple exclamation points, but you hear The Music. Which is the point, right?

The real takeaway is that there is no part of these that is truly excellent and can't miss, but there is also no part of them that is less than Very Good, which in my experience is a rarity. To my mind, that means these are cans that a serious listener can't miss. Calling them premium seems a bit of a stretch, but don't let that dissuade you. "Balance Master" just doesn't market as well.

The strongest endorsement I can give you is that I am not wondering what my next pair of portable headphones might be.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Comfortable but, No tonal balance or accuracy, October 29, 2009

By 

Kool Aid "mgm2000on" (Huntsville, Alabama) - See all my reviews

This review is from: AKG K 450 Premium Foldable Headphone (Electronics)

This is an updated review as I've changed my perception of these cans.

These headphones are very comfortable. They come with a great carrying case with an insert designed for the headphones.

I purchased these as an "on the go" option due them being mini headphones, closed back, sturdy and compact. I purchased these as an upgrade to my Koss Porta-Pros. I have to say I was a bit disappointed in the sound quality initially as the highs sounded muffled and too low, mids seem a bit low and muddy, and bass was just plain overwhelming. These phones lacked tonal balance to the extreme. However, I decided to go ahead and burn them in for a few days (roughly 40 more hours or so) on top of the time they'd already had, which probably totaled about 60 or so hours. This did the trick. The sound is much better now. Better balanced, crisper highs, and better midrange. The bass is still a bit too powerful for my taste, but it's tolerable. The sound signature is similar to my Beats by Dre Studio but the bass on the AKG isn't as clean and presents a bit of roll-off (lingers to much, not crisp and punctual) in my opinion. However, I'm a bit picky when it comes to sonic accuracy, clarity, and balance. I'm what I like to call a low budget audiophile. I also own a pair of Grado SR60i's, and Sennheiser HD595's for full size headphones. These would be quite hard for anything to match under $200.00 in that category. I have the Shure SE110, UE Super-fi 3 studio's, and the Bose Tri-port hybrid ear-buds as well. The reason I bring all those up is so you can see that I have quite a bit to compare the AKG 450's to.