AKG Acoustics K-240 Semi Open Studio Headphones

by AKG Acoustics

Product Features

• 55 ohms impedance, plug-in cable
• Self-adjusting headband for optimum fit
• Single cable for ease of use
• Semi-open, circumaural design
• 15hz to 25khz frequency range

Product Details

• Item Weight: 8.5 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B0001ARCFA
• Item model number: AKG K240STU
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (89 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #255 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments)

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

The AKG K 240 Studio is an update of the "classic" AKG K 240 Monitor. The new K 240 Studio delivers even wider dynamic range and higher sensitivity than its well-known and widely-used predecessor. The secret to the semi-open K 240 Studio's sound quality is the new XXL transducers in acoustically tuned vented enclosures with circumaural (around the ear) pads. The circumaural pads envelope your ears nicely and reward you with smooth, solid bass and well-balanced, articulate mids and highs.

Founded in Vienna, Austria in 1947, AKG has built a legendary reputation in the professional audio industry for products that perform flawlessly. The reputation of AKG and its celebrated quality are built on more than 55 years of experience, incredible design, meticulous craftsmanship and a clear understanding of what truly sounds right. AKG introduced the K 140 in 1974 and the K 240 Monitor in 1975, which became the most widely used headphones in recording studios and broadcast facilities worldwide. Generations of musicians and audio engineers use these AKG products to create great mixes, hit songs and albums cherished by millions around the world. The new AKG Professional Studio headphones carry on the tradition of these audio tools and are a sound investment that will pay handsome returns with years of flawless sonic performance for professional recording engineers and demanding users of high quality home or portable audio equipment.

Delivers solid bass and well-balanced mids and highs

XXL Transducers with Varimotion Diaphragm

The new XXL transducers use AKG's patented Varimotion diaphragm to ensure extremely accurate response at any listening level. This technology creates a diaphragm that is thinner, more elastic toward the outside edges for more powerful bass response and thicker, less resonant in the center for pure, accurate mids and clear, detailed highs. The large size of the transducers makes the overall sound more life-like and three-dimensional to capture the emotional and sonic content of your soundtracks.

Gimbal-Type Suspension

To ensure your listening comfort, AKG Professional Studio headphones utilize a self-adjusting headband with a flexible steel structure to deliver optimum fit for your headphones without any fiddling. The structure is flexible, yet strong enough to allow bending for single ear use and is durable enough to withstand rough handling. A gimbal-type suspension ensures the earcups of all AKG Professional Studio models will conform to the shape and size of your ears without pressing on them for hours of fatigue-free, comfortable listening.

Wear Them As You Like

Rugged construction, a non-twisting headband, and powerful sound allow you to use your headphones on a single ear only or wear them in any other way you may prefer. AKG Professional Studio headphones are ideal for DJ and live sound use because they are durable enough to withstand the roughest kind of handling during transport or on stage.

Detachable Cable with Mini XLR Connector

The new AKG Professional Studio headphones utilize a detachable input cable for easy replacement if ever necessary. The cable and headphones use mini XLR connectors for perfect contact and secure mechanical connection. The cable is made of 99.99% oxygen-free copper and has gold plated plugs on both ends including the screw-on 1/8" to 1/4" stereo jack adapter for maximum signal transfer.

Perfect for Portable Audio

You need good quality audio for all your listening--including computer, minidisc, portable CD or DAT player--as well as in the studio. Owing to their high sensitivity and wide dynamic range, the AKG Professional Series headphones are efficient enough to be used with these lower level output sources and still deliver the high definition sound you need when working in the studio or on stage. The excellent workmanship AKG headphones are known for and high quality components ensure loss-free transmission and reproduction of high-resolution signals from all types of digital audio sources.

Product Description

AKG K240 Studio Headphones feature a classic design that has become a standard in monitoring. This newer, lower impedance, 55-ohm version provides remarkably higher volume level when used with portable studios, keyboards, drum machines and other project studio gear. It's a professional level of performance for the home studio! Features include an integrated semi-open air design with a highly accurate dynamic transducer for naturally open sound quality, and circumaural (around-the-ear) pads for hours of wearing comfort. Frequency range: 15 Hz to 25,000 Hz. Stereo (1/8-inch minijack and 1/4-inch) connections. AKG K240 Studio Features Low, 55 Ohm impedance, plug-in cable Self-adjusting headband for optimum fit Single cable for ease of use Semi-open, circumaural design AKG'S MOST POPULAR PROFESSIONAL HEADPHONE A classic design which has become a standard in monitoring. Now with Varimotion XXL capsule for studio sound at home and for portable use. The 'integrated semi-open air' design incorporates a highly accurate dynamic transducer, and an acoustically tuned venting structure behind the element produces a naturally open sound quality. The circumaural (around-the-ear) pads are designed for hours of wearing comfort, while the steel-cable, self-adjusting headband construction and single-sided professional quality audio interconnect ensure extended reliability in demanding professional studio applications. Proven, popular, excellent - New, improved and even better. AmericanMusical com is an authorized dealer of AKG products.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

75 of 80 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars IMPROVED VERSION OF K240 MONITOR AND A REAL THREAT TO SPEAKER SUPREMACY, November 17, 2006

By 

Jesse Knight (woburn ma usa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

First, although K240 phones old and new surround your ears, they are vented. Ambient noise is not reduced greatly as a result, but this design improves sound quality.

I have used the 600 ohm K240M phones since 1986. The new K240S are 55 ohms making them far more compatible with todays lower voltage gear. Even better, this new design gives deep bass response that I never thought was possible from phones. Even a 32 foot bombarde pipe organ stop sounds quite real, although you will not feel the room shake. Listening to a signal generator through these new K240S phones gives an impression of powerful bass down to at least 40 Hz. The old K240M drops off below 100 Hz. A slight dip in the midrange(K240M) has been filled in, making the K240S more true sounding.

Both the new and old versions reproduce operatic voices without increased "ping" which can be very abrasive. Years ago I started using phones to judge voices on choral recordings, resorting to speakers only to judge the organ sound. Speakers can make some beautiful voices sound nasty. Producer John Culshaw documented this in one of his books on recording the Wagner Ring.

The open air design minimizes ear sweating while giving a more open perspective. "In your head" effects are greatly suppressed compared to many sealed type phones. When watching opera DVD I find no conflict between the phone perspective and the TV screen on DVD that are well mixed. Orchestral sound is excellent, as is piano. To my ears, these phones give a perspective and tonal balance that is very close to what I hear at Boston Symphony Hall, when I sit in the second balcony front. These seats overhang the stage. When I sing in a choir, the live perspective is even closer to what the phones produce, provided my position on stage is fairly central. This is, in my opinion, a valid sound perspective, even if it is quite different from the tenth row center sound I aim for when I build speakers. Non performers sometimes have trouble accepting this close a perspective at first, only because it is not familiar. Many other phones give a perspective that is too close for comfort, a good reason to avoid the low end.

It is good to bear in mind that individual ears are unique in shape and that phones are designed to work on a "standard ear" made with an average shape. Phones will give different response curves depending on how your ear pinnae and canal differs from that "laboratory standard ear" shape.

People with small heads will have trouble keeping the phones on. It is unfortunate that although this problem has been known for years, nothing has been done to correct this.

AKG did not change any parts that touch your ears and head, a very wise move. Some parts are interchangeble, as they have the same stock number on AKG parts lists. Unfortunately AKG has of late been hard to deal with, making part purchases difficult.

Consider buying the K 240 studio phones in the MK II version as you get a spare cord and spare ear pads with a velvet like feel. Having these extra parts on hand is worth the extra cost and makes this four star item a 5 star item.

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spectacular, May 7, 2007

By 

Seppo Helava (Oakland, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: AKG Acoustics K-240 Semi Open Studio Headphones (Electronics)

I've had a pair of 240's for the last 8 years. About 2 years ago, I ran over the cable with my office chair, and basically ruined the headphones. I mended the cable, but they never really sounded right again.

So, I got a pair of Shure E40's, and they've been quite good. Yesterday, I finally realized that the jack on the AKG's was broken, not the wire. So, I replaced the jack, and for the first time in about two years, am using the headphones again.

The sound quality is leagues better than anything else I've used in the last two years. Better than the Shures, better than the Sennheisers I got through work. There's a huge amount of detail that I'd been missing with the other headphones. I'm not an audio professional, or even a hardcore audiophile, but I've been a musician since I was young, and have a good ear.

For the price, I haven't heard anything that even comes close to these headphones. Just watch the cord.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great headphones, Extremely comfortable!!!, May 23, 2008

By 

David J. Lewis - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: AKG Acoustics K-240 Semi Open Studio Headphones (Electronics)

I must have gotten the deal of the century in April 08 as I picked these up for $79.95 from BSW through Amazon. Currently the best price on Amazon is $125. These headphones are still worth it at $125.

I use these with a Ipod at work and wear them for 6+ hours a day. I've come close to depleting the battery only a couple of times (it's a 30 GB gen 5.5 Ipod). The bass and seperation sounds fantastic. You can crank these up to full volume without distortion (though I don't play them that loud to save my hearing). Most people in my department wear headphones and the most common comment when they put these on is "WOW".

The long cord is good and bad. It sometimes gets in the way, but not that big of a deal.

The comfort is something. They fit over the ears without pinching and as I stated above, they are worn for 6+ hours a day.

These replace Sony MDR-D777LP headphones which I paid way too much for in a brick and mortar store. These sound leaps and bounds better. The Sony MDR-D777LP headphones only lasted about 9 months before breaking ( a very common occurance).