Customer Reviews

AKG Acoustics K26P Foldable Stereo Folding Headphones

5 star:		(48)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Update: June 30th 2009 ; Headphones are still working! 4 years strong. Only thing broken is the cushion on the metal band, but a fix and some krazy glue has done the trick. I would caution people that the price now is significantly more than what I bought it for back in the day. You can get the updated?remodel numbered? version(called k414p for less than these old models go for now)

Update: Almost May 2008; Headphones are still working great, no lose parts, jack is fully functional, , no rattles, no problems what so ever. I've had these for almost 2 and a half years and these are probably one of the best investments I've made in portable audio.

Update: Well, here's an update regarding these headphones, back when I wrote the original review below, I had the headphones for about a month, so roughly October of 2005. So, now its July 2006. The problems I occurred so far are as follows. After 5 months of use, the right transducer did come off the metal headband, fixing this wasn't a problem, just a touch of krazy glue and good as new. Another month later (February 2006) the jack wire came a little lose, but it didn't make a difference at all. July 1st, 2006, the jack finally gives way, I send them in for repair that same day. Within 6 days of shipping, AKG repair center honors my warranty with no problems and sends back a brand new pair of headphones. Now I didn't really take care of these cans after Dec. of 2005, in fact, I threw them into my backpack with 40 pounds worth of books. Remarkably, they held up, I used these on a daily basis. I would just like to reinforce that these are truly wonderful headphones, and so is the AKG service dept. There was no holding at the inquiry line for repairs, and they were very prompt in getting the headphones back as soon as possible. I have no doubt that if you actually take care of these headphones, they will certainly last past 2 years. Of course by using my 2 year warranty, I now only have a 90 day warranty on the new pair, but AKG makes it easy to purchase an extended warranty. I still highly recommend these headphones, they sound great, they're durable, and they're certainly backed by their manufacturer.
PS: There is one review that claims these headphones are not warranted in the USA, Obviously not true, just ship them over to the Nashville Center if you run into any problems.

Original Review: Nov. 2005
So I got these headphones to replace my cheapo standard headphones that came with my dne-320blk cd player (sony pysc). By the way, that's a great cd player... The standard earbuds are marginal at best, they go loud but clarity just isnt there along with bass. But anyways, off to the k26 ps. So Akg is a great company, a harman product so it definately is up there quality wise. The cans themselves are made in China which is a letdown but then again, they're designed in Austria.
Sound: These sound great for the price, the bass is a little over pronounced and is a tad muddy, not as tight as I would like it, but then again, that degree of tightness comes in more expensive headphones. Bass is overall good. Highs are flat, not as great, mids are perfect. And by the way, these play really loud, even the puniest little mp3 player won't have any trouble driving these. Coupled with a high sensitivity and low impedance these some extremely efficient headphones which means not only do you get loud music, but you also get to save on batteries for those of us who use standard alkalines.
Durability: I've had these for 3 weeks and they're holding up quite well. But they certainly cannot be mistreated (ie. thrown into a backpack full of heavy textbooks. This will certainly break them. The weak point on these is where the transducer housings meat the hinge for the folding mechanism. If you put these in the designated headphone pouch, they'll be fine. I put them in an old tough binocular case just to be safe, the standard cheap zip bag for storage won't do much to protect them.
Build: These have a metal headband with two pieces to adjust size. The hinges themselves are durable tough plastic. The actually part that connects the transducer housings to the hinges are a thin plastic. Otherwise, no annoying rattles that build up or anything like that. Clean sound.
Comfortability: These are reasonably comfortable. More than 45 minutes may cause problems with some people. I have a large head so that might be the problem. These fit tight to seal out the noise nice and good. The pads that stop the metal headband from directly touching the head may cause some irritation as well. Once again, this is pending on your head and sensitivity. For those of you who just bought yours, they will get a little less harsh with usage, either you're getting used to the pain, or they're actually breaking in. Speaking of breaking in...
Breaking In: So new headphones of a higher quality than [...] will usually need a good break in period, or period when you play music at normal listening levels, this shapes the diaphragms accordlingly to the manufacturer's intent. So a good 25 hours with these and the extreme overemphasation with bass should go away and that should tighten up as well. Highs should improve and mids should too.
Value: So overall, there isn't much competition out there for these cans. In this price range probably the px100's and portapros but then again, those are open headphones. These are closed meaning they won't leak sound( good for libraries, study work) They also do a good job at blocking noise out passively, these are not active remember that, akg also offers a version with active noise cancelling but those are nearly impossible to get in the US and are gonna cost you alot more. So value wise these are excellent. They have a 2 year warranty so you're guaranteed that much.
Conclusion: So overall, these are great. Good for the money, they block out noise well, they're good for public transportation, there really isn't much competition out there. Alot of people will say "but no, what about the px200's", but those really are not good, bass is terrible on those. Anyways , if you want a portable, sealed, foldable, semi-durable headphone with great sound quality for the money, buy these. Spend [...] more and your options expand tenfold.

I am a musician that already owns high-end Sennheiser headphones for use in my studio. However, I needed some inexpensive headphones for use with my iPod. After much research I found the best reviews for the AKG K26Ps and the Sennheiser PX100s. I couldn't decide so I bought both knowing that my wife needed a new pair of headphones too. Using my iPod and listening to the same songs through both headphones I compared a variety of music styles. The PX100s are promoted as having "natural sound" and I would say that is exactly what they have. They have amazing clarity and you can hear every note. Despite sounding incredible, I did notice that the sound seemed a little "distant". They have an air to them that somewhat mimics surround sound and makes for a very pleasant listening experience. The earpieces have open backs so people sitting close by will probably be enjoying the same music. These headphones are incredibly light; the earpieces are very comfortable, and I could definitely see wearing these for hours at a time. The way that they fold up is ingenious but takes some practice and they come in a sturdy plastic case that protects the headphones and allows you to wind the cable up very neatly. The K26Ps are quite different. Like the PX100s they have surprising clarity for such inexpensive headphones. Every time I plugged them in after having listened through the PX100s and I had to turn the volume down quite a bit because they are so much louder. Where the PX100 present a distant sound, the acoustics of the K26Ps are up front and right at your ear. This is the sound that I prefer. At the right volume the K26P sound just blew me away. Being a musician I'm picky about being able to hear everything, and while both provide that, the K26Ps are my top choice for audio quality. The K26Ps are little heavier than the PX100s; the earpieces have a vinyl-like covering over the foam and, while comfortable, tend to push on the ears a little harder than the PX100s. One of the biggest complaints I read about the K26Ps is that the headband is quite tight and I have to agree. While I could imagine this getting tiring on my ears, I also don't plan to wear these for extended periods so for me it doesn't matter much. However, I also found the headband to be less comfortable. Where the PX100s have some nice covered foam the length of the headband that comes in contact with the top of your head, the K26Ps have no cover at all. In fact, the glide adapters that allow for the adjustment of the headbands actually annoy me a bit if I have them too tight on my head. The K26Ps also have a wonderful method for folding up but they come with a light material bag as their case and you just have to wind the chord around the phones. Not as graceful and well executed as the PX100s, but still convenient. They both provide a two year warranty. Despite the PX100s being more comfortable, the audio quality lead me to chose the K26Ps for my use and I gave the PX100s to my wife (which she actually like better any way). In my opinion you can't go wrong with either of them and I can't imagine there being better headphones available for the money.

I was looking for a compact, reasonably priced, decent sounding closed design. Looks like I got it:

Pros:
- Compact and foldable. Much smaller than most isolation 'phones.
- Good overall sound, much better than many cheaper 'phones.
- Bass is boosted but sounds good in a "loudness" sort of way
- Closed design provides some noise suppression
- Wife can sleep while I'm tuning out before sleep.
- About as comfortable as any other closed headphone.
- Just enough inward pressure to stay secure on the head.
- Decent quality/value for the price.
- Replaceable cushions.
- Good efficiency.

Cons:
- Reasonably sturdy, but probably won't stand up to lots of abuse.
- Springy headband makes mounting a bit more challenging than a fixed headband.
- Not as noise suppressing as active cancellation or ear canal style 'phones. But less bulky and easier to mount also.

Other 'phones I currently use:
- Koss Pro4A studio and Sportapro, Grado, Shure and tons of crappy earbuds going into the dustbin.

I purchased these headphones only after hours of reading and comparing different sets.

These came highly recommended by numerous websites and customers. It ultimately came down to these and the Grado SR60s. Grado sure makes one hell of a headphone, and I applaud their overall accuracy and neutrality. The SRs were more expensive, and I wanted something that would give me a livelier sound for all of my rock and live recordings.

Bingo! These fit all of my criteria. They are small(much smaller in person than what the pictures make you think), they are closed-back headphones, which give them plenty of power in the bass area(not a Grado strongpoint), and if you use these with an iPod or laptop, they are very efficient and can play LOUD with low power sources, and the PRICE!!!

Overall, I think these are the best headphones out there right now for under $50!

A couple weeks ago I was also researching (just like you probably are right now) which where the perfect headphones under $50. I narrowed it down to three headphones: Senn px100, Senn px200 and the AKG K26p. Could not decide after reading all the reviews so I bought all of them. The first to come was the px 100 it has a surprisingly good sound with deep bass, mids but the highs pale a little bit, their open design leaked a lot of noise out and in - Not a good choice for commuting but solid sound after all. Then I received the px 200, they are kind of the opposite to the 100s: Great mids and crispy highs but really weak bass. The isolation is really good, you wouldn't disturb anybody right beside you even when maxing the volume out! Don't expect to listen your cellphone or somebody talking to you while using these. Both, the 100 and 200 come in a really sleek, solid, and compact plastic case, it takes some patience to put them in and out though. I just received the k26p and after being critical and picky about the other two headphones the only thing I can say about this is WOWWW!!! The k26p are blowing my head away at this very moment! Seriously, There is no comparison between the Senns and the k26p. The others may be nice and probably ok for melowed down music but I was expecting to have a pair of headphones that have all of this: Greaaaat hardcore bass (without being excessive or attenuating the rest of the sound range, especially the highs), cryspy clear highs and a lot of volume. This is it, the k26p, dont doubt it. I've read that they are unconfortable, let me tell you, they press thighter than the Senns but it's perfectly fine (considering that the Senns are feather like). I've also read that they are cheaply made...In my opinion that's just a design discrepancy. The only thing I'd like improved is the carrying case which is made only of a black synthetic fabric with a zipper on top. But that only implies that you have to be a little more careful when travelling with them. I had to spend 80 more dollars to come up with this conclusion but I'm happy I could compare the real performance of this three headphones. I hope this can help you take your decision.

I have tried many different headphones in the past and currently own the Grado SR-125, AKG 240S which are supposed to be one of the best headphones. The AKG 240s are used by the studio engineers to monitor the sound while recording/mixing. I was looking for a moderately priced pair of headphones to use it with my Sony mp3 player(NW-HD3) and in the office. I also wanted a decent pair of headphones to use on the flights, whenever I travel. My reason of choosing the K-26P was based on the online reviews and my experience with the K240S, which I really like. The K240S are obviously full size headphones are not really meant to be used for travel/office etc.

All I can say is WOW! The sound that comes out of these cans are amazing. The bass is tight, the midrange very sweet and highs are not exaggerating as is the case with other headphones at this price range. When I listen to the music, now I hear the sounds that I never knew before existed. I think that these cans are as good as the Grado SR-125 and the AKG-240S. AKG has a different sound then the Grado. The Grado is more detailed and forward. The AKG K-26P is more balanced and the mid-range is to die for. I hear every bit detail of the music that I never noticed before, probably because it was getting muffled with other sounds.

Also, K-26P are more sensitive then other pairs of this price range so you do not have to turn up the volume as high as with others, saving you the battery life.

For me these are quite comfortable. I think the comfort is a very personal issue. Some people love the In-the-ear design and think that they are the most comfortable. I think otherwise. It makes me claustrophobic! These do feel tight at first but after a while they will adjust. Or you can manually bend outwards(carefully) the metal as I did.

Also, these phones are closed-type, meaning they will block the outside sound partially and also the sound will not leak out, good for airplane rides.

For about 40 bucks, you cannot find a pair of headphones better then this. Give it a try, you will not regret it.

(using kid's review cus i'm too lazy to register)

i've gotten them, and they rock.

best headphones i've ever owned. (albiet, most expensive too)

here are specs, which i had a hard time getting a complete list of:

dynamic, closed back.
73 grams without cable
1.5 metre cable
32 ohms impedance
125 dB SPL/V (what the heck is that unit?) efficiency
40 mm driver unit
12-28,000 frequency response
stereo mini plug- gold, angled.

now: they should fit everyone's head quite snuggly, which is for the seal, i presume. if your head is really big ( i mean unnaturally), then it might not fit... but then ordinary headphones wouldn't fit either.

it could be used for single side monitering if you want: each earpiece swivels 100 degrees in one direction and then 15 in the other (left side swivels more forward, right side more back. )

the drivers are 40mm, and have spiral ridges like most headphone drivers i've looked at. the earpad cover is quite durable- a little stiff, but it means it will last that much longer. the larger sized drivers make the bass powerful. (more on that later)

the overall external construction very good quality and design. the only fault i can find is it's a bit hard to fold completely.

now: the sound is quite good. i don't have any higher quality phones to compare them too- but they beat out all the ones i've had to date (all less than 30 bucks).

the sound is quite good. on a flat EQ, it sounds truely flat. the bass is there, nice and powerful, but not overpowering. (others might beg to differ). the sound is quite clear, and i think the mids, highs, and bass are all in perfect balance. i can hear a lot of mids that i used to miss on headphones that emphasised loud base and clear highs.

but then, on some headphones, when you put on a high bass EQ, you get clipped bass, because the headphones can't play those low frequencys as loud as the player is pumping them out. Not with these. ask them too, and they will deliver the bass with power.

also; boost the highs and these headphones will perform.

with the jazz EQ, i can not only hear the vocals, but i can hear distinctley background cymbals i never heard before. i can hear the tinny-ness of the cymbals as the drummer hits them. they don't sound like bells, as they did on cheaper headphones.

now; all those are not just talking about rock music, when i play instrumental music, it's the same result. i also get the same results with songs that are mainly female vocals.

I was interested to see how they'd fair with classical music, so i headed to my classical collection and first played some piano solos. the sound of the piano is much clearer sounding than any other headphones i've heard. All the notes are heard, not just the melody notes.

also, with orchestra music, i can now hear more detail, and each instrument.

simply: these headphones are quite good. they rock. they roll. they play the music how you want it. they're comforatble on the head (a bit tight, but that's something that you'll quickly become acustomed too).

of course, it also has made me hear the reason why i went with 256kps; when i listened to 128, i could hear the effects of encoding.

So, I've read the rest of the reviews and how critical they are. I mean a pair of cans at this level of resolution and comfort for fifty bucks and everyone has a gripe. Come on people.

Here's the bottom line: I'm a bald guy nearing 60 and comfort is paramount. When I first put these guys on my crown I thought "too tight" only to find that it was a secure feeling and actually quite comfortable. A tad snug, but sure to stay in place whilst on my bike or walking.

My primary is the Grado SR-125 and I can say that the AKGs do very well when compared via a Creek amp, so when used with your portable - look out.. The bass is quite good and fun whilst on the move and the mids are full. Treble is exceptional in this price range.

If you're looking for something to replace all the crappy 'buds' out there or to sneak something into work or your workout - stop searching. Enjoy!

These headphones have excellent sound; the bass is full and accurate, the sound is balanced and beautiful!! They are on the tight side, but they form a good seal to shut out noise, great if you have noisy children or don't want every little external sound to interfere with your listening experience. Also, they are incredibly easy to fold up and put into their bag; this is very handy so they don't get trashed in my purse. I probably will increase the encoding for my mp3 songs to 192 (instead of 128); I heard a lot more depth in the songs that had increased encoding. This is a must-have upgrade for your mp3 player!

I'm about as picky as they come when sound is the issue. I have a home recording studio, with 30 years of experience as a semi-pro musician (jazz, rock, classical, country). That said, I approach every musical equipment purchase with thorough research and comparison. Since I have good wired phones (Senn 280s and others) in my studio, I wanted some lightweight portables for the long walks I like to take at the beach and elsewhere, often while listening to recordings I've been working on. (I use a CD walkman, with no EQ options.) Several other small portable cans that I own are just not hi-fi enough to enjoy: my ultra-cheap JVCs sound ultra-tinny, and my Koss SportaPros (while much better than the JVCs) have such dominant, boomy bass that the other frequencies cower in the background. The only models receiving consistently strong reviews are the Senn px100, Koss PortaPro, and AKG 26p, but of these, only the AKGs offer a closed design that provides some isolation, something I definitely need. (If you're trying to protect your ears, as I am, then the closed design is helpful. Less outside noise, less volume needed. Plus, the peaceful isolation just feels good while roaming.)

In short, these little AKGs have been a breath of fresh air for me--the sound is flat enough to present the musical spectrum in its entirety; the fit is snug yet comfy; and the isolation is enough to make the ocean or traffic fade into the background. Well, almost. Since musical sound is always my highest priority, I'm particularly impressed with the low-end reproduction of these little cans. The sub-freqs seem just a tad boosted to bring out those deep extremes (oh, they sound good), but the low end is still very punchy and tight, not suffering from the boomy, mushy, missing, or overpowering lows so typical of most portables I've heard. The mids seem smooth and plenty revealing, and the highs--while somewhat rolled off in the very highest freqs--seem generally sufficient, in a flat-response kind of way. (Listeners desiring a smiley-curve-bright high end will find the AKGs lacking.) I have a hunch that AKG engineers felt that the open mids and mainstream highs, combined with the attenuated upper highs, would produce a nicely balanced sound while reducing any sense of harshness, especially at higher volumes that are the death knell for many cheap phones. And they may have been right--these cans do really shine at higher sound levels. Personally, I miss the high-end sheen (especially on cymbals), but given the impressive balance, overall, as well as the attractive low price, I'd be a fool to complain. These cans simply sound great, even straight from a CD walkman with no EQ tailoring possible. Are they good enough to use some day as back-up phones in my recording studio? No, I don't think so. They certainly can't compete with the full-range fidelity of decent over-the-ear cans, but these AKGs are also 1/3 the price or less--and compact for street wear. (They look pretty cool, too, professional yet very small, if that matters to you.)

I've already recommended these AKGs to a close friend, a music lover with a great set of ears, and he's now recommending them to others. I can do the same to you, as long as you're fine with (or have the ability to tweak) the subdued upper-high end. Musical tastes differ greatly, so I hesitate to recommend anything too strongly, but I do believe that many discerning listeners who appreciate well-balanced sound with good isolation will find these cans to be the best cheap portables they've heard. An enthusiastic 4 ½ stars from me after a couple of months of almost daily use on the street and at the beach. Now more than ever, thanks to these little AKGs, my daily walk is relaxing, productive, and a thing of beauty. Well done, AKG. Happy listening, all.

(By the way, if you do buy these cans, you should realize that it's important to position such closed phones carefully on your ears. Experiment with them at first because the amount of seal will affect the sound, especially the low end. Also, be sure to watch for traffic if on the street--I'm not kidding. I find myself very easily distracted by the great sound and isolation, so do be careful.)

(A quick June 2008 update, two years of almost daily use later: no surprises, no regrets, all of the above.)