Genre-border high-end headphones. Better than the Q701. Conditionally suited for multimedia.

The excellently processed K712 features like its smaller brothers (Q701, K701) through an airy, transparent and uncluttered sound with very good soundstage, which seems a little closer than the Q701. The more power the more punchier the sound in low and lower midrange. Instruments are mapped nicely isolated and very well locates. The long-term wearing comfort is excellent.
Similar to the already Q701 compared to the K701 has a more pronounced bass, the K712 sets here again punchy slightly without smearing the bass or very aufdickt to. He always remains clearly located and fits well into the overall sound.
Compared to the K / Q701 I would describe the sound as something _satter, warmer, crisp, punchy and spritziger_ without the stage or analysis be affected.
The K712 is caused only limited by its open design suitable multimedia (movies, games) as the "subwoofer effect" is missing, which provide closed headphones better.
Priced at currently about 340 compared to about 230 for Q701, the question arises whether a price difference of 110 is justified. I think so, although I was not sure at first. Half a star I pull from the partially touching the ears with the material before the drivers (see below).

What open headphones concerns I finally arrived with the K712.

# General

You need a powerful headphone output. When I run the headphones to my iPhone or Goolge Nexus Tablet, I have to make very loud, so a low to medium volume is achieved.

It is at K712 to an open headphones. Ie outside sounds are not shielded and sounds penetrate from the headphones to the outside. This is due to the design and should be considered when buying. Especially you will not wear these headphones while walking.

The headphones unfolds after 30h einspielt time before he realizes its potential.

# Purchase motivation

I had, until recently, the AKG Q701, which I only used for listening to music and a Beyerdynamic DT770 32ohms to play and for my mobile devices at home. I was with the Q701 actually already very satisfied (see my review here). If I want to watch a movie in the living room undisturbed or games, I use the closed DT770, which does not interfere and the environment.
Now it turned out that I had read a lot of tests to K712 and this is indeed now advertised with a better bass. Then I got a good deal on my Q701 and took the K712 at Amazon via Warehouse Deals for 309th
Well I was curious and bought the K712 and sold the Q701. On delivery, it turned out that the jack adapter was missing and Amazon reimbursed me another 15% on the purchase price :) My price for the K712 is thus 260th

# Test environment

## Playback chains

* PC + USB DAC Cambridge Audio DacMagic Plus with built-in headphone amplifier + ASIO driver + 320kbit / s VBR MP3s with the highest quality
* NAD T757 Home Cinema Receiver + 320kbit / s VBR MP3s with the highest quality + BluRay movies
* BR60 Bryston amplifier + Sony SACD Player + diverse quality CDs
* Google Nexus 7 Tablet 2012
* The headset was recorded 20h

# Comfort

The comfort is similar to the K701 class. Compared to Q701 missing when the K712 criticized by some listeners disturbing headband knobs. The Gelohrpolster are great and certainly an advantage for K / Q701. The self-adjusting headband made of leather is very comfortable and practical.
You do not get hot ears and you have enough space. However, the drivers are compared to Q701 closer to the ear, so some will have the problem that parts of the ear, if necessary, touch the fabric in front of the drivers. I believe this is due to the properties of the gel pads that are narrower after a certain time by the self-low downforce. You can avoid the problem on the head by the correct position of the headset. The cushion of the K / Q701 are somewhat rigid. For eyeglass wearers, the less rigid gel pads are definitely an advantage.
So overall very good (long) comfortable, and I felt something airy comfort of the Q701, despite the nubs.

# Sound

## Music

I am particularly interested, of course the supposedly better Tieftonperformance. Here I can confirm that this is compared to Q701 actually again a little fuller and fuller. This gives the overall sound a little more heat. The bass is always precise and not smeared. However, you should not expect _an the wall down to werden_ how you can experience it in DT770. I think this is due to the enclosed design, the DT770.
Otherwise, the K712 also does everything right. Analytical sound with great stage and linear frequency response as far as I can tell. Compared to Q701, the stage is different pronounced. It is closer to or on the stage. Is certainly subjective, what you prefer it. I got used to it and think it's really good.

The Tieftonperformance I test like the electric-song Parov Stelar - Love Remix or the dub song DubXanne - Walking On The Moon (Walking On The Dub). What I hear here is already really good and better than the Q701. The DT770 leave me here but really stand out but also messy and muddy. I found that the low-frequency range after a certain break-in period was fuller, warmer and a bit more powerful.

With the song Cassandra Wilson - Come On In My Kitchen I like to test the bass figure and a medium deep female voice. What I hear here is very ingenious. Many headphones act on this song not stressed as the K712. The plucking bass sides very well, tired and dry presented. Audible better than in Q701. Even more significant, it is in the song "Siri's Svale Band - Do not Explain".

Real live feeling on coming with the album "Dee Dee Bridgewater - (Live (1998 / Yoshi's, Oakland))" eg with the song "Stairway to the Stars" and "(I'd Like To Get You On A) Slow Boat To China ". Here am convinced of K712 total. Does the Q701 as well.

The Acoustic Blues disc Muddy Waters - Folk Singer is also a pleasure. The recording dates back to 1962 and 2000 has been digitally remastered.

The Grunch / metal song Rage Against The Machine - Know Your Enemy convinces with its kanckigen electric bass at the beginning of the song. The later onset electric guitars and drums convince me. Here, the K712 is clearly audible on the Q701. Should open up about more genres of K712?
What I Dire Straits - Money for Nothing say? Simply amazing. That should hear her own. Fuller and warmer than the Q701 in particular the electric bass and the vocals.

I hear a lot of jazz. The sound of two of my favorite albums Gregory Porter - Liquid Spirit (Deluxe Edition) and Diana Krall - The Girl in the Other Room convinced me absolutely. Here I especially of lower compared to Q701 distance to the stage is aware.

The electro-Swing Album "Parov Stelar - The Art Of Sampling" shows me clearly the liveliness and warmth of the K712.

The more the K712 is supplied with power, the more powerful is the sound in low and lower midrange. At high volumes, impressed the level accuracy.

### Test Music

* Cassandra Wilson - Come On In My Kitchen
* Diana Krall - Broadway (Album Version) feat. Christian McBride
* Diana Krall - Almost Blue
* Renee Olstead - Summertime
* Melody Gardot - Who Will Comfort Me
* Dee Dee Bridgewater - (I'd Like To Get You On A) Slow Boat To China (Live (1998 / Yoshi's, Oakland))
* Dee Dee Bridgewater - Stairway To The Stars (Live (1998 / Yoshi's, Oakland))
* The Monty Alexander Trio - Feelings (Live)
* The Oscar Peterson Trio - You Look Good To Me
* Muddy Waters - My Home Is In The Delta
* Siri's Svale Band - Do not Explain
* Parov Stelar - Love Remix
* Lana Del Rey - Ultraviolence
* Rage Against The Machine - Know Your Enemy
* Semper Opera - Triumphal March from Aida-
* Tony Joe White - Sweet Tooth
* Dire Straits - Money for Nothing
* Organ Explosion - Mimi Lotta
* DubXanne - Walking On The Moon (Walking On The Dub)
* Monty Alexander - Crazy Bald Heads
* Gregory Porter - When Love Was King

## Movies & games

Like the Q701 the K712 is conditionally suited for movies, which the K712 is prior to the Q701. Of course you can also watch movies and Sprachverständlichkeitt and music is top, however, is missing in some places the quivering Subwoof feeling, which does give a DT770. This is clear, for example, at the low trembling voice in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug [Blu-ray] or even during the first battle between Nero and the Enterpise in Star Trek [Blu-ray]. Sure plays the K712 mehere classes on the DT770, but of something smeared in the overall sound of bass DT770 in the multimedia sector is an advantage.
If one has no comparison as I eg with my home theater system with subwoofer or the DT770, may not notice that.

The same I can for the game Battlefield: Bad Company 2 attest.

# Processing

For AKG's K-Series typical very good workmanship. The headband is made of genuine leather and the bow are made of metal with a smooth finish. Otherwise plastic and velor.

# Equipment

* 3.5mm jack adapter on 6,3mm
* 3m straight cable, very hüübsch in the dark ornage
* 5m coiled cable in black. The 6m straight cable from Q701, I found better. I personally do not like spiral cable.
* Fabric carrying bag

# Recommendation

For pure music application absolute buy recommendation for the K712. For movie and games a conditional purchase recommendation. The K712 opens opposite the Q701 also suitability for the genre electro and rock / blues, which delighted more in the genre of electro bass of the DT770. Clear remains of K712 in cleaner than a DT770.
Those who can afford 2 headphones, I recommend the K712 for music and a closed headphones as the DT770 for movies and games.