AKG K52 headphones review: A good choice for a clean, balanced sound

The AKG brand is well-known to headphone enthusiasts who want the very best and the K52 is one of the more reasonably priced products from its stable.

Even at first glance, there is much to like about the K52 - the classic AKG metal frame holding the 40mm drivers, the no-frills and totally business-like build and finish and the sturdy cable with nice stress relief.

These over-ear, closed back headphones don't have a cable that is user-replaceable - something that is increasingly becoming a standard feature in headphones these days and one of the few things I didn't like about the K52.

The K52 are extremely lightweight - just 200 grams - and this makes even extended listening sessions a breeze. The comfort levels are superlative, with the self-adjusting headband and the plush earpads ensuring that the K52 sits very easily on your ears, and the level of isolation was more than adequate.

The package describes the K52 as a headphone for "project studios and rehearsals", meaning these are probably better suited for use in a studio environment by those who create music. But the K52 won't disappoint even casual listeners.

They have a nice and open sound that works well with all genres. But if you're a basshead, the K52 isn't the headphone you'll naturally gravitate towards.

The K52 is great at capturing the nuances of vocal and instrumental performances and the low end is very well defined, providing a solid foundation for a very transparent sound.

In recent weeks, a performance by Tears For Fears for the Spotify Landmark series has become my go-to audio recording for testing earphones because it is extremely well recorded. Listening to it with the K52s was a revelation - one could clearly discern the separation of instruments and the slight buzzing and feedback from amplifiers in the silent sections between songs.

The K52's low impedance design means it's easily driven even by smartphones or digital audio players. Listening to guitarist Eric Johnson's first all-acoustic album EJ on my Redmi Note 3 was a revelation, though I had turn the volume up to almost the 2 o'clock position.

With a suggested retail price of about ₹4,000 (though it goes for less online), the K52 is a great choice if you're looking for a well-made and nicely designed headphone with a balanced sound.

Specifications:

Headphone type Over ear, closed-back

Maximum input power 200 mW

Audio frequency bandwidth 18 to 20,000 Hz

Sensitivity 110 dB

Rated impedance 32 Ohms

Driver size 40mm