AKG K 81 DJ

The AKG-81DJ may be considered the next logical step up from the workhorse AKG-414P headphone. The AKG K-81DJ sealed-earcup headphone renders a small improvement on the sonics of the little 414P and ups the clarity & intelligibility of the mids/highs while providing a slightly more even-sounding and cleanly-focused bass response. The K-81's tonal signature remains rolled-off in the uppermost highs, but the bottom-end response sounds more textured than in the lower-priced AKG 414P model, so not quite as "boomy" to our ears -- although its still plenty slamming enough for most bassheads. The soundstage imaging is also a bit more wide and separated compared to its little bro' k-414 headphone. The ambient noise-blocking seal of the K-81 remains effective at attenuating the environment while preventing headphone "leakage" and matches that of the smaller-sized earcups on the tiny 414P. A fairly efficient design OK for use with most iPods, Mp3 mobile audio players, & laptop/PC computers, the AKG K-81DJ offers yet another solid, affordable sealed headphone option within the always-expanding AKG model line.

One thing to keep in mind is that any dedicated (portable) headphone amp makes a worthwhile significant partner for the K-81 and serves to fully maximize the musical clarity, dynamic range extension, and low-level detail resolution of this headphone with a clearly audible, positive impact on the overall audio performance when used from portable music player sources.

The K-81DJ's small-to-mid-sized, 'supra-aural' earcups rest on top of the outer earlobes with nicely plushy pleather-covered earpads that rotate 180 degrees, perfect for fast-paced DJ "mono" mixing with one ear or for just keeping your head on a swivel when you prefer to remain somewhat aware of your surroundings. The earcups also fold up & collapse into the headband for ease of storage/ travel portability. The headband construction of the K-81DJ is a lightweight but fairly thick rubberized/metal combination that feels very durable and secure on the head but might perhaps be just a tad creaky for the extra-picky type. The secure clamping force of the headband may prove an issue for big-noggin folks but you can always gently bend the pliable headband (gently!) for a slightly more easy, personalized fit. Also, letting the headband stretch while clamped on a basketball or clamping them over a thick stack of books for several days will help alleviate the tight-fit issue for most listeners. Generally speaking, most sizing/fit adjustments are simple & effective via the straight-forward headband slider mechanism. The headphone's 'Y-cord' is approximately an 8-foot length terminated to a gold-plated 1/8" [3.5mm] mini-plug jack. A cord slider is included to snug up the slack cable as well as a 1/4" full-size screw-on adapter jack. A handy transit carry-pouch completes the AKG K-81DJ headphone package. 2-year product warranty remains standard with all AKG headphones.