Review by Senior Member Iron_Dreamer on 07 Aug 06 04:27| Individual review |
| Bass Extension | 5 |
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| Bass Impact | 7 |
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| Bass Quality | 6 |
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| Mids Quality | 7 |
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| Highs Quality | 7 |
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| Detail | 6 |
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| Comfort | 6 |
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| Durability | 7 |
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| Value | 6 |
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The AKG K270S is a headphone that, for some reason, has a less than stellar reputation. After listening to these headphones for a while, I fail to understand the bad rap that they get.
While the K270S certainly sets no benchmarks in any realm of headphone performance (despite its' unique dual-driver design), it provides a very listenable and coherent sound. This asset is certainly their greatest strength. There are no fatiguing jagged treble peaks or bass bloat. As with many other AKG headphones, the midrange is the foundation of the sound, with bass and treble present in supporting roles.
Bass extension is certainly no highlight, though they reach decently deep, they lack a certain spectrum of bass that gives a greater ambiance and there-ness in better performing headphones. Unlike their successor, the K271S, the K270 has an ample bass quantity and slam that is quite satisfying, if not quite as tight and well-defined as the best headphones.
The midrange has a very nice timbre, which is realistic and believable. The treble continues the trend, being quite smooth and unobtrusive, though a bit rolled off at the high end. This results in a somewhat closed-in soundstage reminiscent of the K271S, though the soundstage has pretty decent imaging and depth. Transparency and resolution aren't the greatest, but for a headphone in this price range, it's hardly a major flaw.
The K270S is a full-size studio headphone, not really meant to be portable, though its' light weight, flexible cord, and 1/8" plug make them a bit more convenient. Comfort is pretty good, the earpads are a bit small, but still circumaural, and retain a fair amount of heat. The inside of the earcups is not very deep, and so the headphones must be positioned right to avoid touching the ears. Once they are in position, the low weight and low pressure makes them useable for hours. Like most AKG's, they are pretty well built, from mostly hard plastic, but not up to the standards of the best made headphones on the market.
Having relatively low 92dB/mW sensitivity, the K270S will not always get along without an amp. Since it has fairly low impedance, some portable players can get it sufficiently loud, but the bass becomes a bit muddier compared to not using an amp.
I think the K270S is a headphone that is more enjoyable than its' technical merits would make one think, just because it has no glaring annoyances. Sure, other headphones can perform better in almost every area, but the K270S puts the music together in a way that lets you ignore those performance losses. It might not fit every head right, so buyer beware there (for those with large earlobes, or ears that stick out a lot). It's hardly perfect, but at the reasonable price they go for these days, they are quite competitive with other closed headphones.
UPDATE: Over time I've found that these headphones are pretty sensative to positioning (likely due to the unusual internal porting). If I put them a bit further back and higher on my head than I wear most headphones, the soundstage is noticeably larger and more believeable than in other positions. The frequency response is also a bit different, with slightly less midbass and a better top end. I would say this makes them sound pretty neutral in the right position.
My Ratings:
Bass Extension: 5
Bass Impact: 7
Bass Quality: 6
Mids Quality: 7
Highs Quality: 7
Soundstage: 5
Detail: 6
Portability: 3
Isolation: 6
Comfort: 6
Durability: 7
Improvement with Amplification: 6
Value for the Money: 6
