If you want a wider stated frequency range and a replaceable-cable design for studio work or portable listening, choose AKG Pro Audio K371; if you need a lighter wired headphone for long sessions, choose AKG Pro Audio K361. For sleeping, neither is a natural fit: both are closed-back over-ear headphones with a headband, not compact sleep earbuds. Between them, the K361’s lower listed weight gives it the more comfortable starting point for anyone considering a headphone for rest.
• AKG Pro Audio K371 strength: 5 Hz–40 kHz stated frequency range, foldable design, and a detachable mini-XLR cable. Trade-off: It weighs 255 g, 36 g more than the K361.
• AKG Pro Audio K361 strength: A lighter 219 g build with a foldable design and closed-back, over-ear construction. Trade-off: Its stated frequency range is narrower, at 15 Hz–28 kHz.
• Both are wired, closed-back, over-ear studio headphones with 50 mm drivers, 32-ohm impedance, and 114 dB sensitivity.
• Choose the K371 for its wider listed range, included cable options, and replaceable ear pads.
• Choose the K361 if a lower listed weight matters more than the K371’s extra range and mini-XLR connection.
• For sleeping, neither is designed like an in-ear option; the K361 is lighter, but both have an over-ear headband form.
The K371 is the more feature-rich choice for someone who wants a wired studio headphone that can move between a desk and a bag. Its stated frequency range runs from 5 Hz to 40 kHz, compared with 15 Hz to 28 kHz for the K361. Both use 50 mm dynamic drivers and have a listed 32-ohm impedance and 114 dB sensitivity, so the K371’s clearest specification distinction is its wider frequency range rather than a different driver size or sensitivity figure.
Its foldable, notched headband is intended to make storage and transport easier. The oval, closed-back earcups provide isolation, and the listed package includes a mini-XLR-to-3.5 mm cable, a 3.5 mm-to-6.3 mm adapter, and straight and coiled cable options. The ear pads are replaceable, a useful design detail for someone who expects to keep a pair in regular rotation. The headphone weighs 255 g.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
I’d choose the K371 for studio monitoring, editing, podcasting, or listening on the go when those features matter. I’d skip it if minimizing weight is the priority: at 255 g, it is heavier than the K361. And for anyone searching for on-ear headphones for sleeping, this is not an on-ear model at all. It covers the ears and uses a headband, which is a very different shape from sleep-focused earbuds.
AKG Pro Audio K361: Who It's For
The K361 makes a straightforward case for buyers who want a foldable, closed-back studio headphone with a lighter listed weight. At 219 g, it is 36 g lighter than the K371. It still has 50 mm dynamic drivers, 32-ohm impedance, and 114 dB sensitivity, so choosing it does not mean moving to a smaller driver or a different listed impedance.
Its stated frequency range is 15 Hz to 28 kHz. That is narrower than the K371’s range, but both are described as aiming for accurate, neutral sound. The K361 also has oval over-ear cups and slow-retention foam ear pads. Its included accessories are a 3.5 mm-to-6.3 mm adapter, straight cables in 3 m and 1.2 m lengths, and a protective pouch. Its listed design is foldable, making it practical to pack away between sessions.
• Wider stated frequency range → AKG Pro Audio K371. It is listed at 5 Hz–40 kHz, while the K361 is listed at 15 Hz–28 kHz.
• Lower listed weight → AKG Pro Audio K361. It weighs 219 g versus 255 g for the K371, a difference that may matter over long listening or editing sessions.
• Replaceable ear pads → AKG Pro Audio K371. That feature is specified for the K371 and is a practical plus for a headphone used regularly.
• Mini-XLR cable connection → AKG Pro Audio K371. Its cable connects through mini-XLR, and the listed package includes a coiled cable as well as straight options.
• A lighter foldable wired option → AKG Pro Audio K361. Its 219 g weight and foldable design suit someone who wants a relatively light pair to put away or carry.
• Adapter for larger headphone jacks → Either. Both include a 3.5 mm-to-6.3 mm adapter.
• Sleeping with headphones → Neither is an obvious fit. Both are wired, closed-back, over-ear designs, not compact earbuds intended to sit close to the ear.
• A choice based on core listed audio specifications → Close match. Both have 50 mm dynamic drivers, 32-ohm impedance, and 114 dB sensitivity; the main spec differences are the K371’s wider stated range and the K361’s lower weight.
These differences are more useful than treating either model as an across-the-board upgrade. The K371 leans toward extra flexibility in its cable and pad design, plus the wider stated frequency range. The K361 gives up those particular distinctions while keeping the shared driver size, impedance, sensitivity, and closed-back over-ear format in a lighter build.
The sleeping angle needs a separate reality check. “Best USB C charging earphones for sleeping” describes a very different product category: neither AKG is a USB-C charging earphone, and neither is wireless. Their appeal is as wired studio headphones, not as a compact device designed for lying on a pillow. The K361’s lower weight may make it the less cumbersome of these two on paper, but I would not confuse that with a sleep-specific design.
My Verdict
I’d choose the AKG Pro Audio K371 for studio and everyday listening because its 5 Hz–40 kHz stated range, mini-XLR connection, replaceable pads, and cable options give it the more adaptable feature set. The K361 is the sensible alternative if lower weight is your main concern. For sleeping, though, I would choose neither: both are over-ear, wired headphones, not sleep-focused earbuds. Neither is my pick for the best true wireless earbuds for sleeping.
In my opinion, the K371 is the more versatile choice if you value its wider stated frequency range, mini-XLR cable connection, and replaceable ear pads. The K361 is lighter, so it may be the better fit when weight matters most.
Which is lighter, the AKG K371 or K361?
The K361 is listed at 219 g, while the K371 is listed at 255 g. That makes the K361 36 g lighter according to the product specifications.
Neither is designed as a sleep headphone. Both are wired, closed-back, over-ear models with headbands, rather than small earbuds intended for a low-profile fit.
The K371 is listed with a 5 Hz–40 kHz range; the K361 is listed at 15 Hz–28 kHz. Both also share 50 mm dynamic drivers, 32-ohm impedance, and 114 dB sensitivity.
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