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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-28 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want neutral, high-impedance-style studio monitoring with the widest frequency range in this comparison, choose AKG K371; if you need a battery-powered headphone amp that turns any pair of headphones into a guitar or bass rig, choose BOSS KATANA:GO.
• AKG K371 — biggest strength: A closed over-ear studio design built around AKG's reference response target, with 50 mm dynamic drivers and a 5 Hz–40 kHz range for critical listening, mixing and editing.
• AKG K371 — biggest trade-off: It's a wired headphone only. There's no battery, no amp modeling and no wireless audio streaming — it needs a device to plug into.
• BOSS KATANA:GO — biggest strength: A pocket-sized personal headphone amplifier with 10 guitar amp types, 85+ guitar effects, three bass amp types, 65+ bass effects, Bluetooth music streaming and 3D spatial audio.
• BOSS KATANA:GO — biggest trade-off: It isn't a headphone at all. It's a headphone amp — you still need your own headphones, and it's designed around playing an instrument rather than neutral studio monitoring.
• Choose AKG K371 if you record, mix, edit or produce and want one accurate wired pair you can fold up and carry.
• Choose BOSS KATANA:GO if you play guitar or bass and want stage-class Katana tones, effects and backing-track streaming in your headphones at home or on the road.
The K371 is a closed-back, over-ear studio headphone. The oval, closed-band design is the reason it isolates reasonably well and keeps low-frequency response tight — a closed cup traps more of the sound around your ear instead of letting it leak, which matters when you're tracking in a room with other people or mixing in a noisy space. The 50 mm transducers are the largest driver size cited in this comparison, and AKG pairs them with a pure OFC voicecoil.
Where this headphone earns its place is neutrality. AKG states that the K371 is engineered to meet the acoustic target of its reference response curve, so the goal is balanced, natural audio rather than a hyped, bass-heavy signature. The stated frequency range of 5 Hz to 40 kHz is unusually wide, covering well beyond the audible band at both ends. For an engineer, podcast author, video editor or content producer, that combination — flat-ish intent, deep low-end extension, extended treble — is exactly what lets you make decisions that translate to other systems instead of flattering a bad mix.
The practical details matter too. The cable is detachable and there's a 3.5 mm to 6.5 mm adapter included, so the same headphone works with a laptop, an audio interface or a phone output. The ear cups are described as soft and ergonomic, the headphone folds, and it ships with a carrying case in faux leather. At 255 g it's a genuinely portable studio tool rather than a desk-bound brick.
BOSS KATANA:GO: Who It's For
The KATANA:GO is a different category of product entirely, and it's important to be clear about that. It's a personal headphone amplifier for guitar and bass, not a headphone. You plug it into your instrument's output jack, plug your own headphones into it, and you get ready-to-play sounds drawn from the stage-class Katana amp series — no amp, no cab, no computer required.
The feature set is deep. Guitar mode gives you 10 amp types and over 85 effects. Bass mode gives you three amp types and over 65 effects. That two-mode structure is reflected in the spec sheet's "number of bands: 2," and the two output channels line up with the 3D spatial audio processing, which BOSS describes as a rich, three-dimensional playing experience — the kind of thing that makes headphones feel less like a practice tool and more like standing in front of a rig.
The wireless side is what separates it from a plain headphone amp. Bluetooth lets you stream backing tracks from your phone and edit tones in an app, and BOSS Tone Exchange is a sound library you can browse for whatever style you play. It's battery powered, so it works anywhere, and the enclosure is metal rather than plastic — a sensible choice for something that lives in a gig bag. Connections are a 3.5 mm jack and USB.
Who should buy it: guitarists and bassists who practice at home, travel, or need silent playing at night; players who want Katana-style tones and a huge effects palette without hauling an amp; and anyone who wants to jam along to streamed music in their headphones. Who should skip it: anyone who actually needs a headphone for editing or monitoring — the KATANA:GO doesn't come with one — and anyone who wants a neutral reference rather than a deliberately colored, amp-shaped tone. It's an instrument tool, not a studio monitor.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for critical mixing and editing → AKG K371. Reference-tuned, closed-back, 5 Hz–40 kHz, 50 mm drivers.
• Best for playing guitar or bass silently → BOSS KATANA:GO. 10 guitar amps, 85+ guitar effects, three bass amps, 65+ bass effects.
• Best for a wired, battery-free, no-charging workflow → AKG K371. Passive design, detachable cable, 3.5 mm to 6.5 mm adapter included.
• Best for streaming backing tracks and app-based tone editing → BOSS KATANA:GO. Bluetooth plus BOSS Tone Exchange.
• Best for spatial, immersive listening → BOSS KATANA:GO. 3D spatial audio output with two channels.
• Best for content producers who need one honest reference pair → AKG K371. Aimed at artists, engineers, podcasters, editors and producers.
• Best for a metal-bodied, gig-bag-proof practice device → BOSS KATANA:GO. Metal enclosure.
One thing worth flagging: these two don't really compete head-to-head, they compete for your attention and your budget. If you already own a decent pair of headphones and you play guitar, the KATANA:GO upgrades what you already have. If you don't own a reference headphone and your work involves audio decisions, the K371 is the one that plugs a hole in your setup.
In my opinion, if you're shopping under the phrase "high impedance studio headphones," the AKG K371 is the product on this page that actually answers the question. It's the only one of the two that is a headphone, it's built around a reference response target, and its 50 mm drivers and 5 Hz–40 kHz range make it the better tool for anyone doing critical listening, mixing or editing. I'd buy the K371 for studio work. I'd buy the BOSS KATANA:GO only if my real need is practicing guitar or bass through headphones — in which case it's excellent, but it's solving a completely different problem.
do high impedance headphones sound better
Not automatically. Impedance is an electrical property, not a quality rating. The AKG K371 is rated at 32 Ohm with high sensitivity of 114 dB SPL/V at 1 kHz, which means it's easy to drive from phones, laptops and interfaces. What actually shapes sound quality here is the 50 mm driver, the closed-back design and the reference response tuning — not a high impedance number.
is high impedance good for headphones
High impedance is good in specific situations — mainly when a headphone is designed to be driven by a dedicated amplifier with plenty of voltage headroom, such as in some studio and hi-fi setups. It isn't universally better. A lower-impedance, high-sensitivity design like the K371's 32 Ohm / 114 dB SPL/V combination is deliberately made to work well with both professional and consumer devices without extra gear.
are high impedance headphones better
Not across the board. They can pair well with powerful dedicated amps, but they also demand more from whatever is driving them. The K371 takes the opposite approach: moderate impedance plus high sensitivity so it performs consistently on everyday gear. If your source is a laptop, interface or phone, that's the more practical spec to have.
why are high impedance headphones better
They aren't inherently better — the common argument is that higher impedance can reduce the impact of output impedance mismatches and noise on some amplifier designs. That's a system-level consideration, not a guarantee of better sound. In this comparison, the K371's value comes from its reference tuning, closed over-ear isolation and 5 Hz–40 kHz range, and the KATANA:GO's value comes from amp modeling, effects, Bluetooth and 3D spatial audio.
If price is the deciding factor for you, check the current price on Amazon using the button on this page before you commit — I don't quote figures here, and the numbers move around.
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