We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-04 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want reference-grade isolation and a cable long enough to reach across a rehearsal room or a garage workbench, choose AKG K72; if you need a cheap, light, easy-to-pocket pair with an inline mic for calls and casual listening — including a passenger on a motorcycle — choose SONY Over Ear. Neither one is a noise-cancelling motorcycle headset, and I want to be upfront about that before we go further, because anyone searching for a noise cancelling kids headset for motorcycle or ANC open-ear earbuds for motorcycle is shopping in a different category. These are both wired, both over-ear, and both do specific jobs well. Here's who each one actually fits.
• AKG K72 — biggest strength: Closed-back over-ear design with 40mm dynamic drivers, a 16 Hz–20 kHz range, and 112 dB sensitivity, which together point to strong passive isolation and detailed low-end for monitoring.
• AKG K72 — biggest trade-off: It's a studio tool, not a travel accessory. Wired only, a fixed 9.8-foot single-sided cable, 500 g item weight, and no inline controls or mic.
• SONY Over Ear — biggest strength: Light, plastic-bodied, folding-style portability with a 3.5mm jack, 24 ohm impedance, and an integrated remote with a built-in mic — plug-and-play with phones and MP3 players.
• SONY Over Ear — biggest trade-off: No noise control at all, a narrower 20 Hz–20,000 Hz range, and a plastic build. Fine for casual use, not built to take a beating.
• Pick AKG K72 if you're recording, mixing, or practicing and want isolation plus accuracy.
• Pick SONY Over Ear if you want a simple, portable, mic-equipped pair for a phone, tablet, or MP3 player.
The K72 is a closed-back, over-ear studio headphone, and everything about the spec sheet says "work," not "commute." The 40mm dynamic drivers cover 16 Hz to 20 kHz, which is deliberately wider at the bottom than the Sony's 20 Hz floor — that's the range where kick drums and bass guitars live, and it's why AKG frames this as a monitoring headphone. Sensitivity is listed at 112 dB with 32 ohm impedance, so it will get loud from a phone or laptop, though it's happiest on a proper interface or amp.
So who should buy it? Anyone doing rehearsals, home recording, mixing, or focused listening at a desk who wants isolation from a closed-back design and doesn't need wireless. Who should skip it? If you're packing a bag for a flight, or you want to take a call without holding your phone, or you want something you can stuff in a jacket pocket — this isn't it. It's also 500 g as an item, which is not a featherweight in a backpack.
One more note for riders specifically: "best head phones for motorcycle" searches usually mean either helmet-comms or ANC, and the K72 is neither. It's wired, it's bulky, and it has no noise cancellation — just passive isolation from the closed-back cups. As a passenger or a stationary listener it's fine. As a rider, no.
SONY Over Ear: Who It's For
The Sony here is the MDR-ZX110AP in white — a budget over-ear that's clearly built around portability and convenience rather than critical listening. The driver layout is dynamic, impedance is a low 24 ohm, and the frequency range runs 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. Lower impedance means it's easy to drive from basically anything with a headphone jack, which is exactly the point of this product.
Connectivity is a 3.5mm wired jack, which is what makes it work with iPhones, iPods, Galaxy phones, MP3 players, and anything else with a standard jack. There's an integrated remote on the cable with a built-in mic, so you can take calls and control playback without pulling your phone out. The enclosure is plastic, the earpiece shape is rounded, and the whole thing is light enough to disappear in a bag.
Who should buy it? Someone who wants a cheap, no-fuss second pair for a phone, a tablet, a kid's MP3 player, or a passenger on a bike who wants to listen without spending much. The inline mic makes it genuinely useful for calls, and the low impedance means it'll sound loud enough straight out of a phone.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for isolation while recording or practicing → AKG K72. The closed-back design is built to keep sound in and outside noise out.
• Best for casual phone listening and calls → SONY Over Ear. The integrated remote and mic with a 3.5mm jack make it the easier everyday pick.
• Best for extended low-frequency detail → AKG K72. 16 Hz versus 20 Hz, with 40mm drivers tuned for monitoring.
• Best for portability and packing → SONY Over Ear. Plastic build, lightweight, and far easier to toss in a bag.
• Best for a long cable run at a desk or kit → AKG K72. The fixed 9.8-foot single-sided cable is made for stationary use.
• Best for low-impedance, easy-to-drive volume → SONY Over Ear. 24 ohm versus 32 ohm means it needs less power from a phone.
• Best for long-term serviceability → AKG K72. Replaceable earpads and a metal enclosure are a longer-term bet than all-plastic.
• Best for a passenger on a motorcycle → SONY Over Ear, purely on size, weight and price sensibility. Neither is a rider's headset.
In my opinion, the AKG K72 is the better headphone of the two — the metal frame, replaceable pads, wider 16 Hz–20 kHz response, and closed-back isolation make it the one I'd buy if I wanted a single pair to actually rely on for monitoring, practice, or focused listening. I'd pick the Sony only as a cheap, light, mic-equipped beater for a phone or a tablet, and honestly as a passenger's option on a motorcycle where weight and simplicity beat fidelity. If you're shopping for best head phones for motorcycle use as a rider, save your money and look at helmet comms instead. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit — that's the one variable that can flip this decision.
FAQ
how to use external headphones on mac
Plug the 3.5mm jack into the Mac's headphone port (or a USB-C adapter on newer models) and the Mac switches output automatically. The Sony's 24 ohm impedance and inline remote make it the simpler pick here; the AKG K72 works too, and its included 1/4" screw-on adapter is for interfaces, not Macs.
how to connect mobile headphones
how to connect c port headphones
Neither of these has a USB-C connector — both terminate in a 3.5mm jack. To use either with a USB-C port you'd need a 3.5mm-to-USB-C adapter, which works fine on phones, tablets, and laptops.
how to pack headphones
The Sony's plastic, lightweight build and rounded cups make it easy to bag. The AKG K72 is heavier with a metal enclosure and a fixed 9.8-foot cable, so it wants a dedicated case or a padded compartment rather than being crushed at the bottom of a backpack.
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