If you want an open-back headphone with a stated 10 Hz–39.8 kHz frequency range, choose Harman AKG Pro Audio; if you need a model that specifically highlights stronger low-end performance for studio listening, choose AKG Pro Audio K712. For TV watching, I’d lean toward the K701 for its detailed, spacious presentation, while the K712 is the more compelling fit if fuller bass is your priority.
Harman AKG Pro Audio vs AKG Pro Audio K712 at a Glance
• Harman AKG Pro Audio K701: Open-back design, 3D-shaped ear pads, and a stated 10 Hz–39.8 kHz frequency range; the cable is not detachable.
• AKG Pro Audio K712: Open-back design with a stated 3 dB improvement in low-end performance; its listed frequency range is 20 Hz–20,000 Hz.
• Both are wired, over-ear headphones with a stated 62-ohm impedance and no noise control.
• Choose the K701 if its broad stated frequency range and comfort-focused details appeal to you; choose the K712 if its explicitly emphasized low-end performance better suits your listening.
• For TV watching in a quiet space, either could make sense with a compatible wired setup; neither offers wireless listening or noise cancellation.
The K701 is an open-back, over-ear wired headphone built around a two-layer Varimotion diaphragm and flat-wire voice coil. Its listed frequency range is 10 Hz to 39.8 kHz, and its sensitivity is 105 dB SPL/V. Those figures describe the product, but they do not guarantee that every listener or source will hear the same result. The open-back design is the clearest practical consideration: it is made for listening in a space where sound can pass through the earcups, not for isolating you from the room.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-09 · 5 min read · Independent comparison
I’d consider the K701 for someone who listens from a fixed chair, wants an open-back design, and values the specified frequency range and shaped pads. For TV watching, it may fit a quiet-room routine when the television or another device provides a compatible wired connection. Skip it if you need wireless freedom, noise control, or a detachable cable.
The K712 is also a wired, open-back, over-ear headphone with a 62-ohm impedance. Its defining stated distinction is improved low-end performance by 3 dB, which makes it the more direct choice if you want the manufacturer’s description to emphasize bass. Its listed frequency range is 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. That specification is not directly interchangeable with a claim about how any particular person will perceive bass, but it gives buyers a concrete point of comparison.
The product is described for precise listening, mixing, and mastering, with a spacious, airy presentation. It also emphasizes wearing comfort for long work sessions. Like the K701, it has no noise control and an open-back design, so it is better suited to a quiet setting than a shared room where sound leakage or outside noise would be a concern.
I’d look at the K712 if you want an open-back headphone whose stated feature set calls out stronger low-end performance, especially for focused listening or audio work. It could suit TV watching when you’re seated near a compatible wired output and prefer that bass emphasis. Skip it if you need a wireless TV setup or an enclosed design that helps keep surrounding noise out.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• For a stated 10 Hz–39.8 kHz frequency range → Harman AKG Pro Audio K701. The K712’s listed range is 20 Hz–20,000 Hz.
• For comfort details that name shaped ear pads and a leather headband → Harman AKG Pro Audio K701. Those features are specifically listed for the K701.
• For a headphone described around mixing and mastering → AKG Pro Audio K712. Its stated use cases include precise listening and studio work.
• For a long cable reaching from a nearby listening position → Harman AKG Pro Audio K701. It comes with a three-meter cable.
• For a detachable cable → Neither is a clear pick from these specifications. The K701’s cable is explicitly non-detachable, and no detachable-cable claim is provided for the K712.
• For wireless TV watching → Neither. Both are described as wired headphones, so check that your TV or audio setup has a compatible connection.
• For noise control or blocking the room around you → Neither. Both list no noise control and use an open-back design.
I’d choose the K701 for TV watching in a quiet room, provided I had a compatible wired connection. Its open-back construction, three-meter cable, shaped pads, and stated frequency range make a straightforward case for seated listening.
I’d pick the K712 instead if its stated 3 dB low-end improvement mattered more to me than the K701’s listed frequency range. Neither is my choice for wireless convenience or noisy surroundings.
For quiet, seated TV listening, either may work with a compatible wired output. I’d choose the K701 if its three-meter cable suits your setup, or the K712 if its stated low-end emphasis is more appealing.
No transparency mode is listed for either model. Both are open-back headphones, but that design should not be mistaken for an electronic transparency feature; neither has listed noise control.
No. Both are presented as wired headphones. The K701 has a listed three-meter cable, while the K712’s product details also identify it as wired; check your TV’s audio connections before choosing either.
The K712 is the clearer choice if you’re following the stated feature descriptions: it specifically calls out a 3 dB improvement in low-end performance. The K701’s details instead emphasize its diaphragm design and accurate bass response.
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