AKG Pro Audio K361BT Review

It was the first time that I was able to use the AKG Pro Audio K361BT that made me happy. AKG is a very well known manufacturer, who offers good quality sound in professional looking models. These headphones come with Bluetooth and the possibility of wired connections, too, which is handy. For the last couple of weeks, I have been using the K361BT for different purposes: work calls, listening to music, running, stronger workouts as well. So here’s my detailed assessment of its performance starting from its looks, moving on to its sound quality, and everything else.

Design and Aesthetics

In terms of design, the AKG Pro Audio K361BT headphones are not too complicated nor too simple like Audio-Technica ATH-ANC

700BT. The matte black seems nice and quiet and I liked that. It projects seriousness but also has that little design chic to it – it’s classy. This may be quite a relief if you are looking for something that is not loud because there is no distracting logo or color on it. This time, AKG opted for a minimalist style and I think this works. These are the kind of headphones you can almost wear to the office or out and about without attracting too much attention.

It is crowned with a very smooth oval shaped headband as well as smooth and sleek ear cups. It has this oval shape for the ear cups rather than the regular round or a bit squarish or so that you find in other models. This feature however allows for a better seal on the ears for reasons that I will elaborate further down the review. At least for people like me who care about how things look – that set will not disappoint. They look rather well and professional and can be worn for any occasion without tampering with the functions of style.

Another impressive feature is that they also come with a foldable design of their structure Technics EAH-A800 and JBL Tune 510BT. It comes in handy particularly if you intend to use these headphones quite frequently on the road. They are designed in such a way that makes it easy for them to be put away.

Once folded those do not take up too much weight or space which is helpful for people like me who probably would just toss the headphones in the bag. And no smooth merge is easily done on them, so I didn’t apprehend over inadvertently scraping the headphones against something and getting them tangled in that device. All in all, the form is functional, though it is too confusing to be unappealing in terms of design.

Materials and Build Quality

My first impression after trying on the AKG Pro Audio K361BT was how light it felt. They do feel surprisingly robust for something quite light. The build of the headphones consists of both plastic and metal, which is good as AKG has made use of these materials. The band of the head sitting on one’s head consists of a metal loading, which imparts some sturdiness to it and guarantees durability. Though mostly plastic, one would not call it inexpensive or poorly designed. This plastic is hard enough that it does not produce too much creaking or bending which is a good sign for the intended prolonged usage of the product.

The ear cups also have a soft touch and the rest of the cups have plastic which is visually satisfying. There is also a smooth finish to the plastic that does not attract fingerprints which is a nice plus. I personally do not like how some of the other headphones would always appear smudged, hence this detail was nice.

The ear padding is made of essential polyfoam that is covered with artificial leather. It is soft but not overly fuzzy so that it does not lose its structure no matter how many hours of use it gets. At the end of my testing time, I have not noticed any sort of wear and tear of the ear padding, and therefore it makes me think that it will be able to stand up to the years of use.

The headband is also adjustable, and it holds on well without being too strong. Union hinges on the folding parts are well enhanced, so they didn’t really feel weak when I folded and unfolded several times. This is important if you want to use these headphones on the go just like I did. The quality of construction appears to be good, it is light but at the same time strong enough to be reliable.

Comfort and Fit

Comfort is undoubtedly where AKG Pro Audio K361BT excels. I have used these headphones for several hours over various instances whether it was working, a long flight or even during workouts. The first thing that caught my attention were the ear pads: they were soft and didn’t feel scratchy at all like Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2. The cushions placed around the ears are not packed to agony-inducing levels but just about enough to ensure the wearer does not have to lug around. They are also gently contoured towards the ear and do not push down which helps to relieve propensity and makes them perfect for prolonged use.

The ear cups feature an adjustable headband and rotating cups that ensure a tight fit. I have a medium-sized head especially so the first time out of the box, headsets fitted me quite well. They do also provide a fair amount of clamp force, but not to the point where it would be unbearable. I had to do lots of head movement and they did not budge which was great when I wore them while running on a treadmill.

What impressed me is their capability in the passive noise isolation technique. They don’t feature active noise-canceling, but the way it sits on your head helps to eliminate external noise very well. This worked well for airplane travel and crowded coffee houses. However, if you are at a place where the noise is very loud such as the streets, then a little bit of noise does come in. But for my everyday needs, I found this noise isolation to be quite alright.

Well, regarding comfort level, AKG Pro Audio K361BT is promising because it is adjustable to the user’s head size. Weightless construction along with soft cushions enable anyone to use them for many hours without any discomfort.

Sound Quality

When it comes to audio reproduction, the AKG K361BT Bluetooth headphones do a great job and that may come as a surprise to most of you. These headphones are marketed as studio monitors, hence the need for clean and detailed sounds and they have not disappointed at all. Even from the get-go, it is clear that these headphones have a neutral and accurate sound signature. Bass is included but hardly dominates – it is well controlled and tight but punchy enough to add some depth without obscuring the mids or highs. This is perfect for someone who has a fondness for sensitivity.

With the AKG Pro Audio K361BT on my head, listening to all the required genres, midrange was a plus. Acoustic tracks and podcasts were very enjoyable due to the natural clarity of the vocals. The separation of instruments was nice too. It was easy for me to discern numerous instruments on such layers with complex tracks and this says much of the definition of the headphones. Focus on a very low sound could be switched quickly to very high sound, and the handling of distortion was not noticeable even with high sound volume.

Everything above 2000 Hz is crisp, but not overly sharp. I noticed that these headphones do lack some of the “fizz” some other present headphones and which can result in listening fatigue. This is a positive aspect for those who wish to listen for a long time without pain. If you wish the boom fans, you may feel a little grain with the K361BT. With that said, the specific users that appreciate such headphones or any other mobile devices record their originals, this is the place where these headphones excel.

And for those who wish to customize these AKG headphones, these earphones have great compatibility with other devices like equalizers. I played around with a few EQ presets, and they worked effectively and still maintained clarity. The thing is that while in wired mode, you do get a pretty good sound, probably better in richness and depth. As a result, AKG K361BT has been designed for all who need good accuracy of sound and will not be disappointed with it.

Smart Features

The AKG Pro Audio K361BT has a couple of intelligent and useful features, but in truth, the ease of use is still very high on their agenda. For example, there is a touch control panel on the right ear cup and it is one of the main convenient features. You can control the volume, pause, or play, or skip to the next or previous song, all with a few taps and swipes. Mic controls are quite basic; I was able to learn them within a short while, and any touch of the controls is responded to. This is good as there is no need to withdraw a phone each time it is necessary to change something.

When people consider a feature that can improve ergonomics, then I definitely recommend the automatic play/pause option. As soon as you remove the earphones, the sound instantly stops, which is an added plus as most people often spend a great deal of time either putting on and removing the earset. Again, this works perfectly and I found no lags or glitches whatsoever in this functionality. The utmost gratification I felt was from the fact that playback resumes almost as rapidly as I would like it to upon putting the earphones back.

There is also the option of using voice assistant and as such the K361BT headphone plays well in this respect because users can connect and use Siri or Google assistant as well It came in handy because I was able to control music play and reminders and receive updates about the weather without bothering to touch the phone. This isn’t a particularly strong selling point, but for those who are already familiar with voice assistance, it’s a nice extra.

The smart features on the AKG Pro Audio K361BT are not that extensive yet are enough to do the job right. Active noise-canceling as well as ambient sound modes are not available, which might be a let down for those who came here for adequate technology. Well, some would argue that the ease in this instance is a disadvantage.

Connectivity and Usability

The AKG Pro Audio K361BT is equipped with Bluetooth 5.0, which ensures a smooth connection. From my experience, there were no serious dropouts or problems connected during the testing. The range is more or less typical for Bluetooth headphones – I was able to move around the apartment and not lose the connection. Setting them up was simple and so was connecting them to the phone and laptop for the first time and when turning them on again they would connect by themselves as a matter of course. I liked that feature in particular when using several devices during the day.

One thing that I liked a lot is the option of switching from wired to wireless mode and vice versa. It is also possible to plug in the supplied cable when the battery runs out and carry on listening without any interruption. Wired sound is a little better than wireless, which is quite a good plus too. The K361BT fulfills those that wish for the flexibility in using both modes.

The headphones also allow for multipoint operation enabling users to connect to two devices at the same time. I used my cell phone and laptop to try this and it worked flawlessly. I was able to receive phone calls and return to computer activities such as listening to music, without having to first go through the headache of disconnecting the phone from the laptop. This is a nice functionality for those who like to do many things at once and tend to frequently change the devices they are using.

K361BT is quite simple and easy to use regarding the usability of this device. The buttons on the device were amply user-friendly and it took me no time to get used to the button’s arrangement. The headphones include an audio cable, a usb-c cable for charging, and a pouch bag which comes useful in keeping and carrying all of them. Last but not the least, the range of connectivity options as well as the usability aspects of AKG K361BT, is done well enough to make it comfortable for everyday use.

Battery Life

In fact, the AKG Pro Audio K361BT also blew me away with a battery life of as much as 24 hours after a single charge. That’s more than enough to let one work the full day and then some. I was careless and used it for several days on end, and even when I pumped the volume higher, and used the headset continuously, it did not disappoint. The battery also did not seem to drain much when I wasn’t using it.

It is very easy to charge this device as the package has the USB type C cable. It took me roughly 2 hours to get a full charge which to me was reasonable considering the amount of battery life it delivers. One of the cool things that I liked here is the fast-charge feature. With the batteries charged for just 15 minutes, I was already able to go for around three hours of playback which is great for times in which you are in a hurry. I utilized this a couple of times and it prevented me from going out of the house sans my music.

While working in wired mode there is no need to fret about the battery power, something that is excellent if you have run out of battery power and cannot recharge it. The interplay between extended battery life, high charging rates, and additional wired mode makes K361BT a super handy device suitable for short commutes and long journeys. That is great for people who want dependability and do not want to charge their devices too often.

Mic Performance and Call Quality

I have made quite a number of calls with the AKG Pro Audio K361BT, and the functioning of the microphone is impressive for a device in this price bracket. The integrated microphone is also able to pick up my voice quite well, and the people I spoke to on the phone say that I am audible on the line. This is surprising considering that there is no separate boom mic – this is incorporated into the ear cup itself.

When it comes to answering and calling on the headphones, I was pleased with the voice quality in more controlled environments, such as speaking indoors where my voice was better focused on the mic. However, in relatively louder spaces such as busy streets or crowded cafes, more ambient noise was expected, as far as the calls were concerned. Nonetheless, it was not something that caused serious problems for me. The headphones do not feature active noise-canceling microphones and therefore if someone is speaking in very loud surrounding noise, their voice may be less clear as much of this noise will filter into outward speech.

From the other end, the voices were quite audible. Audio came through nicely, without anything lacking. The K361BT performs well for everyday telephone conversations, video conferencing or informal conversations. It cannot be the optimal choice for a person who has to take a lot of calls in various noisy environments, however, for casual needs, it is more than sufficient.

Durability and Portability

For heavy-duty use, AKG Pro Audio K361BT is quite trustworthy. It’s something that I can use when I’m on the move, throw in my backpack, and travel with it a few times without fear of getting it scratched or dirty. The lightweight materials include a metal-clad headband while durable plastic assists in providing strength. The ear cups can rotate and this gives it some degree of movement and also limits the chances of breakage when stored.

When it comes to convenience on the go, the foldable feature is a great advantage. K361BT is a collapsible construct that facilitates the use of the supplied soft pouch Sony WH-1000XM4. The pouch itself is very simple, but it offers some protection against dirt and light scratches. In the case of commuting or going for a trip and having to carry the headphone with you often, the foldable feature does a big favor since it occupies less room in the bag.

These hinges did not wear out even after numerous folding or unfolding cycles which indeed is a reflection of the quality of construction. When it comes to these AKG headphones, I would next like to go on a trip with the confidence that the headphones do not have to be treated with so much care because they are likely to break. They might not be described as ‘British Special Forces socks, but they do provide enough strength for daily use. These earphones must be marketed with portability development in mind as they manage a very good compromise – are small, hirable and light, and can be handled comfortably without a burden.

Final Verdict

The AKG Pro Audio K361BT has been put through its paces in a number of ways and I must say that it is a real treat for the ears offering good sound, comfort and all the feature set at the same time. The sound-is quite close to the natural tones and should fit most phone or tablet users into a bluetooth headset wanting to hear sound that is as true as a recording from the studio itself. These come in a nice professional looking design and fold for compact portability. The connection was good to rely on, and quick charging really helped when the device ran out of battery before my daily routine ended.

K361BT does not rely on extensive high-end features like ANC but offers sound quality and comfort to their users instead with the usual wireless convenience that is several notches above most other headphones. Those who wish to invest in a pair of Bluetooth headphones that could serve multiple uses will find the AKG K361BT capable of the task. Best of all, sound has been engineered for every occupation: work, meetings, travel, way to work or back to home and enjoy listening to the music.

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