AKG K 55 HEADPHONES

AKG K 55  HEADPHONES

            Choosing the right set of headphones to meet ones specific needs is not as simple as it used to be.  Years ago, before the popularization of portable audio devices, and computer gaming, all one had to choose from was a set of headphones that was suitable for their home stereo receiver.  Now, things are way more complicated.  There are so many different types of audio devices, and such a wide variety of headsets to choose from, that narrowing down the field of options to the most likely candidates is a much more difficult task.  I hope that my review today will make this task a bit easier.  Today I shall be reviewing the AKG K 55 Headphones.  Read on and see if these headphones sound like they have some of the audio qualities and features that you might be looking for in a set of headphones.

            The AKG K 55 Headphones have a list price tag of $59.95, but I recently saw them selling at a discount for as little as $26.99.  That puts these headphones in a price range that is reachable for most consumers.  The AKG K 55 Headphones are Dynamic Headphones.  O.K., so what does the term dynamic mean?  There are basically two types of headphones, dynamic and electrostatic.  Dynamic headphones use the same type of technology as conventional home stereo speakers do.  This same type of technology can also be found in the musical instrument speakers that one would typically find in an electric guitar combo amp.  Dynamic headphones use a very small speaker, with a cone and a voice coil.  Electrostatic headphones do not use a cone, but rather employ a thin sheet of Mylar as a diaphragm.  Ultimately, be they dynamic or electrostatic headphones, it is the vibrations of the diaphragm which serves to move air, and thus create an acoustic sound.  Electrostatic headphones tend to yield the best sound, but they are also significantly more expensive than dynamic headphones. 

            The AKG K 55 Headphones are sealed headphones.  Sealed headphones are great if you need sonic isolation.  A sealed headphone is good for use in an environment where you do not want to let the sound that you are hearing leak out of the earpieces and be picked up by either another person or by some type of recording device, such as a microphone, if for example you happen to be using these headphones for monitoring purposes in a live studio recording situation.  For example, let's say you are overdubbing an acoustic guitar track into a live microphone, as you are simultaneously listening to a track of the rest of the band through your headphones.  Leakage out of the headset into the microphone could potentially be a serious problem.  Sealed headphones, like the AKG K 55 headphones, keep the sounds that you are listening to isolated, and they also do a fairly good job at blocking out the perception of the sounds that are taking place in the acoustic environment you are in.  Of course, it would not be a good idea to be walking down a busy street in a crowded city, and be wearing a set of headphones that would isolate you from the environment you are in, as this could potentially lead to an unhappy mishap.

            The AKG K 55 Headphones have a Sensitivity of 96 dB/mW.  O.K., so what does that mean?  Headphone sensitivity is measured using 1/1000 of a Watt of power (1mW), and then measuring the sound pressure level (SPL) in dB at the earpiece of the headphones.  The AKG K 55 Headphones have an average degree or level of sensitivity for headphones in this category.  The AKG K 55 Headphones have an Impedance of 32 Ohms.  This means that they would be considered to be low impedance headphones.  There are both positives and negatives to having low impedance headphones.  The positives are that, if all things are kept equal, low impedance headphones will sound louder than high impedance headphones.  That is because low impedance headphones are in general more efficient at converting electrical energy into sound.  Thus, they may use less energy when plugged into a portable listening device, which can potentially mean longer battery life.  On the other hand, low impedance headphones are more susceptible to damage and to burning out because their voice coils have a lower level of resistance.  In most cases however, this does not really present much of an issue for the average user.

            The AKG K 55 Headphones have a Frequency Response of 16 Hz. to 20,000 Hz.  This is a very good frequency range for a set of headphones in this price range.  A Frequency Response of 16 Hz. to 20,000 Hz. indicates the frequency range of sounds that can be reproduced by a set of headphones without distorting.  This is a very good thing, as having a set of headphones with a wide frequency response means that the sounds the listener is being exposed to, should not be generating any distortion, due to the fact that the sounds are well within the range that the headphones can handle.  Of course, any set of headphones can distort when they are subjected to very high power or volume.

            The AKG K 55 Headphones come with a 10 foot single cable, and with a stereo mini-plug and an adapter which converts the input jack to a quarter inch stereo plug.  I have always preferred headphones with a single cord, as they are less prone to tangling.  These headphones are also light in weight, and weigh in at a mere 7.4 ounces.  They also have a self-adjusting headband and leatherette ear pads for comfort.

            O.K, how do the AKG K 55 Headphones sound?  Well, for one thing, they did not really do a good job at isolating the sound.  When I was listening to music through these at a low volume level, I was easily able to hear outside noises.  One could also hear sound leaking out when the person I was with (my son) was wearing them.  These features make these headphones unsuitable for use in a recording or broadcast situation, as one does not want to have sound leaking out of the phones and being picked up by a live microphone.  However, obviously this should not present a problem for the average user, but it is an important factor to consider if the user is going to be employing these headphones in their home recording studio.  These headphones had a very tight, and rather loud bass.  Depending of the situation, this can be a good thing or a bad one.  If you are looking for a set of headphones with a pronounced bass, and good highs for casual listening purposes, or for gaming, headphones with these traits are acceptable.  However, in a home studio recording setup, or in a serious recording situation, one would prefer to have headphones that are completely flat, or that have a very accurate reproduction of sound.  One does not want headphones that are "sweetened," which means that certain sonic frequencies are accentuated in order to make the music sound better.  I found the midrange frequencies to be underplayed, and the highs and lows a bit accentuated.  Once again the average user might not be concerned with this, but someone who may be considering using these headphones for monitoring sound levels and the like in their home studio recordings might have a problem.  On the positive side, the AKG K 55 Headphones appeared to be far less "sweetened" than most headphones might be expected to be in this price range.

            O.K., so who are these headphones best suited for?  The AKG K 55 Headphones are best suited to a value conscious person on a budget, who is looking for a set of headphones to use for casual music listening, or for gaming on one's computer.  For under $30 Dollars, these headphones are a real bargain, and for the purposes of casual listening, I would feel comfortable in recommending them.  However, more serious or discriminating music listeners or home recording enthusiasts might want to pass these up for some of the reasons that I outlined earlier in this review.

            Well I would like to thank you for taking the time to read my review, but now if you will please excuse me, I must get back to practicing my guitar.  Good luck, and good listening.