Short answer: the AKG K712. It ranks #100 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.8/5, at $465. The Focal Azurys ranks #132, rated 3.5/5, at $449, $16 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
The case for the AKG K712: The open back gives a wide, airy presentation with a flat midrange, presence and treble within about 0.3 dB of the target between 3 and 10 kHz. The tradeoff: Sub-bass is about 3.7 dB under target and the low mids are about 3 dB hot, so music sounds a touch thick in the midrange while the deepest bass lacks rumble.
The case for the Focal Azurys: A preference score of 70 with only 2.29 dB of deviation from the Harman target makes this a reasonably smooth closed-back, and the midrange from 200 Hz to 3 kHz sits within about 1 dB of target so vocals and guitars sound natural. The catch: A 11.9 dB dip near 9.7 kHz takes the edge off cymbals and sibilance, and treble overall sits about 1 dB under target, so the top end is a little dull and closed in.
Buy the AKG K712. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $16 with the Focal Azurys does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
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Specifications Side By Side
| AKG K712 | Focal Azurys | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $465.00 | $449.00 |
| Ranked | #100 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #132 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 77 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 70 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.51 dB standard deviation | 2.29 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.40 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -1.00 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 34 Hz (-6.5 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+3.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Open | Closed |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Impedance | 62 ohms | 26 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 105 dB/mW | 100 dB SPL/mW |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (235 g) | 0.7 lbs (306 g) |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 39.8kHz | 15Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | - | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes |
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More top alternatives to AKG K712:
- HIFIMAN Edition XV vs AKG K712
- Moondrop Para 2 vs AKG K712
- AKG K712 vs Sennheiser HD 660S2
- Focal Azurys vs Audeze MM-100
- Focal Azurys vs Shure SRH1840
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The Two Headphones In Full
AKG K712: $465.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: The open back gives a wide, airy presentation with a flat midrange, presence and treble within about 0.3 dB of the target between 3 and 10 kHz. Bass from 60 to 200 Hz is about 1.4 dB warm, which adds a little body. At 235 g it is light, and 105 dB/mW sensitivity is high for a 62 ohm design.
Cons: Sub-bass is about 3.7 dB under target and the low mids are about 3 dB hot, so music sounds a touch thick in the midrange while the deepest bass lacks rumble. A 6 dB dip near 9.4 kHz and a 3.8 dB peak near 5.9 kHz make treble slightly uneven. The open design leaks sound and offers no isolation, and the Austrian Audio Hi-X65 matches its rating for a lower price.
Full AKG K712 review and specifications →
| Back | Open |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.51 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 39.8kHz |
| Harman Preference Score | 77 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 62 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 105 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 34 Hz (-6.5 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.40 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (235 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -5.8 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +6.9 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 143 Hz | -3.6 dB | 0.23 |
| Peak | 1,217 Hz | +5.0 dB | 1.43 |
| Peak | 3,049 Hz | +4.8 dB | 3.18 |
| Peak | 2,178 Hz | -3.4 dB | 3.30 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -0.3 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 5,868 Hz | -2.6 dB | 5.87 |
| Peak | 67 Hz | -0.6 dB | 1.75 |
| Peak | 157 Hz | +0.9 dB | 1.87 |
| Peak | 243 Hz | -0.5 dB | 2.27 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Focal Azurys: $449.00 Amazon eBay
Older models: the Focal Celestee (ranked lower, rated 3.4/5) and the Focal Elegia (ranked lower, rated 3/5). See every Focal Elegia, Celestee and Azurys generation.
Pros: A preference score of 70 with only 2.29 dB of deviation from the Harman target makes this a reasonably smooth closed-back, and the midrange from 200 Hz to 3 kHz sits within about 1 dB of target so vocals and guitars sound natural. Bass runs about 3.7 dB above target in the sub-bass and 2.6 dB in the upper bass, adding punch to kick drums and bass lines. At 26 ohms and 100 dB per mW it runs loud from a phone, and it weighs 306 g with a built-in microphone for calls.
Cons: A 11.9 dB dip near 9.7 kHz takes the edge off cymbals and sibilance, and treble overall sits about 1 dB under target, so the top end is a little dull and closed in. The extra low end leans warm, which can thicken male vocals and bass-heavy mixes. It is wired only, and the Sennheiser HD 620S has a higher rating for much less.
Full Focal Azurys review and specifications →
| Released | Jun 2024 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.29 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 15Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 70 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 26 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB SPL/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+3.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.00 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (306 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -3.9 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -3.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 185 Hz | -1.3 dB | 0.78 |
| Peak | 9,293 Hz | +2.5 dB | 1.66 |
| Peak | 4,836 Hz | +3.9 dB | 2.99 |
| Peak | 3,460 Hz | -2.8 dB | 3.99 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -0.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 1,331 Hz | +1.5 dB | 1.61 |
| Peak | 519 Hz | -0.6 dB | 2.00 |
| Peak | 74 Hz | +0.7 dB | 2.61 |
| Peak | 39 Hz | -0.4 dB | 1.54 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons