Short answer: the Sony MDR-MV1. Both are rated 3.8/5 for sound quality (#153 and #168 of 481 over-ear headphones), and the Sony MDR-MV1 costs $418 against $465 for the AKG K712, so with nothing between them on sound quality, price settles it.
Why pick 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.
Why pick the Sony MDR-MV1: The open back has lively, extended treble and a full low end, with sub-bass on target and bass from 60 to 200 Hz about 2.7 dB above, so it delivers real punch for an open design. Watch for: Treble from 6 to 10 kHz is about 4.4 dB above target, with a 6.9 dB peak near 6.2 kHz, so cymbals, sibilance and hi hats can sound sharp or fatiguing.
Buy the Sony MDR-MV1. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $47 less than the AKG K712.
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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.
Amazon $465.00 eBay
The open back has lively, extended treble and a full low end, with sub-bass on target and bass from 60 to 200 Hz about 2.7 dB above, so it delivers real punch for an open design.
Amazon $418.00 Lowest Sony $419.99 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| AKG K712 | Sony MDR-MV1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $465.00 | $418.00 |
| Ranked | #168 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones | #153 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 77 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 78 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.51 dB standard deviation | 2.34 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.40 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.42 (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 (-1.4 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Open | Open |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Impedance | 62 ohms | 24 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 105 dB/mW | 100 dB/mW |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (235 g) | 0.5 lbs (223 g) |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 39.8kHz | 5Hz - 80kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | - | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
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