Short answer: the AKG K72, though neither ranks well in its class. Both are rated 1.0/5 for sound quality (#131 and #133 of 134 over-ear headphones), and the AKG K72 costs $61.86 against $69.95 for the AKG K92, so with nothing between them on sound quality, price settles it. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 134 over-ear headphones, so if sound quality matters, consider the Sony MDR-ZX310 instead, ranked #45 at $77.09.
The case for the AKG K72: A budget closed-back wired headphone at 0.4 lbs (200 g), light for its size. The catch: The response is very uneven, with a standard deviation of 5.9 dB and a preference score of 13.
What the AKG K92 does well: The closed-back design isolates noise at home or in the office, and the 32 ohm impedance with 113 dB sensitivity means a phone or laptop drives it to full volume without an amp. The catch: The response is far from the Harman target, with a preference score of only 3 and a very uneven 6.33 dB deviation.
Buy the AKG K72. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $8.09 less than the AKG K92.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| AKG K72 | AKG K92 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $61.86 | $69.95 |
| Ranked | #131 of 134 in Over-Ear Headphones | #133 of 134 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 13 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 3 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 5.93 dB standard deviation | 6.33 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.70 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -2.06 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 32 ohms | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 112 dB SPL/V | 113 dB SPL/V |
| Frequency Response | 16Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 16Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs (200 g) | 0.4 lbs (200 g) |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 10, 2026 at 5:37 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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The Two Headphones In Full
AKG K72: $61.86 Amazon eBay
Pros: A budget closed-back wired headphone at 200 g, light for its size. The 32 ohm impedance and 112 dB sensitivity let any phone or laptop drive it. Bass is strongly boosted, about 7.6 dB from 60 to 200 Hz, for listeners who want maximum thump.
Cons: The response is very uneven, with a standard deviation of 5.9 dB and a preference score of 13. A 12.5 dB peak near 6.8 kHz makes cymbals and sibilance piercing, while the upper mids are 5 dB low and the low mids 6 dB high, so vocals sound boxy and distant. The Sennheiser HD 450BT is rated far higher at a similar price.
Full AKG K72 review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 5.93 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 16Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 13 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 112 dB SPL/V |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.70 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs (200 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.8 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 | -1.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 177 Hz | -8.6 dB | 1.25 |
| Peak | 1,488 Hz | +6.9 dB | 1.24 |
| Peak | 521 Hz | -3.1 dB | 1.21 |
| Peak | 2,817 Hz | +4.8 dB | 2.71 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +1.3 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 6,500 Hz | -8.9 dB | 4.44 |
| Peak | 73 Hz | +3.0 dB | 1.32 |
| Peak | 39 Hz | -1.6 dB | 0.85 |
| Peak | 123 Hz | -2.6 dB | 3.77 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
AKG K92: $69.95 Amazon eBay
Pros: The closed-back design isolates noise at home or in the office, and the 32 ohm impedance with 113 dB sensitivity means a phone or laptop drives it to full volume without an amp. At 200 g it is light for a full-size headphone. It suits listeners who want a bass-heavy, warm tuning, since bass sits about 7.6 dB above the Harman target.
Cons: The response is far from the Harman target, with a preference score of only 3 and a very uneven 6.33 dB deviation. A 9 dB dip near 2.9 kHz pulls vocals and instrument body backward, while a 9.6 dB peak near 6.7 kHz makes cymbals and sibilants sharp. Bass and low mids are boosted by roughly 6 to 8 dB, so music sounds thick and boomy.
Full AKG K92 review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 6.33 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 16Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 3 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 113 dB SPL/V |
| Tonal Tilt | -2.06 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs (200 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -7.1 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 | -4.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 150 Hz | -11.1 dB | 0.73 |
| Peak | 1,874 Hz | +7.2 dB | 0.85 |
| Peak | 77 Hz | +10.4 dB | 1.43 |
| Peak | 508 Hz | -4.1 dB | 2.97 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +0.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 6,500 Hz | -6.8 dB | 5.23 |
| Peak | 3,179 Hz | +2.3 dB | 4.30 |
| Peak | 1,201 Hz | +2.1 dB | 4.75 |
| Peak | 864 Hz | -1.8 dB | 4.08 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons


