AKG K52 review

These K52s sound much better than you’d expect from budget headphones Tested at £30

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

A comfortable, enjoyable pair of over-ear cans – and possibly the best budget headphones we've ever tested

Pros

  • +

    Clear and airy presentation

  • +

    Evenly balanced sound

  • +

    Agile rhythm

  • +

    Durable, comfortable wear

  • +

    Well built

  • +

    Appealing price

Cons

  • -

    Nothing at this price

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

For some time now, AKG has been the king of affordable headphones. From the AKG K451 to the AKG Y50 (£50), the last five years have seen the company pick up a string of What Hi-Fi? Awards.

The AKG K52 over-ears are the latest budget headphones to win us over. At £30, the K52s sit on the cheapest end of a new line, followed closely by the K72 (£40) and the K92 (£50).

Price-wise, the closest competition would seem to come from within – the Award-winning Y50s. But they are a completely different proposition.

Whereas the Y50s are a portable on-ear pair, the K52s are designed for home use. They don’t fold up, nor are there any in-line remote controls.

MORE: AKG Y50 review

Build and comfort

The over-ear design is surprisingly light. Despite its low price, no part of the headphones’ construction feels poorly made. They feel durable, too, which is a rare thing for such a budget price.

The AKG K52 headphones have a metal frame that's sturdy but remains lightweight. The headband isn’t adjustable; instead there’s a flexible, cushioned band that springs into place around your head.

There’s plenty of give, but even with the large earcups the headphones stay firmly put on your head.

The AKG's earcups enclose the ears fully. The ample padding around them is soft, and it doesn’t make your ears warm over long periods of listening.

They clamp down on your head firmly, but not too much – just enough to make sure the headphones don’t fall off.

There's a 2.5m cable that ends in a 3.5mm plug, but don’t worry about being restricted to using the headphones with your laptop or smartphone, they come with a 6.3mm adapter so you can plug them straight into your hi-fi system as well.

MORE: Best on-ear headphones 2016

Sound

We start listening to the AKG K52s and have to double check that these aren’t open-backed headphones. They’re the most airy-sounding closed-backs we’ve heard at this price.

There’s a great deal of space for the piano notes in Birdy’s Shelter to flourish. Notes hit solidly, with enough detail and harmonies to keep you engaged.

You can hear a good deal of nuances in her singing, from the lilts to the way her voice strains when hitting the high notes.

The headphones are so evenly balanced that we could listen to them for hours without ever getting tired. There are no bright edges or booming basslines.

The funky, rocking vibe of Lenny Kravitz’s Are You Gonna Go My Way comes across through the AKG K52s. The drums are lively and hit with snappy timing.

Guitars sound crunchy and have a nice amount of weight and muscle underpinning each strum. The instruments don’t overcrowd the vocals, either.

The rhythm is agile and full of energy. There could be more to the way the K52s handles dynamics, but it’s enjoyable enough.

The shape of basslines and edges of notes are clean and taut in Sbtrkt’s Wildfire, and there’s a remarkable amount of control for the price.

MORE: Best headphone deals: in-ear, over-ear, wireless and more

Sure, in absolute terms, there could be more subtlety in every aspect of the performance, but we have to hastily remind ourselves that the K52s only cost £30.

We struggle to think of any other headphones at this price that perform so maturely.

The AKG Y50s aren’t an exact comparison, but if you’re curious: the K52s are a bigger, clearer sound with a more articulate presentation.

The Y50s naturally sound more closed-in and forward – they’re a punchy pair. But they cost £20 more than the K52s.

MORE: Best budget headphones

Verdict

We’ve yet to review the AKG K52s pricier siblings, the K72 and K92, so with only a tenner between the three pairs in this range, we can’t crown the K52s as the best value-for-money headphones bar none just yet. But they’re sure to come pretty close.

The £17 Sennheiser HD201 headphones surprised us but for just £30, these AKGs are even more impressive. The sound quality is well beyond what you’d expect for this price – it’s enjoyable, easy to listen to, and there’s plenty of clarity, detail and agility.

If you know you’ll be wearing the headphones indoors more than out, and are on a strict budget, the AKG K52s are one of the easiest recommendations we’ve made.

MORE: Best headphones 2016

See all our AKG reviews

What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

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