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AKG K 551

AKG K 551
AKG K 551AKG K 551AKG K 551AKG K 551AKG K 551AKG K 551AKG K 551AKG K 551AKG K 551AKG K 551
alaScore 84

186 reviews

Apr, 2024

alaTest has collected and analyzed 186 reviews of AKG K 551. The average rating for this product is 3.7/5, compared to an average rating of 4.0/5 for other Headphones for all reviews. Views about the comfort and design are generally positive. The price and usability are also mentioned favorably. Views are divided on the bass quality. Some have doubts about the size and portability.

sound, usability, price, design, comfort

portability, size

We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other Headphones the AKG K 551 is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 84/100 = Very good quality.

Review analysis

(Based on 186 reviews)

Expert Reviews  

User Reviews  

Review Ratings

  (39% of reviews)
Show all 5 star reviews   (23% of reviews)
Show all 4 star reviews   (12% of reviews)
Show all 3 star reviews   (14% of reviews)
Show all 2 star reviews   (12% of reviews)
Show all 1 star reviews

Features

sound
  Show positive (79%)Show negative (21%)(Show all)
usability
  Show positive (79%)Show negative (21%)(Show all)
portability
  Show positive (42%)Show negative (58%)(Show all)
price
  Show positive (83%)Show negative (17%)(Show all)
size
  Show positive (41%)Show negative (59%)(Show all)
design
  Show positive (98%)Show negative (3%)(Show all)
comfort
  Show positive (74%)Show negative (26%)(Show all)
durability
  Show positive (63%)Show negative (37%)(Show all)
bass quality
  Show positive (50%)Show negative (50%)(Show all)
reliability
  Show positive (94%)Show negative (6%)(Show all)
noise isolation
  Show positive (83%)Show negative (17%)(Show all)
soundstage
  Show positive (100%)None yet(Show all)
treble quality
  Show positive (75%)Show negative (25%)(Show all)
mids quality
  Show positive (100%)None yet(Show all)
Show more features

Showing 40 review(s)

Expert Reviews User Reviews

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Showing 1 - 40 of 40 Show Reviews: in English | in other languages (146)

Consumer review (amazon.co.uk)

Amazon.co.uk review summary for AKG K 551

 

alaTest has collected and analyzed 31 user reviews of AKG K 551 from Amazon.co.uk. The average user rating for this product is 3.8/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.0/5 for other Headphones on Amazon.co.uk. People are impressed by the comfort and usability. The portability and price also get good opinions. There are some mixed reviews about the durability. Some have doubts about the size.

sound, price, portability, usability, comfort

size

77% of the reviews on Amazon.co.uk give this product a positive rating.

Apr, 2024

Expert review by (whathifi.com)

AKG K551

 

Smashing all-rounders that really sing

Spacious sound ; Well balanced ; Very detailed

Big and not foldable ; Not exactly portable

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Expert review by : Ty Pendlebury (cnet.com)

AKG K551s act portable but should stay local

 

The AKG K551s are portable headphones with an airy sound, but their relative lack of bass means they're actually better for use at home.

The ; headphones have a sturdy build and are very comfortable; closed headphones offer some passive noise reduction; airy sound suited to classical or acoustic music.

Loss of bass in noisy environments even with passive noise reduction; treble can overwhelm bass with some music; not suited to rock or dance; obnoxious-looking; no carrying case; large and not as portable as alternatives.

The AKG K551s are closed portable headphones with an open, airy sound, but their relative lack of bass means they're actually better for use at home.

Jul, 2013
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Expert review by (cnet.com)

AKG K551 White

 

Design and features Compared with headphones that are designed for portability like the Bowers and Wilkins P5 -- and in a lesser way the Sennheiser Momentum -- the K551s' hi-fi roots are obvious. These are very large cans and feature enormous,...

The AKG K551 headphones have a sturdy build and are very comfortable; closed headphones offer some passive noise reduction; airy sound suited to classical or acoustic music.

Loss of bass in noisy environments even with passive noise reduction; treble can overwhelm bass with some music; not suited to rock or dance; obnoxious-looking; no carrying case; large and not as portable as alternatives.

The AKG K551s are closed portable headphones with an open, airy sound, but their relative lack of bass means they're actually better for use at home.

Jul, 2013
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Expert review by : thinkdigit.com (thinkdigit.com)

AKG K551 Review

 

For closed back headphones the AKG K551 is surprisingly open and airy. The precision and clarity on the K551 is through the roof. The AKG K551 sticks to its reference monitoring legacy to the tee. However, if you want your 20 to 150 KHz space bumped...

Surprisingly open and airy for closed back cans, Great clarity, Eye catching design

Big and chunky - not really portable, Folds flat, but not further

Jan, 2014
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Expert review by : Siddharth Parwatay (digit.in)

AKG K551

 

AKG K551

Surprisingly open and airy for closed back cans ; Great clarity ; Eye catching design

Big and chunky- not really portable ; Folds flat, but not further

For closed back headphones the AKG K551 is surprisingly open and airy. The precision and clarity on the K551 is through the roof. The AKG K551 sticks to its reference monitoring legacy to the tee. However, if you want your 20 to 150 KHz space bumped...

Jan, 2014
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Expert review by : Chip Chick (chipchick.com)

Harman’s AKG Reference K551 Over-Ear Review

 

I'm proud to announce I now have a new go-to pair of headphones (for this week anyway…). For someone who doesn't mind big headphones, I feel these AKG K551s are just about as good as headphones get. With their lightweight and thin profile, they don't...

Great design, Good seal, Comfortable, Light, ControlTalk + Mic, Phenomenal sound stage and audio quality, Durable, Clear right and left ear cup indicators

Cable is not removable, break in period, and headphone plug will be incompatible with most iOS cases. Expensive. No travel case. Low on bass and size of ear cups may not be suitable for all

Apr, 2013
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Expert review by : Jeremy Horwitz (ilounge.com)

Reviews: AKG K551 Reference-Class Over-Ear Headphones With In-Line Microphone

 

Normally, the arrival of a pair of high-end headphones would be cause for some excitement around our offices—it’s always interesting to see what an audio company can do when it’s less constrained by price considerations and able to...

If there’s any modestly bright spot in K551, it’s the three-button remote, which is the only part that works as expected. It’s basically identical to the latest Apple remotes in functionality, button, and microphone performance, with the mic hole...

Mar, 2013
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Consumer review (productreview.com.au)

Excellent, but limited compatibility

 

Since these headphones include an inline mic that is "Made for iPhone", they will not sound right with non-Apple products. This is because Apple has switched the polarity on the headphone jack. Adapters exist to remedy this, but this is not ideal. Bass...

Jul, 2017
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Consumer review (head-fi.org)

Superb Pair of Headphones

 

Hello Head-Fi It's been a while since I've participated here since I more or less found my end game and now I only have the urge to change my music player. Today I'll be writing about the AKG K551 headphones. In simple terms, these are superb...

Great soundstage, good balance, accuracy and sounds natural

Sub bass is a bit lacking to my ears. Headband has a bit of discomfort

Jan, 2015
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Price comparison for AKG K 551