AKG K 26P

I went looking for a set of portable headphones last year when I bought my PSP and my iPod, so I naturally wanted to upgrade the standard earphones they both supplied. I was looking at the usual Sennheiser PX100/200 and other variants like it, when I came across the AKG K26P headphones. They don't look flash and I had never heard of them before, and it took me a while to find a local shop that stocked them, but eventually I got them for a reasonable AU$75. When you compare that price to the PX200 (the big selling portable sealed headphone) which retails around here for over $100, it's a reasonable difference.

I listened to all the other brands and models, and while I wasn't disappointed with most of them, I was never really blown away. When I'm not DJ-ing I like to have the bass pretty much thundering and punchy in everything I listen to. These things are awesome!! On the iPod especially (high output) these things crank! They are clear, and every aspect of the sound is well presented, especially the bass. When listening to rock and dance music in particular, the bass is deep in both the kicks and the bass lines, and it's really really smooth! It's hard to describe - its like it has a certain 'warmth' to it. After a few hours of breaking in, you can put both the ear-cups together, turn up the volume and watch these things vibrate along the table!

The only thing to whinge about once again is the comfort, as always with these types of cans. These were definitely not the most comfortable set I tried out, but this is not to say they are awful at all. They really clamp onto your head, and if you're walking, running, riding or whatever you do with your portable player, these won't come off. If you catch something on the way though, better be ready for an embarrassing fall, because it would probably tear your head off before they fell of your head! And because the headband is simply 2 metal bands on top of each of other, you will get hair caught in between it when you move too much, and that can get annoying. It doesn't happen that often though.

The build quality is great too! The headband is practically impossible to destroy unless you really tried to bend them backwards, but even the most extreme everyday punishment should be OK. Although the plastic fastenings between the headband and the ear-cups looks and feels like cheap plastic, it's really strong. I've owned mine for about a year, and while I am rather rough with my gear, it's still looking pretty good. I sometimes don't even use the supplied pouch and just toss them in my backpack, and apart from a few scratches on the cups (barely noticeable) there's not a problem on it! Great for people who enjoy using their equipment rather than babying it around worrying about breaking it.

Overall, I am prepared to put it all on the line and say that these are the best value set of headphones you can buy for portable use. Sure, there are things like HD-25-1's that are in the category, but they retail for more than $350!! Most people looking to upgrade their stock headphones would probably look at around the $75-$100 mark, and there isn't much out there that's very spectacular, except these. While the Senns are good, it feels too sterile. These things bring your music to life! It's like you're at the club feeling every beat, with the music smashing its way through your skull! And one of its defining features that makes it the grand daddy of affordable portable headgear is the fact that no-one else can hear you driving them to the edge of popping your own head! You're not going to be that annoying guy on the bus with the iPod that EVERYONE on-board can hear... loud and clear!

Buy these and you won't regret it. Use the extra $25 you saved by not buying the obvious brand name product, and get another CD or something! I love them!