Is there another piece of professional audio gear that has caused as much widespread frustration and aggravation as the headphone? It’s a staple of practically every audio application, from the controlled environment of the studio to the potentially chaotic wilderness of the live stage. Whether you’re the fledging musician and composer working out your very first demo or the veteran sound engineer in charge of a massive performance set-up, you depend on headphones for accurate, precise sound reproduction. So, if headphones are one of the most widely used pieces of audio gear out there, why are they so seldom capable of the absolute, consistent dependability you need?

The three new Varimotion Headphones from AKG with list prices that begin at just $169.20 go a long way towards addressing these issues of dependability, offering consistently high-quality sound reproduction across a wide variety of applications. The finer points of AKG’s new, exclusive Varimotion diaphragm technology are difficult to explain, particularly to anyone who thinks one sentence of technical talk is one sentence too many. Suffice to say, the sound zone of the K301, K401 and K501 headphones — the zone in between the two speakers that produces the higher frequencies — is thicker than the movement zone in the two speakers. What this means to you is fuller, multi-dimensional sound reproduction in your headphones. See, that wasn’t so bad, was it?

If this series of fine headphones can be said to have a workhorse model, it’s clearly the K301. The most affordable member of the K-Series, the K301 ($169.20 list) offers you an incredibly well balanced tonal response and a frequency response of 20Hz - 25kHz. It’s designed to provide excellent sound reproduction for any application, and suited for any style of music. The K301 is the ideal headphone for any musician or sound engineer who needs that all too rare combination of high quality sonic performance and no-frills simplicity. Next in line is the K401 ($196.80 list). Slightly more sophisticated than the K301, the K401 was designed for the clean, clear reproduction of a variety of jazz, pop and rock styles. It has a frequency response of 18Hz - 28kHz, and an impedance of 120 ohms. What will most impress users of the K401 is the way it seems to recognize and accurately reproduce the nuances and layers of the music genres it’s designed for. A definite recommendation for anyone who works with modern music styles.

At the top end of the Series is the K501 ($238 list), a powerful, designer styled headphone that provides absolutely stunning sound reproduction. Created to handle the demands of classical music or large orchestras with several different types or groups of instruments, the K501 is your solution for perfect, multi-dimensional sound.

To put it simply, this is one of the finest-quality headphones you’re likely to find, and the only choice for the demanding listener. AKG’s K-Series truly sets a new standard for headphones and sound reproduction. The difference between one of the K headphones and your old system is nothing short of remarkable. Musicians, recordists and sound engineers whose music calls for nothing less than the highest professional standards in sound reproduction should definitely check out the K-Series. Call your Sales Engineer for all the details, plus your super low Sweetwater pricing. — Michael Summers