AKG K240
The studio semi-open that’s been on console arms for decades: neutral-warm, unfussy, and honest for the money.
Our take
The K240 is a long-serving studio semi-open: a neutral-warm balance with a polite top and a wide-ish stage. Not the last word in resolution, but even and honest, the sound of a thousand control rooms. Note that the vintage 600 Ω versions need a real amp.
Measured on a Head Acoustics HMS II.3 artificial head — raw response, left/right averaged, normalized to 0 dB at 1 kHz. From the Sonic Temple Archive(2008–2014, one unit per model). Honest limits: seating variance runs ±0.4 dB in the mids to ±3.9 dB above 12 kHz, and open headphones read bass-light on this fixture — don’t read fine treble detail as settled. How we measure →
Common questions
Straight answers — the same ones our measurements support.
Does the AKG K240 need an amp?
The modern 55 Ω versions do not; the classic 600 Ω Sextett does. Check which you have.
Is the K240 good for mixing?
For a reliable, even reference on a budget, yes. It is a studio staple for a reason.
If you like the K240
Close on the graph, or a deliberate step in one direction.