INTRODUCTION

   I still recall a time when I’d go out with my Sony Walkman attached to my belt so i could listen to my favorite songs until i reached my destination (which back then was usually school). In time that Sony Walkman was replaced with a Philips waterproof Discman and i still remember the difference in audio quality since it was my pride and joy back then (was quite expensive too). In the end however i spend more time than with the above players while going back and forth from work with a Sony minidisc since it was smaller, easier to use (could record pretty much everything on-the-fly), had longer battery life and needless to say because its audio quality was excellent. One thing i never liked however is that although one had to pay quite a bit (especially for the mini disc model) to get the above players when released none was bundled with a descent set of earphones. There were several over ear headphone sets in the market but aside being extremely bulky (at least the good ones) they came with long, thick and heavy cables. Bluetooth changed that and although it did take a while and several improvements for it to compete with wired connectivity over the last 3-4 years we have seen several wireless headphones aimed at audiophiles. AKG is amongst the very few manufacturers in the market respected by both professionals and audiophiles alike (thus no introduction on our part is necessary) and today with us we have their top of the line K845 BT closed-back over ear Bluetooth headset.

   With more than 1,400 international patents, the AKG® brand has been delivering the powerful, undistorted sound that music professionals have relied on for more than 60 years, consistently producing some of the truest and most natural-sounding headphones and microphones in the history of audio. Akustische und Kino-Gerate Gesellschaft mbH - shortened to AKG in 1965 - was founded by two Viennese, the physicist Dr. Rudolf Gorike and the engineer Ernst Pless, in 1947. Since that date, AKG has driven innovations in the headphones market, producing the ultimate in sonic accuracy for recording professionals, audiophiles and anyone with a passion for music, decade after decade. AKG equipment has toured with everyone from Frank Sinatra and the Rolling Stones to Missy Elliott and Kanye West. We’ve even done a few thousand global orbits aboard the Mir space station with stars of a different variety. Now, AKG studio performance is available everywhere you need it to be, with wired, wireless and noise cancelling headphones and ear buds that recreate your favorite music with all the richness and subtlety of the original performance – for your ears only. If you’re serious about music, and you’re looking for the perfect headphones or ear buds that meet your exacting standards, look no further than the AKG brand.

   Unlike many other manufacturers which prioritize size over performance for their Bluetooth headsets (there are some exceptions like the Revo Wireless by Jabra) AKG went all out and instead used 50mm dynamic stereo drivers to provide the K845 BT with increased volume levels and rich/deep bass. These drivers feature a frequency response of 20Hz-20KHz with 32 Ohm impedance and 102dB sensitivity and are housed inside two relatively large earcups. The K845 BT also feature an integrated microphone (unfortunately we don't have any details about it), Bluetooth v3.0 + HS connectivity (with A2DP, AVRCP, HFP and HSP), NFC (near field communication) compatibility, aptX codec, 2D-Axis mechanism and a 320mAh lithium polymer rechargeable battery which gives it up to 8 hours of playback time. Last but not least the frame of the K845 BT may primarily be made out of aluminum but it's actually surprisingly light since it weighs just 293g.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

The K845 BT is sold inside a black box that has its entire front covered by clear plastic so consumers can take a good look prior to purchasing them.

Both the bundle contents and compatibility list are placed on the right side.

At the rear we see the features and specifications lists printed in 4 different languages.

The box contains the K845 BT headset, 1.2m long 3.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable, 1.4m long USB to microUSB charging cable, warranty card, important information paper, attention paper and a quick start guide.

THE K845 BT

Weighing at just 293g the K845 BT headset is not just very sturdy but quite light as well.

Since before we even got our hands on the K845 BT we heard from many that they consider it to be large so we just had to place them right next to the REVO Wireless by Jabra (larger yes but the difference is not massive).

AKG has placed their logo on the glossy exterior of both earcups right beneath the product model (the area where the model name is printed is also made out of aluminum)

The volume up/down buttons and the play/pause/answer/end call button are all placed at the rear of the right earcup.

At the base of the same earcup we find the 3.5mm port and the on/off/pairing button with its activity LED.

The microphone is placed at the front of the right earcup and unlike most over ear headsets you can actually see it.

Moving to the base of the left earcup we find the microUSB charging port and the charging LED.

The AKG K845 BT was designed in Austria but manufactured in China.

Instead of using small left and right tags on the interior of the earcups AKG went with huge letters printed on the protective cloth used in the earcups (the large ear cushions are made out of protein leather).

The earcups feature what AKG calls the 2D-Axis mechanism and thus they can both swivel and fold.

Unfortunately the headpad is not very thick although i have to admit that it’s quite comfortable.

The headband extends up to 33mm on each side via 12 visible increments on both sides (9 visible on the interior).

As expected the company logo is imprinted on the exterior of the headband.

Both 3.5mm audio plugs are gold plated and i think it's safe to say that the 1.2m cable should suffice (although it wouldn't be bad to also have a longer one in the bundle).

CONCLUSION

   We rarely get excited when a wireless headset reaches the door of our lab (last time I did was when we got the REVO Wireless by Jabra) but the K845 BT managed that not only because we knew what to expect from a manufacturer like AKG but also because of its looks. The good part however came later on when we started testing the K845 BT since the last time I experienced similar audio quality was when testing the Thinksound On1 Monitor Series HD Headphones. Highs and mids are crisp and detailed while in terms of bass the K845 BT produced excellent results and just a tad more than what we had hoped (that’s not a bad thing). Build quality is overall superb with a single exception. The headpad is secured on the aluminum frame via glue (at least on the sides) so if you pull/stretch the headset from both sides you will see its ends get detached from it. Surprisingly enough the cushions used in the K845 BT are very comfortable although after an hour or so you will notice heat buildup around your ears much like every wireless over ear model in the market currently. Wireless range is very good and allows the end user to be up to 2-3 rooms away without issue and the same applies for the built-in microphone although once again we’re not impressed by its performance (just like the majority of headsets out there). As for battery life AKG claims you can use the K845 BT for up to 8 continuous hours but as expected after testing Bluetooth several wireless models we couldn’t cross the 7 hours mark with the volume set at roughly 90%. This of course is not a bad result especially since I doubt anyone will be using the headset for that long.

   AKG is a premium audio brand and although their products don’t come very cheap I was surprised to see that the K845 BT is actually cheaper compared to other similar models by manufacturers like SONY. So as I type these lines the K845 BT closed-back over ear Bluetooth headset retails for USD249.94 (Amazon.com) inside the USA and for 198Euros inside the EU (Amazon.co.uk). To most consumers this will seem like a very hefty price tag indeed (understandable really) but audiophiles around the world always demand more in terms of audio and build quality and since the K845 BT delivers on both (and then some) it gets our Platinum Award.

PROS

- Superior Build Quality (Aluminum)
- Excellent Audio Quality (Crisp & Detailed Mids, Highs)
- Rich Bass
- Design
- Weight (293g)
- Wireless Range
- Battery Life (Up To 8 Hours)
- Comfortable

CONS

- Price (For Some)