If you’re not a sound engineer, home studio aficionado, or professional DJ, the letters AKG might not mean much to you. The aforementioned group of music enthusiasts, however, knows that AKG, the Vienna-based recording equipment manufacturer, has long been synonymous with high-quality audio gear. In recent years, AKG has branched out into the consumer-audio realm, one of the most recent examples of which is the $79.95 (list) earphone pair reviewed here, the AKG K 350. Unassuming in-canal earphones, the K 350 is, nonetheless, a top performer, with deep bass response and articulate highs that are practically a steal at this price. The iOS device controls, which work with iPads, iPod touches, and, of course, iPhones, only bring more value. Incredibly lightweight and comfortable, the K 350’s very minor distortion at maximum volume is our only gripe, but at this price, we can't complain much.

Design

With an overall sporty design, the earphones weigh in at about one ounce. Semi-transparent, flexible material partially encases the compartment that houses the K 350's earpiece’s drivers. The silicon ear tips (which come in three sizes) match the earphone's overall color scheme. Our test unit was two different shades of purple, and there are several other options available, from a chrome to an arctic blue. One disappointing feature of the design: the placement of the iPhone/iPod/iPad controls. The small compartment which houses the Volume, Play/Pause, and Call Answer/End buttons, as well as the microphone, sits on the right ear’s cable, roughly four inches below the end of the earpiece. This means that you can’t actually see the controls when you need to use them. True, this does place the microphone closer to your mouth, but fumbling around the controls without being able to see them will likely result in some inevitable flubs until you get used to the button layout. The K 350 ships with a small black zip-up protective pouch.

Performance

The AKG K 350 delivers some impressive audio performance for the price. It’s not shocking that the earphones are able to produce substantial bass—these days, it’s common in pairs half the price, like the Radius Atomic Bass ($39.99, 3.5 stars). Regardless, producing booming bass and producing articulate, powerful low-end are two different things. The K 350 offers solid bass without muddying up the entire mix. High frequencies are clear, not tinny, and the overall response feels strong without being overly exaggerated. Sure, the more expensive Bowers & Wilkins C5 In-Ear Headphones ($179.95, 4.5 stars), our high-end Editors’ Choice, packs a more impressive low-end response—more powerful and better defined, as well as more clarity in the higher frequencies, but it doesn’t exactly put the K 350 to shame despite costing $100 more.

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On tracks with extremely deep bass, like The Knife’s “Silent Shout,” the bass doesn't distort—except the tiniest bit when pumped to full maximum volume—a level no one should be listening at anyway. John Adams’s modern classical piece, “The Chairman Dances,” is conveyed with a robust low end on the deeper stringed instruments, as well as on the larger percussion. Overall, the earphones seem well suited for just about any genre, primarily because they neither ignore the bass frequencies nor exploit them, and the overall response, while not quite flat, is definitely more even than on pairs like the Atomic Bass or the iBeats by Dr. Dre from Monster ($119.95, 3 stars).

The iOS device controls work just as they do on most other 'Works with iPhone' devices—simple Volume and Play/Pause buttons that can controls different functions, such as answering phone calls, in various scenarios—and depending on how many times you tap them. The microphone sounds like, well, a microphone coming through an iPhone. The mic placement closer to your mouth may help a bit, but voice clarity on calls has never been the iPhone’s selling point.

Given the secure fit, extremely light weight, and impressive performance, the AKG K 350 is ideal for audiophiles on serious budgets or those simply looking to upgrade beyond standard issue earbuds without breaking the bank. They may not be as articulate throughout the frequency range as, say, Shure’s SE215 ($119, 4 stars), our mid-range Editors’ Choice, but the SE215 costs nearly $50 more, so it’s not surprising. In the sub-$100 range, there are some interesting options, including the Skullcandy FIX In-Ear ($69.95, 3.5 stars), which offers substantial low-end, but less-satisfying overall perfomance. You’d be hard-pressed to find a pair in the $80-and-below range that can match the sound you get with the K 350, so they're our under-$100 Editors' Choice earphone pair.  

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