AKG Reaches US

Harman today said its headphone brand AKG will finally start shipping to the US and provide a new choice for comparatively high-end personal audio. The move should bring a dozen earpieces from the company's current lineup and is headlined by the K142 and K242 semi-open headphones as well as the fully closed K172 and K272; all four have gold-plated connectors and have gimbal suspension that more comfortably adjusts the cups to fit different heads. Most have a minimum 18Hz frequency response (16Hz for the K272). These range between $170 and $270.

The company is also promising a slew of smaller or foldable headphones with closed backs that include the K420, K430, K450 and the K518 LE. All have a pseudo-3D folding mechanism that keeps them small for travel, while the K430 adds an integrated volume control and the K450 includes a detachable extension cable. The LE is a special edition that includes extra passive noise isolation versus other models. Prices for these range between $70 and $100.

A set of in-ear buds is also shipping and includes six basic models ranging from the K309 to the K319 ($17 to $90) that improve bass response and add in-line volume in more advanced models. The K321, K330 and K340 are in-canal models and generate frequencies as low as 11.5KHz in the top-end model. These sell for $50, $80 and $90 each.

All the headphones should be available starting from March.

by MacNN Staff