Headphones tend to be a very subjective purchase. Some may be perfectly happy with a pair of plugs that just emit sound, while others may shell out hundreds or even thousands for the perfect acoustic experience.
AKG has established quite a reputation for itself for producing high-end audio equipment. And the fact that multiple Grammy Award winner Quincy Jones has signed his name to these line of headphones says a lot about it.
The ones I had were black with hints of lime green. Unsurprisingly, the build quality is excellent. The buds and the head are well cushioned so you can keep them on for hours without getting uncomfortable. Although not technically noise cancelling, the headphones cancel out a lot of background and ambient noise. The headphones can be folded flat for easy storage when travelling. More importantly, you can expect these not to snap when folded, something that may have happened to a few of us.
The Q460 have been primarily built to be used with a smartphone. It comes with two detachable cables. The first one features volume controls, a play/pause button and a microphone which work as advertised. The second is without any of those, just a plain cord which is a little shorter in length. That being said, even the first cord felt a little short, especially when used with a PC that may have ports that aren't as easily accessible. Then again, these headphones have been designed to be used with a phone.
And here comes the most important part: The sound quality. The Q460 series are premium headphones so there are a few expectations. All are met, I am happy to report. They create an excellent sound stage with crisp sound. You'll be hearing instruments and sounds you didn't know existed. The not-so-good part is you'll start noticing the difference in the lower and higher quality tracks in your list, a difference you might not have noticed earlier.
The AKG Q460 is definitely not for everyone. If you appreciate good sound (not music) and are willing to throw down the money these ask (Dh579), you'll definitely be getting what you pay for. With its lightweight, portable design and excellent sound, the Q460s will serve travellers greatly too.
Bhavishya Kanjhan is a digital marketing professional and an early adopter of all things digital. Follow his tweets on @bhavishya
