K-271 MKII : Excellent for both the studio and casual listening

I bought them as my 2nd pair from AKG after owning K240 before. They're a bit heavier and wider, no doubt because of the closed construction. That being said, the sound is really similar, with a bit more full, yet still very controlled low-end.

My main use for them is listening to music at work. The closed construction filters the outside noise quite well, and after applying some EQ they sound really, really high-def, while still being welcoming and not putting too much strain after hours of listening. Compared to e.g. K550, they're much less shrill in the high-end spectrum, but don't lose any of the clarity. I'd say that for casual listening, paired with a proper EQ they're on par with the mid range Sennheiser models costing about twice as much.

The studio use is where they truly shine, though. I use them for silent band practices as well and they're just as good as the K240.

The build quality is great, and the addition of soft ear pads was a really nice touch, because the leather-ish ones were making me sweat underneath.