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*** Free Shipping, with insurance and tracking, within Europe***These are being sold to you by the former Director of Product Management and Marketing from the time when these were launched onto the market and when we developed and made them in Vienna, Austria.Our goal with these was to make the best possible, Mastering Grade, critical mixing, headphones that we could make for around $1800 USD retail. Everything on them was an 'all-new' design. One of a kind drivers, made in Vienna, by hand, and so forth. They are simply the best. They are also incredibly comfortable and that was another design goal. You can wear these forever.I very conservatively rate these as "very good" and not "excellent", just to be fair. The photos make the ear cushions look dry and cracked. They aren't. That's just texturing of the material. There is no cracking, flaking, or itchy scalp dryness ;)Two notable things about these K812 headphones:These were tested, measured, and hand-selected at the factory back when AKG made great stuff in Vienna.Before leaving Vienna, I had the world's best AKG service tech, Hr. Michael Amon, Mr. Mikrofonservice give them a full inspection and service. The internal ribbon connector was replaced with a new one and everything is in 100% shape and sounding great.They come with a black velvet storage bag, the long cable and an adapter from 1/4" to 1/8". I'm listening to them right now as I type this and will miss them. They are ready for critical listening sessions.
Generating expert take…
AKG traces its roots to post-war Vienna, Austria, where physicist Dr. Rudolf Görike and engineer Ernst Pless founded Akustische und Kino-Geräte Gesellschaft m.b.H. in 1947. Emerging from the ruins of World War II, the duo initially supplied cinemas with loudspeakers, film projectors, and light meters, handcrafting products in a modest basement with just five employees. Rapid expansion followed, as AKG ventured into car horns, intercoms, and carbon microphone capsules, quickly gaining traction with radio stations, theaters, and jazz clubs across Europe.
The brand's product focus sharpened on professional audio excellence, pioneering headphones in 1949 and achieving global acclaim with the D12 microphone in 1953, which set standards for voice transmission. AKG became renowned for high-fidelity microphones, including iconic models like the C12 tube mic, alongside headphones, wireless systems, and phonograph cartridges. While early diversification included cinema gear, the company honed in on studio-grade transducers and monitoring tools, later incorporating digital wireless tech.
Today, under Harman International (a Samsung subsidiary since 2017), AKG holds a commanding position as a pro-audio powerhouse, favored by engineers, performers, and broadcasters for its precision and reliability. It bridges mid-tier accessibility with high-end heritage, appealing to discerning hi-fi buyers seeking reference-quality headphones and mics that deliver uncolored, transparent sound— a legacy of Austrian engineering that remains a studio staple worldwide.
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