I Didn’t Think On-Ear Headphones Could Sound This Good. AKG Y400

With over 70 years of audio experience and a ton of patents, AKG set out to bring its famous sound to the masses. They did it with the AKG Y400—a pair of affordable, lightweight, and fashion-focused on-ear headphones. For £109/$149, there’s definitely a lot to like here.

You get great audio, a refreshingly vibrant design, solid battery life, and wireless connectivity. But like a lot of new tech, it’s not a perfect package. Keep reading to find out why.

Design and Build

Let’s be honest, a lot of on-ear headphones can look a bit same-y, with similar builds and boring color options. That’s a trend AKG is trying to break with the Y400s, which have a much more vibrant, fashion-forward design than most other headphones out there right now.

Available in Black, Pink, Green, Blue, and Rose Gold with a high-gloss finish, they have a nice sheen that looks great in the light. The matte finish on some parts is also great at keeping away fingerprints and smudges. The included soft carry case will help keep them looking fresh, too.

The headphones are mostly plastic, which points to their entry-level price, but there’s a flexible metal frame inside the headband that keeps things feeling sturdy. You can see it across the top, which gives the headphones a cool industrial look.

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Portability is a big deal with the Y400s. They’re super lightweight at only 170g and fold down to a tiny size that’s easy to slide into a pocket or bag. To give you an idea, that’s almost half the weight of the bigger AKG Y600NC headphones.

Since these are on-ear headphones, comfort is key. The good news is the earpads are super soft with thick cushioning, so you can wear them all day without your ears getting achy. There’s a bunch of controls on the earcups to quickly take calls, control your music, and access your phone’s voice assistant. There’s also a USB-C port for charging and a 3.5mm headphone jack for when you run out of juice.

There is one slight issue, though: the headband is a little on the small side. Paired with the minimal cushioning, it created some pressure on the top of my head during long listening sessions. This will obviously be different for everyone, and the arms are adjustable, but it’s something to keep in mind if you have a larger head.

Features and Connectivity

With such a small and lightweight design, you’d be forgiven for thinking these are just ‘dumb’ headphones. That’s not the case. The Y400s have an auto-pause feature that stops the music when you take them off and starts it again when you put them back on.

It’s a nice feature that saves you from fumbling for the pause button, but it isn’t perfect. Sometimes it failed to notice when I’d taken the headphones off and just kept playing. It’s handy when it works – I just wish it were a bit more consistent.

You also get TalkThru and Ambient Aware modes. TalkThru lets you quickly mute your music to hear what’s going on around you through the built-in mics. Ambient Aware does the same thing but keeps the music playing at a low volume. Both are great for staying tuned in to your surroundings, and they work just as advertised.

For wireless, you’ve got Bluetooth 5.0 with the AAC codec for better audio quality. You can also connect to two devices at once, which makes switching between your phone and laptop super easy. If the battery dies or you want to connect to an older device, you can always use the 3.5mm cable that comes in the box.

Battery life is pretty decent for such a light pair of headphones, giving you about 20 hours of playback. Plus, with quick-charging, a 10-minute charge gives you four hours of music, so you won’t get caught without power too often.

Sound Quality

The whole idea behind the Y400s is to make AKG’s high-end audio quality accessible to more people. After spending plenty of time listening to music and podcasts with them, I’ve got to admit that AKG has achieved its aim.

On-ear headphones can sometimes be weak in the bass department, but the Y400s manage to deliver impressively punchy bass. Best of all, it doesn’t mess up the mid-range, and there’s great sound separation.

Verdict:

The AKG Y400s are a great value, not just for people who want something more modern and colorful, but for anyone who really wants to appreciate the details in their music. Despite the on-ear design, they deliver that signature AKG sound with crisp detail and punchy bass, making them a great choice for fashionistas and music lovers alike.

The smart features are great when they work, but the auto-pause isn’t as consistent as on some other headphones at this price. The built-in Ambient and TalkThru modes are very handy, though.

Throw in the 20-hour battery life, a lightweight design, and more color options than you can shake a stick at, and you’ve got a great pair of entry-level headphones. The only real drawback is the headband fit, which can get tight if you’ve got a big head like me!

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Lightweight and highly portable
• Delivers AKG-quality audio on a budget
• Excellent 20-hour battery life with fast charging
• Fun, fashionable design with multiple color options
• Useful Ambient Aware and TalkThru modes

Cons:

Auto-pause functionality is flawed and inconsistent

A headband can be tight and uncomfortable for larger heads