When comparing AKG K81 DJ vs Onkyo W800BT, the Slant community recommends AKG K81 DJ for most people. In the question“What are the best headphones?” AKG K81 DJ is ranked 68th while Onkyo W800BT is ranked 102nd. The most important reason people chose AKG K81 DJ is:
Despite the compact size. the bass is full, has great impact, deep extension yet is not loose. The low end also has a natural quality to it that makes these headphones great for music that is performed using real instruments. The mids are slightly recessed, but also have a natural tone. The highs are the most recessed or rolled-off, but the detail and airiness of the music is not totally absent. This quality helps give the sound a smooth and pleasing tonality.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Full bass with adequate levels of mids and highs
Despite the compact size. the bass is full, has great impact, deep extension yet is not loose. The low end also has a natural quality to it that makes these headphones great for music that is performed using real instruments.
The mids are slightly recessed, but also have a natural tone. The highs are the most recessed or rolled-off, but the detail and airiness of the music is not totally absent. This quality helps give the sound a smooth and pleasing tonality.
Pro Ear cups can swivel facing outwards
The K81 can be used “DJ style”, wherein only one ear cup is in contact with the head. The cups have a smooth swivel action so they can be rotated to face outwards. A user can choose to hold one ear cup up to his or her ear while flipping switches or turning knobs on the mix board with the other hand.
Pro Easy to travel with
While these are already quite compact, the ear cups can be folded into the headband to reduce their size even further. This makes them easy to stuff inside a bag and travel with.
Pro Comfortable to wear even with extended use
The clamping force is not too much at all, so acceptable levels of pressure will be applied on the ears. Also, the ear pads are thick with ample pleather padding on the surface. This combination provides adequate cushioning between the ear cups and sides of the head.
Pro Can fit a wide range of head sizes
The aluminum headband itself has some good flex. Combined with the sliding mechanism of the ear cups, K81 can be adjusted to fit a wide range of head sizes. Also notable are the numbered steps on each side of the headband, which allow for accurate and consistent ear cup positioning.
Pro Feels high quality
Although it's mostly made of plastic, the materials don't feel cheap at all. Aside from feeling sturdy, the plastics have a smooth rubber coating which makes them feel premium to the touch. Also, the headband is made out of aluminum which is significantly more durable than an all plastic one.
Pro Clean and airy highs, warm and natural sounding mids with punchy bass
Instead of being bloated and overpowering, the bass is punchy and fast so while these will not be able to produce a lot of rumble. Thump should be satisfying for most users. The highs are nice and airy with a lot of detail yet never become harsh, so these are not fatiguing to listen to. The mids sound very natural and jump out just enough to make vocals and guitars very easy to hear and appreciate.
These should work best for more vocal and instrument focused genres like jazz, rock, classical and the like. Bass heavy tracks will still sound good with these, though these headphones will not be able to give the deep bass that bass lovers will be after.
Pro Carrying case functions as portable charger
The carrying case has an internal battery, and with a full charge, can supply the headphones with 5 full charges on the go.
Pro Good soundstage width
The soundstage that these produce gives the music an open feel with good instrument separation. This quality will help give the listener an immersive music listening experience.
Cons
Con On-ear design can still be uncomfortable
While the ear pads are thick and give a lot of cushioning, some may still find this to be uncomfortable. Being on-ear, some pressure is applied onto the ears.Those who are sensitive to this may still feel some discomfort, especially when worn for several hours straight.
Con Highs may sound too recessed
People who prefer their music with sparkly highs and utmost clarity likely won't find these headphones to be a good listen.
Con Lengthy cable can be a hassle
The cable is 2.5m which is fairly long. Since it is not detachable and the cable tends to tangle quite easily, it may cause some problems with regular home use or when taking these headphones on the go.
Con No remote control
The button on the W800BT only allows for powering on or off the device. Users will not be able to adjust volume, play/pause tracks or accept/end calls. This can be quite inconvenient, especially when you need to use the aforementioned functions when on the go.
Con Battery life is not very good
From a full charge, the W800BT can only last around 2 to 3 hours of playback time before you need to put them back into the case to charge.