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K361
Company ProductName Specs




EP
Company ProductName Specs




What we think

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The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·

The AKG K361 headphones offer a slightly better overall sound quality and are more comfortable for longer listening sessions. They also have a detachable cable which is useful if you ever need to replace it. However, if you need more portability and better noise isolation, the Beats EP might be a better choice, although the sound quality isn't rated as high as the AKGs. Neither of these headphones have a microphone, so if you're looking to take calls or attend meetings, you might want to consider another option. Neither is particularly geared for exercise, as they're not sweatproof. If sound quality is your top priority, go for the AKG K361; if you prefer brand reputation and a more snug noise-isolating fit, the Beats EP could suit you better. Give Feedback

this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the AKG K361
  • Good for air travel
Advantages of the Beats EP
  • Very good for music

Key differences

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Music

7.5
K361
EP
8.1
The Beats EP is very good for music, while the AKG K361 is good.

Phone Calls

3.2
K361
EP
4.2
The Beats EP and AKG K361 are both poor for phone calls, though the Beats EP is somewhat better.

Podcasts and Audiobooks

5.0
K361
EP
6.8
The Beats EP is only fair for podcasts and audiobooks, while the AKG K361 is poor.

Noise Reduction

6.0
K361
EP
5.3
The AKG K361 is only fair for noise reduction, while the Beats EP is poor.
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Key similarities

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Gaming

6.3
K361
EP
6.3
The AKG K361 and Beats EP are both only fair for gaming.

TV and Video

7.8
K361
EP
7.6
The AKG K361 and Beats EP are both good for TV and video.

Cost

$99
K361
EP
$100
Product imageProduct image

$40

$60

$80

$100

$120

$140

$160

The AKG K361 has a price of $99 and the Beats EP costs $100.

Build Quality

8.5
K361
EP
8.0
The AKG K361 and Beats EP both have very good build quality.

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How the AKG K361 and the Beats EP compare to other earbuds and headphones

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Spec Comparison

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AKG K361Beats EP
AKG K361Beats EP

GENERAL

Price
$99
$100
Brand
AKGBeats
Release Date
July 1, 2018November 1, 2018
Form Factor
HeadphonesHeadphones
Connectivity
WiredWired

SOUND

Music Score
7.5/108.1/10
Phone Calls Score
3.3/104.3/10
Gaming Score
6.4/106.3/10
TV and Video Score
7.9/107.6/10
Exercise Score
4.3/104.3/10

FEATURES

Active Noise Cancelling
NoNo
Noise Reduction Score
6/105.3/10
Virtual Surround
NoN/A

BUILD AND DESIGN

Build Quality
8.5/108/10
Comfort score
7.6/107/10
Weight (headset or single earbud)
219 Grams226.7 Grams
Waterproof Rating
00
Dustproof Rating
00

Shopping

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AKG K361

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Dig into reviews and images

Medium

Alex Rowe | November 2019
"The K361 retains much of what makes the K371 such a winner, though it has a leaner sound, and the build changes made to trim the price down are immediately apparent. Still, it’s another excellent offering from AKG, and other companies in this fight should either be very worried or quickly designing updates to their old models."

Beats EP

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Dig into reviews and images

Headphonecheck

Ulf Kaiser | 2015
"With the EP model, Beats delivers a stylish headphone with cable connection and hands-free functionality that should please consumers seeking a balanced sound for playback on mobile devices."

Get a great deal on the AKG K361 or the Beats EP

About Beats

Beats is an American, consumer-focused, audio products manufacturer. Founded originally by American rapper and producer Dr Dre, the company is now a subsidiary of Apple. Beats sells a wide range of audio products, including several models of headphones, earbuds and speakers as well as full car audio systems.

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Why trust us

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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.

By the numbers

108
Earbuds and headphones evaluated
11,340
Earbuds and headphones stats compiled
15
Proprietary Earbuds and headphones ratings developed
122,900
Recommendations made
18,435
Consumer hours saved

About the Earbuds or Headphones team

Joe Golden, Ph.D

CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.

Jason Lew

Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.

Chandradeep Chowdhury

Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.

Luis Torres

Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.

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