AKG N9 Hybrid Review: Wireless Audio Done Right

Rating: 9/10

AKG Awakens with a Bold New Offering

After years of relative quiet under Harman and Samsung’s ownership, AKG is back with a bang. The AKG N9 Hybrid noise-cancelling headphones mark the brand’s first major release since 2017, bringing a fresh design, top-tier features, and a connectivity feature that sets them apart. Priced at $399/£299, they’re squaring up against giants like the Sony WH-1000XM6 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra. With promises of exceptional battery life and advanced noise cancellation, do these wireless headphones live up to AKG’s legendary audio heritage? Let’s dive into this AKG N9 Hybrid review to find out.

This How We Test Headphones
We rigorously tested the AKG N9 Hybrid over a week of daily use, evaluating sound quality across various music genres, comfort, and features. Our testing playlist spans rock, electronic, classical, and more to ensure a comprehensive assessment. We compare them to other leading models based on years of expertise, and manufacturers have no influence over our reviews.

Design : Sleek, Comfortable, and Cleverly Practical

The AKG N9 Hybrid headphones embrace a minimalist yet sophisticated aesthetic, staying true to AKG’s understated style. Available in matte black or crisp white, they feature metal ear cups with silver accents and bold AKG branding. The aluminum headband adds a touch of elegance, while the memory foam ear cushions and headband ensure all-day comfort without excessive clamping force. At 281g, they’re slightly heavier than Sony’s XM6 but lighter than Sennheiser’s Momentum 4, striking a great balance for extended wear.

The ear cups are spacious, fully enveloping your ears for solid passive noise isolation, though the leatherette material can warm up during long sessions. While they don’t fold flat for travel, the ear cups swivel to rest comfortably around your neck, and the adjustable headband accommodates various head sizes.

The standout feature? A hidden USB-C dongle tucked into one ear cup, allowing seamless 2.4GHz wireless connectivity to devices without Bluetooth. This clever design means you’ll never misplace the dongle, making the N9 Hybrid a traveler’s dream.

Features & Battery Life: Connectivity and Endurance That Impress

The AKG N9 Hybrid is packed with thoughtful features. The USB-C dongle ensures plug-and-play connectivity with near-zero latency, perfect for gaming or streaming on devices like laptops or the Steam Deck. A Type-C to Type-A adapter, charging cable, and 3.5mm wired option are included, all neatly stored in a durable fabric carry case. For in-flight entertainment, a dual-jack adapter is a nice touch.

Bluetooth 5.3 with LDAC codec support delivers high-quality wireless audio, though the absence of newer codecs like LC3 or Auracast (found in JBL’s Tour One M3) is a slight drawback. The on-ear controls are intuitive, with buttons for ANC, power, and playback, plus a swiveling ear cup for volume adjustment—far more reliable than touch-sensitive alternatives.

Battery life is a highlight, exceeding AKG’s claims. With ANC on, we achieved over 55 hours, and without it, the headphones pushed past 100 hours. A quick 10-minute charge adds roughly five hours of playback, making these ideal for long tripstum, and we only needed to charge them once during a week of heavy use.

One gripe: wear detection is overly sensitive, causing brief audio interruptions when adjusting or removing the headphones, which can disrupt podcasts or videos.

Interface: Familiar but Functional App Experience

The AKG companion app, clearly influenced by parent company Harman, mirrors JBL’s app design. It offers robust customization, including a 10-band EQ, six preset sound profiles, and a Personi-fi hearing test for personalized audio. However, enabling LDAC locks you out of features like spatial audio upmixing and advanced EQ settings, which is frustrating. Noise cancellation settings are flexible, with adaptive mode handling most scenarios effectively. You can also tweak sidetone for calls and adjust left/right balance, adding versatility.

Sound Quality & Noise Cancellation: Fun, Not Flawless

 

The N9 Hybrid’s 40mm dynamic drivers, featuring liquid crystal polymer diaphragms, align with the Harman curve, emphasizing punchy bass and crisp treble. This tuning delivers a lively, engaging sound that’s more fun than analytical. Tracks like Pendulum’s Driver thump with satisfying bass, while Nova Twins’ Antagonist showcases clear vocals amidst heavy guitars. Delicate compositions, like Thomas Newman’s Any Other Name, reveal a wide soundstage and balanced clarity, though the N9 falls slightly short of Sennheiser’s Momentum 4 in nuance.

Noise cancellation is solid, muting low-frequency noises like train rumbles and reducing chatter, but it doesn’t quite match Sony or Bose’s best-in-class ANC. A faint white noise is noticeable, and bass weakens significantly when ANC is off, so you’ll want to keep it enabled.

Review Verdict: A Strong Contender for Travelers

The AKG N9 Hybrid headphones deliver a compelling package: fantastic sound, marathon battery life, and a unique USB-C dongle that ensures universal connectivity. They’re especially appealing for frequent travelers, as the dongle and in-flight adapter eliminate the need for extra accessories. At $399/£299, they compete closely with Sony and Bose, though their ANC and wear detection quirks keep them from topping the class.

Technical Specifications

• Drivers: 40mm dynamic
• ANC: Yes
• Bluetooth: 5.3 (SBC, LDAC codecs)
• Battery Life: 55 hours (ANC on), 100 hours (ANC off)
• Weight: 281g / 0.62lbs