I wish all headphones had the AKG N9 Hybrid's clever connectivity – here's why it's a great travel companion
Stuff Verdict
Great sounding over-ears with a clever hidden dongle that's almost perfect for frequent flyers. The AKG N9 Hybrid won't be your first choice if you largely listen through a single device, though.
Pros High-grade audio and noise cancelling
Built-in USB-C dongle fantastic for travel
Phenomenal battery life
Cons Not quite an ANC class leader
Overly sensitive wear detection with long reconnect delay
Some codecs lock you out of advanced audio features
Introduction
Aside from a few pro-grade microphones and wired headsets, AKG has been largely in cryosleep since Harman and Samsung hoovered up the storied sound brand back in 2017. Well, that long slumber seems to finally be over: the N9 Hybrid is the firm's first pair of noise cancelling headphones under the new ownership, and it's got a connectivity party trick you won't find anywhere else.
The ANC over-ears also promise epic battery life and cancellation tech to rival the class best. They'll need it, as at $399/£299 they are being lined up directly against heavy hitters like the Sony WH1000-XM6. There's been a lot of behind-the-scenes changes under the new regime, too, with some former staffers having launched their own brand – Austrian Audio. Has enough of the firm's magic been retained now it's under Harman ownership?
How we test headphones
Every pair of earphones and headphones reviewed on Stuff is used for a minimum of a week's worth of daily listening. We use a playlist of test tracks made up of multiple genres to assess sound, and use our years of experience to compare to other models. Manufacturers have no visibility on reviews before they appear online, and we never accept payment to feature products.
Find out more about how we test and rate products.
Design & build: comeback kid
The N9 Hybrid isn't the flashiest pair of over-ear headphones – but that's very much in keeping with AKG's established style. The matte black metal ear cups and silver bevelled edges remind me of the Y500 on-ears, as does the simple yet prominent AKG branding. The aluminium part of the headband adds some contrast. There's also a white version, if you like your tech to also be a style statement.
The ear cushions and headband aren't the plushest I've worn, but the memory foam material inside means they're very comfortable to wear. Clamping force is well-judged and the ear cups are large enough to fully envelop your lugs, without having a massive footprint. The leatherette coverings warmed my ears up a bit with prolonged wear, but unbearably so. They do a decent job at passive sound isolation, too.
While they don't fold for travel, the AKG N9 has enough tilt and swivel that the ear cups can sit flush to your shoulders when worn around the neck. There's also ample adjustment in the headband, so all head shapes and sizes should be able to find a comfortable fit. I like how light they are as well; at 281g they tip the scales a little more than Sony's XM6, but less than Sennheiser's Momentum 4.
Neither of those rivals have a hidden compartment in the ear cup, which slides satisfyingly out to reveal a stashed USB dongle; with it, the N9 Hybrid is able to wirelessly connect to pretty much any modern bit of tech, regardless of whether it has Bluetooth on board or not. It's so simple yet brilliant, as you never have to remember to pack it – the dongle is always there when you need it.
Features & battery: get connected
The wireless dongle has a USB-C connection, which will cover most bases, but AKG does include a Type-C to Type-A adapter for older kit. This stows neatly in the hard-shell fabric carry case, which also holds a Type-A to Type-C charging cable and 3.5mm cable for wired listening, as well as the headphones themselves. An old fashioned double jack connector for in-flight entertainment systems completes the set.
I loved being able to plug the dongle into my laptop, Steam Deck or tablet, saving the need to re-pair over Bluetooth. It's just plug-and-play, with the 2.4Ghz connection delivering practically zero latency – perfect for gaming and watching videos. The headphones have Bluetooth 5.3 on board, with the LDAC codec for better streaming quality. It's a shame new owners Harman haven't encouraged AKG to embrace newer codecs and connections like its other brands, though. The JBL Tour One M3 has LC3 and Auracast, making them that bit more future-proof than the N9.
AKG needs to address how it handles wear detection, too. The N9 seemingly reconnects the Bluetooth signal every time you remove and put the headphones back on, meaning a few seconds of silence before your audio kicks in – but the content has already started playing. I found it particularly frustrating for podcasts and videos, and even readjusting the ear cups could trigger it.
The on-ear controls are well thought out, with the various buttons and ports placed around the outside of each ear cup. There's an ANC toggle and 3.5mm port on the left ear, while the right has a play/pause button, power/Bluetooth pairing slider, and a USB-C charging port. The right ear cup itself then swivels up and down to control volume, so I rarely had to reach for my phone to control playback – and didn't have to worry about accidental swipes triggering overly sensitive touch controls, as is the case with far too many rival headphones.
Throughout my testing, I've only needed to charge the AKG N9 Hybrid a handful of times. Battery life is outstanding, managing upwards of 100 hours over Bluetooth if you disable noise cancelling. I almost exclusively listened with it switched on, as I found bass response to be more balanced, and routinely lasted over the firm's 55 hour claim. A week of listening throughout work hours and only needing to plug in once is a fantastic showing. A mere ten minutes of charging is good enough for another five or so hours of music, too.
Interface: feels familiar
New parent company Harman has clearly had a hand in AKG's new smartphone companion app; it looks like a reskin of JBL's, with a near-identical feature set. That means there are plenty of settings to tweak, but also that you're locked out of a lot of them if you enable the LDAC codec.
That's a shame, as the Personi-fi personalised listening test is a useful way to adapt the audio based on your hearing ability. The six generic equaliser presets and 10-band custom EQ are always available, but need a bit more understanding of audio frequencies to get the best results. Spatial audio upmixing (without head tracking) is also off limits when using the higher quality connection, but personally that's nothing to lose sleep over. I'm not a fan of the exaggerated surround effects it creates for tunes mastered in stereo.
There are a bunch of noise cancelling settings if you'd prefer not to leave the headphones in their adaptive mode, but it works so well to changing background sound levels I never felt the need. Being able to adjust the left/right sound balance, and how much sidetone lets your own voice through while making voice calls, are nice inclusions.
Sound quality and noise cancelling: finds the fun factor
We're at the point now where most premium ANC headphones do a decent job at silencing the outside world, but there's still a gap between them and the very best of the breed. The AKG N9 Hybrid falls into the former camp, managing to mute the low-frequency rumble of a train carriage well enough and largely cutting out chatter from fellow passengers, even with music volume at a fairly low level.
Distractions still slip through that Sony and Bose manage to prevent, though, and white noise is that bit easier to detect here. There's a real lack of bass when you switch ANC off, too – you're better off leaving it on, even in quieter areas, for a more balanced sound.
The AKG N9 Hybrid's 40mm dynamic drivers, which use diaphragms made from liquid crystal polymer, have been calibrated very closely to the 'Harman curve'. That slightly v-shaped tune accentuates bass and treble in a way that's pleasing to the ears, but not necessarily accurate to how your music was mixed.
As long as you aren't expecting a purely analytical performance, the N9 makes for a very enjoyable listen. Pendulum's Driver was suitably squelchy, with thumping bass hits at one end and clear, biting percussion at the other. The vocals on Nova Twins' Antagonist weren't drowned out by the distorted guitars, commanding real presence in the mix. HEALTH's Tears can often trip up bass-heavy headphones, but here the droning beat avoided sounding too boomy.
More delicate tracks show these headphones can do subtle as well as bombastic, with the strings and piano on Thomas Newman's Any Other Name given plenty of room to breathe. The soundstage is fairly wide for a set of closed-back cans, too. the N9 lacks just a little of the nuance found in the Sennheiser Momentum 4, and no amount of experimenting with the EQ sliders could close the gap, but it's not a big one.
AKG N9 Hybrid verdict
They're comfortable, last an incredibly long time per charge, and are about as convenient as it gets for listening across multiple devices – whether they've got Bluetooth or not. The AKG N9 Hybrid is a capable all-rounder that really comes into its own if you travel often; few rivals let you leave the carry case and accessory kit at home yet still play nicely with (most) in-flight entertainment systems.
The few software shortcomings I experienced were frustrating, and it would be nice to have more control over the advanced sound customisation when using the best quality Bluetooth codec. Sony and Bose also remain the best picks for noise cancellation; while both come at a price premium, the gap is narrow enough that in some territories I'd think very hard before breaking out the credit card.
Everywhere else, though, these are still very much in the conversation – and even more so if you regularly hop between devices.
Stuff Says…
Score: 4/5
An impressive return to form for AKG; the N9 Hybrid are great sounding over-ears with a clever hidden dongle that's almost perfect for frequent flyers. If you largely listen through a single device, though, there's no shortage of fantastic rivals.
Pros
High-grade audio and noise cancelling
Built-in USB-C dongle fantastic for travel
Phenomenal battery life
Cons
Not quite an ANC class leader
Overly sensitive wear detection with long reconnect delay
Some codecs lock you out of advanced audio features
AKG N9 Hybrid technical specifications
Drivers 40mm dynamic ANC Yes Bluetooth version Bluetooth 5.3 Codecs supported SBC, LDAC Durability N/A Battery life 55 hours (ANC on)
100 hours (ANC off) Weight 281g / 0.62lbs
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2 days ago
- Stuff.tv
I wish all headphones had the AKG N9 Hybrid's clever connectivity – here's why it's a great travel companion
Stuff Verdict Great sounding over-ears with a clever hidden dongle that's almost perfect for frequent flyers. The AKG N9 Hybrid won't be your first choice if you largely listen through a single device, though. Pros High-grade audio and noise cancelling Built-in USB-C dongle fantastic for travel Phenomenal battery life Cons Not quite an ANC class leader Overly sensitive wear detection with long reconnect delay Some codecs lock you out of advanced audio features Introduction Aside from a few pro-grade microphones and wired headsets, AKG has been largely in cryosleep since Harman and Samsung hoovered up the storied sound brand back in 2017. Well, that long slumber seems to finally be over: the N9 Hybrid is the firm's first pair of noise cancelling headphones under the new ownership, and it's got a connectivity party trick you won't find anywhere else. The ANC over-ears also promise epic battery life and cancellation tech to rival the class best. They'll need it, as at $399/£299 they are being lined up directly against heavy hitters like the Sony WH1000-XM6. There's been a lot of behind-the-scenes changes under the new regime, too, with some former staffers having launched their own brand – Austrian Audio. Has enough of the firm's magic been retained now it's under Harman ownership? How we test headphones Every pair of earphones and headphones reviewed on Stuff is used for a minimum of a week's worth of daily listening. We use a playlist of test tracks made up of multiple genres to assess sound, and use our years of experience to compare to other models. Manufacturers have no visibility on reviews before they appear online, and we never accept payment to feature products. Find out more about how we test and rate products. Design & build: comeback kid The N9 Hybrid isn't the flashiest pair of over-ear headphones – but that's very much in keeping with AKG's established style. The matte black metal ear cups and silver bevelled edges remind me of the Y500 on-ears, as does the simple yet prominent AKG branding. The aluminium part of the headband adds some contrast. There's also a white version, if you like your tech to also be a style statement. The ear cushions and headband aren't the plushest I've worn, but the memory foam material inside means they're very comfortable to wear. Clamping force is well-judged and the ear cups are large enough to fully envelop your lugs, without having a massive footprint. The leatherette coverings warmed my ears up a bit with prolonged wear, but unbearably so. They do a decent job at passive sound isolation, too. While they don't fold for travel, the AKG N9 has enough tilt and swivel that the ear cups can sit flush to your shoulders when worn around the neck. There's also ample adjustment in the headband, so all head shapes and sizes should be able to find a comfortable fit. I like how light they are as well; at 281g they tip the scales a little more than Sony's XM6, but less than Sennheiser's Momentum 4. Neither of those rivals have a hidden compartment in the ear cup, which slides satisfyingly out to reveal a stashed USB dongle; with it, the N9 Hybrid is able to wirelessly connect to pretty much any modern bit of tech, regardless of whether it has Bluetooth on board or not. It's so simple yet brilliant, as you never have to remember to pack it – the dongle is always there when you need it. Features & battery: get connected The wireless dongle has a USB-C connection, which will cover most bases, but AKG does include a Type-C to Type-A adapter for older kit. This stows neatly in the hard-shell fabric carry case, which also holds a Type-A to Type-C charging cable and 3.5mm cable for wired listening, as well as the headphones themselves. An old fashioned double jack connector for in-flight entertainment systems completes the set. I loved being able to plug the dongle into my laptop, Steam Deck or tablet, saving the need to re-pair over Bluetooth. It's just plug-and-play, with the 2.4Ghz connection delivering practically zero latency – perfect for gaming and watching videos. The headphones have Bluetooth 5.3 on board, with the LDAC codec for better streaming quality. It's a shame new owners Harman haven't encouraged AKG to embrace newer codecs and connections like its other brands, though. The JBL Tour One M3 has LC3 and Auracast, making them that bit more future-proof than the N9. AKG needs to address how it handles wear detection, too. The N9 seemingly reconnects the Bluetooth signal every time you remove and put the headphones back on, meaning a few seconds of silence before your audio kicks in – but the content has already started playing. I found it particularly frustrating for podcasts and videos, and even readjusting the ear cups could trigger it. The on-ear controls are well thought out, with the various buttons and ports placed around the outside of each ear cup. There's an ANC toggle and 3.5mm port on the left ear, while the right has a play/pause button, power/Bluetooth pairing slider, and a USB-C charging port. The right ear cup itself then swivels up and down to control volume, so I rarely had to reach for my phone to control playback – and didn't have to worry about accidental swipes triggering overly sensitive touch controls, as is the case with far too many rival headphones. Throughout my testing, I've only needed to charge the AKG N9 Hybrid a handful of times. Battery life is outstanding, managing upwards of 100 hours over Bluetooth if you disable noise cancelling. I almost exclusively listened with it switched on, as I found bass response to be more balanced, and routinely lasted over the firm's 55 hour claim. A week of listening throughout work hours and only needing to plug in once is a fantastic showing. A mere ten minutes of charging is good enough for another five or so hours of music, too. Interface: feels familiar New parent company Harman has clearly had a hand in AKG's new smartphone companion app; it looks like a reskin of JBL's, with a near-identical feature set. That means there are plenty of settings to tweak, but also that you're locked out of a lot of them if you enable the LDAC codec. That's a shame, as the Personi-fi personalised listening test is a useful way to adapt the audio based on your hearing ability. The six generic equaliser presets and 10-band custom EQ are always available, but need a bit more understanding of audio frequencies to get the best results. Spatial audio upmixing (without head tracking) is also off limits when using the higher quality connection, but personally that's nothing to lose sleep over. I'm not a fan of the exaggerated surround effects it creates for tunes mastered in stereo. There are a bunch of noise cancelling settings if you'd prefer not to leave the headphones in their adaptive mode, but it works so well to changing background sound levels I never felt the need. Being able to adjust the left/right sound balance, and how much sidetone lets your own voice through while making voice calls, are nice inclusions. Sound quality and noise cancelling: finds the fun factor We're at the point now where most premium ANC headphones do a decent job at silencing the outside world, but there's still a gap between them and the very best of the breed. The AKG N9 Hybrid falls into the former camp, managing to mute the low-frequency rumble of a train carriage well enough and largely cutting out chatter from fellow passengers, even with music volume at a fairly low level. Distractions still slip through that Sony and Bose manage to prevent, though, and white noise is that bit easier to detect here. There's a real lack of bass when you switch ANC off, too – you're better off leaving it on, even in quieter areas, for a more balanced sound. The AKG N9 Hybrid's 40mm dynamic drivers, which use diaphragms made from liquid crystal polymer, have been calibrated very closely to the 'Harman curve'. That slightly v-shaped tune accentuates bass and treble in a way that's pleasing to the ears, but not necessarily accurate to how your music was mixed. As long as you aren't expecting a purely analytical performance, the N9 makes for a very enjoyable listen. Pendulum's Driver was suitably squelchy, with thumping bass hits at one end and clear, biting percussion at the other. The vocals on Nova Twins' Antagonist weren't drowned out by the distorted guitars, commanding real presence in the mix. HEALTH's Tears can often trip up bass-heavy headphones, but here the droning beat avoided sounding too boomy. More delicate tracks show these headphones can do subtle as well as bombastic, with the strings and piano on Thomas Newman's Any Other Name given plenty of room to breathe. The soundstage is fairly wide for a set of closed-back cans, too. the N9 lacks just a little of the nuance found in the Sennheiser Momentum 4, and no amount of experimenting with the EQ sliders could close the gap, but it's not a big one. AKG N9 Hybrid verdict They're comfortable, last an incredibly long time per charge, and are about as convenient as it gets for listening across multiple devices – whether they've got Bluetooth or not. The AKG N9 Hybrid is a capable all-rounder that really comes into its own if you travel often; few rivals let you leave the carry case and accessory kit at home yet still play nicely with (most) in-flight entertainment systems. The few software shortcomings I experienced were frustrating, and it would be nice to have more control over the advanced sound customisation when using the best quality Bluetooth codec. Sony and Bose also remain the best picks for noise cancellation; while both come at a price premium, the gap is narrow enough that in some territories I'd think very hard before breaking out the credit card. Everywhere else, though, these are still very much in the conversation – and even more so if you regularly hop between devices. Stuff Says… Score: 4/5 An impressive return to form for AKG; the N9 Hybrid are great sounding over-ears with a clever hidden dongle that's almost perfect for frequent flyers. If you largely listen through a single device, though, there's no shortage of fantastic rivals. Pros High-grade audio and noise cancelling Built-in USB-C dongle fantastic for travel Phenomenal battery life Cons Not quite an ANC class leader Overly sensitive wear detection with long reconnect delay Some codecs lock you out of advanced audio features AKG N9 Hybrid technical specifications Drivers 40mm dynamic ANC Yes Bluetooth version Bluetooth 5.3 Codecs supported SBC, LDAC Durability N/A Battery life 55 hours (ANC on) 100 hours (ANC off) Weight 281g / 0.62lbs
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WH-1000XM6: the secrets behind Sony's best headphones
The Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones aren't designed for audio obsessives. At least, not exclusively. They're also made for commuters, remote workers, casual gamers, frequent flyers, and anyone who wants great sound — and noise cancellation — with minimal faff. And it's precisely this versatility that makes them interesting. Because, as it turns out, they weren't easy to make. At a press event held at Sony's slick 5020 Studios in Madrid, the company pulled back the curtain on how the WH-1000XM6 came to be. What emerged was a picture of a product shaped as much by collaboration, restraint, and problem-solving as by cutting-edge innovation, worthy of topping our list of the best headphones. Shaping the sound The sound of the WH-1000XM6 wasn't grown in a sterile lab. It came from repeated sessions between Sony's engineers and mastering engineer Mike Piacentini, who works at Sony Music's Battery Studios in New York. Having mastered records for artists including Bob Dylan, Depeche Mode, Rage Against the Machine, and more, Piacentini's job was to help tune the XM6 so that they sound good with any genre, on any pair of ears — a task that's easier said than done. 'Koji's team came over twice,' Piacentini said, referring to Sony audio engineer Koji Takamura. 'They brought prototypes — different driver designs, different tuning profiles — and we just listened. We'd sit in my room, compare them to other headphones, my speaker setup, and argue about EQ. That's kind of the job.' He wasn't just tweaking software presets. 'They'd come back after I gave them notes and literally change the physical design — airflow, diaphragm shape, materials,' he said. 'Like, I'd say 'make the snare pop a bit more,' and a few weeks later they'd show up with a totally reworked prototype that actually did it. It's always impressive how they turn abstract EQ feedback into real, physical changes.' Takamura explained that the XM6's 30mm driver is structurally similar to the one found in the XM5, but with key upgrades. 'The dome is carbon fibre composite — more rigid now — so the high frequency response is more natural and clean,' he said. 'The diaphragm edge is soft, and we added airflow holes in the bobbin to make the sound smoother and more natural.' Unlike professional-grade studio headphones used by producers and sound engineers (where the goal is to use the flattest, most clinical-sounding pair of headphones possible), designing a pair of consumer headphones is a different beast entirely. 'With studio headphones, you know who you're building for. With these, you don't. They'll be used by people listening to everything from Dylan to EDM. So it's about making smart compromises that still feel musical.' Piacentini also spoke about the reference material used in testing — a tight selection of tracks he either worked on directly or knew intimately. 'You listen to the same songs 50, 60 times while tuning,' he said. 'You're listening for balance — does the snare hit the same way? Is the vocal sitting right? And more than anything, does it translate from the studio to these headphones?' Interestingly, other engineers brought in by Sony — including Randy Merrill, Chris Gehringer, and Michael Romanowski — all made similar tuning decisions. 'It was reassuring,' Piacentini said. 'We weren't working in a vacuum. The choices we made seemed to land with everyone.' The tuning process itself, once the hardware was fixed, also took time. 'We started with a few different EQs,' Takamura said. 'Then we brought it to Mike. He helped us tune it more precisely, and we saved that as a preset.' Naturally, one of the other key challenges was balancing ANC with sound quality. 'If the noise cancelling is too strong, you lose clarity,' Takamura continues. 'We worked on an algorithm that adapts to your head shape and your surroundings. That's new.' The sound of silence On that note, Sony's noise cancelling has long been among the best — and the XM6 pushes things further. The jump from eight microphones to 12 (six per earcup) gives the system more data to work with, and it's all handled by the new QN3 noise-cancelling processor, combined with a powerful, all-new algorithm. According to Sony, it's seven times faster than the QN1 chip used in the XM5, enabling more responsive real-time adjustments to changing environments. But it's not just about the hardware. Takamura explained how the new algorithm adapts not just to background noise, but also to head shape and air pressure — crucial for keeping ANC consistent in different situations. Still, he acknowledged the trade-offs. 'There's always a small difference between sound with ANC on and off — but we tried to keep it as small as possible.' In testing, the WH-1000XM6 delivered one of the most effective ANC performances I've used. On a flight, engine noise faded to near silence. In a busy home office, keyboard clacks and fan hum dropped to a distant murmur. Even without music playing, the XM6 created a noticeably quieter bubble — and once audio kicks in, external distractions all but vanish. The ambient mode (Sony's take on transparency) has been improved too. It now adjusts automatically based on surroundings — opening up more in quiet spaces, pulling back in louder ones — with no need for manual tweaks. Some power users may lament the lack of customisable ANC controls regardless, and I totally get that. For me, I have zero complaints about the ANC autopilot in the WH-1000XM6. Though I wouldn't mind seeing a future app update with customisation options. Power to the people, and all that. Nips and tucks While not a million miles away from the design of the XM5, there are some notable changes in the XM6 which, according to Sony designerChai Yee L., was led by a mixture of user feedback and stubborn attention to detail. 'We call it evolutionary, not revolutionary,' she said, 'but each change solves a specific problem.' One example, is the headband. On the XM5, it was perfectly symmetrical — sleek, but occasionally confusing. 'Some users wore them the wrong way round,' she admitted. 'That affects the seal, and sound quality. So the new headband is slightly asymmetrical, with a seam at the back to help you identify the correct orientation by feel.' Even the way the headphones fold was rethought. 'We brought back the folding design because people missed it,' she said. 'But we also reworked the hinge. There's less swing, more stiffness, a straighter profile. We wanted to reduce what we call the 'Mickey Mouse effect' — that triangular gap between the earcup and the head.' The carry case, too, has had a rethink — prompted by Sony's Inclusive Design Workshop in 2024. 'The old zip was hard for some people to use. Now it's a magnetic flap. You can open it with one hand.' Play Other small but considered changes include a redesigned power button (to avoid accidental presses), softer synthetic leather pads, and increased clamping force for better ANC performance. 'You can now wear it around your neck with closed cups too,' she added. 'We wanted it to look and feel more portable.' Sony WH-1000XM6: the best headphones for most people If someone were to ask me what headphones they should get, I'd point them in the direction of the WH-1000XM6 without hesitation — budget permitting, of course. They aren't exactly cheap. But if you're after a single pair of headphones for every conceivable task, and are willing to spend a premium, you won't be disappointed. And as for the inevitable XM7? I'm looking forward to what Sony's engineers and designers will cook up over the next few years.
