I contacted AKG customer services via live chat on their website. The agent apologised for the issues I was experiencing but told me as the unit was under warranty and I had purchased from an authorised reseller (Amazon UK) I would need to raise an RMA via the reseller.

Amazon’s return system is quite slick, I had the replacement a few days later. However, the replacement had another but different manufacturing defect. This time the AKG logo (3 cardioid polar patterns in a cloverleaf shape) was damaged right out of the box. The logo is a recessed pattern lined with a metallic silver leaf that appears to be held in place with adhesive. The bottom section of the silver leaf was bent and stuck out from the headphone. I attempted to put pressure on the logo to help it to stick to the headphone but to no avail.

Now it may seem superficial to complain of a cosmetic issue with such a low-cost headphone, however, I don’t believe it is. And as this unit had been a warranty replacement, this was not only adding insult to injury but signifies a red flag in my book as this raises questions relating to quality control with this headphone model.

No doubt this is something AKG can improve on and tighten the quality control in the factory that manufactures this model. However, for the time being, I have returned both pairs. Amazon has told me they are unable to order a third replacement due to their internal policy. They say they will now have to investigate to ensure there are no issues with their stock

Whilst I don’t want to be too harsh on AKG as this may just be a simple case of first batch teething problems that will be ironed out with later batches. However this is marketed as a professional headphone, and professional headphones need to be able to take the rigours of daily abuse that is a professional environment. Headphones like the HD650, HD25, DT 770 Pro are all user-serviceable, easily repairable and spares are readily available. The K371 does not appear to be user-serviceable, therefore it needs to be bombproof enough to last well beyond its warranty period or it’s just not going to cut the mustard as a professional headphone.

I have since received a third unit and this one also has build problems. For an update on this issue, click here: https://wheezy.reviews/akg-k371-quality-control-issues-why-i-no-longer-own-the-k371/