Tier 1 · Rank #4

AKG — the Austrian studio legend, now flying a Samsung flag

Founded in Vienna in 1947, AKG (short for Akustische und Kino-Geräte, “acoustic and cinema equipment”) became the studio mic standard across Europe and then the world. Today AKG is part of Harman International, which Samsung bought for $8 billion in 2017.

Founded1947

HQOriginally Vienna, Austria; now Stamford, CT (Harman)

OwnershipSamsung → Harman

NoteVienna factory closed in 2017

What they make

Studio condensers, broadcast headsets, instrument mics

AKG’s strength has always been studio condenser microphones. The C414 (introduced 1971, still in production) is one of the most-recorded large-diaphragm condensers in history — instantly identifiable by its rectangular gold grille. The C12, an older tube mic from 1953, is the kind of vintage prize that sells for $25,000+ on the used market.

AKG also makes the kind of mic you’ll find on a kick drum (D112), in a church wireless system, on a guitar amp (the small C451), or in headset form for broadcast (HSC series).

The famous mics

AKG microphones worth knowing

C414 — multi-pattern large-diaphragm condenser. Vocals, drum overheads, acoustic guitar, you name it.
C12 / C12 VR — vintage tube mic, reissued. Smooth, airy. Vocal-mic royalty.
C451 B — small-diaphragm pencil condenser. Drum overheads and acoustic guitar standard.
D112 MkII — the kick drum mic. Egg-shaped, instantly recognizable.
D5 / D7 — handheld dynamic vocal mics for live use.
C214 — single-pattern, more affordable cousin of the C414.
K-series headphones — K240, K371, K712. Studio reference headphones.

Should you buy one?

The short answer

Get an AKG if You want a serious studio condenser. The C414 is one of the safest blank-check buys in pro audio — it works on almost anything you point it at. The C214 gets you a lot of that sound for half the price.

Skip AKG if You’re only recording voice in an untreated room — you don’t need a $1,200 condenser, you need a forgiving dynamic like the SM7B.