Orders
Contrary to what might be expected, AKG is slightly evolving its ergonomic formula. Of course, the manufacturer does not abandon the buttons, but it cleverly uses the right shell, the forward and rear pivoting of which triggers the volume change. This intuitive integration limits the rest of the physical controls to a multifunction button (navigation and call to the assistant) and another dedicated to noise reduction.
In addition to these basic controls, there are some subtleties linked to the hybrid side of the headset. In particular, the N9 can switch between Bluetooth mode and 2.4 GHz mode (low latency transmitter) from the On-off switch. Finally, the manufacturer does not omit one of the essential functions of recent years: port detection. Fortunately, this can be deactivated in the app.
Connectivity
Quite rich, the connectivity of the product is expressed through four types of exchanges: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, active wired and passive wired.
As a Bluetooth headset, the N9 Hybrid is a modern contender. Its Bluetooth 5.3 chip provides multipoint connection, LDAC codec support and compatibility with Fast Pair and Swift Pair fast pairing. AKG could have ticked all the boxes if its creation was LE Audio compatible. This is all the more surprising as recent models from JBL, AKG’s sister company, increasingly highlight this new standard.
Unsurprisingly, the connection stability is exemplary, even under LDAC codec. Concerning latency, this remains frankly classic, since it does not fall below 175 ms in normal mode and around 135 ms in low video latency mode.
A little more original, the USB-C dongle, compatible with almost all devices on the market (PC and smartphone), gives the AKG N9 Hybrid a major advantage. In this mode, the useful range is certainly quite low, but the absence of latency constitutes a huge advantage, especially since the microphone remains functional. Zoom certified, the device is designed for videoconferencing. As a security measure, the microphone can be deactivated via a button on the dongle. This deactivation is confirmed by the presence of a red LED.
Finally, the device does not abandon the wired connection and retains the good old 3.5 mm jack port for input. The icing on the cake is that the N9 can operate in passive mode, i.e. with the headphones off. We ultimately only note two defects on the device, namely the absence of audio mode via USB-C (wired) and the inability to use the headset while charging. To nitpick, we regret that wired (active) mode is not a priority. As such, it is often necessary to disconnect from Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz transmitters to take advantage of jack mode.
Application
Great advantage of being under the aegis of the Harman group, the N9 Hybrid Bluetooth headphones work under the AKG Connect app, a sort of clone of JBL Headphones. This feature is synonymous with a complete experience. Here, almost nothing to say, because the settings are extremely numerous and varied.
Whether in terms of sound or ergonomics, AKG omits nothing: adjustment of the RBA and sound feedback, 10-band equalizer, sound customization via Personi-Fi, low latency modes, 3D mode, activation/deactivation of automation, etc. The embarrassment of choice can even confuse the novice user.
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France
