Audio-Technica ATHANC7 Noise-cancelling Headphones

by Audio-Technica

• ATH-ANC7 QuietPoint active noise-cancelling headphones effectively reduces environmental noise by up to 85% with or without audio
• Ideal for travel and use with MP3, CD, DVD and in-flight entertainment systems
• Provides superior audio quality with 40mm drivers with neodymium magnet systems in each earpiece for deeper bass, extended treble and higher fidelity
• Fully integrated active noise-cancelling technology - no external modules needed
• Includes a detachable cable (remove for noise-cancelling function without audio) with 3.5 mm mini-plugs

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8.5 x 4.8 inches ; 1.8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000OMKR8E
• Item model number: ATH-ANC7
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1,187 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 2, 2001

Product Description

Audio-Technica's lightweight and compact ATH-ANC7 QuietPoint headphones are ideal for use with MP3, CD, DVD and in-flight entertainment systems; with fully integrated ANC circuitry that effectively reduces distracting background noise by up to 85% (active noise reduction up to 20dB). 40mm drivers with neodymium magnet systems in each earpiece provide superior audio quality for deeper bass, extended treble and higher fidelity; while a single AAA battery powers the active noise-cancelling technology with or without audio. ATH-ANC7 QuietPoint headphones fold flat for easy portability and include a detachable cable (remove for noise-cancelling function without audio) with 3.5mm mini-plugs, a full-size ¼" adapter, a specialized airline adapter for connecting to in-flight entertainment systems, and a handy carrying case. The detachable cable is 5.2 inches long.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1,671 of 1,691 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Half the price but better than Bose? Heh.. think we found a winner! May 3, 2007

By Canis Majoris VINE™ VOICE

Amazon Verified Purchase

As everybody I'm sure, I debated between these and the Bose Quiet comforts. I have listened to all 3 and I myself like the over the ear better first of all, so the QC 3 were out ( and they pretty much compare evenly with the QC2 ). Now for the review of this product versus the QC2, my two remaining choices.

QC 2 - Excellent noise canceling, overall excellent balance in music tone. Good Highs, Good Mid-range but EXCELLENT bass. Downside is 300 dollars and very flimsy (cheaply made)

ATH-ANC7 -
1.SUPERB Noise canceling: Plane: W/O music - everything is muffled as if you were in a room by yourself but you could hear people outside the door. With Music: I had trouble hearing ANY Noise outside the music, It was almost completely silent...I could turn my Ipod down to around 25% of max volume and could hear every instrument and then some. These are BETTER than Bose as far as Noise canceling.
2. The High and Mid-range on these things are some of the best I've heard, and I am now comparing with the Bose as well as some Grado's. These demolish Bose in that area, you almost can FEEL the snare drums and the breath of the singer...honestly.
3. Bass - This is kind of the downside. The bass is there, but definitely is not as apparent as with the Bose. It has a nice muffled thumping sound, but is kind of back shadowed by the highs, but after adjusting the EQ you could hear it more, and it was fairly decent with no distortion. There was,however, some distortion with the very deep punchy bass on some songs, which is kind of annoying. You can't hear it that much enough to mess with the song, but it is there sometimes, I'm trying to guess whether it is my headphones or it just does this, but all in all the bass is a 5.5/10.
4. Comfort - Excellent comfort, more so than the QC 2. Has a more padded cushion, and it fits nicely over my ears.
5. Construction - Doesn't feel as flimsy as the QC 2's, and has a nice solid feel.
+++ Added Bonus - The Noise Canceling option runs off of AAA batteries ( one to be exact ) versus charging with the QC3s. This is SOOO much easier than charging, and the battery lasts for around 40 hours. I absolutely love this feature.

All in all I think you know which one i recommend. I bought these new for half the price of Bose, and I can't tell you enough how much these are actually better than the Bose. You will be saving money and getting better features along with it. If it sounds to good to be true - it isn't. I am the first reviewer of these and I went out on a limb buying these, now I come to you to let you know that you don't have ONE choice when it comes to noise canceling headphones. So I thank you for reading my review, and happy listening!

367 of 374 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Audio-Technica Kicks Bose Butt May 17, 2007

By Bruce R. Cordell

Amazon Verified Purchase

I owned a set of Bose Quietcomfort2 headphones for about 2 years. I really loved them, and they lasted about... 2 years. Within months of purchasing them, the plastic arms slowly crumbled, until each sidearm of the set was thickly wrapped in electrician's tape to keep the thing together.

Last week, one headphone cup broke off, and no amount of tape would any longer keep them together. I've never traveled with these, I used them only at my desk, I've never dropped them.

Even with such care, the plastic slowly crumbled away.

Is this planned obsolescence? For something that cost me $350 dollars, I'm very upset.

So, I ordered a set of these Audio Technica headphones. So far, they cancel noise slightly better than the Bose, and in fact allow me to go to a lower volume on music while I'm working at my desk.

I guess to really compare to the Bose, I'll have to give them a little time and see if they begin crumbling away after just 6 months as the Quietcomfort2 did. So, if that happens, I'll give another review. But for now, I'm happy.

UPDATE 09/05/08: I've fixed a few editorial errors on my review pointed out in comments. Also, I wanted to follow through on my promise to give another review: After more than a year of use, these headphones are still going strong without any of the degradation problems I encountered with the Bose set. I still highly recommend these.

318 of 325 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Noise Cancelling Headset for the $ May 21, 2007

By W. Stohler VINE™ VOICE

Amazon Verified Purchase

Maybe I should have left off...'for the $'. I've tried the QC2 and QC3, and in my opinion, the ATH-ANC7s beat them both!

If you're looking for near-audiophile balanced sound (bass, mid and high-frequencies), I think you won't be disappointed. Great design, great noise cancelling, great battery life, detachable cord, very comfortable, and less than half the price of th QC2. They look better in real life than in the picures.

High quality product, reasonable price. Highly recommended.