I've owned a pair of Sony MDR-V600 headphones for about the last 12 years. I always liked the sound of them, even if they weren't the most accurate set around. I loved the low bass they provided and and the crisp highs. After 12 years they finally got blown, or something... They distort whenever any bass hits, even at fairly low volumes. So I decided I needed a new pair.
I looked at tons of reviews before deciding on the Audio Technica ATH-A700s. I knew what I wanted:
1.) Closed cans. I didn't want an open set, even if people say they tend to have better midranges. I've listened to the Grado S60 headphones (open cans), and don't really like the way they sound. There is bass in them, and nice mid-range, but the highs were seriously lacking for my taste. The A700s are great in that respect. They are very sealed and block out most of the background noise outside them. I had someone else put them on, and when they were talking about how they liked them, they were yelling at me because they couldn't hear themselves talk with them on. hehe
2.) Comfort. I could wear those MDR-V600s for hours and hours and I'd forget they were even on. I'd sometimes get a little hot with them on, but that didn't bother me. The A700s don't disappoint. They are completely comfortable and the worst that happens is my ears get a little warm. But it's not bad at all and I only notice it when I'm consciously looking for it.
3.) Plenty of bass. My V600s had great bass, and I knew I didn't want anything that was any less than those. These A700s put those Sonys to shame. The bass is the first thing that stood out to me when I put them on. It wasn't overbearing or too in-your-face. It was there when you wanted it, and it didn't show up when you didn't. I'm sure the 53mm drivers don't hurt. I love it, and I hear after about 100 hours of burn-in the bass gets better and better. :)
4.) Crisp high-end. I want there to be a very crisp high-end without it being shrill or hurting my ears. My Sonys treated me pretty well in that regard, but they were sometimes a little shrill when I had them at loud levels. The A700s aren't like that. They are very crisp and don't strain your ears even at louder levels. Also, the sound-stage is a little wider than my V600s, as this set is larger and the drivers are slightly farther away from your ears.
I mainly use these headphones with my computer, but will probably also use them with my Denon AVR-2309CI receiver at times too. My computer has a Creative Audigy 2 ZS Gamer sound card in it right now. I was afraid that it might not have enough power to drive these headphones well. I was wrong. It has plenty of power to push the bass on these large drivers, even at loud levels. But just to be sure I was getting the most out of them, I ordered an Auzentech X-Fi Forte 7.1 sound card. It has a better sound processor, better amps, and a dedicated built-in headphone amp in it. They should really shine with that sound card.
If you're on the fence and want a great, inexpensive set of closed headphones that sound great, feel great, and don't kill your wallet, look no further than these ATH-A700s. I was a little worried when I first ordered them, but after I got them and tried them out all of my fears were gone immediately. They sound perfect and were exactly what I was looking for. Don't hesitate!
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This Item  Audio-Technica ATH-A700x Audiophile Closed-back Dynamic Headphones | Recommendations  |  |  | |
| Price | Currently unavailable. | $1,250.00 | $247.45 | -45% $119.99 New Price: $219.00 |
| Delivery | — | Get it as soon as Friday, Nov 15 | — | — |
| Customer Ratings | ||||
| Sold By | — | Amazon.com | Audiosavings | Firemall LLC |
| connectivity tech | Wired | Wired | XLR | Wireless |
| headphones form factor | Over Ear | In Ear | — | On Ear |
| connector type | 3.5mm Jack | 3.5mm Jack | XLR | wireless |
| headphones jack | 3.5 mm Jack | 3.5 mm, 4.4 mm | — | — |
| cable feature | Retractable | Detachable | Detachable | Without Cable |
| material | Copper | Leather | Stainless Steel | — |
| model name | Noise-Cancelling-Feature;DJ-Style | ATH-AP2000TI | ATW-901a/H+SASR850C | — |
They are OK. Longevity is lacking (3+ years)...
For reference, I have have the Sennheiser 650HD with Cardas upgrade cables (1/8" end). I also have the Sony MDR-V700 (mostly broken now) and countless cheap headphones/buds that probably came with all the portable cassette, CD, Minidisc, MP3 players of the decades.First off, obviously the Senn650's are going to sound the best, but I try not to take them out for "street" wear. My Sony V700's were falling apart after years of use and needed something else to replace them. Amazon was having a sale on AT headphones and decided on a pair that were along the best in the AT series (entry, mid, enthusiast/audiophile). I will reflect the quality for both the sale price and supposed "MSRP". (To cut to the chase, goto "SOUND")COSMETICS: (I uploaded a photo) I think they look good. Most don't like large headphones because they think they'll look like a tool. I prefer musicality over looks in the end, so if I look like a tool at the grocery store, so be it. The two tension bars have always looked more "professional/studio" (to me, anyways) than a single thick band to the earphones. The pads are thick "pleather" and the earcups are black, with a slight midnight blue hue and a sparkly look to the earpieces at a certain angle. Don't worry, the sparkles aren't obnoxious and no one will think you threw glitter on them to "Bedazzle" your headphones (it's up to you if you want to wear your sequined denim jacket with the Unicorn on the back, though).The cord is long (10ft?) and will require you to tie up for portable use (like grocery shopping, commute, fishing) or you could make a Cat's Cradle if you're bored at home (and probably make a noose to hang your iPod). It's woven fabric, so it helps eliminate the "rubbing" echo that most cords are prone to. The adverse problem with this is, over time, the material starts getting kind of "fuzzy" looking but not enough to think a hairy caterpillar is crawling up your shoulder.COMFORT: Even though they look big, they don't feel like you're carrying a jug of water on your head back to your village (wait, you have indoor plumbing?!). The earcups are tight enough to stay on if sitting in a chair or walking, but I wouldn't recommend exercising in these or running from the Police (sometimes I get bored) or operating a lathe since they will most likely fall off.This is because the "3D wings" are suspension pads that will slip down and don't keep the earcups on your ear! I'm not a fan of the 3D wings and wish these HP's had a band. ALSO, these 3D wings will get "caught" in long hair (like me!) and maybe a balding comb-over, too (not me!). To get an idea of what I'm talking about, get a spoon and rest it on your hair. Then wiggle it around and try pulling it out as FAST as you can. Report back your findings.SOUND: I'm sure you all know why I called you here. Keep in mind these are 64-ohm HP's -- they get pretty loud easily with portable devices. The Senn650 and AT's have more similarities in sound due to this (because the lack of proper power from smaller devices). The AT's have healthy bass output, but not muddy/boomy. The treble is smooth and isn't ear piercing either. The mids sound OK (maybe slightly flat/boxy). Again, this portrays portable use.For home use (I have an Onkyo THX receiver and an old 1980 Pioneer solid-state power amp to drive my HP's) the AT's sound just OK. Compared to my Senn650's (300-ohm), the bass on the AT's still hold up well. Again, not muddy or boomy. The trebles are still smooth with non-existent harshness, even at loud volumes. The attack and decay of notes on the AT's are pretty good. Not as good as the "lightning fast" Senn650's, but they aren't sluggish by any means. You'll still hear plenty of articulate details. The midrange is the questionable area. If you don't have "better" HP's to compare these to, then the mids probably sound fine. But they sound boxy compared to the 650's.In fact, the AT's just sound "anemic" (not as powerful bass and small echo/boxy mids) compared to the Senn650's on a full blown power amp. This is no fault on the AT's, it's just that higher grade HP's (Senn, Grado, AKG, Denon) tend to be restricted and need more power to flex their richness. There just isn't much more left for the AT's to do. They are efficient and perform about the same on both portable and home use (which is good!).DURABILITY: I've had these AT's for over 3 years now. They still sound good, but I can't say they've held up well. The "pleather" pads are flaking off and you can see the material underneath. I've lost one of those "3D wings" (they snap on....AND off, apparently). The cord is getting fuzzy. The tension bars and suspension pads are still tight and haven't loosened up over time (amazingly).END: So, are these good HP's? I rated them a 4 because I do feel most would find them sounding good/great (compared to Dr. Dre's or Bose) for portable devices and even computer purposes. I'd rate them a 3 if you were wanting mission-critical listening sessions on bigger rigs (but I didn't buy these for that).
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Grogu Mogwai
Sehr räumlich, transparent und neutral
Reviewed in Germany on May 21, 2015