Audio Technica ATH-A700 Closed-Back Dynamic Headphones With Double Air Damping | List Price: $299.95
Discount Price: Too low to display
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Brand: Audio-Technica
Binding: Electronics
Features: - Audiophile-quality headphones with metallic finish
- Closed-back double air damping system for deep bass reproduction
- Self-adjusting 3D wing support housing provides comfortable support for a more enjoyable listening experience
- Propriety large-aperture 53 mm drivers with neodymium magnet systems and CCAW voice coils for superior sound reproduction
- Gold-plated stereo 1/8" (3.5 mm) connector with 1/4" (6.3 mm) adapter
Very Good Sound [Posted on 2008-08-27]
The ATH-A700s are a pair of headphones with an excellent "soundstage," meaning they make you sound like you're inside the music or movie, not just having the sound pumped into your ears.
These headphones replace my Bose Triports (now Bose Around Ear headphones). Compared to them, these headphones don't have as much bass, but certainly have more accurate reproduction of all tones. The only negative compared to the Bose is the size/fit. The ATH-A700's are very large, with the ear cups being the size of CDs, and they don't form an "air-tight" seal around your head like the Bose. This means they don't filter out as much outside noise, but it is still a very comfortable fit.
Great headphones for large heads! Gorgeous sound quality! Super comfy! [Posted on 2008-09-18]
I had to wait 3 weeks for Amazon to get these in stock -- and it was worth the wait!
These have got to be the most comfortable headphones I've ever worn! I have a pretty big size 7 3/4 noggin and these fit like a glove! The unique split wing supports are far lighter and more comfortable than the traditional one-piece headband. The sound quality is superb. I would call them a closed-back version the AKG K240 (which are my all-time favorite, but they were semi-open). The giant 53mm cans are slightly angled which must help them deliver rich delicious sound! Probably the best Audio Technica set I've ever listened to. The super long cloth-wrapped cord is a nice touch too. I only wish it had a carrying case.
audio technica is the best [Posted on 2008-11-15]
Wish i could have sprung for the upper models,although these are some amazing headphones for the price
Almost perfect [Posted on 2008-11-15]
SUMMARY
With excellent sound fidelity and a wide sound stage these are a great pair of headphones for the price (current street around $120 US). My only quibbles come from the mechanical design of the headset which leads to unwanted sounds when listening at low volume levels. If subtle extraneous sounds don't bother you, then they may be perfect for you.
PROS
Excellent sound quality - Extremely wide soundstage, clear instrument separation and strong, but clean bass.
Extremely comfortable - Very little pressure around the ear and the headband system doesn't have any hot spots.
Great cord - Long cord allows for some mobility and the woven fabric sheath doesn't transmit sound when bumped.
CONS
Mid-range lacking - May sound like equalizer is on "U" shape. Not as "smooth" as the Sennheiser HD-280.
Noisy headband - Creaking sound transmits through headband system into the ear cups. Fine if you keep still, but when you move around you may hear creaking sounds.
Poor insulating pads - Foam ear pads with thin covering don't insulate outside sounds well and actually create sound when you move.
FULL REPORT
I wanted a pair of headphones to use while at the office to help block out outside sound while listening to music. At first I considered noise cancelling headsets but after trying the highly rated Bose QuietComfort 3, I decided I didn't want to sacrifice sound quality that much. While the noise cancellation was phenomenal (I couldn't believe how much they filtered out standard office noises), their actual music reproduction was disappointing. At over $300 US for the Bose QC3, their sound quality was equal to a pair of $40 headphones. But if you're really looking to block out outside noise, the sound isolation may be worth the loss of fidelity.
After removing noise cancelling headsets from my list I then focused on closed-back headphones. Through much research I narrowed my choices down to the Audio Technica ATH-A700 and the Sennheiser HD-280. I was able to try the HD-280 but not the ATH-A700. But after reading so many positive reviews I decided to go with the ATH-700, even though I hadn't listened to a pair.
Being my first pair of high-end headphones, I was immediately impressed with their sound quality. The sound stage is incredible! While some headphones make it sound like the music is "in your head", the ATH-A700s mimic a more realistic listening experience, like you're in the midst of the music. On some pieces the effect was so great that a song that previously sounded like it was recorded in a sound-proof studio, now sounded like it was in a small concert hall. Amazing!
With classical music, I can't believe how much detail I can now hear. I can hear the separation of all the instruments as well as performance-related sounds that I never heard before. Like the sound of the keys clicking on the harpsichord or the valves on a French horn. I can now even hear the musicians turning their pages and shifting in their chairs!
Without comparing to even higher-end headphones it's hard to say how "accurate" these are. But my best description is that they're very efficient, with good base and a clear high-end. With my previous, cheaper headphones, I'd always adjust the equalizer to increase treble and bass and de-emphasize mid-range (U shape curve). But with these headphones, there's no need for that; I now listen to all my music with the equalizer off or "flat".
The biggest and really only problem with these headphones has to do with their construction; in particular, the ear pads and head band. The earpads have a very thin covering and the foam is noisy--when you hold it near your ear and press the pad, you can hear a scrunching sound. This coupled with the thin covering allows more outside noise to seep in than other closed-back headphones I've tried. It also causes noise when I move slightly causing the hair around my ear (I have short hair) to bristle against the pad and then transmits that sound.
At this price point I would have expected real leather and better sound insulating foam. I contacted Audio-Technica to see if the replacement ear pads from their higher-end ATH-W1000 would fit the ATH-A700 and the answer was that they would not. I was disappointed because the ATH-W1000 seems to have better pads with thicker covering (possibly real leather) and better foam.
The second "mechanical" issue is the headband design. While the "3D Wing Support Housing vibration-proof mechanism" looks cool and is probably the reason why the headset is so comfortable, all those hinges tend to creak when you move, and those creaking sounds are transmitted through the frame into the plastic ear cups which seem to amplify the sounds. Now I'm not talking about rocking out and jumping all around, but rather subtle movements like turning my head, will be enough to cause the hinges of the floating pads to creak.
Both of these problems are alleviated by turning the volume up, but since I like keeping my volume level as low as possible for my given environment, it's a problem for me. BTW, I did try lubricating the hinges with oil but it didn't help. I may still try a graphite lubricant. I do have to admit I'm a very distractible person and move around a lot while I work. So while the noisy ear pads and creaky headband really bug me, they may not be an issue for you. As always, your mileage may vary, so I highly recommend trying a pair in person before making your final decision.
HD-280 COMPARISON
In case you're in deciding between these and the Sennheiser HD -280, here's my take on the differences (I did a comparison with my coworker's after my ATH-700s were broken in):
1) ATH-700 has a wider soundstage, sharper high-end and more bass than the HD-280.
2) ATH-700 is more comfortable and thus can be worn longer.
3) HD-280 has a stronger mid-range and just sounds "smoother" (I don't know how else to describe it).
4) HD-280 ear cups insulates outside sounds much better, though at the expense of comfort. They're kind of tight and uncomfortable for more than an hour at a time.
5) HD-280 cord is standard coiled type, which isn't necessarily a bad thing but it does transmit sound when it bump against things (like the desk).
CONCLUSION
As with everything in life, the choice of what headphones to buy is a series of trade-offs. You need to think about your listening environment, the type of music you listen to and how much you want to spend. The ATH-700 is a great sounding headphone and if you can live with some extraneous noises, you'll love them.
Decent sound, but lots of extraneous noise. [Posted on 2008-11-27]
I purchased these headphones to replace my aging (and falling apart) Bose Triports. Their primary use is for PC gaming and music listening, and they are powered by an X-fi ExtremeMusic soundcard.
When I first started listening to them I noticed right away that they were very bright - almost too much so. And despite their enormous earmuff-like girth, the bass response was a little weak. After a bit of tweaking in my sound settings, both of those problems were for the most part tameable. After a couple days of getting used to them, I really did come to like the sound they produced. They have a much larger sound stage than the Triports did, and it makes games and music seem more alive. Bass, while not overpowering, is perfectly serviceable.
But I still have gripes with them. Since we have a television in our office, often times my headphones have to compete with tv shows, as well as the wifes computer - hence the decision to go with a closed style. The Triports did an excellent job of blocking out the outside world. These A700's cover the entire ear nicely, but it has this strange ability to take outside sounds and create this sort of reverb within the headphones. For instance it will quiet voices from the television slightly, but now they sort of have a hollow echo to them - which in the end actually makes them more annoying than if the headphones were completely off. Another source of unwanted noise comes from the headphone cord. It's a very nice cloth covered cord, but if it rubs along your clothing or anything, some of that rubbing sound is transferred into the left ear cavity.
The way these headphones fit on the head is very comfortable. It's an odd system that looks large and over-engineered (and may very well produce a laugh from your significant other), but it works quite well. Everything fits very snug and stays in place. The ear pads themselves aren't as comfortable as the Triports were though, and I found my ears getting a bit hotter and more sore after 30 minutes or so. But perhaps that would lessen the more they get broken in.
So I guess in the end I'm very happy with the sound these headphones produce. Unfortunately if there is any outside noise, or you move your head or shift in your seat, then unwanted noise makes itself present. I guess this is enough of a deal breaker for me as I'll probably end up returning them.
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