Audio Technica ATH700 are very, very good value, but more like £100.
Hi,
I intend at some point to write a headphone review, I have a secret love of budget headphones (ones that cost under £100), and six months or so buy a pair. This may be a pair at £20, £25, and occasionally more. I just love headphones!
It is a cheap secret addiction.
Audio Technica's range of 'cans are quite new to the UK, but a leading light in Japan, where Audio Technica is almost synonomous with the word 'headphone'. The new range of AT cans have had superlative reviews, and two current pairs in the range are Stereophile class ''A'' components.
The cheapest of these is the ATH AD700.
Having tried the whole AT range in a shop recently (well I did say I love cans), I prefered the AD700's (broadly speaking) to a £350 pair of Grado's the store had on hand. THis is a useless sentence for you, as it does not specify what and how the 'cans were prefered to me, what material, what amplifiers were used etc... but nevertheless, it sets a context for the quality these headphones offer.
In summary -
the good -
* ''out of head'' soundstaging, like a pair of loudspeakers
* magnesium/aluminium construction, make them very light, and comfortable for many hours listening. Velvet pads aid this. This is a critical point for me.
* unusual headband design, means you dont have to adjust them for different head sizes
* great clarity and detail
* very efficient, can be used from a computer or Ipod. They certainly get better with a good headphone amp, as do all good quality headphones. A myth that this is not the case, a total myth.
the bad -
* they are sometimes criticised for lack of bass. I have seen plotted frequency response charts, and have heard them of course with various material. There is no shortage of bass, simply put some headphones really emphasize this part of the frequency spectrum, and these headphones don't. I prefer the overall presentation this provides, I don't like too much of any part of the spectrum thanks.. but nevertheless, some bass-heads don't like them.
* some reports of people with ''small heads'' don't find the universal fitting particularly universal. It's an ''over-ear'' design, and a close-fit isn't important for sound leakage in the same way as a closed-back can, but nevertheless, it's a criticism I have seen.
* I heard them with the Lehmann headphone amp. I didn't like the combination. You have a crystal clear amp, with crystal clear cans.. Sam Tellig liked them with the valve'd ''little dot'' amplifier, and I can see why. Be carefull with headphone amp matching.
the ugly -
* they are purple. I think it's cool. Perhaps it is ugly.
* they are huge. If you wear them outside, you will look like a tit.
I think that's it !
Oh, lastly, multi-media users and gamers often buy these can's for their soundstaging ability - locating that explosion, that sniper etc. I don't care for this, and bought them for their musical ability.
I hope this mini-review was useful to you.
My last point, they retail at £140.
I-headphones have some 'b-stock' cans in at £79. I bought these. They come in plain box packaging rather than the official AT box. The cans themselves were perfect.
http://www.iheadphones.co.uk/audio-technica-ath-ad700-b-stock.html
some pictures and details -
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Audio-Technica/ATH-AD700/2.html
Some final summary points -
With the ability to listen for many hours, and a high level of sound-quality, I would say these are the 'go-to' cans for audition if you have up to £100. Miss them from your short-list at your peril ! Sevenoaks had them on display, if you want to hear a pair.