Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X Audiophile Open-Air Headphones

These headphones are fantastic. I got the 500x model. This might be kinda long so buckle up.. First off, Sound Quality: The one thing I heard the most in nearly every single review and unboxing etc etc I could find about these (which was a lot, I researched for a few days) is that the bass is very low so "if you're a bass head they're not for you". This is simply not true. The bass is just fine. It is very slightly light on the lowest end of the spectrum but that's only because of the open back letting out some of the rumble. I have an equalizer program (DFX) where I even set the high mids and full high ends up for FPS games (which is why I got these) and the bass is still very present. So yeah myth busted I guess. Next thing to note is how crystal clear the sound is. It's a beautiful thing. Music sounds so crisp and all the layers are presented very very well. The highs can be a little too high if there are any shrill noises in what you're listening to. But they never distort in any of the tests I've given them. Next, positional audio or the sound stage is absolutely legendary. Like I said I bought these primarily to use for combat games (CS:GO, Fortnite, Paladins, etc) where hearing the enemy is very important. These headphones are practically cheating. The direction of sound is so clear that I get confused by all the clearly separate directions the sounds come from. It will take getting used to hearing the in game sounds as if my ears are actually in the game. In fact it's so realistic that I have turned my head to look at the sound multiple times now because I thought someone was actually behind me. It's fantastic. As for sound leakage, it's not too bad. If whatever you're listening to is very loud it can be heard from a few feet away. But any medium volume stuff can only be heard if somone is directly next to you. High tones tend to be louder in general for these and those always carry more than low tones so usually that is all people will hear if they're nearby. And then for sound coming into the headphones, when nothing is playing you can hear your surroundings just as well as you could wearing no headphones at all. When something is playing though it almost entirely blocks outside noise. It would have to be pretty dang loud around you to be able to drown out whatever you're listening to. But still I probably wouldn't recommend these as ideal for public transportation, classrooms, libraries, or other quiet environments where it might bother people. Build Quality/Comfort: These are extremely comfortable. The cloth covered memory foam pads are great. They still get a little warm even though they are so breathable but my head runs pretty hot so I don't think the pads are to blame. The clamping force is very minimal and fairly evenly distributed around the pads. Slightly more pressure on the bottom under the ear which isn't exactly pleasant but it's not bad enough to care. Just worth noting. Also people said that their ears pressed against the drivers inside the cups and they must have huge ears because mine are pretty big and there's plenty of space in there for me. I have a fairly large head so the pads create a good seal around my ears. I dunno if a smaller noggin would have any issues with the cups laying flush since they don't move at all. I know one of the reviewers I saw had a complaint about that. Oh and the wings or head flap adjuster things. I was worried a bit that I might hate them and it almost prevented me from even trying them out. But they're awesome. Not having pressure on the crown of my head feels so nice. These things are easy to almost forget about. As for the build quality, they seem very sturdy. Not like super rugged but they could take a few drops and some bending and twisting and still be perfectly fine. The top bars creak a little if you squeeze them together but never during normal use. The metal mesh looks cool to me and feels nice and sturdy. The cord is thick and feels like it would take a few years worth of normal bending to put a kink in it, and it doesn't feel like normal rubber wire wraps that will fray. It does want to stay coiled a bit like it comes in the package but stretching it into a straight line for a few hours has already made a difference. The only part that feels moderately weak are the flaps. But they're not flimsy. Just weaker than the rest of the headphones. So, yeah. I think that's all the stuff. TL:DR they're effin amazing. Buy them!

I'm not an audiophile, but could be considered an Audio enthusiast. I regularly enjoy DTS from Blu-rays or discreet listening on a FiiO X1 (my library is entirely FLAC). My 'computer speakers' are a pair of DefTech bookshelf driven by a Denon. I stumbled upon these headphones during my search for a gaming headset. I had not planned to spend much on a headset, given I don't use it often. I was primarily interested in something more comfortable with less brittle treble than the stock xbox headset. Without first auditioning, I decided to take a chance on the Audio Technica ATH-AD500X, rigging it with a separate mic and Sennheiser PCV 05 Combo Audio Adapter. Music: Compared to the common & popular closed types, open back headphones are an entirely different listening tool, for an entirely different type of experience. Exposure to the openness of the sound stage has changed me in a permanent way, I just cannot go back to closed (except for active noise cancelling which are designed for that specific purpose). I'm rediscovering my music library with new details and nuances revealed. An advantage of open headphones is there's no 'booming' which may fatigue the ears during long listening sessions. It took me a few hours to acclimate to the lack of overpowering bass that I'm accustomed to. I'll admit, that I heavily boost the lower frequencies on the FiiO's equalizer, sculpting the sound to meet my preference. Doing so may make the sound 'innacurate', but I don't care...i'm in awe--for sound is just about as personal and subjective as it can get. When I listen to Bach's Cello Suite No.1, I like to *feel* the bass resonate with my core. Some favorite benchmarks include Enigma's "Mea Culpa" executed with clean-deep bass, or the drums vigor of AC/DC's "Thunderstuck". I can sense the transition of the drums in Cranberrie's "Dreams". I'm able to detect more details from "Amadeus" and "Bram Stroker's Dracula" soundtracks. These cans have an aptitude for vocals. Any tracks from Bocelli's "Romanza" or Carey's "Daydream" will shine. I somehow felt closer to Bowie in "Heroes" (original and Live in Berlin 2002). Gaming: When connected directly to my XB1 controller the bass is sufficient, not anemic nor overbearing/fatiguing. I find myself flinching to the vivid screams of enemies sneaking up behind me in Borderlands 2. At times I struggle to determine whether a sound is from the game or from within the living room. I've read that some improve their game because they can pinpoint the footsteps of opponents. Everything is very 'open' on these headphones, it cannot be adequately described in words or with fancy detailed sound graphs--it must be experienced first hand. Quality & Comfort: I'm picky and uncompromising when it comes to the bands. (I had a negative experience in the past with an HD280 Pro band cracking & falling apart in less than a year despite gentle usage). The ATH-AD500X band is a durable and light-weight design. Some people find the 3D Wings design awkward or uncomfortable, fortunately for me they work great for my average size head. The wings are a unique design, the actual band never touches your head. The fabric pads are comfortable and properly fit around my ears. I've read that some people use different pads from other manufacturers, something I may try out in the future. The cable appears sturdy (I would have preferred a removable cord design to swap with a shorter one). Conclusion: If you're looking for a great overall open-back headphone, this is an excellent entry point at a great value. The price point makes it relatively low risk if you cannot audition them first. I've read that competitors in this class are either too tight/uncomfortable, or too bright in the highs, or clarity masked by a veil. This is not designed for the typical bass-head, instead you may discover new details in a very open sound stage. I'm confident that a quality amp with some equalizer adjustments could drive the AD500X to meet most of my bass needs. It's a different kind of bass--different kind of experience I highly recommend. Additional Comments: Open ear headphones are not designed or intended for noisy environments. These don't block out any sound, they perform best in a quiet environment. Also, there's significant sound leakage so it may disturb others around you. These cans are easy to drive without an amp. However many recommend the use of an amp to bring out the best performance. My next upgrade will be something from FiiO or more likely the Magni 2. If I were going to upgrade, I would jump straight to the AD1000X. The AudioTechnica flagships are manufactured in Japan and constructed of premium materials. However at that pricepoint, other options like the Philips x2 Fidelio or venturing into Planars from HIFIMAN become attractive. The planars may require some amplification to be enjoyable. There's conflicting viewpoints regarding the 'burn in' of headphones. I put mine through 3 days of shuffle play at normal listening volume prior to using. Update 12/05/2018: These headphones are still holding up quite nicely, I use them more frequently for gaming and discreet listening of FLAC files. I also replaced the earpads with Brainwavz Hybrid Memory Foam Earpad - Black PU/Velour, making them even more comfortable.