ATH-R70x has a very smooth, educated and balanced sound signature. The tonality sounds natural and very pleasant with no annoying spikes or dips in the frequency spectrum. At some point it may sound a bit too soft, depending on the recording. The tonality leans a bit, towards the warm side, just a bit, not as warm as HD650. Bass and mids are balanced, with good bass presence and low bass extension, but it doesn’t sound bassy. It has more bass than Beyer dynamic T1, but less bass than Philips Fidelio X1. The treble is only slightly softer than the midrange, but it’s not lacking and is still fairly balanced overall. We prefer to hear a little more clarity, especially for our music.
If the brightness of the HD800 is the North Pole and the warmth of the HD650 is the South Pole, the hue of the ATH-R70x is probably Australia. ATH-R70x isn’t for bass heads, and it’s not for those looking for HD800 or T1 transparency either, but it’s an excellent choice for those looking for balanced, natural-sounding headphones for extended periods of listening. ATH-R70x is especially good on vocals. Smooth, natural, full-bodied vocal sounds. Details and resolution are good, slightly better than HD650, but still not up to HD800 or T1 level. ATH-R70x is pretty forgiving when it comes to revealing details, especially when compared to HD800 and T1.
With an impedance of 470 ohms, the ATH-R70x needs a good amp to sound live. Compared to the T1 and HD800, the ATH-R70x doesn’t sound as fast as those flagships and isn’t the best choice for complex, extremely fast-paced music. But normal rhythm music, pop and jazz, sounds great on the ATH-R70x. We definitely enjoy the voice on the ATH-R70x better than the HD800 and T1. For example, the ATH-R70x is our favorite headphone for Stock Fisch Records albums. The ATH-R70x also plays classical music, but works better with small orchestras and chamber music.
Design
The appearance of the Audio-Technica ATH-R70x is certainly unique. Whether you like it or not probably comes down to your personal preferences. We quite like the look of the 3D wing support headband along with the connection rail. It’s an eye-catcher and a welcome change from the generic-looking fringe of headphones that dominate the market. Beyond looks, there’s another notable design decision. The cable system. The left and right ear connections can be annoying if you don’t pay attention. And the lack of clear, discernible indications as to which earcup is left and right doesn’t help.
But here’s some clever technology at play that alleviates that. The detachable cable is signal independent. This means that the headphones themselves will separate the signal accordingly. This ensures the correct stereo orientation at all times. The cable itself also locks into place. These headphones also have a very high impedance rating of 470 ohms. You’ll need a headphone amplifier or at least an audio interface with some built-in amplification.
Comfort
Most of our testers were impressed with the comfort of the ATH-R70x. The “3D Wing Support System”-the two parts that rest against the top of the user’s head-does an excellent job of equalizing pressure. The pads are luxurious and fit the shape of the head very well. Add to that the lightness of the structure, and you get a headset that can be worn for hours on end. However, one of our testers found a problem with the earcups sinking over time: the earcups cannot provide enough clamping force, and the 3D wings alone cannot support the weight of the earcups.
If your head size is smaller, this may be a problem. Maybe it can be remedied by folding the bow of the headband, but we don’t try to do that. Regarding the size of the ear pads, some online reviews go so far as to describe these earphones as somewhere in between the over-ear and over-ear design. While it’s true that the ear pads aren’t as spacious as, say, the Beyer dynamic DT 880 Pro, they could accommodate even the largest ears of our testers, without putting pressure on the outer ear.
Audio Performance
The sound profile of the Audio-Technica ATH-R70x is absolutely excellent. Incredibly accurate and highly transparent. For serious work, they are a joy to behold. But also for casual listening. If you love detail, you will love these headphones. They offer a wide frequency range, from 5 Hz to 40 kHz. As you can see, these headphones reach high levels and the result is an extremely crisp and refined top end. Potentially a bit too crunchy.
But for listening to the smallest details, these headphones will not disappoint. The midrange is also a spectacle. Definition is present throughout the range, from the low mids to the high mids. The voices are translated with delicate delicacy. The instrumental components have life and body. But none of this is superficial or false. If the original recording is poor, it will expose those weaknesses. Fantastic for mixing and mastering.
The low end is also better than I would have expected from an open-back pair of headphones. Sure, there isn’t the rumble that you hear with closed-back headphones. But for serious work, you don’t want that anyway. Instead, you get accurate and relatively punchy output. More than enough to make informed assessments. Balance and neutrality are fantastic for most of the range. A few doubts about the high range, but nothing that serious.
Conclusion
We hope you like and understand our article on Audio-Technica ATH-R70x review. We were hoping for the opportunity to get to know the Audio-Technica ATH-R70X better, and it turned out that it was not in vain. The model is really interesting. The original design, light weight, well thought-out ergonomics and detachable cable are the clear advantages of the ATH-R70X. But the main thing, after all, is the sound. In our opinion, the sound delivery of headphones is pretty universal. They can be used both professionally and for listening to music. Personally, we love the headphones, they combine technicality and a pleasant, moderately musical presentation.
