Audio-Technica ATH-M70X Closed-Back Dynamic Professional Studio Monitor Headphones

As noted in my review of the ATH-MSR7, I expect a lot from headphones. As a kid, my family didn't share my affinity for classical music and film scores, so I got used to listening with headphones–first my Dad's Soundesigns, then eventually my own brand new Koss Pro4x. In the 32 years since, headphones have remained my preferred way to listen to music when I'm not socializing. I've simply grown to love the detail and intimacy headphones provide, which I've not experienced with speakers and amps costing tens of thousands of dollars. Since 2009, I've gotten progressively more interested in getting the best possible sound from both my home and portable gear. At home, I listen through the headphone jack of an Onkyo A/V Receiver (can't remember the model, sorry) that plays remarkably well with my favorite open back headphones, the Oppo PM-1, bringing just the right amount of high frequency presence and articulation to otherwise fairly lush cans. I love the sound, and have managed to set the EQ on my Astell & Kern AK100II to yield virtually the same sound, so I can enjoy it on the road, if need be.But it's rare when I take the PM-1 out of the house, despite being easily driven by portable devices–its open-back design simply isn't practical for noisy environments or hushed ones where others might not want to hear my music. So, I've been searching the past two years, fairly intensively, for the right closed back portable headphones. Many have been tried and rejected, more often than not because of poor build quality (creaking and microphonics drive me nuts, especially in expensive cans made with luxury materials, such as the B&W P7!) or unbalanced sound. I'm not a fan of bloated bass or sibilant or artificial-sounding treble. With Momentum (original, 2.0 and Wireless), HP50, M4U1, P7, AH-D600, MDR-1R, SRH1540, Crossfade M100, PM-3 and even Audio-Technica's own MSR7 having failed to strike the right balance, I was prepared to be disappointed by the ATH-M70x.Imagine my surprise, then, to find they are supremely comfortable with creak-free build quality! Period. I can wear them for hours and almost forget they're on my head. Don't get me wrong, they don't LOOK as premium or appear as well-finished as do the MSR7s, but in practice, they are far superior.Okay, so kudos to Audio-Technica on getting the build right! But have they, then, compromised on sound to keep the price down below $300 street? Not at all! Simply put, these are the flattest-sounding headphones I've used since my old Sony MDR-V6–deep, tight bass that's punchy when it's supposed to be, light and nimble when it's supposed to be; energetic mids in perfect balance between the bass and fast, detailed, non-fatiguing treble. Great soundstage, too! Almost as wide and deep as my admittedly not-so-well-imaged-for-open-backs PM-1s. Wow! I love the detailed, balanced sound these deliver. I'm sure I could EQ them to be a bit warmer, to match my PM-1s, but why when that's clearly not their intended purpose. I'll keep my Oppo PM-3 portable planars for when I need/want warmth on the go. But I have a feeling I won't be choosing them over these fantastic M70x very often.

Best sounding headphones I've ever owned (both pairs compared favorably with each other). I appreciate the flat frequency response because it's easy for me to customize my sound to my taste with an EQ, and the huge frequency response means they have very tight and detailed bass (my pairs of M50x's sound like a muddy mess is comparison), great mids, and crystal-clear highs. I personally noticed audio improvements for these when using audio sample rates above 48khz. Recommend at least 96khz to get the most out of them. They do have some build quality issues, but I've purchased them multiple times over more than a decade even at the high price because I can't go back to other headphones after using them. They are not made for rough handling, but I highly recommended for audio enthusiasts.

The very BEST audio I have encountered in a headset has been with the Audio-Technica ATH-M70X. They have a frequency response of 5 - 40 Hz which is very wide and means they will reproduce extreme low and high frequencies. The OHM comes in at 35, which is good for professional and personal use. They also sound great due to larger drivers and other high end materials. They look good and have a handy fold down design, and they are comfortable to wear. These are studio grade with no compromise on sound. Very satisfied with my purchase!

2024 UPDATE : the JB Weld 2 part epoxy has held the broken hinge well for a couple of years, so it's probably stronger now than when new. Combined with the fact I got these at a healthy discount, I will change the rating from 1 to 4 stars. These are definitely more accurate than the Beyer 990s to be fair and headphones with this much 600-3k detail are absolutely essential. These remind me of the AirPods Pro 2g in the mids ... if you turn those almost all the way up. I recommend that you don't pay anything close to the list price. I'd give these five stars if they didn't break and were 75$ cheaper.ORIGINAL REVIEW: When the hinge breaks from simple normal use, these 300$ Headphones will not be useable at all. (I did buy mine renewed though they seemed new). Hypothetically lol, if these did not break so easily, I’d give them 4 stars because they do sound good, but are still overpriced. The plastic seems to last up to just around the time the warranty expires. I’ve read in another review that AT will charge $120 plus shipping to replace/repair. These are my second pair of AT headphones to break on the headband plastic. Though I’ve owned several other brands, only ATH headphones have broken this way.Will attempt to repair with super glue and baking soda, and perhaps some tape as well before sending money to AT.* Update edit: super glue worked to initially hold broken section together just enough to apply gorilla tape and JB Weld epoxy (original formula) the next day. This repair seems durable enough for regular use. I purchased beyer 990s when these broke, which I like better, even though 990s are $100 less.

I'll get right to it:Pros: excellent, fairly balanced sound without the damn bass thumps - its a bit more accurate in the bass than most headphones. Cords and accessories provided are excellent for most consumer products, maybe some professional equipment too. Hardy case that, while not compact, does a good job in protecting the headphones and included accessories.Cons: Its monitoring headphones, so its going to be very flat. Again, bass-heads should steer away from this. Get some Beats or something else if you want more bass. Build quality for a product of this cost tier is extremely poor - some folks had theirs break in 2 months, mine in 4 years after a weak tug by the cord - yes, this is poor handling, but it shows that the m70x uses plastic and not other materials for the joints and swivels. I doubt I'll be buying AT in the future unless if they use fiberglass or metal in their designs.Not recommended.