Audio Technica ATH-AD700x Headphones Review

Looking for a proper gaming headphone? Or perhaps for a pair of HI FI cans to deliver roomy sound stage and incredible clarity? The ATH-AD700x are impressive in their own regard and deliver for what they are designed for.
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[@CornflakeMom]

i like that you have a professional take on audio but also have a little side of gaming that peers its way into these reviews. Thats perfect for me because i love quality audio and do some gaming here and there and its actually a consideration for me.

[@RochXS1985]

what model of senns headphones do you use to make this comparison?

[@colinmartin9797]

I have a set of the non-x (there really are no noteworthy differences), have been using them for about 7 years nonstop - what he means is the bass isn't punchy. it doesn't reverberate. It's partly due to the extremely open soundstage (it sounds damn near like you're just sitting in a room full of sound) but it has no problem producing those low tones, it just may not reverberate in ways that a real basshead would want. Comparing it to my punchier M40x's, playing something new like "Can't Hold Me Down," the super heavy, dirty lows are easily reproduced, but that feeling of the bass walking its way around my ears isn't there, but I can hear every tone itself much more clearly. In a song like that, I'd take a punchier, closed back design like the M40x's. The AD700/x's shine at real sounds. They're an extremely neutral headphone. They can throw out tones waaaaay down low, trading the punch for clarity. More traditional "dirty", instrumental sounds like, say "Thank You My Twilight" by The Pillows, are absolutely awesome, you can pick out all the overlaid electronic bips with the heavy guitar riffs wonderfully, where the M40x's have them kind of shoved together. So for basically every non-edm sound, I'd take the 700's every time. If you're way into bass feel (which makes up about 60% of my library when I'm not at home) then something closed back and punchier like the M40x is better. For movies and games, I'd take these too. They just register multiple sounds at once in such a clear way that closed back cans can't. So a noisy room feels like an actual noisy room, not one being piped into your ears. And the party piece of these is comfort. My M40x's are extremely comfortable, but after 6 hours of use, they start to feel tight and can give me a bit of a headache. These? You will, 100%, forget they're on your head. The pads and enormous ear cups feel like NOTHING. They're a little wide, so if you have a tiny head, maybe steer clear, but average/large heads will love these. The pads are extremely durable too. About 7 years of use in and I finally felt like replacing the top pads. Ear cups are still perfect, but the head padding had gone a little flat and mushy. New pads are on ebay for about 5 bucks and swap in easily. They're also super durable. They don't creak, I'm kind of a habitual cable-chewer, and it's still good as new. Despite being rolled over by a computer chair hundreds if not thousands of times. So as a used buy, these are unbelievably good cans, but they're not meant for isolation at all. So I wouldn't recommend them at all for going outdoors, everyone else is going to listen to your music too, and you can hear everything (nice when you need to hear your doorbell or phone while gaming) but for private, in home use, they're very sturdy, and you can wear them for 10-15 hours straight without the slightest bit of fatigue. They are designed for more "traditional" music and sounds, so the wubs of dubstep may not have the intended effect, but more detailed sounds like guitars and voices and normal instruments ring beautifully clear, free of any high tinniness in the treble.

[@Rasyad95]

Can you compare it to HD58x? I'm torn between the two. Thanks Colin!

[@ramchamam]

could you tell me if they are over ear? or are they on ear?

[@Rasyad95]

@@ramchamam all of them are over the ear. I have some.

[@unclezedd6183]

which one you you recommend for gaming purely? to take advantage of 3d sound/positioning

[@ramchamam]

@@unclezedd6183 I decided to buy the ath ad700x. The sound positioning in siege is phenomenal, haven't tested it in cs go tho

[@HardwareCanucks]

Haven't tried the K701s, but will request to get some cans from AKG. Anything particular in mind?

[@HardwareCanucks]

Seriously not sure what to do here..Amazon, B&H, Canada Computers, NCIX, NewEgg etc. plus the AT website, show 38 ohms for the AD700x model. 48 ohms are AD500x and A500x. You are right, i should have stated DAC/AMP combo, instead of just DAC. Thanks for your input, always be critical!

[@lkhloodyl]

RIP NCIX

[@bojamijams]

Few issues with this review 1) The headphones are 48ohm not 38ohm impedance (please always check manufacturer site, not wherever you got info from... NCIX?) 2) You should never connect headphones to a DAC. Always connect to an amp. DACs are not designed to drive headphones. 3) Your summary mentions excellent low/mid/high balance, but you state these are bass light/bland (which they are). It can't be both.

[@lukemac6017]

Some of the best headphones you can get for gaming. Without going into stupid stupid money, the sound precision is fucking incredible.

[@Szoobo]

Do you have these? If so would you recommend them over any headsets or are there better for the price?

[@lukemac6017]

martin olsen they are literally better than any gaming headphone labeled Crap, really crisp clean audio and you can tell where anyone is from miles away. I'd definitely advise them, go onto any audiophile forum they will tell you the same. I researched heavily before deciding to go with these.

[@Szoobo]

How are they in terms of comfort?

[@lukemac6017]

martin olsen super comfy you forget they are on your head after a while

[@assyria89]

lol they are made for music production

[@elmonte5lim]

I like your reviews. Short enough to avoid boredom, long enough to provide all my required information. If you keep doing what you're doing, it works for me.

[@josephlafreniere1800]

Possibly the best hardware reviewers on KZbin. Thanks for the excellent video.

[@pcckwy]

The ATH-A700x are the ones to get if you want more bass. They're like the AD700x but it has a closed design.

[@candec]

I've been around this channel for the past weeks due to the nice reviews, specialy at the audio department, and I must say I love it. This one in special was one of my favourites and it even make me get decided to change my old (8 years by now) Siberia v.2 for this headphones and the ModMic you also covered at the video Non gaming headsets vs gaming headsets (great video too). So thanks a lot for the review and the quality. It really makes it easy to watch and easy to enjoy. Have a nice day!

[@heybigode]

that was a really impressive review

[@heybigode]

***** so.. i'm planning to buy these for gaming (shooters, more specifically), and i'm not sure if i need to got a sound card or my sabertooth p67 motherboard will do the job. Also, not sure if there are anny AT/AD better for gaming.

[@xBooMzHeadShotx]

***** Asus Xonar stx + ADH AD-700x = Beast sound at gaming? idk witch settings i need on my pc and the sound card software and the game cant anyone make a video of it ..

[@douglasman100]

I love seeing these comments. It's always nice to see "KZbinr's" take criticism from others in order to better their content.

[@puppy_pause]

I love these reviews, even if I'm not interested in the product I watch them from start to finish. Thanks!

[@filthyE]

Same. It's good to know what's on the market.

[@theblitz1687]

90 dollars on amazon now

[@user-bw5xf3yr3m]

The Blitz do they still hold up for today’s headsets

[@rotatingcats]

@@user-bw5xf3yr3m yes. If you're not worried about base it's great. If you're someone who wants base these are not for you. I use mine for gaming, and it's a wall hack.

[@peterguinggue6508]

@@rotatingcats i found a review that it feels like cheating on rb6. is the directional accuracy that good? and is this still a good buy for 2020? or are there other options?

[@flowkickz4349]

@@rotatingcats .

[@gotyaloot2125]

@@rotatingcats oh yeah for gaming it's fantastic

[@LurifaxDK]

What sennheisers are you using as reference?

[@DJ-sn2wn]

I got a small head and they never fall off for me. I've had my pair for years now and even got a closed back set because I liked these so much.

[@sillyboy2009]

How do they compare to Grado cans around this price range?

[@dotson100]

More Headphone reviews please! You should do as other mentioned here a review of ATH-M50's and Sennheiser's HD 558/555 as these are very popular and considered baseline on audiophile headphones. Love the channel, keep up the good work!

[@devontoner]

I wish he mentioned which Sennheisers he uses, I've got 598s which are comparable in price. If he's comparing them to 650s, it's not really fair.

[@p0iuytr3wq]

Can you attach a ModMic to them, would wit stick to that meshy surface?

[@bobross1795]

I currently have a Mod Mic 4.0 connected to my pair off 700x's and it sticks fine

[@p0iuytr3wq]

Thx!

[@proudcanadian9816]

p0iuytr3wq why would you want to do that when you can just get the ATH-ADG1X ? I bought that set a few months back and I love em !!

[@kingsancada6337]

Is the 700x good for small heads?

[@joe7737]

£130 more. The ad700x has slightly different drivers with really low neutral bass. whereas the adg1x have a bit more bass depends what you prefer plus the mic is worse which comes with the adg1x

[@HardwareCanucks]

Few issues with your comment 1) Yes, they are 38ohms...check AudioTechnica site. The AD500X are 48ohms. Please always make sure to check the model number correctly. 2) My DAC has a built in AMP...and what you say is not true. I would suggesting running headphones through a DAC + an amp. Analog signal is much cleaner than digital. 3) Balance between l/m/h is good...meaning there is no distortion and response is detailed. Lows are bland yes, but a touch of EQ wakens them up.

[@teslarage]

Its not that loose at all. I have been using AD500 for years, and they work fine. I am looking forward to upgrade to AD700X...

[@proudcanadian9816]

Hi Dimitry Wow, I thought I was stumbling upon a newer video.....but then I notice it's from 2013 :-p Good video though. But the coolest thing about this is in my recent memory of the videos you've done lately, I can clearly see how your video production and style has evolved. For the better of course :-) As it should be. I really dig this look that Audio Technica has adopted for their cans. I mean, those open screen cans and those big ass drivers. They just scream quality man.

[@devontoner]

I love my 598s, I've used them for pc games, music, and movies for a year,I doubt I'll ever buy another pair of headphones for home use. One caveat (I'm not sure if you are familiar with high end headphones so I'm making no assumptions), they need a month or so to properly burn in the drivers, and the open backs let ambient noise in. Source makes a huge difference with these, my S3 does not drive them properly, some pc audio ports may not either; You may need an aux amp or a sound card.

[@Hakumisoso]

his reviews are much better though. I find them the most informative and i like to see his opinions. I think him trying the m50's will give him a better view of audio technica. I got the custom one pro- because of him!

[@ForkMyDongle]

You can put a hair tie or rubber band around the top pads for a better fit, thats what I did with my AD700s

[@sander373]

It is mostly preference choosing between top 10 headphones @$200. It depends if you like it closed, open, what kind of music you like, comfort, and so on.

[@Michael_H_Nielsen]

Exactly the review I needed. Thank you :)

[@intelinsideTV]

I would just like to say your reviews are fucking amazing!

[@joetitor1170]

Grate review as always. Shall get this headphone soon.

[@Bevan424]

Amazing review, love the style of it..

[@thatlookscool]

Because they are open back, would it be appropriate to use a subwoofer to simulate the absent bass?

[@DjArtfact]

Depends on your overall budget for your build. What price point are you looking for?

[@dynastes4938]

You really should do more of these headphone reviews. Very good work! You should perhaps think about reviewing some AKGs :)

[@HardwareCanucks]

Im thinking of getting AKG 712 Pros...hear they are quite nice and would compliment my love for Sennheiser sound (HD650).

[@dynastes4938]

HardwareCanucks Would be a very good start - there is very much to cover in this area, KZbin lacks severely in this regard. Although you can find a video review of virtually anything here, there seems to be a focus on hardware with more direct influence on performance. So more of this stuff would be appreciated :)

[@exyiaevox]

thank you for a review that finally calls out on the annoying "wing" design on these! If these don't fit you, it really becomes a complete dealbreaker from discomfort. I had these and just couldn't tolerate their fit. If only reviews had actually warned me about this before-hand. ps - do the Sony MA900's next. enjoying these much more! =D

[@ramonrir]

hey dude, thanks for this review, i have a cuestion, i listen uplifting and other variants of trance, in your personal opinion, wich headphones are the best for this genre of music?

[@vineetmehta]

Being a gamer I was lost in the video at 4:50 and had to listen to that part of review again. Very good review as always.

[@pcckwy]

Definitely do a review on the beyerdynamic DT 880. They are my next set of cans I plan on getting.

[@bobuo7]

I currently own the K701s and was just curious about how these compare. The K272s look interesting, though they are closed-back.

[@BKOBatista]

I'm almost getting the AD900x, and it seems to everything this one does plus more and better. However I'm still deciding between them and the Beyerdynamics DT-990 Pro (250ohm) that are always on sale. I'm was going to get a FiiO E10 Amp/DAC with them so both are interesting. =P

[@Nuke89x]

I'm planning on buying the 598s as well for movies, games and stuff. How have you liked it so far?

[@olivierShaft]

Hi Dimitri, which headphones do you think are the best sounding? Did you try the Audio Technica ATH-M50S, or the Shure SRH840, or the Sennheiser HD 380 PRO. The best studio headphone around $200 please.

[@dotson100]

I was more referring to the Senn's 555/558 as baseline audiophile phones, the M50's still serve as a good entry level although I didn't know of the price bump... so perhaps not anymore :(

[@benjaminmagana5536]

I own the HD558 and was curious of how you think they compare and which you prefer.

[@runetimon]

Another perfect review, love it, Keep going man :D

[@tretasedamtungpong2027]

Just saw this while I do research on headphone and realized that Dimitri never changes his mic at all.

Love your reviews

[@bojamijams]

1)AD500X are 48, but so are AD700X (KZbin won't allow linking but I'm staring at AT website specs right now) 2) What I said is true but what you said in your review is technically not true @1:25 . Your DAC has a built in amp so you are hooking up your headphones to an amp not the DAC. DAC output is Line Out. you should never hook up a headphone to line-out. 3) balance has nothing to do with distortion. 'detail' is in mids/highs. I just don't think that pro should be worded as such

[@EvryOneLuvsIan]

What kind of headphones would be more appropriate for base tones while still appropriate for gaming? I enjoy listening to house and techno bass music, but I also FPS game a lot

[@EdibleEcho]

Any good looking, lightweight, headphones that are around $150 - $200? I was thinking about getting these or the 500x version. Any other recommendations? I mainly use headphones for gaming, music, and watching tv shows on my desktop. Thx.

[@Silvermind1988]

Hello, love your reviews. Any chance that you'll review Audio technica ath adg1/ag1?

[@EmeraldFlame7]

Please review the 558s. You always refer to them and I am really interested in getting a pair.

[@SuperNinjaleprechaun]

im looking for some mid-low priced audiophile headphones and cant decide between the ath-ad500x (lesser version of these) and the sennheiser hd518s. what ones would be more comfortable/better build

[@TheCe1ticZombie]

Nice video even though I’m 4 yrs late in watching this but these are being sold on amazon for around 100$ USD. I’ve seen other videos on this where they use a elastic band to hold the wings together for a better fit. Best part of this video is watching BF3, oh how I miss playing Battlefield. Good review as always.

[@lazyblind]

wich you recomend more? Audio Technica AD700X Audio Technica ATH M50 mainly for gaming, but allot of music

[@JeyVGaming]

I replaced my HyperX Cloud Revolver S headset for this open back audiophile beauty. Now I'm waiting for the delivery tomorrow to see how good this headset really is..

[@sidd98110]

@@v4artem I just bought mine too, They will be delivered in 3 weeks time. But would love to know some insight from a gamer.

[@alexnmoore]

How was it?

[@dillon1684]

Watching this review while listening with the ATH-AD700x's

[@mafiozii16]

How are they man? Good sound??

[@Blazzedtrail]

100% agreed the support wings are way too loose! They really should have put a little more consideration towards people with med-small heads

[@WavyVaporizers]

I'm trying to figure out if the ad700x are better than the game zero. I'm playing on xbox one now so I was wondering which ones would be better? I thought game zero because they come with mic and the ad700x doesnt come with a mic. Please tell me which ones have better sound stage and directional audio cue

[@drx8888]

I like the way you review Headphones man. could you review V-moda's Crossfade M-100s?

[@carterhelms9749]

i was wondering what would be better the ATH-AD700x or the 900s and i was wondering if they feel slanted on your head sense they dont rotate in and out

[@DanYe_East]

Also, slide back headphones a little, so it's slanted.

[@okabc]

what senhieser do you use?

[@HardwareCanucks]

We will contact Zowie to request some review samples. :D

[@MarVeida]

Is it a difference between AD500X and AD700X?

[@Nuke89x]

Thanks for the helpful info. I'm kind of noobish but, I was told by a friend of mine that high end headphones works great with sound card or amps. So I'll be investing on essence stx with it. :)

[@I5ZQ8]

These are just amazing for gaming. If you have the 700s its not really worth it but they are a grate set of cans for games

[@bananiaman3162]

Just ordered these. Thanks man! Edit: Alright they arrived today and I must say, if you are a hip hop fan these are definitely not for you. No bass which really dulls the music experience and game immersion. Audio spotting is awesome though and music that isn't bass heavy sounds phenomenal. I'm sending them back for the M50x. Edit 2: Just installed Equalify Pro for Spotify and it lets you equalize. Added some bass and they it sounds great now.

[@HardwareCanucks]

+BananiaMan™ Awesome! enjoy the pair!

[@bert8904]

I heard replacing the ear cups will improve bass

[@k3Fallen]

Had these for a few years, the cord broke and I stuck them in the box and shelved them for the last 3-4 years or so and rocked a DT990 Pro + new Focusrite scarlet solo. I wanted to go back to the 700x, but I noticed the gold plated 1/4 inch adapter that came with it does not make a proper connection with the threads on the rubber of the 3.5 jack on the 700x, so I can't use them with the Focusrite. Am I just an idiot or?

[@peitkiet5026]

linus you make the best reviews man.

[@aumkar2]

Great review !!

[@JustVaguee]

What did you test the headphones with? Would be great if you told me.

[@bobuo7]

These sound very much like AKG's K701. If you've ever tried them, how do they compare?

[@pcckwy]

akaTrent has a excellent review on the ATH-A700.

[@end_my_suffering]

Finally, if you are looking at what to review.. EC2 eVo might be a good one.

[@jpmeyer038]

great review. Thanks!

[@Tx3JorgeX]

i love your reviews.

[@asan1050]

Thanks Much !

[@BerserkerX86]

you can also replace the ear cups

[@killer14221]

i would be really interested in the HD700 review

[@TechLabsPC]

awesome review, you really know how to review headphones!

[@sebskogen]

Nice :D, you should make more videos of this kind of headsets. Like the sennheiser 558,pc350se and pv363d :-)

[@Zyntherion2202]

I think it hasn't burned in enough so the real bass response haven't shown up yet.... you should give it a week or two of burning in as some headphones does need a lot of time to burn in, though that's just my opinion as an Audio-Technica owner....

[@smileyguy4248]

which is better - the AKG q701 quincy jones edition, or these. I will be using them for gaming/watching videos and listening to music every now and then. I don't have an amp however, and i am not exactly prepared to spend the extra money. Thanks in advance

[@JustVaguee]

Should i get these with a Soundcard or Dac/amp for gaming?

[@x-techgaming]

You say there's NO bass, then say the balance between low/mid/hi is excellent..?

[@Uuubesa]

Dimitri, please try the ath m50x, they are so incredibly good and you will love them. you will probably replace them to be your main drivers

[@fshalor738]

I have a fresh ATH m50x set. Have spent a lot of time comparing them to a pair of AD700 and AD700X's. The Non X-700 sounds better. The m50x is at another level though. Way more clarity, better sound stage, less bright, wonderful bass response. Driven by an NE55, or JDS labs Atom. None of these feel usable without an amp. (For you cell-phone audio junkies.) Oh, and the head wings are broken on both AD700's. Junky design.

[@blunediv6209]

Are these still a good choice for the price in 2018?

[@BarterBales]

Well done review

[@devontoner]

that's a good card, I use mine with a xonar xense

[@aditya50499]

What is the material used in the ear cups? Pleather ?

[@ScottGrunwald]

@hardwareCanuks So question for you, I use a SoundBlaster Z with Sennheiser HD555 and just bought Audio Technica AD700X and Sennheiser Game One to compare to my aging 555's. Anyway, do you recommend not using SoundBlaster's SBX Pro Studio enhancements? "Surround", "Crystalizer"?

[@itsdannyftw]

Nice review; I liked the incorporation of Battlefield

[@dtzydtzy]

Oh yeah, Dimitri is in love with the Senn sound

[@ravenmooore]

Hey there :D I'm relatively new to using Audiophile type headphones for gaming. Can I know what other equipment or hardware (even the one you use for this video would be nice :) ) is needed to get a feel of 'surround' sound? Like knowing where the shots came from? :P Because I dont think I'll just have to plug it in the front (3.5mm) jack of my computer right?

[@paddypat]

are you guys going to be reviewing the logitech g602?

[@viisns]

Should i buy these or the ATH- M50?

[@Odb718]

@HardwareCanucks I always have problems with headphones pressing or sitting on my ears. After a few hours my earlobes and the rest really hurt. My ears don't stick out at all. I was wondering if you have any recommendations for this problem. Maybe a certain pair in particular. I've tried to use the headphones that sit inside the ear, but they begin to hurt even faster.

[@TaeFace93]

Top video as always.

[@trigunnn2]

can you guys do a review on the 900x ?