I've seen alot of PRO700MK2 reviews labelling them as "Bassy" headphones and "uncomfortable", please stop. These aren't meant to be for your "casual" listening, Audio-Technica designed these headphones with "utility" in mind. A exclusively for DJs and I will elaborate why.
Unboxing
I have heard complaints about the Pro700Mk2s' clamping issues. Audio-Technica has advertised these headphones as DJ "Monitor" headphones they are supposed to be worn with one ear. If you need a comfy headphone for your two ears, you should look into AT's "Earsuit" series or the WS55/WS70s.
Value: For a DJ headphone retailing at $159-$209 with a build quality of a tank, solid isolation, and detailed mids and highs, and well-extended punchy bass, these headphones are well-recommended in the DJ world.
Audio Quality: DJs in noisy environments will enjoy this, the bass is really punchy and extended you will not miss your bit counts. BPMs are very important to DJs and this headphone offers you them in thundering style. Mids and highs are well detailed good for doing those cuts and drops on the fly. The sound signature is accentuated bass, then flat mids and highs.
If you do not understand the demands of being a DJ, you really need a very good isolating, secure clamping headphone which is why AT designed this headphone to really give your head a bear-hug. For audiophiles, I will recommend XB500s instead of the Pro700mk2s, if size is not an issue.
Design: Audio-Technica designs this as a "utility over aesthetics" headphone. There's really nothing eye-popping with these headphones, but their sheer size. They are technically smaller than the M50s, but they look bigger. They are built solid with high quality military-grade plastics. You are also given two (2) 1.2m cables. 1 straight cable and 1 coiled cable which extends for about 9 or 10 feet.
Comfort: Wearing them with 1 ear, they are comfortable than most DJ headphones, I have used. The ear pads feels circumaural with the large opening. With 2 ears, they will clamp hard, but they are not designed to be worn like your usual headphone. If you aren't a DJ, keep out. But, if you are a hard-core audiophile who doesn't care about comfort issues, then go for it.
Update: How to make it comfy, add 5mm of memory foam pads. Resting them on 22cm boxes does lessen those clamping force. Audio-Technica has noted that the base of the headband are indeed aluminum and can be bent.
Overall: Very solid DJ headphones, one of the best. I would definitely recommend them for the isolation and the solid bass. It will really help DJs not to miss any beat. Are these audiophile headphones? Definitely not. If you want an audiophile headphone, there's a lot of options Audio-Technica is offering. Would I recommend these for casual listeners? Never, if you want a bassy headphones for casual listeners go for the Sony XB500, you will have comfort and very tight-bass extensions.
Again, these are DJ headphones designed for DJ monitoring on live-performances! If you need a headphone for mixing or recording get the M50s.
If I am to review these as your audiophile/casual listening headphones, these would fail for one big reason. Comfort wearing these on two ears will destroy your listening pleasure. As your are more concentrated on the head-clamp rather than the music.
Update: Audio-Technica confirmed that just like the M50, the Pro700Mk2's frame is made out of aluminum so I wrestled with them and bent them into the shape of my head. They are now very comfy just like the M50s; however, they don't fold-up tightly anymore. It is fine with me as long as it will fold-up and fit its bag.
The original clamp had the two pads touching each other, after I bent them it looked like this, but I'm quite satisfied with the comfort. Something just have to go and comfort is better than foldability.
Update: With TBSEs' pads the PRO700MK2s isolation improved, since the pads were softer it conformed more with your face, blocking out spaces. Also, comfort improved a bit with the softer pads. But at what expense? The mid-bass got muddy and it messed up the mids as well.
Unboxing
I have heard complaints about the Pro700Mk2s' clamping issues. Audio-Technica has advertised these headphones as DJ "Monitor" headphones they are supposed to be worn with one ear. If you need a comfy headphone for your two ears, you should look into AT's "Earsuit" series or the WS55/WS70s.
Value: For a DJ headphone retailing at $159-$209 with a build quality of a tank, solid isolation, and detailed mids and highs, and well-extended punchy bass, these headphones are well-recommended in the DJ world.
Audio Quality: DJs in noisy environments will enjoy this, the bass is really punchy and extended you will not miss your bit counts. BPMs are very important to DJs and this headphone offers you them in thundering style. Mids and highs are well detailed good for doing those cuts and drops on the fly. The sound signature is accentuated bass, then flat mids and highs.
If you do not understand the demands of being a DJ, you really need a very good isolating, secure clamping headphone which is why AT designed this headphone to really give your head a bear-hug. For audiophiles, I will recommend XB500s instead of the Pro700mk2s, if size is not an issue.
Design: Audio-Technica designs this as a "utility over aesthetics" headphone. There's really nothing eye-popping with these headphones, but their sheer size. They are technically smaller than the M50s, but they look bigger. They are built solid with high quality military-grade plastics. You are also given two (2) 1.2m cables. 1 straight cable and 1 coiled cable which extends for about 9 or 10 feet.
Comfort: Wearing them with 1 ear, they are comfortable than most DJ headphones, I have used. The ear pads feels circumaural with the large opening. With 2 ears, they will clamp hard, but they are not designed to be worn like your usual headphone. If you aren't a DJ, keep out. But, if you are a hard-core audiophile who doesn't care about comfort issues, then go for it.
Update: How to make it comfy, add 5mm of memory foam pads. Resting them on 22cm boxes does lessen those clamping force. Audio-Technica has noted that the base of the headband are indeed aluminum and can be bent.
Overall: Very solid DJ headphones, one of the best. I would definitely recommend them for the isolation and the solid bass. It will really help DJs not to miss any beat. Are these audiophile headphones? Definitely not. If you want an audiophile headphone, there's a lot of options Audio-Technica is offering. Would I recommend these for casual listeners? Never, if you want a bassy headphones for casual listeners go for the Sony XB500, you will have comfort and very tight-bass extensions.
Again, these are DJ headphones designed for DJ monitoring on live-performances! If you need a headphone for mixing or recording get the M50s.
If I am to review these as your audiophile/casual listening headphones, these would fail for one big reason. Comfort wearing these on two ears will destroy your listening pleasure. As your are more concentrated on the head-clamp rather than the music.
Update: Audio-Technica confirmed that just like the M50, the Pro700Mk2's frame is made out of aluminum so I wrestled with them and bent them into the shape of my head. They are now very comfy just like the M50s; however, they don't fold-up tightly anymore. It is fine with me as long as it will fold-up and fit its bag.
The original clamp had the two pads touching each other, after I bent them it looked like this, but I'm quite satisfied with the comfort. Something just have to go and comfort is better than foldability.
Update: With TBSEs' pads the PRO700MK2s isolation improved, since the pads were softer it conformed more with your face, blocking out spaces. Also, comfort improved a bit with the softer pads. But at what expense? The mid-bass got muddy and it messed up the mids as well.