Audio Technica AD700 review - Don't laugh at the color son...
May 9, 2011 at 6:09 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 9

GN3RAL KARL

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Yup, it's purple, and beige. It also has wings! Well those are for comfort; and homie, they are comfortable. When I received the Audio Technica AD700's, I chuckled a bit when I plugged it into my receiver for a movies/games test. I was thinking...these couldn't sound better than my Beyerdynamic DT770 pros, could they? LOL, yeah right.

The colorful alien from Japan just took a dump on my Beyers. Been sold the Beyers.

Don't get me wrong, the Beyers are great phones, but the sound signature of the AD700's was EXACTLY what I was looking for in games. I'll explain how...

Highs - The high notes have a perfect tone along with a high-definition accuracy that is only rivaled by my other favorites: the Audio Technica M50. They both are pristine and never harsh or grating to the delicate eardrum. The open-air design of the AD700's seem to extend the high notes a little more than the M50s. They have just a small extra dose of sparkle that is attached to the sublime high notes. FANTASTIC.

Mids - In many other headphones, the mids sit in the back of the class. Chillin'. Right behind the highs and lows. WHY'S IT BACK THERE?! Not in the AD700's. It's in the front, side-by-side with the other ranges, and being just as vocal. Man, do vocals shine on this phone. Human voices sound every bit as real as they did in the Beyers, but it excels the Beyers though because the other notes in the mid-range have that same sweet tone as the highs do. Liquid, buttery, and satisfyingly delicious the forward-presenting mids are on these cans. EXCELLENT.

Lows - It is in the same realm as the M50's. Textured, solid, and tightly controlled like a high security prison. It isn't as bumpin' though as the M50's. No big deal. Let the EQ be touched for extra bass, and the low notes all of sudden have been magnified. To deliver punishment. To your skull. NICE.

Soundstage - I thought the DT770 pros had the finest soundstage. Once again, the AD700 soundscape is slightly bigger. To not lose credibility though, the DT770 pros have a closed design as opposed to these having a open design. However, the AD700's are still more expansive and engaging. The sound, whether it be movies/games or music, will feel like you have a 7.1 setup of the finest quality speakers. The soundstage has layers like the earth's crust, and is about as deep as the Grand Canyon. Notes have positions as if they're in the military. Needless to say, movies and games are an absolute blast through these cans (Battlefield 3 can bring it). SICK.

Detail Retrieval - The AD700's can retrieve notes better than your dog can fetch tennis balls. Nearly every last drop of sound from the greatest to the most minuscule is delivered to your inner ear in first class. Hi-Def audio has never sounded so exquisite. UNBELIEVABLE.

Value - They're as comfortable as the DT770 pros, but sound better. Plus they are far less when it comes time to pullin' out the wallet. Snatch some up and you won't be let down. These are without a doubt, one of the best open air headphones out there.

Audio Technica AD700's = Bizarre looks, extraordinary sound.

Max Sound Level before distorting - 115db

*After much research and personal experience with Audio Technica headphone products, all need at least 40hrs of burn-in time to reach full potential. This allows the drivers to vibrate more freely and broadens every range of the sound that comes through it. This is no lie, the headphones WILL sound more pristine the more you jam to them. Don't mean to sound corny, but I guarantee it.
 
May 10, 2011 at 10:04 PM Post #4 of 9
I agree with most of your review except where you praise the bass.  The ADs practically sound like tin cups trying to reproduce bass imo.  For the same reason, I think they kinda suck for movie watching. 
 
May 11, 2011 at 10:21 AM Post #6 of 9


Quote:
I agree with most of your review except where you praise the bass.  The ADs practically sound like tin cups trying to reproduce bass imo.  For the same reason, I think they kinda suck for movie watching. 


I agree with you.  As mentioned above, it does have the quality but not enough quantity.  The DT990's are superior in just about every way for games and movies, except for a slightly smaller soundstage than the AD700.
 
 
May 11, 2011 at 10:22 AM Post #7 of 9


Quote:
I remember this review from Amazon.

 
I think I remember communicating with you before!
beerchug.gif

 
 
 
May 11, 2011 at 8:37 PM Post #9 of 9


Quote:
Is AD1000 any better in bass department?


Even though I haven't heard them, I'm almost positive they do.  Headroom now sells the AD700 and the AD900.  Reports from head-fi members and even the frequency graph on Headroom concur that the AD900 has more quantity in the bass compared to the AD700.  I would easily assume the same would be true for the AD1000.
 
 

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