Audio-Technica ATH-R70x - In-Depth Review & Impressions

[kRed]

The R70X comes definitely veiled to my planar-bright accustomed ears. This makes them feel (quite) less detailed than my Sundara, at least in the treble.

Voices and some keyboards, I may say, are actually pretty forward and therefore can be perceived as more detailed. They are pretty enjoyable with some music, like metal, but not quite so with stuff that gets boomy in the mid bass (mostly bass guitars heavy songs).

 

[SilverEars]

The R70X comes definitely veiled to my planar-bright accustomed ears. This makes them feel (quite) less detailed than my Sundara, at least in the treble.

Voices and some keyboards, I may say, are actually pretty forward and therefore can be perceived as more detailed. They are pretty enjoyable with some music, like metal, but not quite so with stuff that gets boomy in the mid bass (mostly bass guitars heavy songs).

Sundara is detailed for sure, and technical performance is high for the price level, but man the upper-mids is too forward. Good imaging performance, bass needs some more.

I'm not sure what's really great with metal, but I do like 6XX with classic rock since it bring forward the mids in a way that's not fatiguing. I like the way it presents guitar distortion. Classic rock really needs a mids push to sound interesting.

 

[kman1211]

Sundara is detailed for sure, and technical performance is high for the price level, but man the upper-mids is too forward.

I'm not sure what's really great with metal, but I do like 6XX with classic rock since it bring forward the mids in a way that's not fatiguing. I like the way it presents guitar distortion. Classic rock really needs a mids push to sound interesting.

I’ve heard a lot of good things about the Sundara’s but the HD 600 and HD 650 are already too forward in the upper mids for my liking, so hearing that the Sundara’s are that forward is a big no for me. The HD 660 S and R70X are about where I like the upper mids which both reduce it a bit from the HD 600/650, anymore is too much for me.

My favorite headphone for metal is the T1.3, it’s also my favorite for EDM which is my most listened to genre. The massive bass shelf and moderately elevated treble response works very well with modern genres as well as metal.

The R70X I find to be genre masters personally, some minor issues with how they sound a bit restrained in the upper regions. But their soundstage and bass makes them play very nicely with a lot of genres. The Hd 6xx family like you say is excellent with classic rock and also spoken word, etc.

 

[kRed]

Sundara is detailed for sure, and technical performance is high for the price level, but man the upper-mids is too forward. Good imaging performance, bass needs some more.

I'm not sure what's really great with metal, but I do like 6XX with classic rock since it bring forward the mids in a way that's not fatiguing. I like the way it presents guitar distortion. Classic rock really needs a mids push to sound interesting.

To me it seems like fast headphones without a good mid-bass bump are not nice with heavy/death/power metal. The double kicks sounds way better with a slower, more boomy signature like the R70X or senn 6x0.

Sundara is an awesome HP which can really shine and punch WAY above it's weight when amped correctly. They are really in another league compared to the R70X, which surely have its benefits but technically there is no contest.

Still, I can't stand the Sundara for more than one or two hours, while I can wear the R70X and forget about it.

 

[crazywipe]

Hmm, that’s curious. I was actually looking to try the beyer dt 1990 some time, due to people actually praising the good and wide soundstage. How about resolution in a direct comparison? I think the R70x is not the most resolving headphone (but still good enough). Also do you use EQ? Like taming the sharp treble a bit and bringing out the mids on the 1990, would you still prefer the R70x?

I agree with the R70x sounding more open and more 3 dimensional than the Senn HD6-- line. It kind of made my 6XX obsolete.. it really feels like a direct upgrade to the Senns keeping the tonal balance but improving mainly on (Sub)bass and soundstage.

I also have the HFM Sundara and I think that one has a better soundstage/imaging than the R70x, particularly deeper. However I prefer the Audio Technicas with most genres due to the warmer bass and the more “organic” sound compared to the planar magnetics “coldness”. Of the 3 hp’s I mentioned the R70x got the most headtime in the last couple of months. Really love these cans.

The 1990 has very powerful magnets that translate in a very punchy sound. It handles macrodynamics so good, no other headphones I own had this feature.

In contrast with the r70x, the 1990 wins on bass response and slam.
It has a fatal flaw on the treble (famous 8k peak) that is a bit subdole because it does not show on all songs and it can trick the listener that it shows only on sibilant/brightly mastered tracks.

Is 1990 more resolving than the r70x? I don't think so.
Even if the r70x is darker than the 1990, it has a very nice resolution and natural tone. Instruments, vocals and overall presentation sounds more right on the r70x to me.
It is also lighter.

There are many advantages using the r70x over the 1990:
- better FR and natural sound
- more open and wider sounding
- maybe slightly more resolving or on par.
- lighter

 

[wantan]

The dt1990 is easy to EQ and and has a great FR with EQ.
Sundara is very hard to EQ since EQ in the midrange is alway hard to get right.
Sennheiser HD650 is helped a lot with -2db at 200hz Q1.4 plus some additional bass and treble/air as you please.

These (and R70x) are all great and at the end of the day they are more similar than different.

Another nice one is the HD58x which I personally find to be very entertaining for metal. Actually for everything else, too.

I would have bought the R70x but unfortunately it sits to loose on my head.

 

[dakanao]

Anyone that finds these too edgy in the transients attack?

 

[Slim1970]

Anyone that finds these too edgy in the transients attack?

No, that's one of the best things about the headphone in my opinion. To be this musical, most headphones compromise transient speed and attack for musicality. This is not case with the R70x's. It's what makes them such a unique headphone in the Audio Technica lineup.

 

[kman1211]

No, that's one of the best things about the headphone in my opinion. To be this musical, most headphones compromise transient speed and attack for musicality. This is not case with the R70x's. It's what makes them such a unique headphone in the Audio Technica lineup.

I’d have to agree. That’s something that sets it apart from other neutrally tuned headphones. The transients reminds me of Tesla Beyers transients which is a good thing imho. I’m honestly used to transients like that, it’s often when I go to something I feel is lacking here I often struggle to enjoy it as much.

 

[Slim1970]

I’d have to agree. That’s something that sets it apart from other neutrally tuned headphones. The transients reminds me of Tesla Beyers transients which is a good thing imho. I’m honestly used to transients like that, it’s often when I go to something I feel is lacking here I often struggle to enjoy it as much.

Agreed, I like snappy transients, good resolution, and clarity myself on headphones. If they lack any of these sonic attributes headphone tend to sound congested and lacking detail to my ears.

 

[dakanao]

No, that's one of the best things about the headphone in my opinion. To be this musical, most headphones compromise transient speed and attack for musicality. This is not case with the R70x's. It's what makes them such a unique headphone in the Audio Technica lineup.

To me, it sounds like it has a 3khz resonance giving too much edge at the attack, which is confirmed by these measurements in the first post here:

https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/audio-technica-at-r70x.678/

People say the HD650 is too smooth there, but I just think it doesn’t have much distortion in the uppermids giving that smooth feel

 

[kman1211]

To me, it sounds like it has a 3khz resonance giving too much edge at the attack, which is confirmed by these measurements in the first post here:

https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/audio-technica-at-r70x.678/

People say the HD650 is too smooth there, but I just think it doesn’t have much distortion in the uppermids giving that smooth feel

My main problem with the HD 650 and the HD 600 are they are too hard sounding in the upper mids, causing fatigue with any decent listening session. I much prefer the R70X and the HD 660 S upper midrange presentation. I never really found the HD 650 as smooth as people say it is in the upper registers, I've owned the things like 4 different times and the upper registers made me get rid of them each time.

 

[dakanao]

My main problem with the HD 650 and the HD 600 are they are too hard sounding in the upper mids, causing fatigue with any decent listening session. I much prefer the R70X and the HD 660 S upper midrange presentation.

I had that same problem with the HD650 as well 3 years ago, and was the reason I preferred the DT150 over them.

Turned out the sound changes a lot depending on the positioning over your ears. It can go from hard sounding to buttery smooth

 

[kman1211]

I had that same problem with the HD650 as well 3 years ago, and was the reason I preferred the DT150 over them.

Turned out the sound changes a lot depending on the positioning over your ears. It can go from hard sounding to buttery smooth

Tried that didn't work for me sadly, it did change the sound of course but couldn't get the upper mids and treble to my liking. But I know things vary person to person. I honestly always liked the HD 660 S and HD 600 more than the HD 650.

 

[Rurouni]

I’m mostly invested in IEMs and have the HD580’as my only other open back, but I really dig the R70x’s clarity, openness and neutrality. I can listen for hours on them.

They do need good power though. I have to run them on high gain on my TA-ZH1ES