Audio-Technica R70X Open Back Reference Headphone Black

Bought with my own cash money.No EQ. No burn in and Exquisite sound straight out of the box. These weigh almost nothing so are incredibly light and comfortable. They may not be able to take a beating but they're not designed for that so I don't understand some of the online negativity surrounding the build quality. Super light is to be commended in my book. I like luxurious materials as much as the next caveman but not everything needs to be made out of grass fed calfskin leather and graphine!Having never used Audio Technicas paddle headband system I was pleasantly surprised and combined with the lightweight design they seem to float next to your ears. They come with no accessories other than a pointless bag and the retail packaging cardboard box they arrive in. So whilst certainly not the last word in comfort or luxury by any means, they work for me and id rather they put the money in the sound.Which is where these shine. Sound signature? Neutral neutral neutral. Accurate accurate accurate. But with an added bonus of a seriously well defined bass. Not Philips Fidelio X2 bass (but that was always too much for these ears) but an accurate well defined bass with great texture.Having recently had some experience with the closed bass monsters that are the Beyer DT1770 and DT150 these R70x's were like a light refreshing shower compared to the muggy humidity of the Beyers. And a welcome audio 'shower' they are too.Think Beyer DT880 neutrality but with less sibilant treble and a better well defined bass. And also these don't sound half as thin as the Beyers.Think also an open spacious Oppo PM3 with a more present treble - to my ears at least!And don't be put off by the impedance. I was worried my rig wouldn't be able to handle the 470 ohm but these seem to require less power than the 250 ohm DT1770 and DT150 so they must be an 'efficient' 470 ohm! If there is such a thing!I ran them out of my Littledot II MKII tube amp and also on high gain on my Fiio A3 (E11) and ditto on my Fiio E12A and they were had more than enough juice across the board.Don't expect the usual Audio Technica MSR7/M50X sound signature and you may be in for a surprise. These are real reference quality neutrality at a reasonable price.Hope some of this helps.Stew

Frequency Response - 4.5/5: exceptionally flat in the midrange, with a slight mid bass bump. Highs are nicely rounded and non-fatiguing. The expected sub bass roll off is there, but not to the extent of most open backs. Extension is good at both ends of the spectrum. The overall tonality is neutral, with a tendency towards fullness and warmth, without becoming dark or muffled. No headphone is perfectly flat, but this is about as close as it gets without using an EQ.Soundstage - 4/5: wider than it is tall; it presents a nice middle ground between intimate and spacious.Imaging - 5/5: what really sets these headphones apart is the precise and enveloping imaging performance. Sounds appear to extend a full 270 degrees around the head, with a level of accuracy approaching that of nearfield monitors. Ideal for mixing, and almost uncontested in this price bracket.Comfort - 5/5: lightweight, with breathable pads and no contact with the top of the head. Almost perfect, requiring no adjustment on the part of the user, and can easily be worn for hours at a time. The ear cups are not the largest and do not swivel vertically, which might be an issue for some.Build - 4/5: mostly plastic, though the headband and grills are metal. The materials are of good quality and the 2-year warranty is reassuring, but the low weight and abundance of moving parts make it feel more fragile than it probably is. AT have a strong reputation for durability, and my own experience with the brand has been positive, but how this set holds up remains to be seen.Included Extras - 3/5: in the box is a 1/4" adapter and a cloth bag. A alternative cable and extra set of pads would have been appreciated, especially as the included cable is 3 metres and will be too long for some applications.Power Requirements: at 470 ohms, a headphone amp is generally recommended, however I have found that the R70X is significantly easier to drive than it initially appears, generating plenty of volume on all my devices (phone, laptop, desktop). I do not notice any difference in sound quality when plugged into my DAC/amp, so I would suggest trying the headphones by themselves before shelling out for an amp, as it may not be required.Value - 5/5: at the current price of around £250, the ATH-R70X is an easy recommendation; cheaper than most of its competition, while outperforming many of them. Few headphones are this comfortable and this accurate without major tradeoffs in other areas, even those at far higher prices.