“Quite neutral sounding and one of the more comfortable over-ear open-back designs we’ve tried”: Audio-Technica ATH-R70xa review

What is it?

For studio work, we typically recommend closed-back headphones as they provide decent isolation from other performers and prevent headphone bleed onto mics. Even so, if you can afford a dedicated pair of headphones for programming, mixing and mastering, then an open-back design will usually provide an easier listen and be more comfortable, which is an important consideration for long sessions.

ATH-R70xa is the latest open-back reference headphone from Audio-Technica and is aimed squarely at audio professionals seeking this sort of design. It’s an updated version of the ATH-R70x, and is now the flagship model in their ATH reference headphone range. At £299 a pair, they’re clearly not cheap, but the price is comparable to the competition and certainly more affordable than Audio-Technica’s audiophile range.

Out of the box, the over-ear design looks quite bulky, but at 199 grams, they are impressively lightweight. Despite looking a little fragile, the frame-like metal construction is pretty tough, and the use of perforated aluminium on both the headband and ear cups helps reduce the overall weight, while the use of carbon composite resin improves the structural rigidity. Overall construction quality is excellent and reflects the high standards at Audio-Technica’s Machida, Tokyo factory, where they are hand-built.

Sound delivery is handled by a 45mm driver, and the fully open-back design provides unrestricted airflow, eliminating internal resonances. The headphones ship with a 3m L/R split stereo cable with a 6.3mm adapter and a soft carry bag. Replacement velour ear pads and headband are available to purchase.

Performance

The combination of lightweight construction, soft headband and ear pads makes the ATH-R70xa incredibly comfortable, and the loose headband design, which is only attached at each end, ensures plenty of airflow, which is an important consideration if you’re wearing headphones for long spells. In general terms, it’s easy to forget you’re wearing them, and when you remove them, it’s not a relief, as is sometimes the case with heavier or closed-back designs.

As mentioned, the headphones use a detachable L/R split cable and this needs to be connected to both ear cups. We’re sure this design has its fans, but even if you’re not one of them, on the upside, the locking plugs are L/R signal independent, so thankfully, you can connect the cable either way without it affecting the L/R channels. It’s also nice to see a decent length (3m) lead included as standard.

From a sonic perspective, the ATH-R70xa is instantly likeable, with the open-back design delivering a natural, unforced sound. Frequency separation is good and the overall sound is solid without being unnaturally punchy.

Overall, the key mid and upper-mid frequency range is reasonably forward, with the high frequencies slightly more restrained. Swapping between these and other headphones, it’s obvious these are not the brightest-sounding. That said, this can be preferable for long listening spells, as long as you’ve adjusted your expectations. Despite the monitoring style frequency response, there is plenty of weight in the low frequencies. What’s more, there’s no noticeable tail off in the lows until you get below about 40Hz, which is handy for sorting out sub bass issues.

Verdict

Choosing a pair of headphones for non-recording tasks is a decisive step, and the open design of these headphones clearly makes them unsuitable for most recording tasks. Nevertheless, if you are truly committed to this path, then the ATH-R70xa not only ticks a lot of boxes, but is super light, quite neutral sounding and one of the more comfortable over-ear open-back designs we’ve tried.

Hands-on demos

Alternatives

Sennheiser HD 490 Pro: £339 at sennheiser.com

Sennheiser’s latest TEC Award-winning headphones offer a reliable open-back sound at a reasonable price point.

Read the full Sennheiser HD 490 Pro review

Aune AR5000: €329 at aune-store.com

Although quite a bit heavier than the ATH-R70xa, the AR5000 is a good choice for mixing and mastering.

Read more about Aune AR5000

Specifications