Electronics Expo (via Amazon) has the Audio Technica ATH-AD700 Open-air Dynamic Audiophile Headphones with 53mm Drivers with Neodymium Magnet Systems
So, in the final analysis, what did I think of the Audio-Technica ATH-AD700s? Well, as I’m writing this I’m using them to listen to the DVD-A of the Eric Clapton and B.B. King’s Riding with the King [Reprise 9 47612-9]. The bass is deep, the vocals are clear and reasonably precise, the guitars sear, and the treble manages to convey the essence of the high frequencies. For their street price, which is as low as $112, I don’t see how you can go wrong with them, provided they fit you comfortably.
As a matter of fact, in their actual price range, I seriously doubt you’ll find too much in the way of competition sonically. That the Audio-Technica ATH-AD700 headphones can go toe-to-toe with cans that cost double their price means they open up the realm of high-quality headphone listening to those on a strict budget. No, they’re not the be-all and end-all of headphones, but what they do right, they do very right, and what they do less than right, they manage to do well enough. About the best compliment I can pay the ATH-AD700s is that they play the music in a pure, even-handed, and coherent way, and with them you’ll find yourself searching for opportunities to listen.
For those of you making your first foray into over-the-ear headphones, note that these are “open” — meaning the noise is not isolated (someone sitting next to you will be able to hear what you are listening to). The up side to open headphones is that they sound less muffled and are more like listening to speakers.
