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- Verified Buyer
As noted in my review of the ATH-MSR7, I expect a lot from headphones. As a kid, my family didn't share my affinity for classical music and film scores, so I got used to listening with headphones–first my Dad's Soundesigns, then eventually my own brand new Koss Pro4x. In the 32 years since, headphones have remained my preferred way to listen to music when I'm not socializing. I've simply grown to love the detail and intimacy headphones provide, which I've not experienced with speakers and amps costing tens of thousands of dollars. Since 2009, I've gotten progressively more interested in getting the best possible sound from both my home and portable gear. At home, I listen through the headphone jack of an Onkyo A/V Receiver (can't remember the model, sorry) that plays remarkably well with my favorite open back headphones, the Oppo PM-1, bringing just the right amount of high frequency presence and articulation to otherwise fairly lush cans. I love the sound, and have managed to set the EQ on my Astell & Kern AK100II to yield virtually the same sound, so I can enjoy it on the road, if need be.But it's rare when I take the PM-1 out of the house, despite being easily driven by portable devices–its open-back design simply isn't practical for noisy environments or hushed ones where others might not want to hear my music. So, I've been searching the past two years, fairly intensively, for the right closed back portable headphones. Many have been tried and rejected, more often than not because of poor build quality (creaking and microphonics drive me nuts, especially in expensive cans made with luxury materials, such as the B&W P7!) or unbalanced sound. I'm not a fan of bloated bass or sibilant or artificial-sounding treble. With Momentum (original, 2.0 and Wireless), HP50, M4U1, P7, AH-D600, MDR-1R, SRH1540, Crossfade M100, PM-3 and even Audio-Technica's own MSR7 having failed to strike the right balance, I was prepared to be disappointed by the ATH-M70x.Imagine my surprise, then, to find they are supremely comfortable with creak-free build quality! Period. I can wear them for hours and almost forget they're on my head. Don't get me wrong, they don't LOOK as premium or appear as well-finished as do the MSR7s, but in practice, they are far superior.Okay, so kudos to Audio-Technica on getting the build right! But have they, then, compromised on sound to keep the price down below $300 street? Not at all! Simply put, these are the flattest-sounding headphones I've used since my old Sony MDR-V6–deep, tight bass that's punchy when it's supposed to be, light and nimble when it's supposed to be; energetic mids in perfect balance between the bass and fast, detailed, non-fatiguing treble. Great soundstage, too! Almost as wide and deep as my admittedly not-so-well-imaged-for-open-backs PM-1s. Wow! I love the detailed, balanced sound these deliver. I'm sure I could EQ them to be a bit warmer, to match my PM-1s, but why when that's clearly not their intended purpose. I'll keep my Oppo PM-3 portable planars for when I need/want warmth on the go. But I have a feeling I won't be choosing them over these fantastic M70x very often.
