The Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X 2013 are budget open-back headphones that deliver an above-average sound for critical listening. They're comfortable and decently well built. However, they're not casual headphones. They won't be versatile enough to use outside or in noisy environments.
Our Verdict
These headphones are not designed for everyday, casual use.
- Above-average and open sound quality.
- Comfortable design.
- Very sensitive to ambient noise, by design.
- Open-back design, so they leak a lot.
- Big and bulky headphones.
The ATH-AD700X are built to deliver a comfortable listening experience. They slightly overemphasize the mids, and they're not as well-balanced as some of the higher-end open-back headphones, but they reproduce tracks with above-average fidelity. They also create a satisfactory soundstage for neutral listening.
Not made for commuting. They don't block any ambient noise.
Too bulky and unstable for sports. They will slip off your ears if used while running or doing physical activity.
Not intended for office use. Unless you work in an isolated environment, these headphones will leak and be distracting.
Changelog
- Updated Sep 21, 2023: We've updated the name of these headphones to reflect their model variant.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated Feb 16, 2018: Converted to Test Bench 1.2.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X 2013 come only in a 'Black' variant. However, there has been a user report of an updated stealth variant; this newer model has a different color scheme on the ear cups. There may also be changes to sound quality, but as we haven't tested them, we can't confirm this.
If you encounter another variant of these headphones, please let us know in the forums, and we'll update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Philips SHP9500 are better audiophile headphones than the Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X 2013. The Philips reproduce audio more consistently. They're also better built and are more comfortable. The Audio-Technica are a bit lighter with lower distortion, but it will come down to your tuning preferences and budget.
The Sennheiser HD 599 are better audiophile headphones for most people than the Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X 2013. The Sennheiser have less low-bass roll-off, less intense presence across the mid-range, and a much better-balanced treble response. They should also be more comfortable for most, although the Audio-Technica are more lightweight and the unique headband design can help relieve pressure during long listening sessions.
The Sennheiser HD 58X Jubilee are better headphones than the Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X 2013 if you prefer a neutral sound profile. The Sennheiser have an impressively well-balanced sound signature that's not too sharp or piercing. The Audio-Technica, unfortunately, don't have a very accurate treble response, so sibilants sound sharp and piercing, but instruments and vocals lack detail and brightness. They also feel cheaply made, although they're more comfortable than the Sennheiser.
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