The Original ATH-R70x

The ATH-R70x was the Japanese company’s first pro-audio-focused open-back headphone.

While technically part of the professional studio headphone family, the ATH-R70x broke with tradition in several ways. Its visually striking, open-back design made it the lightest model in the family, and it offered a sound that was airy, open, wide and feathery compared to many of its punchy, direct, bold, closed-backed cousins. Check out my A Family of ATH-Mx Headphones Compared roundup in the March 2021 issue, for a recent rundown of the current ATH-Mx offerings.

In our 2015 review our previous editor described them as, “…it barely felt like I was wearing headphones at all.” The bass response was described as, “…present and extended but not overly hyped or pushed forward…It merely exists as part of a wider frequency spectrum, extending the listener’s reach to below the subsonic limits of hearing without distortion or breakup.” He found, “the ATH-R70x handles the all-important mids by presenting them in balance with what comes above and below.” Finally, “It has a delightful treble response that is stratospheric without being overaccentuated or shrieky… there’s space, air and dimension in the highest highs, rather than hiss and artifacts.”

With the above in mind, much of which carries over, let’s meet the new ATH-Rx family.

Refreshed, Reborn and Expanded

All three models are unmistakably descended from the original ATX-R70x and, despite some significant design differences, they are visually what I would call variations on a theme—similar to comparing many of the ATH-Mx models. Each model features an all-black color scheme with large circumaural (around the ear) open mesh metal earcups, thick, cushy, fabric/velour earpads and ultra-thin metal headbands.

Audio-Technica ATH-R70xa

Working from the top down, like its predecessor, the ATH-R70xa is an open-backed dynamic headphone with 45mm drivers. With the exception of a 1dB loss of sensitivity, its specs are the same as the original. It boasts an incredibly wide frequency response and retains a high 470Ω impedance.

While I could power the ATH-R70xa with the stock headphone amps found on most of my audio interfaces, these are not headphones I would recommend for direct connection to a laptop, tablet or smartphone. You may need to push the volume to the top-end of its throw, which may sacrifice some of this headphone’s potential tonality.

That said, the ATH-R70xa pairs beautifully with a high-end, audiophile-grade headphone amp, which I can confirm really brings the ATH-R70xa to life.

Fresh Framework

Designed and hand-crafted in Japan, the ATH-R70xa is visibly reminiscent of the ATH-R70x. Impressively, the ATH-R70xa manages to reduce its feather-light weight to 7.0 oz, which is 0.4 oz less than the original.

The 3.5″ carbon composite resin earcups are caped with an acoustically transparent aluminum honeycomb mesh. Where the original model featured a large logo/name badge, the open-back grilles are free of obstructions, further increasing the direct transfer of sound and creating an even more open soundstage. The earpads are made of the same pillowy velour as the original.

The most significant physical change in the ATH-R70xa is its headband. The original version featured plastic, spring-loaded, wing-like curved pads. Our original reviewer described them as “elegant and intriguing” and appreciated their self-adjusting design, which provided an “impression of weightlessness.” However, I always had concerns about their durability and found them somewhat gimmicky.

The ATH-R70xa returns to a more traditional design. It features a thin metal bar and a loosely attached, thinly padded headband held in place with two magnetic clasps. The headband cradles your head about half an inch from the metal frame and achieves the same “I’m not there” floaty feel of the original with less fuss. Although, one of my magnets was prone to popping loose if pushed on too hard when adjusting the headband.

The ATH-R70xa has a dual-sided 9.8′ L/R signal-independent detachable twist-and-lock cable and a ¹/₄” adaptor. This means each driver gets a direct connection, and no wires snake through the headband.

The only additional accessory is a drawstring cloth pouch and a ¹/₄” stereo adapter.

Feel

The ATH-R70xa earns its comfort status from its minimalist design ethos and the use of ultra-thin, lightweight materials. Its clamping force is just firm enough to ensure it never feels like it will fall off your head, yet it is never fatiguing or imposing. Like its predecessor, the ATH-R70xa is one of the most comfortable, feather-light headphones I have ever worn.

Sound

Sonically, the ATH-R70xa delivers a stunningly neutral, balanced tone with impressive depth and clarity. Nothing sounds hyped, exaggerated or pushed. While it doesn’t “rumble,” the bass is solid and full, offering a firm, deep presentation that is a slight but welcome improvement over the original ATH-R70x (the first pair of open-back headphones I ever owned). The midrange is well-seated and, to my ears, even more defined than the original. They are a bit on the “polite” side for those who prefer their mids with a bit of “thrust” or forward presence. Finally, the high-end is clear as a bell yet never piercing or harsh. They possess a touch of feathery airiness but never at the expense of clarity or focus.

Note that their pro-audio focus might lean toward the “dry” or “clinical” side of the scale if you prefer your open-back headphones with a touch of sweetness or warmth.

Over the years, I have reviewed over a dozen pairs of open-back headphones ranging from about $600 to $4,500 with wildly varied tonality and sound stages. What impressed me about the ATH-R70xa was not that they sound like, or better/worse than, any of those other models, but in sheer sonic quality and presentation, the ATH-R70xa holds its own.

They may not match the robust build quality (which, remember, is by design) or the extensive accessory packages offered by some competitors, but in terms of sound quality, they never feel like budget headphones.

The thing is, ATH-R70xa is only $349—the same price the ATH-R70x debuted at a decade ago. Take that inflation!

Conclusion

The ATX-R70xa makes for a very compelling, revealing and enjoyable listen. Thanks to its lightweight and minimalist design, I find myself reaching for these headphones, whether I’m mixing or simply enjoying hi-fi music.

Driver: 45 mm

Frequency Response: 5 Hz–40 kHz

Impedance: 97dB/mW

Maximum Input Power: 1,000 mW at 1 kHz

Weight: 199 g (7.0 oz), without cable

Audio-Technica ATH-R50x

The new Audio-Technica ATH-R50x is distinguished from its sibling by its $159 price tag and a more “modern” sonic presentation, which you can translate as more presence, bolder lows and crisper highs. According to Audio-Technica, it is built upon a re-voiced variation of the original ATH-R70x drivers.

The ATH-R50x uses a 45mm driver with the same frequency response as the ATH-R70xa, but its sensitivity and max power differ. Most significantly, it has 50Ω impedance, which gives it a strong signal on any playback device (no high-powered amp necessary).

Similar, yet Different

On the Audio-Technica website, the ATH-R70xa boasts of being handcrafted in Japan, while the ATH-R50x does not. This leads me to believe that they were designed in Japan but manufactured offshore, which undoubtedly contributes to the lower price.

While the overall appearance and design remain consistent with the R-series, the
ATH-R50x earcups are constructed from a blend of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) and Polycarbonate (PC) plastic instead of carbon composite resin. The metal mesh grilles feature a small round plastic AT logo inset, and the earpads are made from a slightly sleeker velour. The headband and side adjustments are similar to those of the ATH-R70xa; however, rather than having a floating headband, the ATH-R50x is equipped with two small foam headpads.

Finally, the ATH-R50x uses a single-ended locking audio cable that connects to the left earcup, while thin cables carry the signal to the right ear.

The ATH-R50x has 9.8′ and 3.9′ cable choices, a ¹/₄” adaptor and a drawstring pouch.

Feel

While nominally heavier than the ATH-R70xa and perhaps not as “feathery” and “floaty” feeling, the ATH-R50x is still lightweight and very comfortable for long hours of wear.

Sound

The general sound of the ATH-R50x is that it is like the ATH-R70xa and the classic closed-back ATH-M50x had a baby.

The ATH-R50x really does a great job of sounding like an open-back ATH-M50x, particularly with its full, punchy low-end performance. Naturally, the ATH-R50x has a slightly more open sound, which sacrifices a bit of punch—but not as much as one might anticipate. Audio-Technica characterizes the ATH-R50x as having a slight “V-shaped” curve, indicating a somewhat recessed midrange. While the low-end is robust, I never perceived the midrange to be lacking in any way; it’s more that the ATH-R50x simply isn’t as even and neutral as the ATH-R70xa. I also noticed that the ATH-R50x has a nice, pronounced high-mid emphasis. Interestingly, although it lacks some detail and openness in the highs compared to the ATH-R70xa, I perceive a bit more crispness in the top-end response with certain sources.

Conclusion

Audio-Technica really did a great job of imbuing the ATH-R50x with everything we have come to love sonically about the ATH-M50x; it really presents a gently more open variant of the long-standing close-back classic. They are not 100% the same, but deliciously close in sound and intent, which is impressive both for the price and the sound.

Driver: 45mm

Frequency Response: 5 Hz–40 kHz

Impedance: 50Ω

Sensitivity: 93.3dB/mW

Maximum Input Power: 1,600 mW at 1 kHz

Weight: 207 g (7.3 oz), without cable

Audio-Technica ATH-R30x

Now, we come to what Audio-Technica calls its “gateway” into the world of open-back headphones. With the $99 price tag, that’s pretty spot on. Again, they fall squarely in the ATH-Rx family in looks and presentation, but further variances abound.

Most notably, the ATH-R30x features a 40mm driver. This yields a slightly narrower but still admirable frequency response, a lower sensitivity, and a 36Ω impedance, ensuring compatibility with any audio device (smart device, laptop, audio interface, etc.).

Build

The ATH-R30x is primarily made of plastic. This applies to the earcup yolks, which were a razor-thin metal on the previous models. The metal headband is also sparser and more open, yet it reverts to a thin, floating headband similar to the ATH-R70xa, though attached with Velcro instead of magnets. The earcups are fully open like those of the ATH-R70xa, featuring a recessed AT logo under the grille, and the cushy earpads are the same as those on the ATH-R70xa.

The final significant difference is that the 9.8′ dual-earcup cable is permanently attached and non-removable. The ATH-R30x comes with a ¹/₄” adapter.

Feel and Sound

The feel of the ATH-R30x is very similar to that of the other models, especially the ATH-R70xa—light and comfortable—so there is no need to elaborate further.

Sonically, the ATH-R30x is present and focused like the ATH-R50x, perhaps even more so. The low-end is not as defined and punchy as the ATH-R50x, nor as dimensional and deep-reaching as the ATH-R70xa, but it still provides a respectable fullness and substantial weight. The midrange has the most forward presence of the three, and the high-end delivers a good amount of clarity and detail, though it leans a bit more “toppy” than the ATH-R50x, while somehow feeling more closed in compared to the feathery airiness of the ATH-R70xa. If the ATH-R70xa presents sound as being wider and “there,” the ATH-R30x feels more forward and “here”—hopefully, that makes sense.

Conclusion

Putting comparisons to its siblings aside, the ATH-R30x is a very clear and well-balanced headphone that shows off its open-back nature nicely. They provide a highly enjoyable listening experience, and for $100, they deliver outstanding sound at an incredible price that few headphones in this price range can rival.

Wrap Up

Audio-Technica has introduced a brilliant new collection of open-back headphones with shockingly affordable price tags, and each model punches squarely above its class.

All three offerings offer enough difference that it could be worth owning more than one model. I am floored by the ATH-R70xa, but I am also drawn to the ATH-R50x.

Driver: 40mm

Frequency Response: 15 Hz–25 kHz

Impedance: 36Ω

Sensitivity: 92dB

Maximum Input Power: 1,000 mW at 1 kHz

Weight: 210g (7.4 oz) without cable

Price: $349 ATH-R70xa; $159 ATH-R50x; $99 ATH-R30x

More From: audio-technica.com

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