Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X Audio Technica Audiophile Review

The Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X are legendary for their wide soundstage and crisp positional audio, making them a niche favorite for competitive gamers. They score a strong 82nd percentile for mic quality but are dead last for commuting. Only buy if you game in silence and need to hear every footstep.

The Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X is a wired, open-back headphone that's been a cult favorite for gaming for years. It's built around a 53mm driver and a lightweight aluminum honeycomb shell, promising a natural, pressure-free soundstage.

But let's be real: this is a niche product in 2024. It's wired, has no noise cancellation, and our data shows it scores poorly for commuting and general use. This is a tool for a specific job, not an all-rounder.

The sound profile is where these headphones live or die. They're tuned for clarity in the mids and highs, which is why gamers love them for picking out footsteps and positional audio. Our percentile rankings put the sound quality in the 25th percentile overall, though, which tells you they're not tuned for booming bass or modern pop. The open-back design means you hear everything around you, and everyone around you hears your music. The mic quality is surprisingly decent at the 82nd percentile, but remember, it's a basic wired mic, not a broadcast-quality boom.

At around $140, the value proposition is very narrow. You're paying for a specific acoustic trick—great positional audio—and sacrificing almost every modern convenience. If that trick is exactly what you need, they're worth it. If you want headphones for music, commuting, or wireless freedom, this price point gets you much better all-around performers.

Stacked against the big names, the AD700X is an outlier. The Sony WH-1000XM6 or JBL Tune 770NC will crush it with noise cancellation, wireless features, and bass, but they won't match its airy, open soundstage for competitive gaming. Compared to a dedicated gaming headset like a HyperX Cloud II, you might get similar positional awareness but lose the mic (unless you add one) and gain a more refined, less bass-heavy sound. It's a sidegrade, not an upgrade, from most modern options.

If you need headphones for anything other than desktop gaming in a quiet room, skip these. Commuters, office workers, bass lovers, and anyone who values wireless freedom or noise cancellation will find them utterly frustrating. For the same money, you can get a capable wireless pair that does ten other things better.

Buy these only if you are a competitive PC gamer who plays at a desk in a quiet room and values pinpoint audio positioning above all else—comfort, bass, features, and portability. They're a one-trick pony, but for that one trick, some swear by them.