Audio-Technica Intros ATH-R70xa & ATH-R50x Professional Open-back Headphone Models

[T0@st]

Audio-Technica, a leading innovator in transducer technology for over 60 years, is expanding its headphone offerings with the new R-Series line of professional open-back models. The former flagship ATH-R70x has been upgraded to the new ATH-R70xa, and is joined by the new ATH-R50x.

ATH-R70xa
The ATH-R70xa is Audio-Technica's new flagship pair of professional open-back reference headphones. Whether mixing, mastering, or creating, the ATH-R70xa is the perfect production tool, delivering accurate and dependable reference across stereo, surround, and immersive formats. This enhanced version of the ATH-R70x delivers the natural and balanced sound of its predecessor but with refined accuracy and detail, providing a heightened listening experience with precise imaging and depth for realistic sound staging. While the ATH-R70x utilized damping and its acoustic design for added low-frequency emphasis, the fully open-back sound of the ATH-R70xa relies solely on the performance of the driver—each diaphragm movement translates directly into sound without reliance on acoustic cavities or resonance for frequency enhancement and minimizing distortion.




Made for critical listening, the ATH-R70xa headphones allow engineers to make the right decision at every step of the production process. With an extended frequency range (5 - 40,000 Hz), every detail of a mix is transparently reproduced. The unrestricted airflow and absence of internal resonance allows for an extremely quick transient response, ensuring the clarity and separation needed to handle complex contemporary mixes.



The featherlight ATH-R70xa headphones (199 g/7.0 ounces without the cable) feature streamlined construction, a new headband design and replaceable velour earpads, allowing the headphones to virtually disappear during use - perfect for long working sessions. A unique, dual-sided 3.0 m (9.8-inch) detachable locking cable is L/R signal independent to ensure proper stereo orientation. Handcrafted in A-T's facility in Machida, Tokyo, each ATH-R70xa is meticulously assembled from components built in-house, then rigorously tested before leaving the factory.

The Audio-Technica ATH-R70xa is available now at a suggested U.S. retail price of $349.

ATH-R50x
The ATH-R50x professional open-back reference headphones are designed to provide a natural listening experience with an expansive soundstage that's ideal for all manner of critical-listening tasks. The headphones' drivers are modelled after those used in the original ATH-R70x, now re-engineered to deliver bass that's surprisingly powerful for an open-back model, plus an accurate upper midrange to ensure the clarity of vocals and lead instruments without sacrificing overall balance.

Key to delivering this natural, full-spectrum sound is the headphones' pure open-back design, which doesn't embellish the sound coming from the drivers. The ATH-R50x headphones are engineered to deliver dynamic, detailed audio, with powerful sub-bass and a realistic soundstage, directly from the drivers without any additional acoustic tuning. The fully open earcups also provide greater comfort than closed-back models - comfort enhanced by the newly designed headband and durable, lightweight construction (207 g/7.3 ounces).



Perfect for mixing, mastering, or creating, the ATH-R50x provides precise, reliable reference across stereo, surround, and immersive formats, making it a versatile choice for any professional or home studio. ATH-R50x comes with two detachable cables (3.0 m [9.8-inch] and 1.2 m [3.9-inch]), each with a 2.5 mm twist-lock connector at the left earcup and a 3.5 (1/8-inch) gold-plated stereo mini-plug.

The Audio-Technica ATH-R50x is available now at a suggested U.S. retail price of $159.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site | Source

 

[Space Lynx]

@VSG reviews for either of these on the horizon?

 

[Sound_Card]

I have the R70x, they are the best headphones. I would take them any day over just about any other set of cans for any price.

 

[Onasi]

Praise the Lord, AT finally clued in and got rid of the “wings” headband design.

 

[djisas]

How would ATH-R70xa compare with MEZE AUDIO 105 AER?

 

[Onasi]

@djisas
If AT hasn’t changed the tuning significantly compared to the regular R70x (hard to say without any testing) it should be a safer bet. R70x was an excellent neutral open back with a slight warm tilt for the price. Meze tuning can be… divisive. That being said, the 105 AER is generally considered pretty well balanced and smooth, so it’s not like you get the 99 “fuck you, bass” tuning. It’s a toss up probably depending on whether you prefer more or less warmth. The AT might be better at imagining and soundstage though, the R70x was/is quite excellent in this regard.

 

[djisas]

@djisas
If AT hasn’t changed the tuning significantly compared to the regular R70x (hard to say without any testing) it should be a safer bet. R70x was an excellent neutral open back with a slight warm tilt for the price. Meze tuning can be… divisive. That being said, the 105 AER is generally considered pretty well balanced and smooth, so it’s not like you get the 99 “fuck you, bass” tuning. It’s a toss up probably depending on whether you prefer more or less warmth. The AT might be better at imagining and soundstage though, the R70x was/is quite excellent in this regard.

Some good bass and warmth rather than not, I'm used to Sony's V-shaped tuning, but not too much either, balanced is fine too but maybe not dark...
Been looking at cans for years with prospects of eventually buying something good, like a new gen Beyer, Meze and always liked AT's design as well...

 

[Onasi]

@djisas
You can choose between Meze and AT then. Open-back Beyers are a lot of things, but “good bass and warmth” is absolutely not one of them.

 

[djisas]

@djisas
You can choose between Meze and AT then. Open-back Beyers are a lot of things, but “good bass and warmth” is absolutely not one of them.

Actually, any of the closed pro-X look good from Beyer, the 700 pro X looked really good for the price...
Ty for the tips btw...
Maybe this year will score something good during prime day ...
Currently own a Sony MDR-1A, bought used like new for 1/3 msrp, while it's perfectly good and capable, new pads and all, it has some years on it...

 

[Onasi]

Actually, any of the closed pro-X look good from Beyer, the 700 pro X looked really good for the price...

If you are willing to consider closed back there is zero reason to even look at Beyers. Or much of anything, really. The Fiio FT1 clears everything else in the closed back headphones market up to 800+ dollar range. No, seriously. The state of closed back cans is THAT dire. You have an option that is “good” at the 150-200 dollar mark and then it’s a wasteland up until you arrive at the Dan Clark offerings at a thousand bucks.

 

[djisas]

If you are willing to consider closed back there is zero reason to even look at Beyers. Or much of anything, really. The Fiio FT1 clears everything else in the closed back headphones market up to 800+ dollar range. No, seriously. The state of closed back cans is THAT dire. You have an option that is “good” at the 150-200 dollar mark and then it’s a wasteland up until you arrive at the Dan Clark offerings at a thousand bucks.

I'm an audiophile, on a budget, and I would consider the AT and 105 to be top of what I might be whiling to expend and my setup is pretty weak, after killing my creative sound card I rely on a Fiio KA3 for headphones...
A dac is also planed for somewhere down the road, but also need a new set of surround speakers for pc...
Can't have everything at once...

 

[VSG]

@VSG reviews for either of these on the horizon?

Audio Technica in the UK has never once replied to me, or even their own colleagues from the US lol. So I don't think I'll have any reviews of their products coming.