Audio Technica ATH-ANC700BT Review

Fresh off the Hype Train, the Audio Technica ATH-ANC700BT has been steadily gaining momentum here at Audio46. But for all its popularity, does the sound justify the price?

The ANC700BT comes with a 4 ft (1.2 m) aux cable, a USB charging cable, and a carrying pouch.  And that’s it – no extra, useless junk like decals or whatever.  Just these headphones and some basic stuff you’ll need to use them and keep them looking good.

“Looking good” is a key point I’d like to drill home when it comes to the ANC700BT – these are noise cancelling and Bluetooth headphones that don’t look like (a) something from the matrix, or (b) a laser light show on your head.  Two little lights (one for Bluetooth, one for the ANC), an on-off switch, and an audio jack for the aux cable are the only visible features here.

However, you can easily adjust volume and playback by swiping or tapping the left earcup during your listening session. And, unlike some other headphones with similar technology, I found these Audio Technica to be much more accurate in reading my movements.

Battery life reaches all the way to a whopping 25 hours for continuous playback and 1000 hours on standby. Add to this wicked battery a suave folding design and you’ve got yourself a very portable headphone.

Specs

Frequency Range: 5-40,000 Hz
Impedance:  35 ohms
Sound Pressure Level (SPL):  95 dB

As we can see from the specs, the ANC700BT tauts a large frequency range of 5-40,000 hertz.  The impedance is a low 35 ohms when noise-cancellation is turned off – making these headphones perfect for wired use with a portable device, should you manage to drain that impressive battery.  Lastly, the Sound Pressure Level amounts to a respectable 95 decibels – this isn’t going to blow out your eardrums, but you should still be able to find an adequate amount of volume in these cans.

Low End

In the low end, this Audio Technica sports a modicum of detail and some decent bass.  While neither aspect jumps out at me as truly fantastic, both remain fairly decent for the price.  The only thing that really prevented me from loving this low end was a lack of some detail (or just a little compression) in the upper lows.  Any other reviewer would probably let this slide, but it’s my one real misgiving.

Mids

The mids are acceptable here, but not something worth writing home about.  There’s adequate detail and that detail stays relatively clean, but I still wish there was just the tiniest bit more detail.

High End

Here the ANC700BT takes off and really hits its stride.  Slightly bright, the high end remains relatively lively and detailed – enough to make me want to ditch the rock and classical tracks and stick to classical music.  Vocals sound pretty amazing, too, and I can easily see myself recommending this headphone to anyone who wants more emphasis on the high end.

Soundstage

It’s not really a surprise here that soundstage isn’t great.  We are dealing with an active noise cancelling Bluetooth headphone, afterall.  While there is a sense of depth at play here, the general lack of placement leads to a clustered, claustrophobic sound.  The depth is likely enough for most casual listeners, even being impressive enough to make forget about that missing soundstage for a minute or two.

Other Observations

Connectivity and cancellation on the ANC700BT are actually quite good – and a damn sight better than that of the competition.

I miss that detail in the low-end and the mids.  Too many tracks sound hollow and carved out.

Recommendations

The Audio Technica ATH-ANC700BT is noise cancellation and bluetooth connectivity done right.  For those seeking a wireless headphone that also provides noise cancellation at $200, these cans are a fantastic value for the price.  However, those seeking better sound quality – and who have a little more dough to spend on headphones – would do well to consider the higher-end Sony WH-1000XM2.

Final Analysis

With great design, ease of use, a hell of a battery, and great Active Noise Cancellation, the ATH-ANC700BT offers a ton of value for a low price of just $199.  And while this headphone may not offer a ton of details in the lows, it more than makes up for that shortcoming in the high end. Curious to hear for yourself?

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