Usually when people recommend I try a wireless headphone, I politely accept and then mock them behind their backs.  But today I came across a bluetooth headphone from a company so well-respected that I had to break from my normal shenanigans and actually give them a go.  I’m talking, of course, about the Audio Technica S700BT headphones.

Audio Technica ATH-S700BT Review

Unboxing the S700BT headphones is a lot like falling down a rabbit hole filled with nesting dolls. Maybe that’s a bit exaggerated, but do you really need five or six layers of cardboard to cover a pair of bluetooth headphones? Inside all the cardboard, you’ll find the headphones, a charging cable, an audio cable, a carrying pouch, and an instruction booklet.

The build quality feels cheap. About as cheap as a pair of $100 bluetooth headphones. However, there’s no removable battery, and they are so light I had to actually verify that fact. The earcups are a decent size.  If you’re like me, and resemble a taxi-cab coming down the street with the doors open (big ears, folks), they may be just a little uncomfortable for long sessions. But I could definitely handle them for a commute. The leatherette padding on the ear cups does a lot for isolation, but I can still hear some noise around me.

The buttons on the left earpiece are buttons on the left earpiece. Without elaborating, they pretty much do what they’re supposed to.

Charging and pairing was a little tricky at first (you HAVE to use the supplied cable, and then when it’s charged just hold the power button down for 5-7 seconds, and VOILA, bluetooth Audio Technica headphones.

The S700BT has a frequency range of 20-24000 hertz and a transmission band of 20-20000 hertz. There’s also a nominal impedance of 34 ohms. To my own ears, these consumer wireless headphones lack the detail you’ll find in Audio Technica’s more professional, studio models. I know, I know…who knew, right?

That aside, there’s some decent sound lurking inside these headphones, with maybe just a little extra bass in there to make things interesting.  It sounds better than the similarly-priced Tracks AIR from Sol Republic, and much lighter and more comfortable than the Sennheiser Urbanite XL (though it lacks the Urbanite’s posh feel). The mids are decent, and they are there, but I think they tend to get drowned out a little by the bass. That being said, it’s great for most kind of music, but if you’re looking for extreme detail, skip this one and go with a wired studio model.

Otherwise, if you’re into rock, hip-hop, electronica, or anything else that relies on a good beat, try these headphones.

Are there any downsides? Some crackpots on Amazon are raging because cheap plasticky headphones bought from Japan break after a while. To which I say, just buy these headphones from an authorized dealer. That way IF they do break, bam! you’re covered. Better to pay that extra few bucks and have the warranty than have to buy a whole new pair of headphones.

But Amazon rages and cardboard overloads aside, is there any reason you shouldn’t consider these headphones? No. So stop reading blog posts about headphones and go pick up a pair, you shameless nerd or grab them online here!