Audio-Technica Comparison: R70xa vs. R70x

Audio-Technica’s R-series is a lovely array of reference headphones that audiophiles and regular audio producers use for their work on the daily. In 2025, we’ve received a new headphone for this line: the ATH-R70xa. Building from the original R70x, this new open-back reference headphone boasts a colorful and dynamic sound signature that is sure to take your tracks to the next level. How does it stand against its predecessor? Today, we look at all the details between the two to find out. 

What Comes In The Box

Aesthetics and Functionality

The ATH-R70xa boasts a feather-lightweight design, making it feel almost weightless during extended listening sessions. Its adjustable suspended headband ensures a secure and customized fit, accommodating a variety of head shapes and sizes. This new version upgrades the headband design from the previous model, opting for a full headband rather than the two auto-adjusting supports found in the ATH-R70x. While this enhances stability, the magnetic clasps on the headband can feel a bit flimsy, requiring careful handling to avoid accidental detachment. The overall build is sleek and minimalistic, embodying a professional and understated aesthetic.

In comparison, the ATH-R70x features a similarly lightweight construction but employs a unique suspended headband system. Instead of a traditional headband resting directly on top of the head, the design utilizes two side-mounted pads that automatically adjust to the wearer’s head size. This approach reduces pressure on the crown of the head, improving comfort during long listening sessions. The top headband, while functional for stability, also allows users to rest the headphones around their neck when not in use. Combined with a snug but not overly tight clamping force, the ATH-R70x provides excellent comfort and stability. The build quality matches its purpose as a professional tool, blending practicality with a distinctive, innovative design. Both models prioritize lightweight comfort and ergonomic functionality, catering to users who require durability and ease of wear for extended use.

Both the ATH-R70xa and ATH-R70x excel as reference-grade headphones, catering to professionals who demand accuracy and natural sound reproduction. The R70xa leans into wider spatial presentation and sharper detail, while the R70x offers balanced immersion with slightly more color and texture in its layers, making your choice dependent on personal preferences and use cases.

Tech Specs

Looking at the technical side of things, there’s not much that seems to differentiate the two headphones. You’ll see that the new R70xa has a lighter weight and a higher sensitivity, but keeps the same 45mm driver and frequency response. The impedance stays the same on both, but the R70xa has the slight edge to make it easier to drive. 

Listening Review

Soundstage

The ATH-R70xa offers an expansive soundstage with remarkable width and height, making frequencies feel spacious and natural. This openness lends itself well to capturing the intricacies of complex mixes, making it feel as though the music surrounds you. However, the depth feels slightly more frontal, placing much of the detail and clarity directly in front of the listener. Its open-back design also allows ambient noise to mix with your tracks, so you’ll hear your surroundings alongside the music. This feature creates a lifelike, room-like reproduction, ideal for reference listening or precision-based audio work. On the other hand, the ATH-R70x also provides a very wide soundstage, delivering an immersive listening experience, though its imaging slightly lags behind. Layers of sound can feel more congealed rather than distinctly separated. Still, the natural, flat sound signature makes it a solid choice for mixing and recording work. The open-back design similarly allows for a natural sense of space, though this comes at the cost of sound isolation.

Low Frequencies

The ATH-R70xa delivers a mellow but powerful low end that balances presence with restraint. It avoids overwhelming the mix, allowing for a clean, detailed reproduction of bass frequencies that doesn’t overshadow other elements. Acoustic and electronic tracks both benefit from the well-controlled bass response, which creates a solid foundation for other frequencies to build upon. This balance ensures the low end remains natural and accurate, aligning perfectly with the needs of professional listeners. Similarly, the ATH-R70x offers a smooth, rich bass response. While it doesn’t punch aggressively, it maintains clarity and richness, delivering a relaxed but detailed low-end performance. This allows listeners to focus on subtle nuances within bass lines, avoiding muddiness or excessive coloration. For audio professionals, this measured approach ensures that the bass complements rather than dominates the mix. Both headphones excel at delivering low frequencies that are clear, precise, and tailored for analytical listening rather than exaggerated, casual enjoyment.

Midrange Frequencies

In the ATH-R70xa, the midrange takes center stage, offering a clean and prominent presentation. Vocals are brought to the forefront, creating an intimate listening experience, while other instruments and layers expand upward into the height of the soundstage. This balance ensures that every detail in the midrange—from harmonies to subtle instrumental textures—is presented with clarity. The natural, flat tuning allows for accurate reproduction of mixes, making this headphone ideal for vocal-heavy tracks or projects requiring midrange precision. By comparison, the ATH-R70x also shines in the midrange, where its slightly V-shaped sound signature emphasizes vocals and key instruments. The natural reproduction in this range feels incredibly lifelike, capturing the space and texture of recordings with impressive detail. Whether it’s vocal harmonies or layered instrumentation, the R70x ensures that the midrange is textured, detailed, and well-separated, even if the soundstage feels slightly less expansive than the R70xa. Both models prioritize clarity and neutrality in the midrange, making them exceptional tools for critical listening and professional applications.

High Frequencies

The ATH-R70xa delivers a high-frequency response that is light, airy, and exceptionally well-dispersed. The open-back design allows treble frequencies to dissipate naturally, avoiding artificial cutoffs or harshness. This results in a crisp and analytical treble range that never becomes shrill or piercing. The clarity is particularly noticeable in orchestral or ambient recordings, where room reverberations and subtle high-end details are reproduced with accuracy. This airy quality adds an extra layer of realism to the listening experience, making it ideal for post-production and mixing. In contrast, the ATH-R70x offers a high end that is bright, colorful, and similarly spacious. It excels in reproducing the natural decay of reverbs, delays, and other post-production effects, creating a vivid sense of space. While the treble remains sharp and precise, it avoids becoming overly harsh or fatiguing, striking a balance between detail and comfort. Both headphones excel in the high-frequency range, with the R70xa leaning slightly more analytical and the R70x emphasizing a touch more musicality.

Summary

In conclusion, Audio-Technica’s R-series continues to deliver exceptional reference headphones that cater to both audiophiles and professionals. The ATH-R70xa builds on the solid foundation of the R70x, offering subtle yet meaningful upgrades in design, soundstage, and detail retrieval. While both headphones excel in providing natural, accurate sound reproduction, the R70xa leans toward a more analytical presentation, making it ideal for those who prioritize precision and spatial clarity. On the other hand, the R70x remains a fantastic option for those seeking a balanced and immersive listening experience with a touch of musicality. With their shared price point and unique strengths, choosing between the two ultimately comes down to personal preference and specific use cases. Regardless of your choice, either model promises an outstanding listening experience that upholds Audio-Technica’s reputation for quality and innovation.

Both Audio-Technica headphones -- the R70xa and the R70x -- are available at Audio46.