Audio-Technica ATH-A700 Headphones Review - Tour & Design

If you couldn't tell from these pics, the band is very strange. It's comprised of two rigid plastic rods and two pads. The pads are the only part that rests atop your head. They're attached to the cups with springs. You simply put on the headphones and they conform to your head as best they can.

This is the head band, which isn't so much a band as it is an elaborate head
clutching device.

The cord extends down from the left ear cup, runs through quite a few feet of sweater-wearing cable (the cloth weave will protect the cord from dangers), and ends in a standard 1/8-inch plug.

The is the front view of HATS, showing the head clutching rig in action.	In this view, note the relative size of the ear cups. They're gigantic.

In the Box
The only things you'll find in the ATH-A700s' box are the headphones themselves and a 1/4-inch adapter.

Durability (9.00)
There really aren't any glaring durability issues with the ATH-A700s. The cord is very durable. The cord guards are substantial and their cloth weave will both help stave off the various ills that typically befall cables. The headphones themselves have some moving parts, which is a bit of a durability issue. The band is very, very flexible, however, which will help avoid breakage. We were impressed with the ATH-A700s design.


Aesthetics (5.00)
We think this particular design aesthetic is a bit silly. If you're into audio and can pull it off, then consider yourself one of the lucky people. Really, the ATH-A700s don't look bad on their own, but they're just so big. These headphones will make anyone's head look four sizes too small.

This being said, the overall look is good. These headphones don't have any fluorishes, but they look sleek in their simplicity. If it weren't for their size and the band creating a mini orbit around our scalp, we would've given them more points. Feel free to award bonus points if you're young, alternative, and really want everyone to know you're serious about your audio.