Audio-Technica ATHANC7 Noise-cancelling Headphones
by AUDIO TECHNICA
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List Price: Our Price: $164.99 You Save: $54.96 (25%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: CE See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Audio-Technica ATHANC7 Noise-cancelling Headphones
Customer Review: Great value for the price
Summary: 4 Stars
I purchased these in 2008, and its been nearly 1.5 years and have been so impressed with this that I decided to share my experience.
I owned an original Bose QC headset and I wanted an upgrade to a newer set. The old Bose QC set consisted of a huge noise cancelling unit which made it troublesome to carry onboard.
When looking at replacements, I looked at
1) Case Size
2) Noise Cancelling
3) Sound quality
4) Ability to continue sound after the battery died.
I went to the Bose store, and tried out their Bose QC2 and QC3. They were excellent as usual, but at $299 and $350 it was on the upper echelon of the price range of such sets. Apple had the ATHANC7 as demo units, and I tried them on. While they were nowhere as comfortable as the Bose units, they were priced significantly lower.
Positives of the Audio-Technica ATHANC7
1) The Audio-Technica headphones had a very balanced tone throughout the frequency range, with no real letdowns.
2) Noise Cancelling is excellent. The system drowns out not only ambient noise, but also the hum/drone that is associated with planes/air conditioners/computer fans etc.
3) They did not have the pressure that most Bose headphones seem to have when you turn on noise cancelling
4) They are generally comfortable. The longest I have worn them is 9 straight hours on a transatlantic flight.
5) They work even with the noise cancelling turned off(replicating what would happen when the battery dies)
Negatives
1) Bass is limited. Bose QC2 headphones definitely have a better representation of bass - regardless of whether it is accurate.
2) Sound without turning on noise cancelling is very weak. Although you can hear the sound, the sound is dramatically improved when the system is actually powered on. I have rarely used this with the ATHANC7.
3) Bose QC2s are more comfortable. The leather is softer.
4) The headphone size is barely big enough for my ears.
Overall, for the price, and for the purpose of noise cancelling, this is a great buy. I would caution those with big heads/large ears to try these out for fit before purchasing them. If this unit was a little more comfortable, it would have obtained 5 stars.
Customer Review: Great for a noisy work environment
Summary: 5 Stars
I've been using these headphones listening to iPod from my iPhone for a couple of months and the headphones have been great. I got these headphones for my office - a room of cubicles where normal conversations are easily heard many cubicles away. I purchased these as the Bose were too pricey for my budget.
The very first time these headphones were out of the packaging and I started using them, I heard a clicking noise on the left ear and thought I was going to have to send the headphones back, however, after fiddling with them a bit more, the clicking went away. First impressions - the noise canceling feature is amazing! I slipped these on and turned on the noise canceling function without music and I was amazed at how quiet my office got. I didn't realize how much ambient noise, particularly from the hvac, was in the office.
I can still hear conversations when the volume is turned lower than 1/4 way, but the conversations have to be a louder than normal. With the volume turned past 1/4 way, most conversations can't be heard, and with the volume slightly under 1/2 way, all conversations are gone. At this level, the music is at a very comfortable level and without the extraneous noise, I'm in my world able to concentrate on work deadlines. When my co-workers see me with these headphones on, they have become accustomed to tapping me on the shoulder to speak with me. I've have these on for hours at a time and these headphones are very comfortable.
I've not had the leakage issue others have reported with confirimation from my office mates that there are no leakage. The product is made of very high quality parts with a very nice quality feel. Be sure to pack an extra battery or 2 - these headphones won't function without battery even with the noise canceler off.
The negatives I can point to are the music sound quality and the heft of the headphone. The music sound quality is very good but I've heard better on other non-noise canceling sets. Though I've wore these hours at a time, it does start to weigh on the ears over time.
Overall the fact that I've been able to meet several deadlines due in no small part to the added concentration in a noisy work environment has made this purchase worth every penny.
Customer Review: Noise Cancelling Headphones Rock! Quietly of course
Summary: 5 Stars
I have been very pleased with the Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7 headphones. In the time that I've had them, I've tried them out at work, on a plane, as a passenger in the car, and at home. The noise canceling functionality works fairly well. By noise canceling, this does not imply that all outside noise will be blocked out but rather that ambient noise like a heating/cooling system, airplane engine, road noise, noisy neighbors, and co-workers background conversations will be substantially reduced. You can still hear if someone speaks to you but wouldn't really want to conduct a conversation with them on.
Turning on the noise canceling functionality makes a huge difference when listening to music. It gives you the feel that you're actually in the recording studio with the musicians. Be careful to turn the volume down on your computer/stereo/mp3 player prior to turning on the noise canceling capabilities. With my old headphones (non-noise canceling) I normally listened to music on my computer at a Windows volume setting around 18 to 20. With the noise canceling turned on, I set the volume to 3 to 5 with the same perceived volume.
The sound quality of the headphones is also quiet good and you feel as though you're hearing exactly what the sound engineer and music producer intended. I was surprised at how some songs came into better "focus" when using these headphones. With the noise canceling turned on, it helps the little things come through much more clearly and you'll hear things you didn't know were present before. Using these headphones is much like going to the optometrist for an adjustment to your glasses/contacts. Once you have the new prescription, things seem clearer, sharper, and in focus.
When using the headphones over a long period of time, I did notice that my ears got a bit warm but not to the point of being overly uncomfortable. Exercising with these probably will not occur based on not wanting to bathe them in sweat. I'm also not certain how well they would remain stationary when moving around during a workout.
If you're looking for a top quality set of headphones with noise canceling capabilities and are willing to pay a decent amount of money but not excessive, these headphones are a good option.
Customer Review: Yes, I've tried the Bose. I'll take these.
Summary: 5 Stars
I finally got tired of dealing with my last set of headphones, Philips HN 110 Folding Noise Canceling Headphones, because the earpads kept falling off. I was ready to check out high-end noise-cancelling gear, and I knew exactly what I was looking for: good noise cancellation, comfort, durability, easy to travel with, and good sound quality.
I saw a consumer roundup in Wired Magazine that rated these over the Bose, so I checked out both. I listened to the Bose, both the QuietComfort 2 and the QuietComfort 3. Both sounded great, with a slight edge to the QuietComfort 3. But these Audio-Technicas sound pretty much as good as the QuietComfort 3 and better than the QuietComfort 2. The sound in the Audio-Technica is a wee bit brighter than the Bose, so if I just had to pick the better sound quality, the QuietComfort 3 would win. But the difference is close to indistinguishable.
And then we come to the strengths of the Audio-Technicas. Price obviously takes first place - these babies are only a bit over one-third the price of the Bose. Given the ease of losing or breaking the headphones during travel, that's no small consideration. I could buy a spare pair of the Audio-Technicas, and still be ahead!
But I also judge the Audio-Technicas as more durable, and slightly more comfortable. The comfort is important on those four hour plane flights. To be fair, I've never tried the Bose headphones on such a long flight, but I don't see how they could be any better in the comfort department.
The Audio-Technicas keep up with the Bose by having a very nice case, and the usual accoutrements. I like being able to unplug the cord completely from the headphones, for situations where I only want noise cancellation without music. The cord has its own nice little pocket in the case, so no more wrapping the cord around the headphones they way I had to with my old ones.
I would be happy to have the Bose if someone gave them to me, and maybe they would satisfy me more in the long run, but I'm not willing to pay almost three times the price to find out. I'll take these instead.
Customer Review: The best headphones I've ever had
Summary: 4 Stars
I'm not an audiophile so I was very happy with my pair of Sennheiser PXC 250. Until their NoiseGard broke. Sennheiser were great to fix them free of charge, but I was spoiled now and couldn't just listen to my music through generic headphones while I waited for my good ones to get fixed. I decided to get a second pair, but try something different. I fly to Europe twice a year so I really wanted something that would sound great and counter the drone of the engines.
ATH-ANC7 QuietPoint are the best headphones I've tried, hands down. They are, no doubt, superior to the PXC 250. The bass is wonderful (many people complain about it, but I find it great), lows and highs are clear. It's a joy to have them on -- sturdy, comfortable, though they will mess your hair :-) and are in the way if you lean against the airplane window.
Only reason I can't give them five stars is the sound leakage. If you use the headphones in a noisy environment, in the plane they are outstanding. But use them in the library and everyone will hear you. Sometimes the leakage is so loud it's just bad manners to keep the headphones on.
A final point, which I didn't see anyone else mention. These headphones will not work with rechargeable batteries.
UPDATE: I've been using the headphones for over a month now and they are very, very comfortable. I love them, and sound leakage isn't all that bad. But as of yesterday the cable is no longer working properly -- meaning I can only hear sound in the left can. The cable is detachable from headphones so I can buy a new one. Well, it's one of those slim jacks (like the one on the Iphone) and a standart 3.5mm male-male cable won't fit in. And a standard cable is all that BestBuy, Circuit City or Walmart offer in the town where I live. So I bought this cable here advertised to fit an Iphone -- Belkin F8Z181-06-GLD Mini-Stereo Cable for iPhone Turns out the cable still won't fit the headphone jack. I'm at a loss as to what cable to buy so I picked up an old starndart 3.5mm and thinned it with a knife. It works but I can't say I'm too happy...