Audio-Technica ATHANC7 Noise-cancelling Headphones
by AUDIO TECHNICA
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List Price: Our Price: $159.99 You Save: $59.96 (27%) 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: Fantastic headphones, but mind the smell!
Summary: 4 Stars
Well, what can I say about the Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7 headphones that hasn't been noted by hundreds of other reviewers? Simply put, these headphones are absolutely amazing. (In fact, I'm wearing right now!) I purchased these headphones about a month ago for my trip to Japan after reading numerous reviews praising the noise-canceling cans. I, like many of you potential buyers, was weighing the pros and cons of these headphones and the Bose Quietcomfort 2. Over the short period of time that I have owned these, I can still say that I am so happy that I went with the Audio-Technicas. Here is a brief overview of my experience with them:
While first impressions are always the most important ones, my "introduction" to my Audio-Technicas was a rather pungent affair. When I opened the packaging, I was nearly knocked over by an overwhelming burnt rubber smell that radiated from the headphones sturdy case. I guess some might call it the sweet brand-spanking new, straight from the factory, headphones smell, but at the time, I just called it just plain nauseating. Just one whiff of my new headphones practically caused me to pass out, and I was going to wear these on a plane for 14 hours? Ugh, I hoped my aisle mates either had strong stomachs or no noses. Now, most of the smell started to dissipate after a few days of airing out, but even after a month of moderate use, the headphones still exude a bit of funkiness. However, I began to overlook its odorous nature the moment I put these babies on.
Now, I am no expert on the average size range of human heads and ears, but these guys fit me like a glove! Snug, comfortable and seemingly well constructed, I was beginning to forgive the ATH-ANC7s for their tire factory smell. I popped a AAA battery in (an included Energizer) and flipped the noise-canceling switch on the left can. Silence...Well, almost. As you probably read from numerous articles on noise-canceling headphones, nothing on the market today offers 100% silence. After having to endure screaming plane babies and a snoring father, I can confirm that these headphones will not block out 100% of intermittent sounds, but it will greatly reduce them, particularly if you have an iPod or DVD going at a reasonable volume level. And this brings me to my next point, noise leakage.
Simply put, the noise leakage on these things are just terrible, particularly when the noise-canceling switch is in the "on" position. While this might not matter on a noisy plane, it is really noticeable in a moderately quiet office and unbearable in a silent library. You know those morons who listen to their iPods so loudly on the train that you get to endure their embarrassingly bad taste in music? Now imagine being that guy without intentionally trying to be that guy. Even while listening to your music on the softest level, you will still manage to get dirty looks. Well, you are pretty much guaranteed that future with these puppies. Read other reviews and you'll get the idea.
Well, despite the aforementioned flaws, I'm still happy with these guys. The price truly cannot be beat in comparison to the Quietcomforts. All in all, if you want a nice, cheaper alternative to the Bose headphones, go with these. They may not perfect, but I love them regardless.
Customer Review: Better than expected...
Summary: 5 Stars
Addressing the concerns I had over these headphones:
Noise leakage...Yes it exists with this headset. If you are looking as using these in a quiet library, they're not the ones for you. If you're in an environment with very little noise, I don't really see why you'd need noise canceling headphone but either way, you don't want these if this is going to be an issue. For those worried about it while you fly, don't. There's no way anyone around you can hear any sound leakage over the noise of the flight so it's not something you should be concerned about.
Comfort: The Bose sets ARE more comfortable. People have commented about the Bose feeling flimsy compared to these..and they are but I think that same "flimsy" feeling leads to it being slightly easier on your head and a bit more comfortable. When I first tried these on I felt they were a bit harsh on the head so what I did was wear them a few times and tried to find the right adjustment that would feel comfortable for me as well as "break them in" which I felt was needed. I was definitely worried about what it would be like on a 15 hour flight but having worn them about 13 hours straight, I can definitely say they're comfortable and I'd rather have these which feel much more substantial compared to the Bose which I feel could easily break.
Sound Quality: They're ok when the power is off but fantastic when the power is turned on. Surprisingly good sound quality. At least as good as the QC2 and QC3 and better than the others I've tried.
Noise Cancellation: It's not going to eliminate all noise but it does a REALLY good job of eliminating things like plane noise on a flight. It will take out a good deal of other noise as well. I'd say it does a slightly better job than most.
Volume Control: It doesn't have one. Personally I'm ok w/ this because I'd rather not have this attachment on the cord but I can see why some people would want this and if you want something that controls the volume or mute the sound, this isn't the one for you.
Size: Definitely not a small set of headphones but compacts nicely. Length and Width wise, the case is fairly big but it's not big height wise which makes it easy to fit into a bag, backpack or briefcase. It was actually slimmer than I was expecting so it was a nice surprise. Sennheisers are smaller so if space is a concern, you'll want to take that into consideration.
If you're very particular about sound quality, even on a plane, around the ear is probably where you want to go. Over the ear is probably a bit more comfortable and I probably would've been happy with that as well.
I'd definitely say that if you really want bose type sound quality and noise cancellation at a fraction of the cost, these do VERY well in that department. There are probably a few other headsets that might cost less money and do a decent job of noise cancellation but for a bit more, I feel you're getting a higher quality product with better sound. As I said at the beginning, if you want to use these in a library, probably not the best choice but then again, I don't see a point in having noise canceling headphones in a quiet environment...
Customer Review: Had the Bose...Love these! Buy them
Summary: 5 Stars
This is what capitalism is all about! Bose has had a great run and profit margin from being both innovative and early to market with their headphones. They introduced the concept to the market and got a hefty premium for their headphones at $300 a pop.
Now come on, who doesn't know that we are paying for the Bose name in addition to the R&D involved. I've had the over the ear for 3 years now and never fly without them. Recently, while on a flight, mine finally bit the dust. While disappointed, I was not surprised. My first reaction was to simply replace them but knowing times and competition changes I thought, hey, pause and do a little research on the current state of the market! I'm glad I did!!!
I was amused to find a posting here that EXACTLY mirrored my experience with the Bose headphones. Sure they sound great but the ARE made flimsy. The first two sets I had to return as they fell apart around the part that goes over your head. By the time the exact same thing happened the third time, I did the same as another reader, tightly wrapped them in electric tape to hold them together. Problem solved...wrong. The same thing happened to me as the other writer...I opened the case to find one of the cups broken away from the headset. AAARGH!!!\
So fast forward. I had trepidation on these Audio-Technica phones based on all the responses about bass lacking. I am a bass kinda guy. But at 40% of the price and the reasonable favorable reviews I had to give them a try. Plus I felt like Ok Bose, you got me but shame on me to buy in again to a product of inferior construction. Come on, we all know the state of plastic technology today.....no reason for cheap stuff...I digress.
Got the Technicas and have plugged in my IPOD and done an A/B comparison. I am PLEASED and HAPPY! I've hit a $186 dollar lottery! (Difference in price) It is true that they are sharper and slightly clearer than the Bose, and the noise canceling is equal or better. I then kept going back and forth looking for this much-talked-about bass difference. Didn't hear it! The Technicas are very well balanced with bass that is full, crisp and sharp without being muddy.
These are headphones...who are we trying to fool? Anyone that knows anything about bass knows that you are really talking about the movement of air resulting from reproduction of long wave frequencies. How much of that from a physics perspective do your really think can occur in a cup over you ear? Sure digital reproduction and emulation can help but again, I found the Bass in these phones to be quite sufficient and wondered if it were more...how it would throw off the balance. I put on some heavy and funky tunes that would stress any system such as Stanley Clark and Marcus Miller. They do Bass!
Now, cutting to the chase...No reason to spend the add'l $ on the Bose UNLESS you are brand conscious and want to show the label on your ears. These are great phones, done very well at a competitive price point that makes sense for an informed consumer. Thanks to all for your input and I hope this review assists others in their buying decision.
Customer Review: Great noise-reduction headphones, also comfortable
Summary: 5 Stars
I got these headphones before a long 15 hour flight to India and have used them on that trip and a trip to Germany as well as at home when I want to block out the noise from our washer and dryer. I think they are outstanding in both situations. While I have not ever listened to any of the Bose noise-reduction headphones, I did once try a pair from Sony and sent them back since I did not find them very effective.
It is important to understand that NR headphones do not block out all background noise. They are generally designed to block out low frequency noises like airplane engines. Even then, they will only block out the lower frequencies from the ambient noises. So, instead of hearing the full rumble of an engine, you will only hear a mid-range sound that is more like a quiet fan. NR headphones do not block out voices, so if a baby is crying in the seat behind you, you'll still hear it.
With the above understanding, I think you'll be quite happy with the NR performance of the Audio-technica headphones. I think you'll also like the way your music sounds. My iPod certainly sounds a lot better than it did when I used to listen to it on an airplane with standard $30 headphones. I can now hear the bass very clearly whereas I used to have to press the headphones against my ears to hear the bass over the background engine noise.
I also find them quite comfortable, even on longer 8-15 hour flights. One thing that I discovered about my ears after buying them is that my right ear is a bit larger than the left. It takes a bit of wiggling to get my right ear into the cup so that the pad is not pressing against it. But once I get the headphones on right, I can leave them on for hours without any discomfort.
I wanted to comment on the claims that have been made by other reviewers that these headphones leak sound badly. I do not think that is really the case. I think people end up thinking that because they first test their music with regular headphones or speakers at a comfortable listening volume and then test the Audio-technica set at the same volume with the NR turned on. The problem with this is that turning on the NR switch actually amplifies the music in addition to reducing background noise. I have found that I need to play my iPod or home stereo at a lower volume in order to have it sound the same with these headphones if I have the NR switch turned on. If people would lower the volume so that the music sounds as loud as it did before they turned on the NR switch, I think they would find that the amount of sound leakage is quite small. If I put the headphones on my desk with the cups against the surface, I barely hear anything at all. And, it's not like I play my music at low volumes -- my wife always complains that the stereo and TV are too loud. Even if some sound does leak, I don't think anyone sitting next to you on an airplane or train would ever complain.
So, go ahead and order these from Amazon and save yourself the extra money you would have to spend to get the Bose headphones instead.
Customer Review: Good sound, great noise-cancellation, terrific value
Summary: 5 Stars
Cut to the chase: these headphones outperform the comparable Bose models at more than half the price. Solidly built, comfortable (for over the ear phones).
Likes:
Sound quality is nice/natural, not "pumped up" or equalized like Bose. Highs are sweeter sounding, not aggressive or strident (if you like that sound, use the EQ on your portable music player). Mids are natural and not overly intrusive (like Bose). Bass is good, not great. If you want thumping, bumping bass, look elsewhere, preferably at in-the-ear phones.
Noise cancellation is just so much better than Bose. Note, if you are one of the few people (like me) who have pressure sensitivity in your ears, you will "feel" the noise cancellation as pressure on your eardrums, which can be initially annoying. This is not AT's fault, it is a consequence of this type of technology and common to all such phones. It will remove most if not all of the low end rumbles (great on a bus or airplane). It does not screen out high frequency noises completely, rather it muffles them, so things like whiny kids or sirens still come through.
Battery life seems good.
Dislikes:
Noise leakage: this is not the headphone to buy if you plan on listening to tunes at night next to your sleeping spouse. The comfy ear pads also serve to less effectively block the sound from leaking out. So passengners, grumpy spouses, and co-workers will hear the tunes if the listening environment is quiet. This will be less an issue on planes and buses, where the background noise is so high, but is a consideration for quiet environs such as library, class, or in your house. I bought these purely for travel and have a separate office, no not a concern.
Sound quality when the noise cancellation is off. Many reviewers like the fact that this headphone works without having the noise cancellation having to be turned on. Yes, but the sound quality suffers dramatically. This phone is meant to be listened to always with noise cancellation turned on, otherwise, sound is muffled and lacking in dynamics, worse in some respects than the cheapie stuff that came with your ipod. But for airplanes, listening to movies, it would suffice if your batteries wore out and you had no options. Just always keep a spare.
Intermittent noise: the noise cancellation function, which uses an external microphone, can introduce a bit of buzz or line noise every so often. I am sure this is not a defect, since other phones do the same thing. It is not so intrusive and frankly rarely is noticeable, just a fact you should know.
I recommend these highly. If you want the best possible sound and good noise isolation, buy high quality in the ear headphones. If you don't like those types, and therefore are considering this type of headphone and the competition (Sony, Bose, Panasonic), these are your best choice. Just try to listen to a few different models and types, because with headphones, there is no "perfect choice", just features, benefits, and drawbacks. The AT ANC-7 has the best mix for me.