Game Audio Headphone Review - Audio Technica M70x

Game Audio Headphones Audio Technica M70X

The new flagship from Audio Technica is built off the success of it's predecessor, the M50x. The M70x reaches down to 5 Hz as opposed to the 15 Hz of the M50x.

These headphones impress before even hearing them. The heavily padded carrying case contains the headphones as well as a smaller padded case with 3 removable cables: a short straight cable, a long straight cable, and a coiled cable with 1/4 inch adapter. The earcups on the M70X swivel, so the headphones lay flat in the case. This makes them great for traveling around since the case is slim, yet protective. I was surprised that they fit right on my giant watermelon head without any adjustment whatsoever. Comfort is an important factor with studio headphones, especially when you plan on long mixing sessions. The tension of the earcups is the just right for me but every head is shaped differently. You simply have to try several pairs until you find a good fit.

M70X Case

First Impressions

Audio Technica always seems to nail the mid-to-high frequency spectrum in their headphones as well as microphones. Although the M70x handles frequencies down to 5 Hz, they are conservative on the low end. These are incredibly revealing in the upper-mid to high register. The bass didn't wallop me like other headphones, but at this quality bar such differences are subtle. The m70x can perfectly handle audio content with sub frequencies, they just don't seem as liberal as most. It's important to have a collection of reference CD's for testing. Mine tends to span from Fleetwood Mac to Outkast to Tool. I just know these tracks so well that it's easy to hear the coloration of the headphones. I was shocked to hear new elements, from breathy hum by Stevie Nicks to phantom drum elements. I had never heard these things before! This is what I live for - peeling back the layers and hearing the true source. The spatial representation on the M70X is flawless with each instrument hovering in its own space.

Speaking of peeling back layers, the M70x will soon supported by Sonarworks, a free plugin that calibrates headphones in real time. This results in a near-flat response. With an impedance of 35 ohms, the M70X's can be used with your audio interface for daily use with devices like smartphones and tablets. This spec alone makes them incredibly flexible for referencing game audio content in the real world.

Focal Spirit Pro Specs

Conclusion

These are incredibly revealing headphones with a brilliance on the top end that must be experienced first-hand. At high volumes, these sounded slightly harsh to me, but this is referred to a a "japanese voicing" common amongst the audiophile gear in Japan. We all hear differently but it's good to know you can flatten the coloration with Sonarworks. You can tell how much attention went into the build quality and portability. This flagship model is not only lightweight but also feels super durable.

 

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