Review: Audio-Technica R70xa

The very first product I reviewed for AudioTechnology was the original Audio-Technica R70x headphones way back in 2015. It was a perfect induction into review-writing because I had no trouble finding many nice things to say. True open-back headphones are a pleasure to listen to. The R70x was no exception, and I distinctly recall it also offered a level of comfort, both sonically and ergonomically, that made them a very friendly and an approachable, ‘easy listening’ type of reference headphone, in particular thanks to a gentle treble range.
Ten years later, Audio-Technica launches the ‘enhanced’ R70xa. This represents the pinnacle of A-T’s headphone offerings. Audio-Technica is of course a well established purveyor of pro audio headphones – the M50x is a studio mainstay for a reason, not to mention its sizeable catalogue of broadcast, gaming, wireless and noise-cancelling headphones – but when it comes to sonic accuracy, the R70xa is the cream of the crop.
SHEDDING LIGHT
Onto the R70xa’s specifications: Audio-Technica states a frequency response of 5Hz-40kHz, a sensitivity of 97dB/mW, and a 470Ω impedance, so a headphone amp is ideal if you want to hear its fullest potential.
The Audio-Technica R70xa comes in almost entirely recyclable packaging. Inside the box are a 3m cable, 6.25mm adapter, a satin drawstring pouch, and the headphones themselves. Two 45mm drivers sit within the aluminium housing, featuring a honeycomb mesh on the outside and a very thin elastic mesh layer on the inside. Because there’s so little between the drivers and the outside world these headphones definitely don’t belong in the tracking room, however, the minimal casing results in significant weight savings, bringing the R70xa in at a featherweight 210g that’s barely noticeable on your head. Minimising weight certainly seems a design priority when you look at the headband and aluminium frame. Both are extremely thin, giving the headphones a slightly delicate feeling in the hand. The suede-like material of the headband rests gently atop your head and attaches to the slitted frame with small magnetic loops. Note: they will come undone with a firm tug. Sizing up is a matter of sliding each arm up or down the frame through the small plastic square. Getting a good fit is easy, although I’d prefer it if the positions engaged more solidly.
Twist-lock connectors secure the detachable cables to each side of the headphones. These will maintain correct left and right channels regardless of which end plugs into which driver. The R70xa is luxuriously comfortable to wear even for long periods, thanks mostly to its uncommonly light weight. Being so open means the headphones also feel breathable and airy. The arched frame applies a very gentle amount of pressure to the sides of your head. To get a good seal, I adjusted the height of each driver one click at a time until the earpads sat flush right around my ears.






NEED TO KNOW
Audio-Technica R70xa
Open-Back Reference Headphones






PRICE
A$499



CONTACT
Technical Audio Group:
(02) 9519 0900 or info@tag.com.au



PROS

Excellent ergonomics: lightweight & comfortable
Accurate and listenable in equal measure
Impressive bass response and clarity



CONS

Weight-saving construction makes the frame feel a bit delicate



SUMMARY
The Audio-Technica R70xa refines the beloved R70x with a super lightweight design, comfortable fit, and a balanced, fatigue-free sound. Smooth highs and detailed lows provide clarity without harshness. Factor in the affordable price tag and the R70xa becomes a top contender for your new pair of reference headphones.










HIGHS & LOWS
Once I started listening to the R70xa, what stood out to me most about its tonal profile in the high end. Basically, trebles are less present than I’d expect in a pair of reference open-back cans. However, and somewhat oddly to my ears, the R70xa pulls this off without a perceivable sacrifice in high end clarity or transient response. It’s hard to pick the right word to describe it – ‘smooth’, ‘understated’, ‘subdued’, ‘inoffensive’, and ‘mild’ are all in the ballpark. I could concentrate carefully on top-end-heavy components in a mix, like hi-hats, brass sections, tambourines, clean funk guitar, and still deduce the same amount of sonic information as with a pair of much brighter open backs. The difference is the lack of fatigue. The relaxed top end makes the R70xa very easy to listen to.
What is not understated or subdued is the low end. Don’t get me wrong, the R70xa isn’t the next Beats by Dre, and I wouldn’t say they’re ‘bass-heavy’ but for accurately monitoring what’s going on below 200Hz, these headphones earn their reference label. Low frequencies are present, detailed, clean and rich. Listening to tunes with skilled bass players is immensely enjoyable; the R70xa reveals the guttural textures of the instrument with a punch and clarity that feels almost visceral. Well-mixed kick drums present with a solid thump and minimal flab.
The Audio-Technica R70xa has a reasonably wide and immersive sound stage. If my AKG K702 open-backs are a 10/10 for stereo width and my Sennheiser HD25 closed-backs are a 1/10, I’d place the R70xa at a 7.5/10. Centre channel content sits in a realistic place level-wise. Densely mixed songs are effortlessly prised apart and small details have enough space to reveal themselves. Minimalist acoustic tracks with a simple vocal and guitar are just as satisfying to bask in as a thick and complex arrangement. The R70xa nonchalantly lays out all manner of musical material with a matter-of-fact honesty.








CASE OPEN
The idea of a reference headphone is to present material with as little colouration as possible. The Audio-Technica R70xa fulfils this criteria in that it doesn’t obviously flatter or alter source material. For that reason I have no qualms about mixing on these headphones or using them for a critical listening application. But the R70xa’s idiosyncrasy is its mellow presentation of high frequency content. Any other reference open-back headphone I compare it to instantly feels bright. So you might say the R70xa has ‘a sound’. But here’s the thing – in my time with these headphones, the net result of that ‘sound’ is not that it colours music to the point of inaccurate translation, but instead it makes audio content more listenable and less tiring. I’d call that a win.
As a closing note, let’s not forget the eminently affordable price tag. One could easily pay double for a pair of reference headphones and not gain huge strides in specifications or sonic accuracy over the R70xa. Mix engineers, producers, editors, studio operators: if you’re in the market for honest workhorse open-backs, there’s no reason why the Audio-Technica R70xa shouldn’t be high on your list.











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