"Audio Technica ATH-ANC7B" | 2009-11-19 |
| - Reviewed By bethesda19 |
| Overall I rate these headphones OK - 3 out of 5 stars. My comparison is only with the Bose QuietComforts 2,3, and 15. I purchased the Audio Technicas for air travel. Recently, I was on a couple flights and took these headphones. To test sound-leakage, I asked passengers next to advise me when sound was detected as I raised the volume. For me, the level had to get ear-bothering loud before they said something. I was disappointed that the noise canceling didn't "remove" more of the jet engine sound. To validate, I walked up and down the aisle to test distances from the wing mounted engines. Also, as other reviewers have mentioned, to get the best sound quality (headphones were plugged into my laptop to watch movies), noise canceling should be turned-on. The fit, finish, feel of the headphones are all good. In the end, I returned these headphones and the plan is to pay the premium for the Bose QuietComfort 15. |
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"not really cancel anything" | 2009-11-14 |
| - Reviewed By User: AFZRI065FF746 |
| You would imagine this one should be better than the original one, but in fact, the noise cancellation is so poor my wife instantly decide to return it. Bose QC 15 is more expensive, but it does a much better job canceling the noise. |
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"Good sound not much noise cancellation" | 2009-11-12 |
| - Reviewed By alanjk2 |
Pros: These headphones were very comfortable to wear. They did reduce ambient noise some. The sound quality with the sound cancellation on was very good and clear.
Cons: They did not reduce ambient noise nearly as much as expected.
The sound was not very good without the noise cancellation on.
There was a great deal of sound leakage which I think would be very annoying to a fellow passenger on an airplane which was my primary purpose for getting these. |
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"Awesome Headsets!!!" | 2009-10-16 |
| - Reviewed By User: AXWUXK2QNQHJ3 |
| The headsets came fast, and once I put them on, it was amazing. Great sound and noise cancelling feature is excellent. |
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"All the Finesse of a Sledge Hammer" | 2009-10-11 |
| - Reviewed By peeryg |
When listening to music, most people seem to like their bass performance to be down `n' dirty, hard-drivin' and pulsating. That's cool, and if that's how you like your music you'll probably love the Audio Technica ATH-ANC7B headphones.
But if your music tastes are a bit out of the ordinary: If you dig Brahms's Requiem, or Ella singing Cole Porter, or a 30's recording of Leadbelly's chain-gang chants, or Renee Fleming as Violetta in Verdi's La traviata, or a "Bird" Parker/Dizzy Gillespie riff on practically anything -- then you might want to look elsewhere.
The Product Description promises to "deliver clear, high-resolution sound, with impactful bass, a detailed midrange, extended treble and accurate imaging in an immersive soundfield." I agree with the "impactful bass" and "immersive soundfield" parts. But the midrange gets trampled, and the treble is strangled in its crib.
I found listening to my music on these Audio Technicas like hearing stuff piped through a big, long tube. But I give the item 3 stars because many people may like this effect.
ERRATA: Another reviewer got it right: "THEY DON'T WORK WITH THE NOISING CANCELING OFF." He/she is correct. Turn on the canceling and the phones work just fine. But this shouldn't be necessary. It's a flaw.
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"Wonderful for the price, not quite as good as the Bose QC side-by-side, but close" | 2009-10-02 |
| - Reviewed By baliana |
When I was initially trying to decide between the Bose QC2 and this, it was a bit hard to find someone who had done a side-by-side comparison. So here it is, hopefully future buyers can benefit from this review.
So, I ended up buying both the Bose QC2 for myself, and the Audio Technica ATH-ANC7B for the wife (sorry wifey). I am a bit of an Audiophile, so the first thing I did after getting both was to do a side-by-side test.
In one sentence, I like Bose better for sound and comfort, and ATH better for the price and noise cancellation.
Pros of the Bose QC2:
- Sound is fuller and warmer
I was listening to Josh Groban, and you can truly hear his Alto voice clearly, full, and warm. ATH, on the other hand, sounds a bit tighter, with the midrange a bit distant, and hence not as warm and full.
- More natural
ATH's bass is quite strong, and treble is also quite clear. But overall Bose sounds more natural, covering more range of the bass and midrange, with slightly less strong on the treble. For the Audiophile out there, a good way to think of the difference is to compare the sound when you have an equalizer set to Rock/Disco vs. when you leave the equalizer off.
Also note, however, that my wife could not tell the difference in sound quality between the two, even on a side-by-side test. She is not an Audiophile like me. So, consider the sound difference to be fairly small.
- More comfortable to the ears
QC2's padding is softer. The tension is also less on the ear (lighter spring). The size may also makes a difference. In short, overall the ears feel more comfortable. I can wear the QC2 for hours without noticing.
Pros of the ATH-ANC7B:
- Better price (of course)
- Better noise cancellation, slightly. I didn't try this at a super noisy environment, but I did have the dishwasher running nearby. Without music, ATH sounds quieter overall. Once music is on, hard to tell the difference.
The other thing I didn't like as much of the ATH is the sound leakage. I can hear the music when my wife is wearing it - could be annoying to a fellow passenger.
I am also getting the Bose QC15. Will write more when I have it in a few days.
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