Review of Audio Technica ATH-R70xa: a new take on neutrality

Intro:

The mid-fi open-back headphone market has long been dominated by Sennheiser—and if you go further back, AKG had its share of influence too (sorry, Beyer fans). But in recent years, competition has intensified with the rise of more well-tuned alternatives, including affordable models by Focal and Hifiman, more recently, Aune. This year, Audio Technica, a heavyweight in the industry, has introduced the R70xa, the successor to the well-regarded R70x.

Right out of the box, the R70xa gives off a rather spartan feel. This is where I feel a bit let down especially in terms of build quality. While the chassis itself is fine, the headband feels like a downgrade. The design is somewhat awkward with limited ear cup articulation (only about 20-30 degrees horizontally), which sometimes prevents a snug fit around my jaw and can cause slight leakage. There’s a hard stop at the top of the ear cup, restricting its movement – a design choice that, in my opinion, wasn’t necessary. It reminds me of the Moondrop Void in this aspect, though thankfully not as extreme.

On the technical side, Audio Technica highlights its “pure open-back design”. But how do these translate into actual sound? Let’s find out.

For those who want to jump right into detailed measurements, check out the final section of this article.

Disclaimer: this unit was purchased and is owned by unheardlab.

Specs & Comfort

Price: US$ 349/ AU$ 499
Driver size: 45 mm dia.
Transducer type: moving coil
Sensitivity: 97 dB/mW @1kHz
Impedance: 480 Ω @1kHz (measured)
Connector: dual 2.5 mm TRS locking
Weight: 199 grams
Clamping force: light
Comfort: 8/10 (not enough articulation/adjustments)

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Measurement & Sound

Tonal balance:

In short, the R70xa delivers a mildly U-shaped sound profile. I was expecting a neutral or warm-neutral tuning based on my experience with the R70x, but the R70xa takes a slightly different approach with its more U-shaped presentation.

The bass has good punch and extension for an open-back, setting it apart from classics like the Sennheiser HD6X0 series. There’s a bass lift below 200Hz, similar to the HD650, but the extension is noticeably better here, lending a livelier and more dynamic character. Kick drum thumps and snare hits carry extra weight and impact. Fortunately, the bass boost is clean, with a cut-off around 200Hz, preventing any midrange bleed that could cause muddiness.

The midrange reproduction is quite linear and realistic, with a forward and articulate presentation suited for studio work. In some ways, it reminds me of the DT770 Pro in terms of midrange linearity, but without the latter’s notorious treble peaks.

The presentation here differs from the HD6X0 series. There’s more grain and attack in the midrange and upper frequencies, making it potentially fatiguing if you’re accustomed to the HD650’s relaxed tuning. In this sense, the R70xa is more reminiscent of the HD580/600, with its more linear mids-to-highs transition. This also distinguishes it from the more rounded presentation of the original R70x.

The treble is generally clear and smooth but has some elevation in certain regions, especially compared to the original R70x and HD650. It still falls within what I’d consider a neutral range, but there are minor peaks in the mid-to-upper treble transition. These can accentuate certain elements in modern mixes, such as percussion and sibilant tones in female vocals, making for a slightly dry presentation. Whether this is preferable depends on your use case and personal preference. In a lot of ways, the R70xa reminds me of the older AKG open-back studio headphones, like the K612 Pro which their elevated treble clarity.

The R70xa’s driver is clearly capable, but for pure musical enjoyment, I think it could benefit from some fine-tuning—whether through PEQ, acoustic damping, or pad swaps. It’s not an overly bright headphone, but a more refined treble transition would defintely improve its tonal coherence.

Other qualities:

• Soundstage
  In terms of spatial qualities, the R70xa is a solid performer. It surpasses the HD6X0 series with a more spacious and airy presentation. Imaging, similarly, is sharper and more focused than on the HD6X0 series. That said, it’s still not the widest or most transparent. Compared to the Moondrop Para, for example, it falls slightly short. However, among dynamic driver headphones in the sub-$500 category, the R70xa remains an admirable contender, much like its predecessor.

• Clarity
  The R70xa offers good clarity. Compared to the HD6X0 series, it generally has the upper hand. However, the HD600 (alongside the Aune AR5000) might still have a slight edge in midrange instruments and vocals, likely due to a more linear 4-5kHz response. That said, the R70xa is the more resolving headphone at both ends of the spectrum. Still, it’s not a “giant killer”—its slightly uneven treble transition holds it back. If you move up to something like the Aune SR7000, Hifiman HE6se V2, or even the Sundara, the improvements should be noticeable.
  

• Dynamics
  The R70xa delivers commendable dynamic performance for its price. Transients are snappy and well-distinguished, with no hint of muddiness or veil. Among mid-fi neutral headphones, it stands as one of the stronger options—outperforming the HD650 and the Aune AR5000, though it still falls short of the EMU Teak and Focal Clear.
  

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Conclusion and value:

At an MSRP of $349 USD / $499 AUD, the Audio-Technica ATH-R70xa is a welcomed addition to the market. While it doesn’t offer the groundbreaking value of the HD6XX or the Fiio FT1, it delivers a more dynamic, “technical” sound with a decently well-balanced tonality. In some ways, the R70xa fills the gap left by older AKG open-backs, offering a more open sound than the Sennheisers, since AKG’s lineup hasn’t seen an update in quite some time. Compared to the original R70x, it feels more like a variation with improvements in certain areas rather than a direct upgrade: a step away from the Sennheiser style and closer to an AKG-like presentation, if you will.

As such, I can see why those who favor a more “linear” sound—or music producers and audio professionals—would appreciate the R70xa for its extended bass and treble response, along with improved detail clarity. Personally, while I may prefer something more relaxed for casual listening, the main thing holding me back from fully enjoying the R70xa is the comfort. While the new headband design looks promising on paper, its lack of flexibility is somewhat of a letdown despite the feather light weight. As such, I’d recommend trying them before purchasing to ensure a proper fit.

Pros: Clean, well-balanced tuning with a mildly U-shaped response; Tight, well-extended bass with good punch and control; Improved detail retrieval over the original R70x; More open and spacious presentation than the HD6X0 series.

Cons: Somewhat uneven/dry treble presentation; Can be more fatiguing than the original R70x or HD650; Headband design lacks flexibility, affecting comfort and fit.

Value Grade:

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Notes on Ear Pads and EQ

As an open-back headphone, the R70xa is quite accommodating when it comes to pad -rolling, making it easy to fine-tune the sound or replace the stock pads once they wear out. I’ve found that thicker ear pads—particularly those made from velour, suede, or leather/velour hybrids—can sometimes bring positive changes to both the sound and comfort. For example, the Dekoni Elite Hybrid Hifiman HE pads enhance bass presence and midrange warmth, resulting in a presentation that may be more pleasing to some. For me, however, it’s the improvement in comfort that makes the biggest difference, while any further sonic adjustments can be made via EQ.

In terms of EQ, this headphone requires little adjustments to sound well-balanced. That said, there’s still room for fine-tuning.

My personal EQ setting for this headphone (with the stock ear pads):

Preamp: -2.5 dB
Filter 1: ON PK Fc 25 Hz Gain 2.0 dB Q 0.700
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 1300 Hz Gain -1.5 dB Q 2.000
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 3500 Hz Gain -1.0 dB Q 3.000
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 4300 Hz Gain 2.0 dB Q 3.000
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 5400 Hz Gain 1.0 dB Q 2.000
Filter 6: ON PK Fc 7200 Hz Gain -4.0 dB Q 3.000

If your goal is to EQ the response to match the Harman Target, consider the AutoEQ function provided by Squiglink as a convenient starting point. I personally recommend customising the filters to better suit your own hearing, especially in the treble. While the AutoEQ provides a useful baseline, individual adjustments can opften significantly improve your listening experience.

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MEASUREMENTS

Frequency Response Average (unsmoothed):

The response is obtained by an average of 5-6 positional variations. The FR shown on the graph is unsmoothed.

Comment: The R70xa demonstrates a very good overall tonal balance. The main issue lies in the unevenness between 4kHz and 9kHz, where a series of peaks and dips can be heard. When performing a manual sine sweep, these deviations are quite noticeable to my ears, though the exact frequencies may vary from person to person.

Positional Variation:

This graph illustrates how headphone placement on the head affects perceived tonal balance: with the ear positioned at the front (blue), centre (purple) and back (red) of the headphone. The FRs shown on the graph are unsmoothed.

Comment: The R70xa exhibits a highly consistent response when its positioning is adjusted on the ear simulator, which is generally a preferable design.

Leakage Tolerance:

This graph demonstrates how leakages to the front volume can result in FR change: blue (good seal), purple (hair), red (thin arm glasses), yellow (thick arm glasses). The FR shown on the graph is 1/12 octave smoothed.

Comment: As an open-back headphone, the R70xa shows a highly consistent response even when the seal is compromised, which is a positive trait.

Impulse Response:

The impulse response test measures the initial response, overshoot, and decay of a transducer upon receiving a signal. An initial upshoot indicates a normal polarity, vice versa.

Comment: the R70xa displays a normal impulse response – nothing out of the blue here.

Total Harmonic Distortion (2nd-9th)% & Group Delay (94 dBC):

These measurements are conducted in quiet, normal room conditions (as opposed to an anechoic chamber), meaning there may be some influence from ambient room and external noise. These results should be considered a preliminary assessment of performance, primarily for identifying major issues, and do not reflect the best-case performance scenario.

Comment: The R70xa performs well at 94dB, with no unusual behaviour.

Channel Matching:

Channel matching graphs are intended for quality control checks and do not relate to the perceived sound profile. A specialised configuration is used in this test to capture differences between channels, mitigating interference from positioning on the rig and the asymmetry in the GRAS pinnae design, a legacy of KEMAR. The left (blue) and right (red) channels are measured using a flat plate coupler with an IEC60318-4 ear simulator.

Comment: Channel matching on this particular unit is excellent, which may contribute to strong imaging performance and clarity of spatial cues.

HpTF Measurements (experimental):

The Headphone Transfer Function (HpTF) describes how sound is shaped by headphone design and ear anatomy before reaching the eardrum. Different measurement rigs (with varying pinnae designs) introduce unique reponses/resonances and potential deviations from actual human perception. Understanding HpTF helps translate measured data into real-world listening experiences.

Electric Phase & Impedance:

The above graph shows the measured impedance (green) and electric phase (grey).

Comment: The R70xa’s impedance curve is typical of a moving coil headphone but relatively high in magnitude. As a result, an amplifier is likely needed to drive them to higher volumes. Additionally, using an amp with a higher output impedance can shift the frequency response, causing elevations near the impedance peak—something to keep in mind.

END OF THE ARTICLE

Disclaimer: This review is not sponsored or endorsed by any business or related entity. The headphones reviewed are my own unless stated otherwise. Any links or recommendations included are purely informational and do not involve any financial affiliation or endorsement on my part.