Audio Technica ATH-WS70 review

Overwhelming bass drags these 'phones down to two stars Tested at £130.00

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

‘Overwhelming bass’, underwhelming star rating

Pros

  • +

    Portable-friendly features

  • +

    deep bass and sparkly treble

  • +

    reasonable sense of scale

Cons

  • -

    Bass makes the mid-range sound fat and muggy

  • -

    gappy tonal range

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We're worried about the Audio-Technica ATH-WS70s before we even get them out of the box. Obviously the company's looking to attract the big-bass fans out there, and there's nothing wrong with that, but it's the terms printed on the packaging that concern us: ‘Solid Bass' sounds good, likewise ‘Extended Bass'. But ‘Overwhelming Bass'?

When is being overwhelmed ever a good thing, and why on Earth would a hi-fi company think it was a sensible term to use to describe the low frequencies of its new product?

A really big bottom end
Thing is, there's a lot of truth to all three statements: the bass is fairly solid, it does stretch impressively deep, and it's also rather overwhelming.

Play The Mother from The Road soundtrack, and the opening, bassy strings are tight and well-defined; but then the violins join in, and they're dragged down by the low-end, sounding fat and heavy when they should be light and agile.

The treble sticks out, too. Not because it's bad – it's actually rather sparkly and detailed – but because the lowering of the midrange leaves it isolated at the top, creating an overall delivery that's tonally gappy.

Designed for portable use
It's a shame really, because the Audio-Technicas have a lot going for them in other ways. For a start, they're probably the pair most deliberately designed for portable use, thanks to a stylish, closed-back design, short cable and very firm, but still comfortable, fit – they'll probably even stay on your noggin as you run for the bus.

They're sonically fairly dynamic, too, and capable of creating a nice sense of scale from big recordings like Metallica's live, orchestral version of Nothing Else Matters.

Unfortunately, none of that can make up for the unnaturally heavy, detail-short delivery.

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What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

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