Audio-Technica

T
he constraints of the
IEM format have
meant that fi delity has
lagged behind that of
traditional headphones.
Audio-Technica have
taken this as a
challenge and with their fl agship E70
model deliver a triple driver (low/mid/
high) earpiece, weighing in at just 9g.
The E70s fi t snugly in the outer
ear, while the fl exible ‘memory’ cables
mould around the ear to hold them in
place. Once acclimatised it’s easy to
forget you’re wearing them. No
amount of jumping about dislodged
them once I’d gotten the right eartips
size fi tted. The silicone tips were
preferable for comfort and sound,
though the Comply foam eartips were
more effective at isolating noise. The
cable detaches from the housings
with A2DC connectors, aiding
cleaning as well as replacement of a
damaged cable/driver.
It’s hard to imagine IEMs
delivering a sound you can rely on for
production duties, be it tracking,
sound design or mixing, but the E70s
impress from top to bottom. They
don’t quite rival an equal price set of
headphones, especially in the bass, a
region in which physics throws up
some serious constraints. Subs are
audible and there’s no low mid
scooping to mask poor phase
response; the bass is just less punchy
than my studio headphones. The
mids are clear and free from fatiguing
peaks, so the meat of a mix can be
off the stage before, but if this is
what’s on offer then I may reconsider.
Finally, the E40 and E50 (£80
and £160) work well, with the price
difference apparent in fi tting and
sound. The E50 has a brighter sound
compared to the E70 with a less
meaty low-end, while the E40
appeared to convey a deeper bass,
but with ‘cheaper’ mid/highs, which
will reduce use before fatigue sets in.
Neither fi tted as well as the E70, but
they were still easy to fi t and stayed
secure. Both good value models.
tackled with confi dence. The high
frequency range is slightly soft in
comparison to my main cans, but my
hearing quickly adjusted and I was
happy using EQ in this region; subtle
adjustments come through clearly.
I tested the E70s during tracking
sessions with acoustic and electric
guitars. The audio fi delity along with
the lightness made it (too) easy to
record for long periods without ear
fatigue. The isolation meant that the
headphone amp didn’t need to be
cranked when standing right next to a
screaming guitar amp; I imagine
these would fare just as well on stage.
Talking of amps, the 39 impedance
means the E70s can be driven by
anything from dedicated headphone
amps to tablets and phones.
The ATH-E70 is an impressive
model with quality in build and sound
for a range of monitoring needs, from
studio to stage. The variability in bass
response that plagues in-ear designs,
a side-effect of blocking the ear
canal, didn’t seem to bother me here
and it was easy to achieve a reliable
balanced sound every time they were
worn. I’d not considered using IEMs
THE PROS & CONS
+
Lightweight and
comfortable, which
means less fatigue
than many
headphones
Great sound quality
for reliable
production
monitoring
High-quality
construction for life
on the road and off
Low impedance,
so can be driven
from a wide range
of devices
-
Quality costs money
(worth considering
the E40 and E50)
FM VERDICT
9.2
A premium IEM. The
comfort and sound quality
make the E70s a serious
rival to headphones for
many situations.
No amount of jumping
dislodged them once I had
the right eartips size fi tted
Audio-Technica E Series In-Ear Monitors | Reviews
97
Audio-Technica E Series In-Ear Monitors |
Audio-Technica E Series In-Ear Monitors |
Audio-Technica E Series In-Ear Monitors |
FMU316.rev_audiotech.indd 97 23/02/2017 10:33