Audio-Technica ATH-E70

Measured

Dung Le's rig sits 8 to 11.5 dB under Harman IE 2019 from 3 to 6 kHz, then peaks about 5.7 dB over it at 7 to 8 kHz (highest at 7.9 kHz) and falls below it again above 10 kHz. Crinacle's EQ for his 711 curve has the same shape, with the narrow cut at 6.9 kHz. Above 8 kHz earfonia's graph differs from both, with a second bump near 14 kHz. On that graph, going from a 0.47 Ω to a 10 Ω output lowers 9 kHz by about 5 dB, and 47 Ω lowers it by about 8 dB.

vs. listeners — The curve supports both complaints: the 3 to 6 kHz dip reads as dull and the narrow peak as splash. Listeners place the problem at different frequencies (5 to 6 kHz, 8 to 9 kHz, 12 to 14 kHz), which fits rigs and ears disagreeing up there. Owners who name their setup report the most glare on sources near 0 Ω and with stock silicone tips, and less with a few ohms of output impedance, foam or wide-bore tips.

Measured

Dung Le's rig shows a shelf about 6 dB above the 500 Hz level from 20 to 60 Hz, 2.5 dB under Harman IE 2019, with slightly more than target at 120 to 250 Hz. Crinacle's EQ for his 711 curve makes a broad 4.8 dB cut around 214 Hz. earfonia's graph falls about 5 dB by 20 Hz, so rigs disagree on the lowest octave.

vs. listeners — Every rig shows more bass than midrange, while the light-bass camp hears the opposite. Rigs always seal, and two of the light-bass voices say their seal was imperfect or tip-dependent. One Thomann owner found bass only with tips as large as their ear accepts.

Measured

Against Harman IE 2019, Dung Le's rig reads 2.6 dB low at 1 to 2 kHz and 6.8 to 11.5 dB low from 2 to 5 kHz, a larger upper-mid dip than the IE 600 on the same rig and much larger than the Moondrop SSR. earfonia's graph shows the balance moving with amp output impedance.

vs. listeners — Against a Harman-style target the curve is warm, not flat, which supports the dark camp's reading. Engineer Kenichi Hayashi heard the tonal balance change between his Pro Tools rig and an iPod and took that as the earphone having no colour of its own. earfonia's graph suggests the earphone's own interaction with the source can produce that kind of shift, though Hayashi's output impedances aren't stated.

Measured

earfonia's graph shows 1 to 2 kHz rising about 1.5 dB at 10 Ω and 4.5 dB at 47 Ω output impedance, which may be part of why vocals are heard as both forward and distant.

Measured

No rig here measures resolution directly. Crinacle's technical grade is a C on his 711-era list.

Measured

kakaku.com owners score fit 3.85 against a 4.08 category average, the one sonic-independent item well below average on an otherwise high card. Amazon's fit mentions run 5 positive to 4 negative.

vs. listeners — Even yukitq, quoted for comfort, condemns the memory wire, and Thomann owners report having to press the earpieces back in during movement. Long stationary sessions and active stage use may be different tests.

Measured

This is anecdote, not a failure rate. Two Thomann owners report repeated cable or channel failures (one lost one side twice, a year apart), one Head-Fi owner broke a wire, and two owners report the sheath hardening with age.

Measured

kakaku.com owners score isolation 4.43 and leakage 4.22 against a 3.79 category average on both. Audio-Technica publishes no isolation figure and told an owner it does not specify one.

Measured

$439 at Audio-Technica and B&H, £298 at Thomann, ¥52,800 at the lowest Japanese dealer. Amazon's $429 is from a third-party seller. Used examples have been listed or bought at about $160 to $300. Amazon's value mentions run 7 negative to 4 positive.