I guess I won’t be lying if I say that I’m always most interested in headphones in the mid-price range. These are not tops that are inaccessible to most people, and not budget models in which manufacturers save on everything. The middle segment allows you to do everything at the same level, but remain accessible to the majority. It’s especially interesting if headphones in this range are represented by a well-deserved company, as happened with the MSR7 model from Audio-Technica.
Audio-Technica has a lot of achievements to its credit, ranging from ultra-expensive limited-edition wooden models to the “folk” ATH-M50 headphones. The latter, by the way, were recently once again “refreshed” in design and sound; I recommend that bass lovers pay attention to them. But the MSR7 is in some ways the antithesis of the M50, which makes it even more interesting.
In the MSR7, the company decided to show off its achievements to the maximum, starting with improved 45 mm drivers and ending with a clever damping and ventilation system that ensures optimal air flow. Add to this the resonance-resistant aluminum-magnesium alloy cups, and it becomes clear how Audio-Technica achieved very low harmonic distortion levels for this model. By the way, the official website has an interesting video demonstrating the operation of the technologies used in these headphones.
The headphones are not bad in appearance, and the materials they use are quite good, so it would seem logical to expect top prices from them, but the manufacturer decided to position them in the middle segment, so the price for them at the time of writing the review is an average of 15,600 rubles, which very good for such solutions.
Specifications
- Emitter: dynamic, 45 mm
- Frequency range: 5 Hz – 40 kHz
- Maximum input power: 2 W
- Sensitivity: 100 dB/mW
- Impedance: 35Ω
- Weight: 290 g
- Cable: replaceable, included 3 m, 1.2 m, 1.2 with headset
- Plug: 3.5mm
- Microphone: condenser, 50 Hz – 4000 Hz
Packaging and delivery
On this point everything is very good for this price. The box is made of thick cardboard and is decorated in restrained blue and black tones; inside there are headphones, and underneath there is a box with accessories.
Following modern trends, the set of headphones included three cables, long, short and with a headset, which allows you to use the headphones with both a stationary and a portable one. The package includes a nice eco-leather bag for storing headphones.
In general, it’s decent, there are no special revelations in the set, but everything expected was included in the set.
Advantages and disadvantages
Audiophile headphones MSR7 have many advantages:
- excellent sound quality at all frequencies;
- “omnivorous” headphones and the ability to listen to audio on portable devices;
- use of high quality materials during assembly;
- affordable price for the premium segment;
- Availability of replaceable cables included and a microphone for smartphones.
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During use, the following shortcomings are revealed:
- use of leatherette in a premium segment device;
- personalization of ear pads that adapt to the owner’s ears and completely prevent other users from using the headphones;
- absence of an adapter for 6.3 mm jack;
- useless complete leatherette case.
Design and comfort
On this point, Audio-Technica also gives more than you expect from them. Despite some similarity in design with the younger Sony MDR models, these headphones are pleasing with the quality of workmanship and the large use of metal in the design. The appearance of the headphones is discreet; they are available in two colors, black-blue and silver-brown; for the Asian market they also released a limited version in a “rich” red-gold design. Photos in other colors can be viewed on the company's website.
The design is reliable, a lot of metal is used, everything is fitted and assembled simply perfectly. The main parts subject to wear and tear (ear pads and cable) are easily replaced, so purchasing the MSR7 can be considered a long-term investment.
The earcups rotate around two axes; if necessary, they can be turned “flat” for comfortable wearing around the neck. This design is reminiscent of the same Oppo PM-3 and makes you regret that the same convenient case was not included in the kit, but looking at the almost twofold difference in price, you understand the reason for this decision.
The developers tried to work on comfort; the headband and ear pads are made of high-quality soft eco-leather filled with memory effect material. The ear pads are large and deep enough to fit almost all ears. However, there were some problems; in an attempt to provide good sound insulation, the developers slightly overdid it with downforce, so those with larger than average heads may feel a little pressure on the MSR7. Fortunately, this can be corrected by carefully (I emphasize, carefully) bending the headband; it has a steel plate inside, so this trick gives good results. After “adjusting” the headphones are quite comfortable, although the ears still overheat in them, and occasionally it’s worth taking breaks from listening to let your ears rest.
Sound insulation is above average, in most cases it is sufficient. Perhaps only in the subway or on an airplane you will hear a little external noise, but only headphones with active noise reduction can get rid of it.
The headphone cable is replaceable; a regular 3.5 mm jack is used to connect to the headphones. For some reason, standard wires use a very large angled plug to connect to sound sources, which may be inconvenient with some players. Fortunately, if necessary, replacing the cable with something more suitable will not be a problem.
Welcome to Audio-Technica
So, Audio-Technica. You can talk about this Japanese company for hours: it is equally respected by experts and fans of the world of sound. Historically, many of AT's headphones have been considered standards in their categories and niches. But today we will talk about the most modern model, a new player. She was favored by all major thematic publications and surrounded by adoration on specialized forums.
However, it does not cost too much. And it looks simply gorgeous, like a Japanese supercar created for a specific purpose, and not to demonstrate social status. A light Asian style can be traced, expressed in everything, including the “taboo” in the Western world - serif fonts on the body of electronics. For this sound at this price you can forgive any little thing.
And what a juicy color they have! However, everything is visible in the photo...
Appreciate the abundance of metal. Sharp, beveled lines. Something between a strict and sporty design, but with some unexpected note that is not inherent in most headphones that have passed through my hands. Once again, the car analogy is apt, made even stronger by the powerful red color.
Depending on the lighting, the body looks either dark red, like lava on the side of a volcano, or soft pinkish, like the dress of a tanned beauty on a bright sunny day.
Let's slowly move away from analogies to reality. The headphones are made of aluminum, and there is an unusual amount of it. This abundance is interrupted by leather inserts: soft ear pads with a dense base and a strong headband with a pliable lining. They are easy to put on and hold up well, even when running. But it’s better to listen in a passive home environment: the structure is closed, which means it’s advisable to ventilate it every hour or two.
For ease of wearing, two rotating mechanisms are responsible, as is common in all modern headphones: one horizontal, on the mount with a headband, and one vertical on the speaker housing, adjusting the angle of the ear pads to the shape of the owner’s head.
For all its sportiness and audacity, there is nothing to point the finger at - nothing superfluous or flashy. The only noticeable thing is the ground edges at the end of the speaker casing, as on the iPhone 5: in the red model they are painted yellow, and in the rest they shine in their native aluminum color.
The metal joints are not rough, there is no way to get hurt. Looking for complaints about the design, I can only notice one thing: the headband creaks quite a bit when you put on the headphones. There are no sounds when walking or using it, so I'll classify this as a nitpick.
The tendency of manufacturers to use replaceable cables in mid-range headphones is encouraging. This is what happened with the MSR7. Audio-Technica did not skimp: the kit comes with three cables: one L-shaped for 1.2 meters; the second is similar, but with a headset; finally, the third is standard, but with a decent length of three meters. By the way, audiophiles believe that cables without a microphone provide better sound - it is quite possible that they are right.
Some facts. We are dealing with over-ear headphones of a closed design. Despite this, air vents are built into the speakers, adding “freedom” to the sound and brightness characteristic of open-type models. We get the best of both worlds.
The technical characteristics of these headphones are impressive. Inside there are 45 mm speakers that reproduce the frequency range from 5 to 40,000 Hz - a very serious claim. Such frequency characteristics are usually demonstrated by expensive Hi-Fi headphones .
The 32 Ohm impedance ensures that you can listen to this model with any smartphone and player, regardless of the class and quality of the audio components. But this is only on paper. The fact is that the sound style of these headphones implies the use of decent sound sources and good amplifiers.
The sound character of the MSR7 can be summed up in one word: neutral . For the uninitiated, I’ll explain: this is when the entire frequency range sounds almost the same, without strong predominance in favor of low frequencies (“oooh, the bass is pumping”) or high (“as if they are singing directly into your ears”).
This format is extremely relevant for lovers of high-quality sound who know a lot about equipment and recording formats. This also means that an iPhone without equalizer applications is not able to fully “unleash” the best aspects of this model.
The MSR7's neutrality cannot be considered a disadvantage; on the contrary, these are the headphones that can reveal all the details of your favorite compositions. Music sounds clear, lively, natural - a little more, and the model could be called a studio one. Audiophiles rate these headphones extremely highly, coupled with good players and amplifiers.
After two weeks of testing, I noticed that the uniform reproduction of the entire frequency spectrum “goes off the rails” where the vocals begin: it stands out a little from the overall picture and sounds bright in some compositions. For some this is a plus.
If you approach headphones from a practical point of view, the headphones will excel in any genre with a good amplifier. Don't expect killer bass or other fancy stuff from them: these are for those who want to know what hi-fi sounds like. Listening to jazz, timeless instrumental compositions and even modern pop music is a pleasure. The wide stage is an additional bonus when listening to Live tracks and well-mixed albums.
The owner of plastic bass headphones may ask the question - why does he need such headphones? That's right, there's no need. They are intended for those who finally want to try hi-fi.
Audio-Technica has made a model that allows you to really touch the most detailed sound for relatively little money. You need to listen to it with your source, be it an iPhone (with tracks in uncompressed formats) or a high-quality portable player/amplifier - and then you will understand what the point is. Personally, I noticed them and, if possible, will take them home, especially for Cowon D2+ and my favorite jazz library.
The model is available in three colors, of which I can safely recommend red and brown (Gun Metal). They look simply gorgeous. The bottom line is that we have headphones that are not embarrassing to wear, pleasant to listen to and find something new in the already studied albums of your favorite artists.
The average cost of Audio-Technica ATH-MSR7 in Russia is about 15 thousand rubles . Considering their detail, this is just a gift! More details here.
Sound
The following equipment was used for listening:
- Apple MacBook Pro Retina 2013 as a source
- Yulong DA8 and Accurate Audio V800 as a DAC
- Yulong A28 and Accurate Audio V200 amplifier roles
- Fidelia as a player
- High-resolution recordings in Lossless formats (Dr. Chesky The Ultimate Headphone Demonstration Disc and others)
Before listening, the headphones were warmed up for 72 hours.
What can you expect from closed-back headphones in the mid-price segment? Traditionally colored sound with an emphasis on low and high frequencies, listening to which you constantly think: “Okay, but the sound insulation is good.” One example of this approach is the Denon D600, although more expensive closed models sometimes suffer from this. It was with these thoughts that I started listening to the MSR7, and what a pleasant surprise I was when I didn’t hear anything like that.
The sound of these headphones is surprisingly analytical, bright, with excellent resolution and very low distortion. This is definitely not a model for everyone; in some ways, it acts as the antipode to “mass” headphones, since it is aimed at connoisseurs of honest and unembellished sound. Perhaps this is the best solution in the inexpensive segment for those who want to hear audiophile sound without the annoying influence of headphones. I can say that this is a sound that you need to “grow into” in order to understand that this is exactly what you need.
The bass of the MSR7 pleases with its speed characteristics; in terms of bite and resolution it is quite capable of competing with many expensive models, the only thing it lacks is quantity, just a little, literally 3-4 dB plus would be enough. In this case, I think it’s worth talking about the deliberate decision of the developers; they intentionally weakened the bass quantitatively so that its quality was more obvious. You can compensate for this by choosing a source with a darker presentation, or simply get used to the fact that bass does not always mean blows to the skull. If we draw an analogy, it’s like starting to eat good steaks without ketchup; at first it seems that something is seriously missing, but then you begin to understand that the true taste of meat is much deeper and more interesting if you don’t overwhelm it with tomato and spices.
The mids are absolutely good. The low level of distortion allowed us to achieve a very clean and accurate presentation, which can even be compared with good entry-level isodynamics. Emotionality, elaboration of images, conveying the character of instruments - these headphones can do all this just perfectly. The imaginary scene pleases with both width (for a closed model, of course) and depth. The development of multifaceted music is generally the MSR7’s strong point. The only negative is that due to the lack of bass, the sound of the headphones is light and at very high volumes the sound can be harsh, but personally, for a sharp sound, I had to turn the volume up to a level about twice as high as what was comfortable for me.
The upper frequencies are also well developed, they are detailed and at normal volume levels they are good quantitatively. For this model, you need to select a well-controlled HF source, this is the price to pay for the level that these headphones offer. Continuing the analogy, for a sports car you need to buy high-quality gasoline, otherwise it will not produce everything it is capable of.
Please don’t think that I didn’t like these headphones, I’m usually much less picky about models in this price range, it’s just that the MSR7 are very good for their price, and I involuntarily compare them with much more expensive headphones. Overall, the MSR7 is a grown-up sound for a reasonable price, it's not universal, but it's very good.
Find and buy Audio-Techica ATH-MSR7 in Russia
( 1 votes, overall rating: 5.00 out of 5)
