Audio-Technica ATH-A700 Headphones ($299): www.audio-technica.com.(AUDITIONS)(Product/service evaluation)

Headphones, headphones.... Everybody uses them in some fashion but nobody wants to give you some help in choosing them. There are, of course, several types: over the ear and on the ear, either open or closed back types, and the kind used mostly for mobile applications, ear buds and ear-canal.

The ATH-A700 is an over the ear closed back style. Although lightweight (290 grams) and comfortable for longer term monitoring or editing chores they just won't work for mobile because they have a 10-foot non-recoiling signal cord. The "wing support mechanism," a couple pads that rest on your head, does help comfort because the phones fit perfectly and don't wiggle or slip during long term listening. Further, the "leather-like" ear pads are also comfortable and don't cause perspiration in moderately warm conditions.

How do they sound? Pretty darned good, especially at background listening levels. By background I mean at lower listening levels (elevator music), softly recorded programs and for monitoring and editing where hearing the most minute details is important. The closed-back style helps here as well. The ATH-A700 has roughly 10-15 dB of background attenuation (about half as much as my David Clark 100/dc over the ear or Etymotic Research ER-4S in-ear phones; both with 25 dB attenuation). You can still hear the phone ring but normal home, studio or office ambient noise levels are well compensated.

In other words, minute sounds sometimes well hidden in the background, are fully audible. While this is important for monitor work it also means that reverberation, like that added to Suzanne Vega's voice on "Tom's Diner," sounds somewhat exaggerated. Even the light reverb added to Joe Williams' "Dimples" by the recently departed recording hero John Eargle, while not exaggerated, is more evident than you'll hear on speakers.

Further, with the ATH-A700s it's easier to hear the artifacts of data reduction with XM radio which are usually not apparent with the Delphi SKYFI3 Premium Audio System or playing on the system in your car. The same thing will be true with your mp3 productions, so a good monitor phone like the ATH-A700 can help you in choosing data rates.

That said, the ATH-A700 has extended low bass, but upper bass and lower ...