Audio-Technica ATHCK7 titanium earphones Review

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(More customer reviews)I'm somewhat of a headphone fan, and have amassed a few nice premium headphones, but I picked up a set of these on a whim when I was travelling abroad. I have owned IEM (in ear monitor) $200 headphone models from Shure, Etymotic Research, and currently use a very nice set of AKG K701 reference headphone for my home use. But I was looking for something good but still fun sounding for my portable use. I have used popular earbuds like the Sony EX70/EX71, but I wanted something good sounding and easier to use than standard IEM models
The ATH-CK7 is a premium earbud with some passive noise isolation (they isolate a bit of noise and leak less but without using a powered noise cancellation circuits. They basically seal into your ear opening and stay in your ear by a tight fit. You get three different sizes of rubber tips that you can use to find the right combination of comfort and sound quality. At first when I tried these earbuds, the sound was horrible, very harsh, no bass and vocals sounded garish. After some experimentation, I was able to get a better seal and the sound improved substantially. It still wasn't the best and I was mildly disappointed. I look on Audio Technica's site and noticed that the picture showed the headphones in the ear with the cable protruding forward instead of hanging down, and I tried this in my own ear. The sound was much better, but it took a bit more effort to put it into my ear and get a good seal.
So as far as ease of use, I would say that these earphones are a bit hard to use for me, as I have to really take some time to make sure they are fitted and sealed into my ear. Once I do so, the sound is nice.
As far as the sound quality, I'm really happy with these. Good tight detailed bass, but with still nice punch. Clear distinct vocals with lots of detail. Highs can get a bit much sometimes, but the highs sound detailed with good articulation, and never really harsh. Again, this is only after you get a good seal. Soundstaging quality, like most other earphones, suffers from the "all the music in your head" syndrome, but the good instrument separation makes it less annoying. They have some noise isolation but are not as good as the professional models from Shure or Ultimate Ears using foam tips or triple flange tips in that respect. All in all, these are a good compromise between the neutral sounding professional quality IEM's and the basshead models like the Sony EX71. Overall, their sound quality is more about "clarity" than outright "shake down the house"
You get a vinyl pouch to store these which don't really protect the headphones against damage except for keeping the dust and moisture off them. The cables look average, fairly thin. Hopefully these will last a long time. The body of these headphones is thick and bulky and have a lot of heft to them. As you are handling them, and they are knocking around, you hear a distinct thud/clanking from the solid Titanium body. These headphones feel solid.
I'd rank these at the top of the under $100 earbuds I've heard, and I actually prefer these to all other IEMs except the triple driver models from Ultimate Ears. My Etymotic ER6i, ER4S are collecting dust as I prefer these for everyday use (The Etymotic ones are great for air travel as they do isolate more). As for the popular earbuds, I'd rank the quality of sound in the following order:
1. Audio Technica CK7
2. Sony EX90
3. Panasonic HJE70
The Sony EX90 are good too but they hardly isolate, but they are a lot more comfortable as a result.

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The Audio Technica ATH-CK7 earphones feature titanium construction for durability and light weight while providing outstanding isolation from distracting background noise.Without the use of active noise-cancelling electronics, these in-ear models achieve significant attenuation of outside sound, allowing for increased fidelity and acoustic impact at lower volume levels. Ideal for use with all audio sources, including MP3 and other portable players, they come equipped with interchangeable ear pieces for a comfortable, custom fit.

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Samson CH700 Closed-Back Studio Headphones Review

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(More customer reviews)Not only are these the most handsomely packaged headphones you're likely to find (gold lettering proclaiming: "Samson Stereo Reference Headphones Dynamic Output Design"; "for Studio Reference"; "Accurate Monitoring"; "Maximum Isolation and Extended Low Frequency Response with Close Ear Design"--all this on a transparent box displaying the phones as well as two gold-plated stereo plugs--full-sized and mini), but once you put them on, they pretty much live up to the production values and hype. One thing's certain: you'll never find anything better at this price. I considered this a "justified purchase," since I work in a studio, where I do public announcing and music broadcasting.
For the record, these compare favorably to the studio's Sony MDR-7506s, even though the latter are about six times the price. The bass is "extended," to be sure, but never heavy, boomy or muddy. With all controls on the amp or sound source set "flat," the treble is a bit soft for my tastes, but nothing that a minor EQ adjustment can't fix. The all-important middle-range is present, definitive, clear--for both vocals (spoken and sung) and instrumentals. Perhaps compared to the studio Sony phones, these are a trifle bigger, a little bit heavier and slightly more loose-fitting but, as advertised, they're constructed with a "closed-ear design providing maximum isolation." Away from the studio I prefer my Sennheiser PX-100s or Koss Portapros, but either of these is too open and lightweight for working close to a microphone. Feedback becomes a problem shortly into a broadcast. Although I'm a fan (apparently, one of the few) of the Koss UR-40s (about twice the cost of the Samsons), the Samson CH700s certainly appear to be better made--rugged, strong and, most likely, more durable than the UR-40s (the Koss webbing broke loose during the first several months of use). Moreover, the Samson CH700s have a generous and relatively thick cable (expecially compared to the thin, short wire of the Koss UR-40s) PLUS single-cord attachment (usually found only on costly phones yet practically mandatory for the sort of scrambling I do while broadcasting and operating as many as 4 decks at the same time).
One more A-B comparison: the Sennheiser Evolution EH-150 full-sized headphones vs. these Samson CH700s. Initially, the EH-150s seemed large to me (especially after the PX-100s), but alongside the Samson CH700s they appear relatively trim. In other words, some individuals may be turned off by the size of the Samson phones; others, most likely, will be drawn to them because of their solid, engulfing appearance. (My guess is that they would not be a big hit with many female listeners or, for that matter, individuals with heads any narrower than mine). As for the sound, the Sennheiser EH-150s are likely to impress many young listeners--instantly. The bass is not merely "extended": it's prominent, and it's punching. For that reason alone, some listeners may judge them worth the price (which is more than twice that of the Samson CH700s). Not this listener, however. The bass from the Samsons is far more "natural," clearly-defined, and pleasing over the long stretch (it doesn't take long for the bass from the Sennheiser EH-150s to wear out its welcome, becoming muddy and uninteresting--at least to some experienced ears).
In short, Samson is a good name and can only get better, thanks to the quality and value of products like the CH700s. The company has practically cornered the market with the world's most popular (not to mention effective and affordable) personal digital audio recorder (Zoom H2), and they've impressed the most fastidious critics with a slightly more sophisticated (and expensive) successor (Zoom H4n). They're currently taking a lot of flak for their latest product, the Zoom Q3 (basically a Flip videocam attached to an H2). They goofed big-time by completely (and inexplicably) ignoring the public's current obsession with "HD video," but look for that oversight to be corrected in short order.
Heck, if you decide not to purchase these phones, you could do far worse than invest the money in a share or two of the company's stock.

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CH700 headphones are ideal for any listening and monitoring application where critical sound reproduction is needed, with a closed-ear design, wide dynamic range, and a comfortable design for longer sessions.
Closed-Ear Design The closed-ear design of the CH700s provides maximum isolation, reducing unwanted bleed that can be picked up on live microphones.
Monitoring Performance The CH700 employs exceptional 40mm drivers with ultra thin Mylar diaphragms and high-output neodymium magnets. The result is a wide dynamic range and linear frequency response from 20Hz to 22kHz for exceptional reproduction and a balanced sound, making them a perfect choice for monitoring digital audio. The large earpieces further extends the low frequency response.
Monitoring Comfort The adjustable headband and lightweight design provide comfort and easy listening through the longest sessions.
CH700 Specs
Frequency response: 20Hz-20kHz
Drivers: 40mm Mylar
Impedance: 64 ohms
SPL: 108 dB at 1kHz +/- 3db

What's in the Box CH700 Headphones, 1/4-inch Adapter

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