Headphones

Back in 1974, Japanese company Audio-Technica launched its AT-700 series of cans, looking a little bit like those worn by World War II aircraft pilots. This was the company’s first foray into headphone production. Roll forward 50 years and it has released the ATH-ADX3000 open-back model to celebrate its half centenary in the market.

This is a development of its open-back ATH-ADX5000 (HFC 435) that first debuted back in 2017. The new model is lighter and has been hand assembled in Machida, Tokyo, from components built in-house. The new 50th Anniversary offering employs Core Mount Technology, which directly integrates the driver into the baffle to provide an optimal position to improve airflow and offer a natural and authentic soundstage from the high-quality exposed drivers. It’s claimed that these 58mm units have been designed to offer a pure sound with realistic soundstaging and imaging, and this has been achieved without any artificially produced or enhanced processes.

The headphones are fitted with replaceable velour earpads and come with a detachable 3m cable with A2DC (Audio Designed Detachable Coaxial) connectors at the headphone end and a 6.35mm gold-plated stereo plug for connection to an amplifier.

Sound quality
We hook up the ATH-ADX3000 to an HD83 valve headphone amplifier and start off spinning an audiophile LP from Yarlung Records of De Falla’s Asturiana, performed by Elinor Frey on the cello and David Fung on the piano. The deep richness of the cello is beautifully reproduced, as well as all the resonances and other complexities of the piano accompaniment. This is an excellent-quality recording and the headphone gives a masterful rendition of the piece.

Switching to a full orchestra with Mussorgsky’s Pictures At An Exhibition played by the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, the opening trumpet blasts are stately and magnificent. The trumpets are bright without sounding harsh and there is no sense of the headphone breaking up or otherwise distorting as the piece becomes more forceful. As the mood changes to the slightly sinister and mischievous piece, The Gnome, the headphone adapts well to the gentle tinkling that rapidly develops into a powerful and scampering crescendo and shows excellent handling of the dynamics. Skipping forward to The Great Gate Of Kiev, the music is both powerful and commanding. The Audio-Technica does a fantastic job of reproducing all the fullness of the orchestra and we are totally immersed in the performance.

For some vocals, Eleanor McEvoy singing The Meeting Of The Waters from her Forgotten Dreams album is called into action. As we attended the original recording session, we can say with confidence that the reproduction is incredibly lifelike. The introduction on the grand piano is beautifully sweet and a perfect complement to her slightly husky vocals. McEvoy turns her hand to the violin on Carolan’s Concerto and the arrangement sounds sprightly and flows beautifully. Meanwhile, both the front-to-back and side-to-side imaging are very good indeed.

Finally, we turn to a recording of JS Bach’s Partita In F Major BWV 1006 played on the lute by Nigel North. All the character of the lute and North’s delicate fingering is splendidly conveyed. The music is tuneful, flowing and totally captivating. With the precision and refinement of the performance, which is really wonderful, and the light weight of the ATH-ADX3000, it’s almost possible to forget you’re even using headphones.

Conclusion
The ATH-ADX3000 is comfortable to wear for long periods and the sound quality is excellent, as we have come to expect over the last 50 years. NR    

DETAILS
Product: Audio-Technica ATH-ADX3000
Type: Open-back headphonesp

FEATURES
● 58mm drivers
● Detachable 3m cable fitted with 6.35mm gold-plated jack Read the full review in  Issue 525