Audio-Technica

ATH-ADX3000 Headphones

AUD $1,799 RRP

I feel conflicted, dear readers! Audio-Technica released the ATH-ADX5000 back in 2018, and I immediately fell in love with it. That magnesium alloy frame, the 270-gram weight, and its sublime sound quality left a lasting impression, just like a stripped-down super light sports car would. I know, the old car analogy again, but hear me out…

The ADX5000 was a highly effective, featherweight listening experience. It could be driven relatively easily and guaranteed supreme performance in various areas, compared to the similarly priced Audeze rivals with thick wood outer shells and demanding amplification requirements. So imagine my surprise when I discovered a new Audio-Technica model that's thirty percent cheaper!

UP CLOSE

The brand-new ADX3000 sports a magnesium alloy outer shell with a skeletal aesthetic similar to its predecessor. As a result, it weighs practically nothing – just 257 grams, which, in terms of full-size headphones, is very little – and is hand-built in Machida, Japan. It eschews fancy wood trimmings or leather, unlike the sultry woodgrain burl of the new closed-back offering from the same company, the ATH-AWKG. Instead, it rocks a sleek, minimal design, with honeycomb grills. Only the bare minimum of framework is used to keep the removable velour pads on your ears.

The ADX3000 has inherited much of the DNA of its older sibling. The headphone cable's AD2C connector has made a comeback. Audio-Technica's evolution of the original MMCX connection features a relocation of the pins, and some strategic reinforcement to eliminate the infamous MMCX connection issues that other headphones develop over time. The bundled headphone cable isn't anything to write home about, and disappointingly delivers more microphonics down the line than expected. It also has a degree of bending memory, and doesn't drape nicely along a desk or lap. Both ends plug into place with a confidence-inspiring click, though.

The ADX3000's hard case has a foam-lined interior, a carrying handle and latches to ensure it remains snapped shut. Not something you can pack away into a backpack by any means, but definitely something you can throw into a car boot without worrying about the consequences.

When I say these are open-back headphones, I mean it. There is little to these other than the giant 58mm dynamic drivers housed inside. Audio-Technica talks about these being completely integrated, housing the diaphragm, voice coil, magnet, and baffle in one tightly wound package held firmly in the centre of the housings.

Okay, so let's zoom out for a second. A lightweight, minimal design, a hi-fi-oriented demographic, and hand-built precision, all while flying just under the pricing radar of the juggernaut flagships. Where have I seen this story before? Ah yes, that's right, in Germany! It's clear to me, at least, that Audio-Technica is gunning for the Germans' stranglehold on this price bracket, where the Sennheiser HD800S reigns supreme. Since the latter has been given a permanent price cut, it now sits almost neck-and-neck with the ADX3000 on the pricing shelf. This makes things interesting for prospective buyers…

So while Sennheiser has seemingly permanently discounted its flagship, the Japanese giant has made a new model purposefully aimed at a wider demographic. It's easy to see how, especially when looking at the admittedly eye-watering pricing of the original ADX5000 released in 2018. All well and good, then. How does it sound?

THE LISTENING

I tested the ADX3000 with various sources, including the Questyle M15 portable DAC and the Burson Audio Playmate 2. I'm happy to report that it performs admirably – but with a different flavour to its German rival. The Stranger by Lambert has some beautiful piano playing which the Audio-Technica handles superbly, with no harsh sibilance or ringing. There are plenty of wonderful hidden details to be enjoyed, such as the ever-so-slightly panned-to-the-right string effects, which are often overlooked but reproduced front and centre via this pair of headphones.

The ADX3000 is a prime exemplar of a naked, open-backed design, and really feels as if you are wearing nothing more than a pair of headphone drivers strapped to your noggin. The upside of this is that the cups and frame will colour the music less – if properly designed – but the downside is that you get a lot of ambient noise. This means that for optimal sound, you need to listen in a quiet place, and this is true of this Audio-Technica more than most.

Thanks in no small part to its open-back design, this pair of headphones requires relatively little effort on the part of the amplifier to drive. Using the Questyle M15 in low gain mode, I barely had my source volume at over one-quarter before I reached serious listening levels. This pales in comparison to the ADX5000, which proved a tougher cookie, and in turn makes the new model appeal to a wider customer base due to its increased user-friendliness.

Nightfall by Hidden Orchestra is a great way to bridge the gap between a relaxing piano and an upbeat electronica jaunt. The opening piano section comes across as spacious, wide, and detailed. When the drums and bass kick in, the familiar Audio-Technica house signature reveals itself – the sound is tight, taut, lithe and controlled with oodles of detail and finesse. Square One by Greeley combines soft, detailed piano and woodwind samples with a thumping beat and a relentless rapping component. The vocals come through strongly, showing the fine midband detail retrieval of the ADX3000, but do not submerge the rest of the instrumentation in the mix. This Japanese design clearly has a more clinical and technical character compared to the warmer bottom end of its German rival.

Speaking of the Sennheiser, it's worth mentioning that compared to the ADX3000, the HD800S requires more power to drive and is fussier about sources. It presents a slightly darker sound signature, sounding less light and spry than the Audio-Technica. Ultimately, both designs are extremely capable, and it's really a case of which voicing you prefer, instead of one demonstrating superior technical ability to the other. Both products perform admirably, and if you're trying to pick between the two, I don't envy the tough choice you face.

THE VERDICT

Audio-Technica's new ATH-ADX3000 doesn't so much dethrone its predecessor, as carve its own niche at a more reasonable price point. It's a headphone for those who crave effortless detail and clinical precision, without the financial leap required for the ADX5000. The lean offering on bundled accessories is easy to forgive, as the technical prowess of this new design more than compensates. Audio-Technica has distilled the core appeal of its flagship into a more accessible offering, proving that cutting back doesn't mean cutting corners. For those who crave an open-back headphone that's easy to live with and a joy to listen to, this delivers.

For more information visit Audio-Technica