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Audio-Technica ATH-CK7 Canal Headphones
Introduction
The standard for audiophile-class studio buds is Shure. Before they ever worked with consumers, they worked with producers. So they've got this pedigree which works both for and against them. For, because their canal-cans are universally recognized as the top tier. Against, because nobody but the people who need the headphones to make a living can afford them. So the search continues: a set of canal phones that at least approach the professional level for, say, less than a hundred bucks. Maybe I'm delusional--if you can make headphones as good as the $400 ones, why not just sell them at that price? Maybe the sub-hundred-dollar market can't handle any more products, with it all saturated at the bottom and all. I want audio-technica to swing in as the big damn hero. They're a household name, if you're a family of producers -- they've been serious players in the television, film, and music industries for about fifty years. But I doubt they're ready to cut down the high-end stuff and make a mainstream product just yet. Unless you associate disheartening with mainstream. These titanium canal headphones can play precisely, beautifully, and loudly, but they're quite the labor of love.  First Impressions You know how they say good things come in small packages? That's because you keep all the small things in that case behind the counter where no one can steal them. There's no elaborate packaging--just a blister pack with a neutral gray cardboard insert "highlighting" the ear buds. The buds themselves aren't enchanting anyone. Well, maybe machinists. Each bud is milled from a solid hunk of titanium--nice--with a wire going in and a plastic snout coming out. There are three sizes of silicone ear pieces to stretch over the canal portion of the phones. The 11mm driver is in the titanium bit, and there's some fibrous material in the canal to keep your ear crud from crudding up the insides. The phones use a fairly-standard 1.2m y-cable, ending in a gold-plated (what else?) 3.5mm jack. There's a hard, clear plastic tube along the y portion of the cable to adjust the distance before the split. The split is protected by a hard rubber grommet around the splice, so you shouldn't really worry about pulling them apart. I mean, they're $75 headphones, they're going to have a little deal to keep you from rending them in twain. Each ear bud is embossed with an L or R and the audio-technica trademark, and the backs are polished--the only real decoration on the matte metal.     The little accessory bag is just big enough for the phones and my player, so it's handy for me. It's nowhere near as good as a case, but then, the headphones are made of titanium. Maybe I shouldn't stick my player in there... They're not the most noise-isolatingest headphones I've come across, but they do fine when the volume's turned up. They can block airplane engines well enough, I guess that's what's really important. They're definitely audible to other people, even with the volume kind of low. Comfort-wise, they're not too heavy, but heavier than many other canal phones. If you dislike any pressure whatsoever, take these off your list right now. The silicone ear pieces are indistinguishable from the ear pieces on other headphones. They're good, but it's not like there's a lot of room for innovation here. Specifications Manufacturer's Website Type: Dynamic Driver Diameter: 11 mm Voice Coil: Copper clad aluminum wire Frequency Response: 12 n 24,000 Hz Sensitivity: 104 dB/mW Impedance: 16 ohms Weight: 10 g (without cord) Cable: 1.2 m, Y-type Connector: 1/8" (3.5 mm) L-type, mini stereo, gold-plated Accessories Included: Protective pouch, interchangeable earpieces (small, medium, large)
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Add Comment
2 User Comments 1 - Posted by
theqat
on August 15, 2008 - 3:17 pm The real problem with these is the included eartips, which are universally terrible. If you feel like it, get some Ultimate Ears dual flange eartips from (f.ex.) http://www.ultimateears.com/_ultimateears/store/ac... I use them and can attest that they solve almost every problem with the ATH-CK7s--you get a better seal leading to better detail, better noise canceling, better bass, less shrill treble, and better balance between bass, mids, and treble. If you were to say "there's no reason you should have to buy 3rd-party eartips to make your IEMs sound acceptably good," I'd absolutely agree with you. The only reason I know how great the UE tips are is that I happened to buy the ATH-CK7s based on some reviews that turned out to be incorrect and then found some other forum posts stating that the UE tips provided major improvement. 2 - Posted by
Kurtis
on August 17, 2008 - 2:16 pm theqat: Thanks for the feedback and the extra info. :)
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