Hey folks, Valkor here. And the folks at Audio-Technica have graced the Val-Cave once more with their headphones and their taking things up a notch with the ATH-ANC7b Quietpoint Noise Cancelling headphones. With promises of near perfect immersion and drowning out most if not all sounds, can it holdup to Val-Cave testing?
The ATH-ANC7bs are just like its little brother, the ATH-ANC27, in that they have the same look and style – cushioned ears and head strap, except the 7b's left ear is where you have the noise-cancelling switch and blue indicator light. And it's the right ear where you place the battery, which has a nice slide open/close feature. The unit comes with two cables, a carrying case, battery, and additional plugs for different uses. With the carrying case, the ANC7bs fold flat, just like the ANC27s, so that they can slip into any bag or carry-on with ease.
But the main feature of the ANC7b's is that it has 90% noise-cancelling using Quietpoint technology. This technology applies a microphone to either ear, where it takes in all the outside noise and applies appropriate noise-cancelling, offering clear uninterrupted sound.
The Bang:
Everything goes up a notch when it comes to the ATH-ANC7b when compared to the ANC27s or any other noise-cancelling headphones I've tried; you get improved sound quality, which the anc7b offers a richer bass and clear crisp audio (when its turned on). From my PC to my MP3 and PSP, audio is amazing! What I was most afraid of, was how the ANC7b would handle heavy guitar riffs… yea I can put that to bed because music, even at its heaviest, sound great! The placement of the on/off switch works better on the face of the ear cup rather than underneath allowing you to switch it on or off when need be, especially when you're in the air and need to focus on announcements. The noise-cancelling is top notch and quite possibly the best I've ever experienced. At 90% it's literally you and the music. No more insane outdoor noises, listening to dumb conversations on your commute, and with air travel, no more screaming babies and drunk passengers. I'm not kidding; these babies drown out most annoyances and then some. Finally Audio-Technica makes their headphones great for travelling; with the case the headphones slip easily into my messenger bag, no problem. Great job all around!
The Slack:
N/A
Overall the ATH-ANC7b has to be the perfect pair of noise-cancelling headphones I've ever experience. And believe me, I've tested my share. Audio-Technica you certainly have a winner in my book. Out of TOV 5 stars the ATH-ANC7b gets a TOV perfect 5 and they've been Valkor tested and TOV approved!