Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X vs Audio-Technica ATH-AD500X at a Glance
• Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X — biggest strength: 53 mm drivers tuned for clear treble and midrange, with an aluminum honeycomb casing and 3D Wing Support that spreads weight instead of clamping.
• Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X — biggest trade-off: It's open-air and wired with no noise control at all, so it leaks sound both ways and won't isolate you on a commute.
• Audio-Technica ATH-AD500X — biggest strength: The same 53 mm driver size and open-air comfort philosophy, but voiced for deep, impactful bass and strong vocal projection.
• Audio-Technica ATH-AD500X — biggest trade-off: Its frequency range tops out lower on paper, and the spec sheet lists a Bluetooth field alongside a wired jack, so confirm which connection you're actually buying.
• Who the AD700X is for: Listeners who prioritize clarity, midrange detail and a light, pressure-free fit for long sessions.
• Who the AD500X is for: Listeners who want a fuller low end and a more forgiving all-rounder for music and casual gaming.
The AD700X is the more analytical of the two. Audio-Technica specs it with 53 mm dynamic drivers, bobbin-wound CCAW voice coils for power handling, 38 ohms impedance and 100 dB/mW sensitivity. Those numbers describe a headphone that's easy enough to drive from a phone or laptop jack but still rewards a decent source. The listed frequency response runs 20–20,000 Hz in the feature bullets, and the product information section quotes a frequency range of 5 Hz–30 kHz — either way, the intent is the same: clean treble and midrange without a heavy bass shelf.
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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Where it earns its place is comfort. The full open-air design means no sealed chamber pushing against your ears, and the self-adjusting 3D Wing Support floats the headband over your head rather than pressing down. Combined with flexible raised-fabric earpads and a total weight around 0.5 kg, that's a recipe for a headphone you forget you're wearing. For anyone hunting for comfortable headband headphones for big ears, the wing system is the key feature — it removes the hotspot problem that plagues fixed headbands.
Who should skip it? If you need isolation, this isn't it. Noise control is listed as none, and open-air cans leak. The 1/8" (3.5 mm) plug with a 1/4" (6.3 mm) adapter covers both portable and desktop gear, but wired-only means no wireless freedom. And if you want thumping bass, look at its sibling.
The AD500X takes the same foundation and tilts it toward fun. Same 53 mm dynamic drivers, same CCAW voice coils, same open-air, no-pressure philosophy, same lightweight honeycomb aluminum casing, same flexible raised-fabric earpads, same self-adjusting 3D Wing Support. Audio-Technica describes the tuning as delivering deep, impactful bass with outstanding vocal projection — a noticeably warmer pitch than the AD700X's treble-and-midrange emphasis.
The spec differences matter. Impedance is listed at 48 ohms versus 38 on the AD700X, and the frequency range is quoted as 5–25,000 Hz. Higher impedance means it wants slightly more push from a weak source, though nothing dramatic. The product information also lists a 10 ms audio latency figure, which is the kind of detail that matters if you're gaming or watching video and don't want lip-sync drift — and that's a genuinely useful thing to know before you buy.
Two quirks to flag honestly. First, the enclosure material is listed as stainless steel here, versus aluminum on the AD700X — a small build difference worth knowing. Second, the connectivity fields are inconsistent: the jack is a 3.5 mm wired connection, but "Bluetooth" appears in the wireless technology field and touch/media controls are listed. Those entries don't match the rest of the sheet, and I'd treat the AD500X as a wired headphone unless the listing you buy clearly states otherwise. Also note the warranty line: a two-year limited end-user warranty on this model.
Who should buy it? Anyone who wants an open-air, big-ear-friendly headphone with more low-end weight for music, movies and games, and who doesn't mind a wired connection. Who should skip it? Detail chasers who want the leaner, airier presentation, and anyone who needs actual noise isolation — sound isolation is the only "noise" control listed, and it's minimal on an open design.
• Most detailed treble and midrange → Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X (spec'd for clear treble and midrange with 38 ohms).
• Most bass weight and vocal presence → Audio-Technica ATH-AD500X (described as deep, impactful bass with outstanding vocal projection).
• Easiest to drive from a phone or laptop → Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X (38 ohms and 100 dB/mW sensitivity).
• Gaming and video with minimal latency → Audio-Technica ATH-AD500X (10 ms audio latency listed).
• Lighter-feeling acoustic housing → Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X (aluminum honeycomb casing).
• Most comfortable headband for big ears → either, honestly — both use the same self-adjusting 3D Wing Support, and that's the single best reason to pick this family over a clamping gaming headset.
• Wireless convenience → neither. Both are wired 3.5 mm designs with a 6.3 mm adapter; if you need Bluetooth, this isn't the pair for you.
• Longer warranty coverage → Audio-Technica ATH-AD500X (two-year limited end-user warranty listed, versus one year on the AD700X).
• Noise isolation or a transparency mode neckband experience → neither. These are open-air headphones with no active features; if you want transparency mode neckband headphones for big ears, you're shopping in a different category.
If I were buying one of these two for big ears and long listening sessions, I'd take the Audio-Technica ATH-AD500X. In my opinion it's the smarter all-rounder: the same 53 mm driver platform, the same pressure-free wing support, the same tangle-resistant OFC cable, but with a warmer tuning that suits music, movies and games without feeling thin, plus the longer warranty. The AD700X is the better pick only if you specifically want that lean, detail-first treble-and-midrange character and the easiest possible drive from a weak source. Either way, for anyone searching for the best headband headphones for big ears on a spec basis, this wing-support design is where I'd start — just check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since that's the one thing a spec sheet can't tell you.
Not universally. The AD700X is tuned for clear treble and midrange and is easier to drive at 38 ohms. The AD500X goes for deeper bass and stronger vocal projection. "Better" depends on whether you want detail or low-end weight.
Both use the same self-adjusting 3D Wing Support and flexible raised-fabric earpads, with a full open-air design that avoids pressure on the ears. On paper they're equally well suited to large ears; the tuning and specs are what separate them.
The AD700X lists noise control as none. The AD500X lists sound isolation only, and its sheet is inconsistent about Bluetooth even though the jack is wired 3.5 mm. Treat both as wired, open-back headphones with no active noise cancelling.
The AD500X lists a 10 ms audio latency figure and a bass-forward tuning, which suits games and video. The AD700X's clarity helps with positional detail. Both are wired, so either works if you don't need wireless.
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