Audio-Technica ATH-R70x vs Mackie DLZ Creator XS at a Glance
• Audio-Technica ATH-R70x: Open-back over-ear design, breathable fabric earpads, and a listed weight of about 210 g without the cable. Its trade-off is that it is wired and has no noise control.
• Mackie DLZ Creator XS bundle: A six-channel digital mixer with a touchscreen, Bluetooth and USB connectivity, plus two pairs of closed-back headphones. Its trade-off is that the headphone details are limited, and the bundle is much more focused on audio production than on finding headphones for big ears.
• Choose the ATH-R70x if you want a lightweight pair of reference headphones for focused listening or studio work.
• Choose the Mackie bundle if you need a mixer, microphones connections, controls, and headphones together for a recording setup.
The ATH-R70x is a wired, over-ear pair of professional reference headphones with an open-back design. Its aluminum honeycomb-mesh housings are intended to support a natural, spacious sound, while the listed frequency range is 5 Hz to 40 kHz. A 470-ohm impedance is also part of the specification, so this is a headphone to consider in the context of your audio setup rather than as a wireless, grab-and-go option.
For big ears, the most useful details are the breathable fabric earpads and the design’s emphasis on comfort during long sessions. The sheet does not give ear-cup measurements, so I can’t promise that the cups will fit every ear shape. Still, the over-ear format, lightweight construction, and improved wing support make it the more compelling of these two choices if your priority is wearing headphones for extended listening.
Choose the ATH-R70x for wired listening, reference work, or a more open presentation. Skip it if you need closed-back isolation, Bluetooth listening, or built-in noise control: its listed noise control is none. The open-back design is a specific trade-off, not a feature for every room or use case.
The Mackie DLZ Creator XS is a compact six-channel digital mixer bundled with two pairs of closed-back studio headphones and four 25-foot XLR cables. The mixer includes two mic preamps, four assignable rotary knobs, six assignable pads, three operating modes, and a seven-inch touchscreen. It also supports Bluetooth and USB connections. That makes the bundle a more complete starting point for someone assembling a recording or content-production setup than a simple headphone purchase.
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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-22 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
Pick the Mackie bundle if you need the mixer and its connections as well as headphones. It gives you hands-on controls and a touchscreen for shaping and managing an audio workflow. Skip it if you only want a comfortable pair of headphones; much of the bundle’s purpose is the mixer, cables, and recording capability.
• Best fit for a headphone-first purchase → Audio-Technica ATH-R70x. It is a dedicated over-ear headphone, while the Mackie is a mixer bundle that happens to include two pairs.
• Best-supported comfort details → Audio-Technica ATH-R70x. Its breathable fabric earpads, wing support, and approximate 210 g weight without cable are specified. The Mackie headphones have padded components, but no weight or cup measurements are provided.
• Best for a spacious open-back presentation → Audio-Technica ATH-R70x. Its acoustically transparent mesh housings are designed around natural, open-back sound.
• Best for a more contained listening setup → Mackie bundle. Its included headphones are closed-back. The available information does not establish how much sound they isolate.
• Best for recording controls and connections → Mackie DLZ Creator XS. The six-channel mixer, two mic preamps, assignable controls, touchscreen, USB, and Bluetooth are the package’s defining features.
• Best for long wired listening sessions → Audio-Technica ATH-R70x. Its low listed weight and breathable earpads make it the more clearly documented option for extended wear.
• Best if you need two headphone pairs and XLR cables with a mixer → Mackie bundle. It includes two pairs of headphones and four 25-foot XLR cables.
• Best if you specifically want noise cancelling → Neither, based on the listed details. The ATH-R70x has no noise control listed, and the Mackie sheet describes closed-back headphones but does not specify active noise cancelling.
The comparison also helps rule out a few searches that sound similar but point to different product types. Neither option is an earbud, an ear clip headphone, or a neckband headphone. So if you’re searching for the “best earbuds for big ears,” the “best hifi stereo ear clip headphones for big ears,” or “active noise cancelling neckband headphones for big ears,” these two products do not match those form factors. Of the pair, the ATH-R70x is the more relevant choice for an over-ear fit; the Mackie is more relevant for building an audio workspace.
For the big-ear question, I would focus on the fit information that is actually available. The ATH-R70x at least identifies its over-ear design and breathable earpads, but it does not supply cup dimensions. The Mackie includes closed-back headphones, yet likewise offers no measurements that would settle fit. If ear clearance is your deciding factor, neither spec sheet gives a guaranteed answer.
I’d choose the Audio-Technica ATH-R70x if I were buying primarily for headphones and big ears. Its lightweight over-ear design and breathable earpads make it the more convincing fit for long listening sessions, though the open-back construction and lack of noise control are real limitations. I’d choose the Mackie only if I also needed its mixer, touchscreen, cables, and two included headphone pairs.
The ATH-R70x is the more relevant choice because it is a lightweight over-ear headphone with breathable fabric earpads. Neither product listing provides ear-cup dimensions, so fit cannot be guaranteed from the specifications alone.
The included headphones are described as closed-back. The product information does not specify active noise cancelling, so closed-back construction should not be treated as confirmation of that feature.
It is a six-channel digital mixer bundle that includes two pairs of closed-back headphones and four XLR cables. Its main distinguishing features are the mixer controls, two mic preamps, touchscreen, USB, and Bluetooth support.
Choose the Audio-Technica ATH-R70x. Its aluminum honeycomb-mesh housings and open-back design are intended to provide a natural, spacious sound; the Mackie bundle’s included headphones are closed-back.
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