Audio-Technica (A-T) has broken a barrier on the price of studio-quality open-back wired headphones with its new ATH-R30x. At just $99, the new cans are more affordable than similar models from brands like Sennheiser and Beyerdynamic, giving creators and music fans alike an easier-on-the-wallet way to enjoy the benefits of open-back listening. You can buy them right now from Audio-Technica or Amazon.com.
Open-back headphones are prized for their natural sound reproduction, increased spatial presentation, and overall comfort. Unlike closed-back cans, they let air travel freely in and out of the earcups. This often translates into the sensation that the sound source is out in the room as opposed to inside your head — especially helpful for spatial audio listening. On the other hand, it also means you can hear your surroundings, so quiet locations are much better suited to open-back listening.
The ATH-R30x use a set of 40mm dynamic drivers, which A-T says are engineered to “eliminate internal resonances and provide extremely quick transient response to deliver an authentic open-air experience with minimal distortion.”
The company credits the use of high-efficiency magnets and a pure alloy magnetic circuit design in reducing distortion.
The full specs look good. A-T claims a frequency response of 15 – 25,000 Hz, a 92 dB sensitivity, and a 36-ohm impedance, which should make them very easy to drive without a dedicated headphone amplifier.
A-T’s line of closed-back wired monitors like the ATH-M Series are ubiquitous in studio environments, but the R30x may prove more comfortable for longer sessions thanks to their wider, adjustable headpad. The earpads are made of velour and can be replaced when they wear out. They’re also lighter: the R30x weigh just 7.4 ounces versus the $99 ATH-M40x at 8.5 ounces.
At this price, you won’t get a travel case, but A-T does include a screw-on 6.3 mm (1/4-inch) adapter so you can use the hard-wired 3.5mm cable with a variety of audio sources.
Right now, the best open-back alternative to the ATH-R30x is Grado’s SR-60x, which also sells for $99.
Instagram is making its way to yet another screen, and this time, Apple TV is getting a taste of the Reels rabbit hole. The company has launched a dedicated Instagram app for Apple TV, bringing Reels, longer videos, and live shows to the big screen. So, if watching one quick clip on a phone somehow turns into an hour of scrolling, there's now a much larger screen for that.
Instagram brings Reels and more to Apple TV
Audio-Technica, a brand well known for making some of the best studio and professional headphones on the market, has just come out with the ATH-AWX7000, which the company itself claims to be its "finest headphones ever." The new flagship closed-back headphone has debuted at an eye-watering price of $3,799. It combines hand-finished Japanese woodwork with a newly developed 58mm driver.
The earcups are made from Kiso cypress, a prized wood historically used for Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples. Each housing is finished by hand with traditional Echizen lacquer, which brings out the grain and is expected to darken over time. The frame and sliders are finished in a deep navy kachi-iro shade traditionally associated with samurai.
This post is brought to you in paid partnership with Best Buy.
Technology evolves every day, transforming how we live and work. Our devices are becoming more than tools we use. They are increasingly capable companions that help streamline day-to-day routines and spark creative ideas. If you have been waiting for the right moment to upgrade your tech setup, the Discover Samsung Shopping Event offers an opportunity to explore what connected, AI-powered living can look like.