Introduction
Audio-Technica was established in 1962 in Tokyo, Japan by Hideo Matsushita. Its first products were the AT-1 and the AT-3 MM stereo phono cartridges, these cartridges were supplied to other audio manufacturers in Japan, the company expanding its activity into other fields. At the moment, Audio-Technica designs and manufacturers microphones, hi-fi headsets, wireless systems and mixers.
The winner of numerous awards in the industrial sector, Audio-Technica manufactures products that set quality, durability and price/performance standards.
Audio-Technica microphones have been used in live broad-castings from high profile sports events such as the 2012 London Olympic Games.
Packaging and accessories
The headsets are packaged in a transparent plastic box.
On the front side, there are placed the manufacturer’s logo, the name of the product and a few of its features.
On the backside there are presented the features of the headsets in six different languages. On the right side, there is a diagram of the product and the included accessories.
Accessories
The product comes with the following accessories:
– 1x User Manual
– 1x Warranty
– 1x Adapter
Specifications
Model: ATH-AVA400
Colors: Black
Headphone
Driver Unit: Open-back dynamic 40mm
Impedance: 35 ohms
Frequency response: 18 – 25,000 Hz
Connection: 6.3mm / 3.5mm gold-plated stereo plug
Cable length: 3.0m
Input power: 500mW
Weight: 240g without cable
Features:
Open-air design, featuring 40mm CCAW drivers, delivers rich, detailed sound
Honeycomb-punched aluminum housings enable clear sound reproduction
Self-adjusting headband support provides comfortable fit even during extended wear
Soft, cloth ear-pads reduce pressure on your ears
Visual inspection
The ATH-AVA400 model has an open-air design, with the classic entry level Audio Technica shape, which includes a self-adjusting headband and a shape dedicated for sound quality. In addition, the ATH-AVA400 maintains the high standard from an ergonomics and sound point of view, avoiding the overused “gaming” elements and maintaining an subtle and elegant design.
On the sides the design of the headsets is circular, in addition the open-air element is outlined by the interior design of the cups, featuring a honeycomb-punched aluminum pattern. In the middle, there is the Autio Technica emblem and next to it there is the model of the headsets.
The headsets use two 40mm drivers with an impedance of 35 ohms. Also, the frequency response is between 18 and 25,000 Hz.
On the top part of the cups, the area which connects the headband with the headsets themselves is engraved with the Left-Right indicatives.
The headband is covered in leather on the top part, while on the interior and lower side it is covered by a textile fabric which is capable of breathing. Also, the stitches used to mount the two materials are exposed and are part of the overall design.
The two round beams which support the headsets are made out of metal, which gives the headsets a better grip and increased durability.
The headsets use a gold plated 3.5mm jack, also included in the bundle we find a 6.3mm adapter. The cable of the headsets has a length of 300mm, it is simple, covered in rubber.
Testing
The headsets have a very good construction, the main material used on the exterior is matte plastic, this highlights the purpose of this model: the end user is paying for the audio components and thus audio quality & ergonomics.
The headband is flexible and self-adjusted, this offers a better fit when compared with a rigid adjusting system.
The headset ear-pads are covered in velour, this material offers better ventilation compared to the ear-pads that are covered in leather or in most cases, a material which imitates leather.
The headsets rotate at 90° thus offering more flexibility during use.
The following songs have been used to test the headsets:
– The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Soundtrack
– Daft Punk – Give Life Back to Music
– Daft Punk Feat Pharrell Williams – Get Lucky
– Daft Punk Feat Panda Bear – Doin’ It Right
– Lorde – Tennis Court (Flume Remix)
– Desire – Under Your Spell
– Kavinsky & Lovefoxxx – Nightcall
– Gramatik – No Way Out
– Gramatik – Break Loose
– Glass Animals – Toes
– Alice Cooper – I’m Eighteen
– Dan Croll – From Nowhere
– T-Rex – Get It On
– Jimi Hendrix – Foxy Lady
– Jimi Hendrix – Purple Haze
– Creedence Clearwater Revival – Fortunate Son
Final thoughts
The ATH-AVA400 model offers a very good experience, the sound is clear and the bass does not cover the mid frequencies, also the sound is not distorted when the volume is high.
Due to the open-air design, the bass is not as deep as the one in the case of a closed headset design, however, the medium & high frequencies are clearly played, the bass not covering them. This is best shown when the music played is in Flac format.
The gaming experience is good, all the sounds are clearly played back and the music & effects of the game can be easily distinguished.
For a better experience with these headsets, I recommend using them after a few hours of burn-in, thus allowing all the components to reach their optimal parameters.
From an ergonomic standpoint, the velour ear-pads mold very good and the headband evenly distributes the weight of the headsets and eliminates one of the most frequent failing points, the static adjusting system. In the case of the ATH-AVA400 the headband is self-adjusted.
The lack of a way to change the volume directly on the headsets can be an inconvenient. In addition, the packaging of the headsets does not offer sufficient protection, it is made in most part out of thin plastic which can flex.
Hello! thank you for your review, it was really helpful. There’s one more thing I wonder: how would you recommend, is ATH-AVA400 good for making music?
Hi, yes it is!