Short answer: the Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X. It ranks #157 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.2/5, at $149.99. The Razer BlackShark V2 Pro ranks #168, rated 3.0/5, at $129.99, $20 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
What the Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X does well: The open-back 53mm driver gives a wide, airy sound, and the air region above 10 kHz is nearly on target. Watch for: Sub-bass sits about 11 dB below target and bass from 60 to 200 Hz is roughly 3 dB low, so kick drums and bass lines sound thin.
What the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro does well: A wireless gaming headset with a built-in microphone, Bluetooth 5.2 and a rated 70 hours of battery, so it rarely needs charging. The tradeoff: The response is uneven, with a standard deviation near 3.5 dB, so tonal balance drifts from the target in music.
Buy the Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $20 you would save on the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro does not close the gap.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X | Razer BlackShark V2 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $149.99 | $129.99 |
| Ranked | #157 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #168 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 63 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 60 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 3.47 dB standard deviation | 3.47 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.48 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.69 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 63 Hz (-11.8 dB at 30 Hz) | - |
| Connection | Wired | Wireless |
| Back | Open | Closed |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 53mm dynamic | 1 x 50mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 38 ohms | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB/mW | 100 dB SPL/mW |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (265 g) | 0.7 lbs (320 g) |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 30kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 12Hz - 28kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Active Noise Cancelling | - | No |
| Battery Life | - | 70 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes |
| IP Rating | - | None |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X compares with other leading options:
- Austrian Audio Hi-X15 vs Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X
- Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X vs FiiO FT1
- Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X vs Sennheiser HD 280 Pro
- Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X vs Yamaha HPH-200
- 1MORE Triple Driver Over Ear vs Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Headphones In Full
Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X: $149.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: The open-back 53mm driver gives a wide, airy sound, and the air region above 10 kHz is nearly on target. At 38 ohms and 100 dB/mW it runs directly from a phone, and it weighs only 265 g.
Cons: Sub-bass sits about 11 dB below target and bass from 60 to 200 Hz is roughly 3 dB low, so kick drums and bass lines sound thin. A 11.8 dB dip near 7.2 kHz, with presence about 6 dB low, dulls vocals and cymbals, and a 3.47 dB deviation makes it less even than most. The open back leaks sound and offers no isolation.
Full Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X review and specifications →
| Released | 2012 (14 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.47 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 53mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 30kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 63 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 38 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 63 Hz (-11.8 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.48 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (265 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.5 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +6.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 1,422 Hz | -4.8 dB | 0.87 |
| Peak | 2,626 Hz | +6.9 dB | 1.24 |
| Peak | 157 Hz | -3.2 dB | 0.48 |
| Peak | 6,954 Hz | +5.0 dB | 3.00 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -4.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 4,990 Hz | +3.5 dB | 5.55 |
| Peak | 4,063 Hz | -2.6 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 51 Hz | +0.9 dB | 3.36 |
| Peak | 77 Hz | -0.6 dB | 2.81 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Razer BlackShark V2 Pro: $129.99 Wireless Amazon eBay
Pros: A wireless gaming headset with a built-in microphone, Bluetooth 5.2 and a rated 70 hours of battery, so it rarely needs charging. Its Harman preference score of 60 in crinacle’s measurement is fairly close to the target for a gaming headset. The 50mm driver at 32 ohms and 100 dB SPL/mW is easy to drive, and the price is low.
Cons: The response is uneven, with a standard deviation near 3.5 dB, so tonal balance drifts from the target in music. It has no active noise cancelling, and at 320 g it is on the heavy side. The Anker Soundcore Space One has a higher rating and offers ANC and LDAC for a lower price.
Full Razer BlackShark V2 Pro review and specifications →
| Released | Jun 2023 (3 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Active Noise Cancelling | No |
| Back | Closed |
| Battery Life | 70 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Connection | Wireless |
| Deviation From Target | 3.47 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 50mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 12Hz - 28kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 60 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Impedance | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB SPL/mW |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.69 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (320 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -5.4 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +1.9 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 153 Hz | -7.6 dB | 0.72 |
| Peak | 625 Hz | +5.9 dB | 0.85 |
| Peak | 3,612 Hz | -4.0 dB | 4.82 |
| Peak | 398 Hz | +2.5 dB | 2.18 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -1.5 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 2,525 Hz | +2.7 dB | 3.01 |
| Peak | 1,373 Hz | -1.5 dB | 2.52 |
| Peak | 1,953 Hz | +1.0 dB | 3.23 |
| Peak | 3,166 Hz | -1.8 dB | 5.42 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons