Audio-Technica ATH-DSR7BT
COURAGEOUS.
AUDIO-TECHNICA’S ATH-DSR7BT (GEEZ, that really rolls off the tongue doesn’t it... for simplicity, we’re just going to call them ‘Gary’) borrows almost the entire chasis from the fantastic ATH-MSR7 (‘Simon’). The headband, slide adjustment and angular driver housing are all the same, as is the overall rock-solid build quality. The reason for that is simple — it’s bloody amazing. Gary wears beautifully on the scone for extended listening, as well — this reviewer had no complaints even after a commute/work period extending upwards of 12 hours. The exterior features are where the changes start to show. The left side features volume controls, a neat (if slightly superfluous) touch-sensitive play/call button and the USB charge port. Note that there’s no 3.5mm connection (!), while on the right are the power and Bluetooth controls.
On the inside are 45mm drivers, which, combined with the new Pure Digital Drive Technology, basically means the Bluetooth audio is transmitted in an all-digital form from the device though to the driver instead of the traditional digital-to-analogue conversion other Bluetooth headphones use. This results in the ability for higher bitrate playback. And if 24-bit/48kHz wireless playback isn’t enough, there’s the option to connect to your device (via USB only... sorry, iPhone 7 owners) for hi-res audio reproduction. Either way you handle it, Gary sounds incredible.
We get that even with the amazing Pure Digital Drive technology, at $600, Gary is a diffcult proposition to recommend running out for. We get the feeling the technology will get far more common (read ‘inexpensive’) down the line, so unless you desperatly need the latest and greatest, stick with Simon, or even his older sibling Paul (ATH-M50x).