PROS
- Great sound quality
- Effective noise cancelling
- Surprisingly low price
- Plenty of bass
- Comfortable
CONS
- The QuietPoint box is rather heavy
- Muddy at high volumes
VERDICT
Audio-Technica has, once again, proved to everyone why they are considered to be a leading manufacturer of high-quality audio gear. The ANC23s outperform much of its competition, while costing considerably less. These earphones as fantastic for all audiophiles who wish not to be disturbed while listening to music or focusing on work and at the same time are not willing to sacrifice sound quality.
The Audio-Technica ATH-ANC23 are a rare breed of in-ear headphones that combine high-level of passive noise-isolation with active noise-cancelling functionality to greatly reduce the total amount of outside noise.
Design and Build quality
The strange shape of these earphones helps to achieve a deep insertion, thus increasing passive noise isolation and allowing listeners to reduce playback volume and protect their ears from damage caused by prolonged exposure to overly loud music.
The Audio-Technica ATH-ANC23 QuietPoint earbuds play it safe and stick to the combination of silver and black. Their appearance is professional, easy on the eyes, and it’s safe to say that it won’t go out of fashion anytime soon.
Somewhere in the middle of the cable is the QuietPoint box that houses a single AAA battery, a power switch, and a volume control wheel. Sadly, all that stuff takes quite a bit of space and makes the box feel pretty heavy. You can really feel it tugging on the cable, when you walk with the earbuds in your ears, and running is possible only if you firmly fasten it to your clothes with the clip included on the bottom side of the box.
Sound
Headphones are earphones by Audio-Technica have always been able to satisfy both the lovers of analytical music listening and people who want to maximize the fun they’re having even if it should mean giving up on clarity. This difficult task is achieved by punchy bass capable of reproducing even the deepest sub-bass frequencies with an excellent level of detail and crisp highs.
One thing that you need to watch for is the bitrate of your audio files. Pair these earbuds with low-quality music and you are going to be severely disappointed.
The noise-cancelling works wonders, reducing loud street noise to acceptable hum. Even public transportation is bearable, thanks to the deep insertion that blocks plenty of sound even without noise-cancellation turned on.
What is in the box?
Audio-Technica doesn’t disappoint, and the box includes extra pairs of differently sized eartips, a carry pouch, a single AAA battery, and a two-prong airplane adapter. The carry pouch is made out of cloth and provides only a very basic level of protection, but it’s still nice to see it included in the package.
