Audio-Technica ATHCK7 titanium earphones

I'm somewhat of a headphone fan, and have amassed a few nice premium headphones, but I picked up a set of these on a whim when I was travelling abroad. I have owned IEM (in ear monitor) $200 headphone models from Shure, Etymotic Research, and currently use a very nice set of AKG K701 reference headphone for my home use. But I was looking for something good but still fun sounding for my portable use. I have used popular earbuds like the Sony EX70/EX71, but I wanted something good sounding and easier to use than standard IEM models

The ATH-CK7 is a premium earbud with some passive noise isolation (they isolate a bit of noise and leak less but without using a powered noise cancellation circuits. They basically seal into your ear opening and stay in your ear by a tight fit. You get three different sizes of rubber tips that you can use to find the right combination of comfort and sound quality. At first when I tried these earbuds, the sound was horrible, very harsh, no bass...Read more

I have owned the CK7 (which is made in Japan!) for about a year now and I am still blown away each time I use them. I have owned about 20-30 other canalphones and the CK7 is my absolute favorite. The highs are sparkly and beautiful, the midrange presence is fantastic, and the bass has great impact without being "boomy" or overwhelming. These are fast little canalphones and are great for rock or metal since they can keep up with a double bass. I also use them to listen to Jazz and classical music. On a high quality recording you can even make out the impact of the piano keys or the fingers strumming the guitar strings. Wind instruments have a fantastic airy quality, usually only found on far more expensive headphones or speakers.

The CK7 comes in a beautiful titanium housing that looks great and really protects the delicate drivers inside. I take good care of my electronics but they still tend to get tossed around since I use them almost every day. The CK7 has held up...Read more

I have been on a mission, here on Amazon, reading various reviews to find some "great sounding earbuds" for under $100. I primarily use them for the gym and also for traveling. I had a set of the Sony MDR51s which, had decent sound but after 2 years of constant use the cables started to fray.

Therefore, I purchased the earbuds listed below to compare sound quality. I would rank them in this order:

2. Audio Technica ATH-CK7 ($89)
3. Sony-MDR81 ($32)
4. Shure-SE110 ($129)
5. Bose IE2 ($89)
5. V-Moda Bass-Frequency ($25)

The ATH-CK7 was by far the best sounding earbud. The sound quality was great! The ATH-CK7s have a tight sounding bass with some slight "boom" factor (which does not sound artificial). As well as clear highs and solid midrange. They also have good noise isolation.

Audio Technica ATH-CK7 sound fantastic and are a good compromise between the very neutral (boring) sounding professional quality...Read more