Audio-Technica ATH-T22 Dynamic Stereo Headphones

I have four different sets of cheap-ish (Sub-$30 on Amazon) over the ear cans. (Cans are headphones, BTW!) This review compares the ATH-T22 to the other three. I focus on things I can easily measure, but don't dwell much, if at all, on "quality of sound".Spoiler alert: The ATH-T22 is old. It's the worst. You can buy the best of the lot NEW for less than you can get these, used.The contenders:Monoprice Premium Headphones Hi-Fi Over the Ear (far right in picture)Koss UR-20 (Middle right)Sennheiser HD 202 (Far left in picture)Audio-technica ATH-T22 (Middle left)What they all have in common:------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/8" plugs (Some come with 1/4" adapters)- Over the ear- AdjustablePros and Cons of each:--------------------------------------==Monoprice==PROS:-- Strongest signal of the bunch.-- Removable cord-- Comes with two different cords-- Has the longest cord of the four-- Best isolation of the bunch-- Top of head paddingCONS:-- Crappy name: Monoprice Premium Headphones Hi-Fi Over the Ear Pro DJ Style With Gold-Plated Adaptor Plug-- Ear-surrounding chamber could be a little bigger. These had the second-smallest internal/ear area of the bunch.==Koss UR-20==PROS:-- Huge cans. Big enough for any ear. Biggest of the lot.Won't even touch your ears.-- Good isolation. (2nd best)CONS:-- Shortest cord, by far.-- No top of head padding. Just a cloth strip.-- Heaviest, by far.==Sennheiser HD 202==PROS:-- Second-longest cord-- Decent top of head padding-- Easily removable ear cups, if that's your thing.-- Lightest headphonesCONS:-- Poor isolation-- Smallest ear chambers-- Each can has its own wire lead-- models HD202 and HD202 MK11 are the same headphones and only the packaging differs. Sketchy.==Audio-technica ATH-T22==PROS:-- Decent sized ear chambers-- Second lightestCONS:-- No top head padding.-- The worst isolation-- Each can has its own wire lead

I bought these because I was looking for a set of circum aural headphones (big headphones that go around your ear) that were inexpensive and had decent sound quality.I was looking for a headphone that would have a good frequency response range and a relatively flat response across a majority of its given frequencies (so not a super-bass headphone) because I like to enjoy my music the way it was originally equalized. These headphones do very well on that front, the designers have made no assumptions about boosting bass or anything like that. All of this isn't to say that the headphones don't have good bass, they do, what I'm saying is the sound doesn't tend to be biased towards bass.The other thing I was looking for was a headphone that would isolate me from my office environment. These headphones make it so I don't hear the environment around me without having to crank my music overly loud.As far as sound quality:Good response across a broad range of frequencies. Not megabass boosted, but not weak either.Very low distortion at both high and low volumes.Capable of being fairly loud.UPDATE:I knocked 2 stars off because the headphones just snapped on me. I'm quite upset that they broke, and this points to brittle plastic. I didn't mishandle them, I've just left them on my desk since I've had them, and put them on every day... My head's not oversized. It's a build quality issue. Let me reiterate though, the sound is great for the price, but they snapped.

What I was looking for in a new pair of headphones:1)Circumaural design2)Decent audio (more concerned with fidelity than power)3)Reasonably comfortable (I've never had a problem, but from what I've read some headphones are very uncomfortable I guess...so I didn't want those)4)Decent physical construction (not going to fall apart...)5)Ability to listen without disturbing others (late night hulu time)What I got:They are truly circumaural, so no worries there. The audio is great in my opinion (though I don't have much experience with above average audio devices). The sound is good regardless of volume, I can turn my volume all the way up without it "breaking up". I think they're plenty comfortable, though they're too big for my girlfriend's little head. They seem constructed well enough...but I'm inherently distrustful of any electronics that are this LIGHT! I can listen without disturbing others (or hearing them) just fine, so long as the volume is at a reasonable level. Don't crank it up all the way and expect nobody to notice.I only gave them 4 stars because I wasn't, you know, AMAZED! They're good, they're worth $30, and I would recommend them, but I'm sure there is better equipment out there.

My wife and I were looking for an inexpensive pair of headphones for her to play music through for our first child, due in four months. For our unique needs, this pair has worked very well. Lots of flexibility in them and the sound seems really great for the price. We would strongly recommend them for the price and especially to any other expecting mother looking for a pair to play for her little one.

Considering how inexpensive they are, they sound very nice and are surprisingly comfortable. Not the most amazing quality, but that's to be expected for $30. I'd definitely recommend these to someone looking for a decent pair of headphones, without paying a lot.

I chose these because reviews I read said they were fairly neutral when it came to bass treble and mid tones. I really like these headphones, they work great but I do think the band on top could use a bit of padding. Otherwise I love them. Shipped fast.