Audio-Technica headphones promise hi-res 'hi-fi on the go' for under £100

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Audio-Technica has new hi-res audio headphones, the ATH-SR5 for under £99 and Bluetooth wireless ATH-SR5BT, plus a new set of noise-cancelling cans, the ATH-MSR7NC.

The new on-ear headphones take their design cue from the ATH-MSR7 cans but come in at a new, more affordable price-point for Audio-Technica's hi-fi headphone range.

The £99 ATH-SR5 feature 45mm drivers, boast solid noise-isolation despite their compact form and come with a detachable 1.2m cable with mic and remote.

Their wireless counterparts, the ATH-SR5BT, use aptX Bluetooth, NFC for easy pairing and have play/pause, volume and skip track controls on the earphone.

Audio-Technica claims a battery life of up to 38 hours from a five-hour charge (via USB). The ATH-SR5BT will cost £149.

Both new models are due in March.

Also new and sporting the hi-res audio badge are the ATH-MSR7NC, the noise-cancelling version of the aforementioned ATH-MSR7 headphones.

The over-ear design headphones sport new '360-degree omnidirectional' noise-cancelling technology that claims not to affect the sound quality when activated. A change to the mic position means "minimal difference" in audio performance in noise-cancelling mode, says Audio-Technica.

The ATH-MSR7NC cans use a mixture of layered aluminium and magnesium materials in an effort to deliver a lightweight but durable design. They have a 30-hour claimed battery life and come supplied with two detachable cables, one of which has an in-line mic.

The Audio-Technica ATH-MSR7NC headphones are due out February/March and are priced at £249.

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Joe Cox
Joe Cox
Content Director

Joe is the Content Director for What Hi-Fi? and Future’s Product Testing, having previously been the Global Editor-in-Chief of What Hi-Fi?. He has worked on What Hi-Fi? across the print magazine and website for almost 20 years, writing news, reviews and features on everything from turntables to TVs, headphones to hi-fi separates. He has covered product launch events across the world, from Apple to Technics, Sony and Samsung; reported from CES, the Bristol Show, and Munich High End for many years; and written for sites such as the BBC, Stuff, and the Guardian. In his spare time, he enjoys expanding his vinyl collection and cycling (not at the same time).