Audio-Technica's ATH-M50 and subsequent ATH-M50x have long been among the best sounding headphones for the money with a price tag of around $150 online. And while the company has plenty of other headphones in its line, it hasn't had a killer step-up model to go up against popular "premium" closed-back over-ear headphones in the $250-$300 range.

The Audio-Technica ATH-MSR7 is a great-sounding headphone with the one caveat that its sonic detail is so impressive that it brings out both the best and worst in any given source material.

The Audio Technica ATH-MSR7 offers impressive audio quality; is sturdily built; should fit most people comfortably; and comes with three cables; including one that has an inline remote/microphone for cell-phone use.

A little heavy; not quite as comfortable as some competing models'; abundance of clarity reveals harshness or distortion in recordings.

The MSR7's potent mix of style, functionality, and performance makes these headphones solid contenders in one of the industry's most competitive genres.

Clear and balanced sound across the board; Excellent detail; Tight; musical bass; Quality construction; Attractive design; Competitive price point

Tight clamping force may not work for everyone; Upper midrange can sound slightly synthetic; Could use a bit more padding on the headband

Audio-Technica's ATH-MSR7 SonicPro High-Resolution Over-Ear Headphones ($250) claim to produce

The ‘hi-res' logo on the Audio Technica ATH-MSR7 packaging highlights the fact that these headphones, it is claimed, cover a wider frequency range than ‘normal' cans. (5Hz to 40kHz in the case of the MSR7s – human hearing ranges from 20Hz to 20kHz.)

Clear; open sound; Decent detail; Comfortable fit

Thin; lean balance; Bass lacks weight and music lacks drive; Slight coarseness further up the frequency range

Verdict Audio Technica has genuinely knocked it out of the park with their latest portable, circumaural, closed-back dynamic headphone. The ATH-MSR7 is a stylish and comfortable design with solid build quality and a refined sound approaching that of higher-end reference quality open-back monitors,...

Sleek design and great sounding audio, they have it all

I use these headphones in recording music and mastering the recordings. I have used many other high end headphones, including other models of this brand. I prefer these headphones to all others because the sounds are clearly heard and no particular frequencies are emphasized.

Wireless headphones are all the rage, and for good reason. Listening to music wire-free is simply more convenient, as you don't even need to touch your music player to change songs. That said, there will always be a loyal crowd of headphone enthusiasts that refuse to snip the cable. Why?

Audio-Technica has been producing audio equipment, from microphones to magnetic cartridges for turntables, since the 1960s. These days it is probably best known for its headphones, such as the ATH-M50 professional studio monitor headphones and the slightly more consumer-oriented ATH-M50x model.

"Really is a fantastic pair of headphones. I had no issues with clamp force that many others have mentioned and the sound quality has been just what I expected. They look lovely and completely serve their purpose.