Our comprehensive Audio-Technica ATH-PRO700MK2 review covers build quality, sound performance, and real-world durability. Find out if these DJ headphones are right for your needs.

Audio-Technica ATH-PRO700MK2 Review: Durable DJ Headphones Tested

Professional Audio Heritage Meets DJ Demands

Audio-Technica’s reputation in professional audio spans decades, with their products appearing in broadcast studios, concert venues, and recording facilities worldwide. The ATH-PRO700MK2 headphones represent their focused effort to translate this technical expertise into equipment addressing the specific demands of DJ applications, where durability, bass response, and isolation matter as much as pure fidelity.

Physical Construction and Design

The ATH-PRO700MK2 headphones embrace modern industrial design aesthetics while maintaining functional focus. The predominantly plastic construction might initially suggest fragility, but the execution demonstrates that material selection reflects engineering priorities rather than cost-cutting. The lightweight nature resulting from plastic components creates comfort advantages during extended use while the structural design provides surprising rigidity and impact resistance.

The swivel ear cups enable various monitoring positions, essential for DJs needing to alternate between two-ear monitoring and single-ear cueing while maintaining awareness of booth monitors and crowd response. The cups rotate through wide ranges, accommodating different head sizes and monitoring preferences without binding or loosening.

The adjustable headband extends adequately for larger head sizes while retracting sufficiently for smaller users. The adjustment mechanism operates smoothly with distinct clicks indicating position changes, and the settings remain secure during active use without gradually loosening.

The folding design allows the headphones to collapse into compact configurations suitable for storage in DJ bags or cases. This portability feature proves valuable for mobile DJs regularly transporting equipment, reducing the space requirements compared to non-folding alternatives while potentially protecting the headphones through reduced exposure.

Cable System and Connectivity

The detachable cable system provides both practical and economic advantages. Two cables ship with the headphones: a straight cable for stationary use and a coiled cable preferred by DJs for its self-retracting properties that prevent tangling and reduce trip hazards in crowded booth environments.

The connection mechanism secures cables reliably while allowing tool-free swapping when switching between cable types or replacing damaged cables. This user-serviceability extends the headphones’ useful life significantly compared to fixed-cable designs where cable damage necessitates either expensive repair or complete replacement.

The cable length proves appropriate for DJ applications, providing adequate reach from mixers or controllers to heads without excessive slack requiring management. The coiled cable particularly balances extension capability with compact resting length, stretching when needed while retracting to minimize spatial requirements.

Comfort and Extended Wear Characteristics

The lightweight construction immediately manifests as comfort advantage, with the headphones creating minimal pressure on the head and neck even during multi-hour sessions. The reduced mass prevents the fatigue that develops with heavier headphones, particularly when alternating between wearing and hanging them around the neck.

However, the headband clamping force proves somewhat aggressive, creating noticeable pressure on the sides of larger heads. This tight fit ensures the headphones remain securely positioned during active movement, but users with larger head dimensions may experience discomfort after extended periods. The clamping force appears designed to prevent the headphones from falling during one-ear monitoring positions, a compromise favoring security over maximum comfort.

The ear cushions provide adequate padding that conforms somewhat to ear shape without the luxurious depth found in premium studio headphones. The cushioning suffices for typical DJ set durations but might prove less comfortable during marathon sessions exceeding several hours of continuous wear.

Sound Signature and Performance

The ATH-PRO700MK2 headphones employ 53-millimeter drivers delivering sound characterized by emphasized bass response and defined high frequencies—a tuning philosophy aligned with DJ priorities rather than pure studio monitoring neutrality.

Bass Response

The low-frequency performance provides satisfying impact and presence without overwhelming definition. Bass remains audible and felt even at moderate listening levels, allowing DJs to evaluate low-end content without excessive volume that risks hearing damage. The bass emphasis suits electronic music, hip-hop, and other bass-heavy genres common in DJ applications while potentially coloring genres emphasizing mid-range content.

The bass definition prevents individual low notes from blurring into undefined rumble, maintaining enough articulation for DJs to distinguish kick drums from bass lines when beatmatching or mixing. This clarity proves essential for timing accuracy during transitions.

Mid-Range Clarity

The mid-range frequencies receive clear rendering that preserves vocal intelligibility and instrument definition. Synths, guitars, and vocals project distinctly, allowing DJs to identify specific songs and monitor mix elements occupying these frequencies. The mid-range doesn’t exhibit the recession common in consumer headphones emphasizing bass and treble for artificial excitement.

High-Frequency Extension

The treble response extends adequately without excessive brightness or harshness. Hi-hats, cymbals, and high-register instruments remain clear and defined without the sibilance or shrillness that causes listening fatigue. This balanced treble presentation allows extended monitoring sessions without the ear fatigue that over-emphasized highs produce.

Isolation Performance Limitations

The closed-back design provides some passive noise isolation, reducing external sound intrusion to helpful degrees in quiet environments. For bedroom practice or home use, the isolation proves adequate for focusing on mix elements without excessive volume.

However, in loud club environments, the isolation proves insufficient for optimal DJ monitoring. The ambient noise from sound systems, crowd conversation, and general venue activity penetrates enough to interfere with critical listening, particularly when attempting to cue tracks or beatmatch in noisy conditions.

DJs accustomed to headphones providing superior isolation may find themselves increasing monitoring volume beyond comfortable levels to overcome ambient noise bleed. This volume escalation risks both hearing damage and monitoring accuracy degradation as excessive levels can distort perception of frequency balance and mix dynamics.

Durability Through Real-World Testing

Extended stress testing through regular gigging provides reliable durability assessment beyond laboratory conditions. The ATH-PRO700MK2 headphones withstand the sometimes-careless handling typical of working DJ conditions—being placed on various surfaces, hung around necks, stored hastily in bags, and generally subjected to the rough life of mobile equipment.

After numerous events involving this treatment, the headphones show minimal physical wear and maintain full functionality. The plastic construction, while initially concerning, proves adequately robust for typical DJ applications. No cracks, breaks, or structural failures develop despite handling that has destroyed lesser headphones.

The detachable cable system particularly proves its value during durability testing, as cable stress that might damage fixed-cable headphones simply results in cable disconnection rather than internal wire damage. This protection mechanism prevents many common headphone failures.

Competitive Positioning and Value

The ATH-PRO700MK2 headphones occupy a mid-range price segment, offering professional features and build quality at costs significantly below flagship DJ headphones. The comparison to substantially more expensive options reveals the Audio-Technica offering as providing excellent value for budget-conscious DJs or those seeking backup headphones.

The bass response, while impressive for the price, doesn’t match the impact of premium offerings, but this difference may prove inconsequential for many users, particularly in contexts where maximum isolation isn’t critical. The build quality and sound performance justify the asking price for users with realistic expectations.

Ideal Use Cases and User Profiles

The ATH-PRO700MK2 headphones serve specific user groups particularly well. Beginning DJs seeking quality headphones without premium pricing find these an excellent entry into professional-grade equipment. The combination of adequate sound quality, good build, and accessible pricing creates an appropriate first serious headphone purchase.

Experienced DJs seeking backup headphones appreciate the value proposition—quality sufficient for professional use at prices allowing backup purchases without excessive investment. Having reliable spare headphones prevents disasters when primary headphones fail mid-event.

Bedroom and practice DJs working in quieter environments where the isolation limitations prove less critical will find these headphones entirely adequate for their needs. The comfort and sound quality support extended practice sessions without the premium pricing of club-oriented models.

Limitations and Compromises

The tight headband clamping force represents the most significant compromise, potentially causing discomfort for users with larger heads during extended wear. This issue proves highly individual—some users might never notice while others find it immediately problematic.

The insufficient isolation for loud professional environments limits utility for club DJs working in high-volume venues. While adequate for many situations, these headphones don’t provide the isolation level that defines top-tier professional DJ headphones.

The plastic construction, while proving adequately durable in testing, might not inspire the same confidence as metal-reinforced alternatives. Users requiring absolute durability assurance might prefer headphones with more obviously robust construction, though the testing suggests such concerns may be unfounded for typical use.

Final Verdict

The Audio-Technica ATH-PRO700MK2 headphones deliver solid performance, good build quality, and appropriate features at accessible pricing. They serve as excellent entry-level professional headphones or reliable backup options while proving entirely adequate for practice and moderate-volume environments.

The emphasized bass response, clear mids, and controlled highs create a sound signature well-suited to DJ applications without extreme coloration. The lightweight, durable construction withstands real-world use while maintaining comfort for reasonable session durations.

For users seeking maximum isolation or ultimate comfort during extended wear, these may not represent ideal choices. However, for beginning DJs, budget-conscious professionals, or anyone needing reliable backup headphones, the ATH-PRO700MK2 offers compelling value.

Understanding their strengths and limitations allows appropriate application where these headphones excel rather than forcing them into scenarios where their compromises prove problematic. Within their intended use cases, they perform admirably at prices that make professional-quality DJ headphones accessible to broader audiences.