Наушники — Audio-Technica ATH-ADX3000

The ATH-ADX3000 is Audio-Technica's open-air dynamic over-ear model released in Japan on November 1, 2024 as the third model in the ADX family. It takes ideas from the ATH-ADX5000, which launched in 2017 as the first of the brand's so-called true open-air designs, and sells in the United States for USD 999, half the USD 1,999 asked for the ADX5000. The more expensive ATH-ADX7000 now sits above both. Each unit is assembled by hand at the Naruse plant in Machida, Japan, and tested before shipping.

Key specs that matter

A 58 mm driver with a tungsten-coated diaphragm and a pure iron magnetic circuit does all the work. The published response spans 5 to 45,000 Hz, sensitivity of 98 dB/mW, an impedance of 50 ohm and a maximum input of 700 mW. Without its cable the headphone weighs about 257 g. Signal enters through A2DC connector jacks on each earcup, and the supplied detachable lead is 3.0 m long with a gold-plated 6.3 mm stereo plug. A hard case is included, while replacement pads (HP-ADX3000) and a 3.0 m balanced lead, the AT-B1XA/3.0, are sold separately.

Engineering and use context

Closed and semi-open headphones use cavity resonance inside the housing to lift the low end. The ADX approach removes that step - front and back of the housing stay open, and the driver itself is designed to reach the lowest frequencies without an acoustic chamber or duct. The aluminium housing is punched in a honeycomb pattern that blocks side venting to avoid unwanted loss of air pressure. Core Mount Technology, carried over from the ADX5000, sets the baffle damper and pad position so that the voice coil sits where it splits the space between ear and housing into two equal halves. A magnesium alloy frame keeps mass down, and velour pads let air pass around the ear during long sessions.

Pairing

Its sensitivity and modest impedance make the ADX3000 far easier to drive than the ADX5000, so a competent desktop headphone amplifier or a strong portable DAC is adequate. Because the A2DC sockets accept both the standard lead and the optional AT-B1XA/3.0, owners of an amplifier with a balanced output can move to that connection later without changing anything on the headphone itself. The open construction leaks in both directions, which suits quiet rooms at home rather than commuting or shared offices.

Alternatives

The ATH-ADX5000 is the open-air model one step up in the same series, with a 420 ohm impedance and a range reaching 50,000 Hz.