Our Verdict
They perform moderately well in most uses and make for decent everyday headphones.
- Great audio reproduction.
- Very little leakage.
- Poor noise isolation.
- Lacking control options.
- In-ear design may not be for everyone.
Average for neutral listening. These headphones have a decent audio reproduction but the closed-back in-ear design lacks a little openness for neutral listening.
The small portable build and the typical in-ear fit is adequate for commuting, but the active isolation is a little weak.
Decent for sports use. They have an above-average stable fit and are also small enough to carry around on your person everywhere you go.
Mediocre for office use. They won't block the chatter of a busy office, and the in-ear fit isn't always comfortable for long listening sessions.
Changelog
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated Feb 16, 2018: Converted to Test Bench 1.2.
- Updated Aug 10, 2017: Converted to Test Bench 1.1.
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Test Results
The ATH-ANC23 look average and a little cheap in their design. The black ear buds are angled and have a dark grey finish, with a subtle Audio Technica logo branded on the back. The control module is also black and relatively small, with a slight silver accent for the 'on/off' switch.
The ATH-ANC23 QuietPoint offer nothing out of the ordinary for a more comfortable or stable fit. The comfort level is therefore about the same as that of any other in-ear design, which means it varies from listener to listener, depending on the fit.
Button layout and functionality are underwhelming. The control module has only two controls: a volume dial and an on/off switch for noise cancelling. There are no other controls, which means no call/music button or dedicated in-line controls to skip tracks, which is disappointing.
The ATH-ANC 23 are very portable in-ear headphones. They don't take too much space and will comfortably fit in a pocket, bag or purse. However, these are noise cancelling headphones, so they have a control module that makes the headphones a little bulkier when folded than regular passive in-ear headphones.
Comes with a soft, drawstring pouch that will protect the headphones from scratches and minor falls. It doesn't add much bulk, and it's small enough to fit into a jacket pocket or purse. However, the soft pouch won't protect the headphones from physical stress, hard falls, and water damage.
Build quality is average. The control module is relatively small and lightweight and has an easy-to-reach battery compartment. However, the plastic design of both the control module and the earbuds feels a little cheap and susceptible to wear and tear. The cabling is also thin and could have been more rubberized to increase durability.
The ATH-ANC23 have a very similar fit to the ATH-ANC33iS. They're stable enough for casual listening sessions and moderate physical activity but not enough for high-intensity exercises. Also, the long cable and control module can easily get hooked on something and pull the headphones out of your ears.
- Audio Technica ATH-ANC23 Heaphones
- Airline adapter
- Extra earbud tips (x3 sizes)
- AAA battery
- Carrying pouch
- Manual
Sub-par performance. Although these headphones isolate sound throughout the spectrum, their performance is below average in all three of the frequency bands.
Good performance. The leakage profile is rather high-frequency and narrow (from 3kHz-8kHz). At high volumes, the leakage will be quite audible, but will mostly consist of sibilant sounds (S and T).
No compatible app.
