The Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7B SVIS Noise-Cancelling are average headphones with decent audio reproduction. They deliver good bass but struggle with higher tones and isolation. The poor noise cancellation and seal lets sound enter and escape the ear cups relatively easily, which is not ideal for commuting or office environments.
Our Verdict
These headphones do not excel in any use case. They struggle with subpar noise isolation and leakage. They also have a dull sound quality.
-
Decent audio reproduction.
-
Decently stable design.
-
Poor noise isolation.
-
Leaks a lot of sound.
-
Limited audio controls.
Below-average for critical listening. They have a lackluster sound and their closed back design limits their soundstage.
Mediocre at best for commuting. The noise canceling is weak and struggles in loud environments, which is not ideal for the level of noise involved in commuting.
Mediocre for sports. They're relatively lightweight. However, they're a bit cumbersome and unstable for strenuous exercises.
Subpar for office use. They leak quite a bit and do not isolate much. You will still be able to hear the chatter of a busy office.
Average for home theater use. They have a somewhat decent sound for listening to music and watching movies. They also have no latency since they're wired. However, they have a short audio cable, so unless you have an extension cord they won't be ideal for comfortably watching movies from your couch.
- 6.2 Mixed Usage
- 6.3 Critical Listening
- 6.3 Commute/Travel
- 6.0 Sports/Fitness
- 6.0 Office
- 6.7 Home Theater
- Updated Mar 10, 2016: Review published.
- Updated Mar 08, 2016: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Mar 01, 2016: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
Test Results
The ANC7b SVIS look good but offer nothing out of the ordinary with their style. The oval ear cups have a simple, two-tone silver and black color scheme. The matching headband is also black, with silver accents from the metal frame.
The SVIS provide moderate comfort. They are fairly lightweight and the ear cups swivel, which makes them more adjustable. However, the headband does not extend far enough for larger heads, the over-ear cups do not encompass the entire ear and the padding is stiff and uncomfortable.
Button layout and functionality is simple and basic. There's only one easy-to-use noise cancelling switch on the ear cup. The remaining control option is the call/music button relegated to the inline control of the cable. It's functional but the lack of volume control is slightly disappointing.
These headphones are decently stable but will fall off your head while running. The ATH-ANC 7b sivs do not apply enough pressure to your head, which causes the slightly large ear cups to sway when doing any high-intensity activity. They're able to maintain a stable fit during casual listening sessions but are not designed for sports. On the upside, they have a detachable cable that will not pull the headphones off your head if it gets hooked on something.
The ATH-ANC 7b SIVS are mid-sized over ear headphones. Their earcups swivel and lay flat to take up less space, and they're smaller than some other over-ear models, which makes them somewhat portable. Sadly, they do not fold up into a more compact format. They will fit in a bag but are too large and cumbersome to fit into pocket or purse.
Comes with a sturdy hard case that's covered in fabric and will protect the headphones from scratches and falls. The case does add a little bit of bulk to the headphones, though, which means you may need a bag to carry them in. On the upside, the case is large enough to carry all the provided accessories for these headphones.
The ANC7b SVIS' build quality is mediocre. The headband is lightly padded and reinforced with a thin metal frame. It's flexible and feels solid enough to handle a few drops, however, the ear cups feel cheap and plastic. The material used for the padding is stiff and the plastic joints are potential weak points. The cables provided are also quite thin and do not feel durable.
Comes with three cables; a 1/8" TRRS-TRRS with call/music but no volume control. Two 1/8" TRS-TRS with no in-line controls
- Audio Technica ATH-ANC7b-SVIS headphones
- Audio cables(x3)
- Airline adapter
- Carrying case
- AAA batteries
- 1/8" to 1/4" Adapter
Poor performance, especially in the bass region, where there's virtually no isolation below 100Hz. The mid and treble performances are also below average, maxing out at around -20dB and -30dB respectively.
Poor performance. The leakage is both loud and broadband, extending from 400Hz-5KHz, which covers the major components of vocals/lead instruments. This is most likely due to the poor seal of the pads.
The ATH-ANC7B SVIS has a great battery life of about 52 hours. This makes them decent headphones to use on a long flight or road trip as you're not forced to change the triple AAA battery throughout the day. Unfortunately, they can't be used without the battery, and do not have any battery saving features like an auto-off timer.