Audio-Technica makes another entry into their ATH-Sport series with the new ATH-Sport3 headphones. We’ve actually had these in the office since CES back in January when we visited the Audio-Technica booth and snagged a review pair, as well as getting a tour of their full product line. Audio-Technica had a very sport centric booth with people running on treadmills, riding bikes, and even rock climbing. The ATH-Sport3 set that we demoed and received for review were the most interesting addition to the already well-respected line of headphones that we saw.
Sure, these look like your standard in-ear headphones, but looks can be deceiving as they are more than just that. The ATH-Sport3 headphones are designed for those that spend large portions of their days in the gym or working out. The headphones are designed to stay with you, in that the around the ear portion of the cable is completely adjustable. This flexible memory cable means that these headphones will provide a custom and secure fit to anyone regardless of the shape of their ears, or the type of workout they do. I’ve often dreaded going out for a run, or jumping on my stationary bike with a pair of headphones because of the fact that they would always fall out.
People that partake in any sort of active workout will know what I mean. Just take a look around you next time you are at the gym and see how many people are playing with their headphones, constantly readjusting them and getting frustrated because they were thrown off of their groove mid set. Those days are now behind you because the ATH-Sport3 headphones will stay in place no matter what you are doing. Not only will they stay, but once you get them adjusted to the shape of your ears you’ll quickly forget that they are even there. With the multiple included sets of interchangeable standard ear-tips (XS/S/M/L) that help with sound isolation, to the ridged ear-tips (S/M/L) that allow some ambient noise in for outdoor safety, the ATH-Sport3 may just be the most comfortable pair of headphones you ever wear.
Sure, you could go for a pair of Bluetooth headphones over a wired pair like these, but I’ve yet to find a reliable and comfortable pair of Bluetooth headphones for a workout environment. Couple that with the fact that they need constant charging, tend to drop signal, and run well over a hundred bucks (price is always a concern to the average consumer), it’s hard to justify not sticking with a great wired pair like these.
The sound quality is pretty solid, especially with the custom ear-tips that let you pick the right size for you. The ATH-Sport3 headphones feature 10 mm drivers to provide crisp and clear sound. As most people reading this are regular people and not audiophiles (I still doubt most of those “audiophiles” can tell the real difference with most headphones) you can take my word that these provide solid sound, but I’ll get into some more specifics.
The ATH-SPORT3 are dynamic headphones and feature a frequency response range of 10 -25,00 Hz. They will be able to handle a maximum input power of 200 mW (for us laymen that’s enough to blow your eardrums out at full phone volume) and have a sensitivity of 102 dB/mW. They also feature an impedance of 16 ohms and weigh a surprising low 9.5 grams even with those neat adjustable around ear cables.
As these are headphone designed for working out, you’ll expect them to hold up under some series sweat, especially if you have a lot of hair like me. The good news is that they have been lab tested and certified with a waterproof rating of IPX5. While this doesn’t make them completely waterproof (don’t take these snorkeling), they are rated high enough to be washed with running water. That means it’s a breeze to clean them after a long workout and leaves you worry free from any sweat damage. They also have a little clip that you can attach to you shirt to help keep the cables out of the way.
Running for $59.95 online, the ATH-Sport3 headphones are a pretty good deal for those looking for a great pair of active life headphones. While I have laid praise on these little guys, and I still use them regularly a number of months in, they aren’t free from some minor issues. Yes, these are the most comfortable in-ear headphones that I have ever worn, but that comfort comes at a cost.
The ATH-Sport3 headphones can be a real pain in the rear to get on your ears. I know that sounds crazy, but I still sometimes have trouble getting the flex cables to sit right on my ears.When you have the flex cables extended it’s hard to tell what set goes in what ear and the cable itself can lead to some clumsy handling. This is more of a personal issue and your issues may vary, but I have to mention it since it did happen on more than a few occasions. The flexible cable also has this annoying habit of arching slightly over where you want them from time to time.
It should also be noted that there is no volume control or mic on the ATH-Sport3 headphones. I don’t much mind not having a mic (although it makes taking a call a hassle), but not having a dedicated volume button is annoying when some songs on my playlist are at different levels. Not being able to move my hand to a small button and instead having to pull out my phone is just a pain. Audio-Technica also claim that the asymmetrical cable design helps prevent tangles, but I didn’t really notice much of a difference over standard earphones.
Those minor grips aside, it’s hard to find any real fault with these headphones. They are made exceptionally well, ooze quality, and have a stylish look to match your favorite workout ensemble. The price point is adequate, although I feel it’s a tad on the high side without any volume controls, but not enough to turn me away from recommending a pair. The included carry case is also great because it’s small enough to toss in your bag while keeping all your ear buds in place and you headphones safe from damage.
The SonicSport Audio-Technica ATH-Sport3 headphones are built to last and are the best workout specific in-ear headphones that you’ll find out there right now.
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