What Hi-Fi? Verdict
A classic audio name beats younger pretenders for quality
Pros
- +
Good tonal balance
- +
clear treble
- +
controlled bass
Cons
- -
Not quite as good as the best
Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.
We were struck by déjà-vu when we saw these new TDKs.
And not for the first time: like the memorably named Fanny Wangs before them, these portable on-ears seem to owe a debt to the Beats Solos, particularly in the design of the headband and earcups.
Still, there’s nothing wrong with imitating a design if it’s a good one – the TDKs look classy and feel solid. That headband squeezes fairly tightly, but the earcups twist to make sure the fit is comfy.
What’s more, these ST700s sound better than both the Beats and the Wangs.
They’re tonally balanced, with clear treble, controlled bass and direct vocals, though not quite that of the very best rivals.
There’s pace and definition to them, but not at the expense of listenability – a solid four stars it is, then.
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