Audio Technica ATH-EQ300M WH White | Ear-Fit Headphones (Japan Import)

Audio Technica ATH-EQ300M clip-on15 year old me from the mid '90s got nostalgic for the old clip-ons I used to have when my EDC was a Mini-disc player or CD walkman so I went looking. I have several AT products and these tickled my fancy (though I couldn't get that tasty brown color). I just got the blue ones so here's my initial reaction.Packaging: clear stuff, good, end.Pros: Single side cable (behind the neck)*8.10, great color*, super light 10/10, good fit (for me) 9/10, sound 8/10Cons: Single-side cable should lead from one pod, not split partway down the cable (experienced opinion); things your fingers touch should NOT be shiny surfacesMeat and potatoes is these sound at least as good as any clip type headphone I've ever used, and I've used a lot. You're not going to get bass-head punch from them, but bass is intelligible. Mids aren't boomy, vocals are clear and crisp, sibilance is well controlled, cymbals are bright but controlled. Highs are a bit muted but clear enough for casual listening. Overall, this is a fairly flat response curve with a slight bump in the mids comparatively.There is a definite presence if you're sitting near these. How deliciously '90s!After a few minutes wearing them, the only reason I know they're on my head is Unleash the Archers' "The Matriarch" blasting my ear holes with a very pleasant casual listening experience as I write this. 10/10 recommend for casual listeners who don't have to worry about anyone nearby.My qualifications to review audio gear: I'm an audiophile and former novice audio engineer. I typically listen to Fiio FH5's, a $300+ IEM when I bought them, on a Hi-Res DAP, or one of various pairs of KZ IEMs. For desktop use I've got a Mackie M-Caster or Fiio K3 running FLAC files to a pair of Mackie CRX3 monitors.

For their price, these are excellent headphones. I prefer these to AirPods, and having them hang around your neck is awesome. The pros and cons:Pros:-the price is excellent for what they are. Other similar Audio Technical headphones of this type are around $100-200, and while those are slightly better, they’re not nearly good enough to justify the price.-decent audio quality. I’d say they’re around the same if not a bit below what I’d expect for a normal pair of AirPods. They’re definitely walking headphones; they’re just meant for causal listening. If you’re a true audiophile, this probably isn’t for you.-I really love the style, they’re definitely unique and pretty sleek, especially if you wear them around your neck as intended. They definitely stand out; whether that’s a pro or con is up to you.Cons:-the audio bleeds a lot. You can’t (or shouldn’t) blare music on these, because it’ll inevitably annoy everybody around you. Like I said, they’re definitely walking headphones; they let in a lot of surrounding sound, which isn’t necessarily bad, but it’s a con if you want an isolated sound experience. These are definitely meant for lower-volume, more chill experiences.-comfort varies by headphone. I’ve bought 2 pairs; my first pair had a bit of a plastic burr on one of the clips, which made listening pretty uncomfortable. After they broke (my fault) I got a second pair with no plastic burr, and they were 100x more comfortable, I could (and do) wear them for hours on end. This could easily be solved with some fine sandpaper, but something to mention.-the little sliding cable-managing plastic bit that shortens the length of the headphones is really flimsy, it slides around pretty often. Again, not a huge deal, and some glue would probably help it.Overall: definitely recommend if it’s something that appeals to you. They’ve got flaws, but if you kinda dig these weird but cool headphones, then 100% go for it, it’s an awesome experience for the low price.

These seem to be the best over-ear clip headphones out there, for the price.AUDIO: Fantastic. Better than most in-ear headphones.Note that (as should be expected) there's no noise cancellation. This is actually a pro for me, as I don't need to remove them to listen for cars or people; just turn down the music a bit. However, this does mean they are awful in loud areas, especially on airplanes.They may leak when used at high volumes, but not as badly as other models.CASING: Thin, light, and aesthetic.I can sleep on these. I often even forget I'm wearing them.The pads are comfortable and sturdy. I've had them tear maybe once -- far sturdier than other headphones.The shell is nice and looks pricier than it is (it has sort of a subtle sparkle, like new car paint). The darker models do fingerprint easily, however.The width is nearly identical to that of the Panasonic RP-HZ47, but the thinner clips and lower hinge make for a much comfier fit.CLIPS: Comfy, but EXTREMELY cheap and delicate.Although they used to last me a year or two, the newer models seem to break along the hinge and only last me 1-3 months with daily (but gentle) use. I once even received a defective pair out of the box. I can usually superglue the plastic tips back together, but it'll only hold for another few days before snapping again.CORD: Lengthy, relatively sturdy.The cord is long enough that I have to stuff a few extra coils in my pocket along with my phone. (I don't have an exact measurement, unfortunately.) If you're using this for running, you'll definitely need to keep it out of the way so it doesn't catch on things.Also, it is not your usual Y-shaped cord, but more of an L- shaped one. I actually prefer this since the cord tucks behind your neck and out of the way, but it also means there's a little more tension on the left headphone.However, the cord is pretty sturdy compared to other clip headphones I've tried. The clips always break before the cord futzes out.