Audio-Technica today announced the introduction of its SonicPro ATH-MSR7 Over-Ear Hi-Res Audio Headphones, designed to deliver the highest level of accuracy and musical realism from high-resolution audio and other top-quality source material. The smartphone-compatible ATH-MSR7 incorporates a host of newly developed design innovations including Audio-Technica’s exclusive True Motion Drivers to deliver extraordinary detail, clarity and imaging with a natural tonal balance and extended dynamic range. The headphones will be available in black (ATH-MSR7BK) and gun metal (ATH-MSR7GM). “With the move towards high-resolution audio as the source material of choice for consumers, it’s especially important to listen using headphones that can reproduce all the musical nuances and fidelity that Hi-Res Audio, DSD and other uncompressed and lossless digital formats can deliver,” said Greg Pinto, Audio-Technica Vice President of Marketing and Consumer Sales. “Audio-Technica has always been known for our standard-setting studio monitor headphones, like the ATH-M50x, and the ATH-MSR7 brings studio reference-quality sound to listeners who want to hear their favorite music – and all high-resolution audio – at its very best.” The ATH-MSR7 features Audio-Technica’s new True Motion Drivers, which employ an exclusive 45 mm driver with a lightweight, highly responsive voice coil and diaphragm. The ATH-MSR7’s Multi-Layer Air Damping Technology utilizes a two-layer aluminum/magnesium housing that provides a lightweight yet rigid structure for the drivers to reduce unwanted internal vibrations that could color the sound. Within the multi-layer structure are three precisely placed air vents that control the airflow to provide greater dynamics and sonic impact. The housing is specially shaped to “mirror” the physical structure of the ear to enhance low-frequency sounds. In addition, the ATH-MSR7 incorporates a mesh acoustic resistor that improves high-frequency response, and a low-frequency acoustic resistor for extended, accurate bass. The sonic result is a smooth, richly detailed, powerful and spacious sonic presentation that completely immerses listeners in the high-resolution audio experience. Complementing its superlative sound quality, the ATH-MSR7 is designed for total comfort. Its cushioned, soft, memory foam earpads fit securely yet comfortably around the ears and its flexible swivel design and padded headband facilitate a perfect fit for any wearer. The ATH-MSR7 is ideal for use with any music system or playback device whether it’s a home stereo, laptop, portable music player or smartphone. The headphones are supplied with a detachable 4-foot smartphone-compatible cable with an integrated controller and microphone that let the wearer answer phone calls and control music/video playback from compatible smartphones and other devices, including Android™-based systems, iPhone®, iPad® and iPod®. The ATH-MSR7 also comes with a standard 4-foot and 10-foot cable and a carrying pouch. The Audio-Technica SonicPro ATH-MSR7 Over-Ear High-Resolution Audio Headphones will be available in March 2015 at a suggested U.S. retail price of $249.95. They are covered by a two-year warranty. In Brief: The Move to Hi-Res Audio While many listeners may believe that high-resolution audio came along with the introduction of the Compact Disc in 1982, constraints on the disc’s storage space always prevented CD audio (standardized at 44.1 kHz/16-bit) from fully and completely reproducing the original recorded sound. The advent and subsequent popularity of MP3s only made this problem more pronounced – the necessary compression of these files causes audio information to be lost, thus greatly reducing the audio quality. But with lossless audio file formats, faster Internet speeds, and storage space increasingly easy to come by (and in ever-smaller packages), the push is on to create audio equipment capable of capturing and reproducing true Hi-Res Audio, generally considered to be 96 kHz/24-bit or better. The Hi-Res Audio logo certifies that a product meets the Hi-Res Audio standards. Per these standards, headphones must have transducer frequency performance to at least 40 kHz. As a producer of these types of audiophile headphones since 1972, Audio-Technica is well-positioned to provide audio solutions that meet the demands of Hi-Res Audio media formats, allowing for the full reproduction of their extended sonic characteristics. Celebrating over 50 years of audio excellence, Audio-Technica is renowned worldwide for a broad range of consumer and professional audio products, including high-performance headphones, microphones, wireless systems, turntables and phono cartridges. Winner of numerous industry awards, Audio-Technica designs and manufactures products that set quality, durability and price/performance standards for major concert tours, broadcast and recording studios, corporate and government facilities, theaters, house-of-worship venues, and consumer applications. Learn more at www.audio-technica.com. — For more information on the complete range of Audio-Technica products, contact Karen Emerson or Crystal Griffith, Audio-Technica U.S., Inc., 1221 Commerce Drive, Stow, OH 44224. Tel: (330) 686-2600; Fax: (330) 688-3752. — For further information regarding product availability and pricing in the United Kingdom, please contact Harvey Roberts (hroberts@audio-technica.co.uk) or visit our media centre at www.starscreamcommunications.com; in Germany, please contact Anja Groth (a.groth@audio-technica.de); in the rest of Europe, please contact Evangéline Pirot (epirot@audio-technica-europe.com). Android is a trademark of Google Inc. iPhone, iPad and iPod are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.