Audio-Technica’s ATH-E70, ATH-E50, and ATH-E40 professional In-Ear Monitors (IEM) are a direct response to the market suddenly being flooded by in-earphones, including many developed and manufactured by fabless lifestyle brands, which also claim to answer the needs of professional musicians or audio engineers. The three new IEM’s from Audio-Technica don’t need to claim anything and are actually quite nice for “non-professionals” as well.
The new E-Series Professional In-Ear Monitors from Audio-Technica includes three new models with serious technology and great design which will obviously respond to the needs of those target groups, which the company knows very well. Not surprisingly, after the engineers where done with the design, the marketing team apparently decided that the best way to sell the new IEM’s would be to appeal directly to the popularity of their ATH-M50 headphones (again). Hence the claim that the new E-Series in-ear monitors have the “acclaimed sonic signature of the Audio-Technica M-Series, now adapted to an in-ear design” - whatever that would mean… A claim as relevant as saying “the new IEM’s are compatible” with the existing A-T M2 and M3 IEM wireless transmitter and receiver systems, as well as third-party systems.” Well… It’s true, as long as they have a mini-jack.
Audio-Technica designs transducer technology for over 50 years and its new E-Series Professional In-Ear Monitors (IEM) will certainly satisfy the needs of “demanding sound professionals and musicians from the studio to the stage to the DJ Booth”, without “the critically acclaimed sonic signature of the M-Series”.
The new ATH-E70 is the flagship in-ear monitor model in the E-Series and features three balanced armature drivers (yes, three should be fine) to provide accurate and extended response across the entire frequency range, and features flexible memory cable loops over ears for a custom fit and long-wearing comfort. The ATH-E70 have a specially designed housing to provide maximum isolation, and a detachable cable for durability and optimized audio performance. It includes a carrying case, silicone eartips and Comply foam eartips. According to Audio-Technica’s marketing guys this is not enough and the ATH-E70’s also offer “accuracy and detail allow precise balancing of the mix, making it the perfect choice for monitoring on stage and ENG mixing in the studio”, and of course offer “high-resolution audio and an accurate sound stage”. The press release also says “this model is designed for sound professionals who demand the best.” OK.
The next model is the ATH-E50, a single balanced armature design which is still able to provide an accurate full-range response, featuring also flexible memory cable loops over ears and a specially designed housing to provide maximum isolation, detachable cable, a carrying case and silicone eartips (users have have to buy the Comply foams themselves - which should not be a problem). According to the official press release, the ATH-E50 IEM’s offer ”excellent isolation that ensures confident, comfortable stage performance.” No problem with that claim. More complicated is the next statement, saying the ATH-E50’s “address the evolution of modern music production, and that “this model also excels at providing a consistent reference in every sonic environment, making it the ideal choice for the producer on the road.” Hum… 
Finally, we have the ATH-E40, with a proprietary dual phase push-pull driver design “which improves fidelity and efficiency.” The ATH-E40 “delivers powerful bass along with balanced mid and high frequencies to convey the full emotion of the music from the stage to the street.” Basically, it means these are the “el cheapos” in the new range, using a nice but normal dynamic driver, keeping the same flexible memory cable loops over ears, specially designed housing, detachable cable, carrying case and silicone eartips.When we understand that the prices of these new E-Series professional IEM earphones will be $399.00 for the ATH-E70 flagship model, $199.00 for the ATH-E50 and only $99 for the ATH-E40, suddenly, everything makes more sense. Other “professional IEMs” and high-end balanced armature earphones with equivalent claims, can cost from $500 to $3000 and are probably not able to match the “acclaimed sonic signature” of the ATH-M50 headphones - even if that’s probably not a good thing. The new Audio-Technica E-Series will be available March 2016.
www.audio-technica.com
