The Apos x Audio-Technica R70x Refine may be sold out, but its special ingredient is back. These Refine ear pads—internally developed by Audio-Technica engineers—were the biggest difference between the original ATH-R70x and the Apos x Refine edition. Thicker, softer, and subtly tuned for warmth, they’re now available on their own. Grab a pair, slip them onto an original R70x, and make your own Refine.

The Refine ear pads are thicker than the originals and made with soft velour that’s gentle on your ears. They spread out pressure and soften the clamp—small changes that add up when you’re hours deep into a listening session.

The thicker pads shift the tuning just a hair warmer and fuller, without crowding out the detail or hurting the soundstage. The character of the original R70x stays intact, but there’s a little more body to the bass and a little more roundness to the mids.

• Material: Velour
• Compatibility: Audio-Technica ATH-R70x
• Dimensions: 175 mm (width) x 95 mm (depth) x 215 mm (height)
• Color: Black
• Attachment method: Slip-on

• 1x Pair of Apos x Audio-Technica R70x Refine ear pads

AN APOS 𝒙 PRODUCT

Apos 𝒙 is the next generation of grassroots products. This headphone is the result of aligning Audio-Technica engineers with community input to create a novel yet customer-focused design.

MEET THE DESIGNERS

Hiromichi Ozawa is the lead engineer for the ATH-R70x Refine headphones. With over 30 years of experience in product development, he’s played a direct role in helping Audio-Technica become Japan’s biggest designer and seller of headphones. “With all Audio-Technica headphones, we aim for a pure sound that allows the character of the original recording to come through,” he said. “This was especially important with the ATH-R70x. Our goal was to create a pair of perfectly balanced reference headphones that would reveal the true nature of the source material.” 

Kazuyuki Iwanaga provided acoustic engineering assistance for the R70x Refine. “The [original] ATH-R70x has set a new standard for open-back reference headphones,” he said. “We are very proud of our success in combining innovative audio technology with features that enhance usability. That focus on fidelity and functionality makes the R70x an ideal pair of headphones.” 

Hiroyasu Suzuki is the product planner behind the Apos x Audio-Technica ATH-R70x Refine headphones. With a background in designing both consumer and professional audio gear, including the popular ATH-M50x, Suzuki aimed to create open-back headphones that deliver a natural, speaker-like sound. 

APOS 𝒙 CREDITS

Audio-Technica Team

Hiromichi Ozawa, Lead Engineer

Kazuyuki Iwanaga, Acoustic Engineer 

Hiroyasu Suzuki, Product Planner 

John Tarulli, Hi-Fi Sales Manager 

Pat Ritter, Product Manager 

Apos Team

Tom Mounce

John Soriano 

Kunal Kumar

Sean Flynn

Peter Carelli

Steven Hortizano

Community Participants

These affiliates, influencers, and audiophiles gave us early feedback that helped refine the final version of the product. If you’d like to participate in future launches, fill out our form. 

Dave the Honest Audiophile

Gadgetry Tech

Wave Theory

Troy Walker

Christian Tanimoto, III 

Brendyn Chao

Nick Hutchins

Special Thanks

Head-Fi Forum

FAQs

Are these pads compatible with the R50x?

They're somewhat compatible with the R50x. They fit, just not as securely as with the R70x line. They can be rotated/shifted once installed, which isn't ideal. 

Are they compatible with the R30x?

No. They fit, technically, but they're extremely loose. We wouldn't recommend them.