Review this product
- Showing 3 of 3 reviews.
Flag This Review
Link To Review
best purchase
Posted by phileguy from atlanta,ga on 2012-03-15Posted on Audio Technica ATH-AD900
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: good value and sound quality
Cons: big
i was thinking of purchasing sennheiser hd650 coz i listen to it at a local shop and was impressed.My luck when i was about to purchase it a friend of mine have me listen to the audio technica ath-ad900 and what a diference in price and sound i couldn't believed the audio technica ath-ad900 trump the sennheiser hd 650 in terms of sound quality.a difference of $300.00.advise to consumer like me to compare the sound before purchasing and don't be swayed by negative reviews at the end of the day it's your wallet
4 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Even better
Posted by Headphone high from Seattle on 2011-09-26Posted on Audio Technica ATH-AD900
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Realism
Cons: Silly, complicated suspension
Why is it that some designers feel obligated to draw attention to themselves for the wrong reasons? Here we have a superb sounding headphone marred by an absurd physical design. The best way to hang a pair of transducers from a human head was worked out decades ago. At least eight of them. One of those features, so standard on headphones, is horizontal axis pivots for the ear pieces. You will not find any on these cans. Instead, we get to carefully bend the arch tube so that the clamping force is evenly distributed around the circumference of the pads. Which, admittedly, is necessary anyway because the clamping force is too high. But then, I have that problem with other 'phones as well. Fat head. The designer(s) of the ATH-AD900, like those of the AKG-701, apparently feel that the wheel needs to be reinvented by way of a complicated yet useless suspension. Fortunately, the silly wing things are as easy to replace as the suspension of the AKG's and is reversible too. The ear cushions can be coped with as well. I'm referring to the projection at the circumference that puts a pressure point at the rear edge of my jaw. Not at all comfortable. Solution? Twist the cushions and carefully bend those arch tubes. You want comfortable 'phones? The Sennheiser 600s are all that and simple and unpretentious as well. Alas for me, they aint what they used to be sonically. So, I replaced them with the AKGs. Would I have, had I known that what the 701s have, the ATH-AD900s have even more of? I don't know. They make an interesting combination. So much alike, just a matter of degree. They both lack appeal to those who crave in your gut base, but deliver that oh so satisfying sense of presence. If you want to hear every harmonic on a recording, try these. They deliver more than the AKGs, which could be good or bad depending on the recording and your hearing. Their tonal balance/frequency response is equally smooth. At least one reviewer mentioned that some people have reported a lack of ear room. I suppose if you have Prince Charles ears that could be a problem, but I didn't notice it. They are very light, like the AKGs and are louder than the AKGs. My recommendation is dependent on the purchaser's willingness to tweak them structurally. A word about the storage stand. Is that really what it is? I thought it was merely a packing aid, being rather flimsy for long term use.
7 out of 12 people found this review unhelpful. Did you?
Amazing For the Price
Posted by Mark from New Jersey on 2011-05-09Posted on Audio Technica ATH-AD900
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Light, clean sound, comfortable, great value.
Cons: Not for a basshead.
This review is written from the perspective of the Ad900 stock, no external amp or DAC to give readers an idea of what to expect if they buy these without an amp/DAC.
Packaging:
I was rather unimpressed at the packaging a pair of $400 MSRP headphones came with. They come in a cardboard box with a "door" which opens to display the headphones through plastic. It looks rather nice, but it leaves something to be desired. Included was a 1/4'' adapter and a plastic headphone stand. I expected that some extras would be included for the price, perhaps extra ear pads, but just the bare essentials were included. Everything was secure and safe though, and the plastic headphone stand does include the model number which shows when the headphones are placed on them, so it could be worse.
Comfort:
I've worn a lot of headphones and these are definitely one of the most comfortable, especially for long sessions. Once these headphones are placed on your head you will barely notice them, they are that light. The velour ear pads are rather soft and they do not cause any additional heat like leather sometimes does. Some users complain about their ear touching the driver, I had this problem as well when I first got these. It took a bit of experimenting to find the perfect way to wear these, but now my ears fit perfect with the sound actually sounding better in this new fashion than I'd been used to. Overall these headphones are very comfortable and I have no problems wearing these for 8 hours sessions.
Design:
You're either going to love or hate the wing design depending on your head. Some users complain that these are too loose, but these users have found some ways to fix this problem. These headphones are built solidly, no creaks, or loose parts. As for looks, I'll leave that for you to decide, but I think they look great.
Sound Quality:
Best for the price, hands down*. There are no headphones that compare to the clarity, soundstage, and balance these headphones have. I've tried many headphones since I've bought these, and many before I have, but there was always something I felt missing from the music and these headphones have it.
The lows are exactly what I look for in a headphone. They are tight, punchy, accurate, and fast without interfering with the mids. These headphones can keep up with any genre without a problem, from drum and bass to jazz. While I find the bass to be wonderful, it does leave something to be desired when listening to bass heavy genres like dubstep. For every other genre these headphones are more than enough for the average listener in the bass department.
The mids are where these headphones shine. The clarity is simply astounding and there's a brilliant airy quality to it. Though they have an airy quality, they are by no means "laid-back" they are very engaging and aggressive without being in your face. These honestly put Grado's famed mids to shame for me.
The highs are wonderful as well, the mids blend perfectly into them for a fantastic balance. Airy, clear, and accurate are how I would describe the highs, with no sibilance. The highs shine on these without causing fatigue.
The soundstage is one of the best, if not the best, under $500. The sound is vast and airy with fantastic imaging. The instrument separation is phenomenal on these headphones. On a properly recorded album I have no problem picking out each and every instrument at any point during the song.
*Best for the price is highly dependent on how much you're paying for these since the price fluctuates highly. They range from $200-$300 depending on when/where you buy them. For $200 I challenge someone to find me a better all around headphone, for $300 it gets tough, but I still maintain my claim.
Value:
As I said earlier the price on these ranges. For $200 I would snatch these up in a heartbeat if I was purchasing headphones for a friend. For $300 it gets tough, but mostly only because I know they can be found cheaper. These headphones are well built, comfortable, have fantastic sound quality, and come with a stand/adapter. What more can you ask for?
Please keep in mind my ratings are in comparison to similarly priced headphones, not $1,000 headphones.
31 out of 33 people found this review helpful. Did you?
