Japanese autogiant with the speaker called the Audio-Technica was founded in distant 1962, but to this day pleases us with interesting devices. Starting with the production of pickups for phonograph records, the company soon began development of portable turntables and professional microphones. It is now Audio-Technica is more known for its headphones: glory came in 2007, when the company released headphones for monitoring and mixing, ATH-M50.
But today we will not talk about this model (and not the successor to the ATH-M50X). Today’s guest is no less worthy is a full — size headphone ATH-SR9, which will give odds to many competitors in its segment.
Features
- Emitter: 45 mm, dynamic
- Sensitivity: 97 dB
- Impedance: 47Ω
- Frequency range: 5 Hz – 45 kHz
- Cable: removable, with A2DC connectors and remote, 1.2 m
- Microphone type: condenser
- Maximum power: 1500 mW
- Weight: 270 g
The package
For the brand box Audio-Technica is another (already black) box, which conceals the headphones are neatly Packed in a hard case with the logo of the manufacturer.
Actually, the last (and a 3.5 mm cable with the user manual) and is limited package contents ATH-SR9. In the removable ear pads need not here, as in the adaptors, which have in the Arsenal of every audiophile. The presence of removable cable can not but rejoice, because it is a real springboard for experimentation with sound. The cable, incidentally, is equipped with microphone and remote control playback — it provides easy connection of headphones to the smartphone.
Appearance and ergonomics
With than the ATH-SR9 sure no problem, so it is with the design. Headphones produced incredibly efficiently — all parts fit with the precision of a perfectionist, and a large amount of metal in the construction makes it even more reliable. The weight is good, not much affected.
Headband and ear cushions made of leather. The bowls are large in size to even big ear fits in them without a problem — in this feature of models of monotone type. Put them on, and seem to isolate themselves from the rest of the world, alone with music. Due to the high quality of the materials used and decent ergonomics can sit in the headphones, many hours (most importantly, even after that, the head and the ears will not sweat).
The ear pads are moderately hard to and control over the bass was, and wasn’t feeling that low-frequency “hammering in the skull”. A comfortable fit is largely facilitated by the possibility to rotate bowl in both directions. Therefore, this model is suitable for the students with any size head and ears, what can be said about those in-ear headphones.
The Japanese in General lately pleasing design experiments, and it concerns not only audio equipment, and even cars. Design ATH-SR9 admirable at first sight, this balance between convenience and futuristic very difficult to find.
Technology
If you look under the ear pads, you can immediately understand how tech ATH-SR9. The voice coil is wound with wire made from oxygen-free copper OFC-7N for best conductivity and Hi-Res speakers with high-performance magnetic system with iron core to maximize the sound output. Membrane, incidentally, is coated with a special material, Diamond-like Carbon.
The secret of the success model not only in lightweight construction cups, but also in a lack of different rattles (again we must pay tribute to the build quality). The “heart” headphones are a 45-millimeter driver TrueMotion — they are especially precise and smooth work on all frequencies.
But this technological “filling” of the headphone does not end there: not only is the sound at high frequencies is improved through the use of diamond-like carbon coating of the diaphragm, and the speaker acoustically balanced thanks to the technology of the Midpoint Mounting. All of this allowed the engineers at Audio-Technica headphones to the maximum to balance and make them universal.
As sound?
It’s a natural question after such a baggage of the technology used. To unlock the full potential of the ATH-SR9, we decided to use a new product from Astell&Kern portable audio player KANN. Its important that both devices are peers, so the levels are consistent with each other.
Of course, in addition to FLAC, with a few to listen to not want anything more. The tracks are pleasantly surprised by the detail and incredible high frequency — hard to say what the headphones in the segment fulfill them better. MIDs are balanced and clean. The bass is not overloaded: low frequency sound without any accents, what may disappoint fans of hardcore hip-hop. Headphones are clearly designed for versatility, and is undoubtedly the engineers succeeded.
Despite the fact that Astell&Kern KANN many possibilities to customize the sound equalizer for his “services” to resort didn’t have. ATH-SR9 without this sound level — it is just the case when you can connect headphones to the source and not to bother with the settings.
For example, collected a few songs.
Theory of a Deadman — Say Goodbye. If the appearance of the first album of this band had a hand Than Kruger of Nikelback, with the fifth helped himself Alice Cooper. Yes, some of the composition of the group you can safely send to the festival of country music, but clearly not this one — such a bright combination of vocals, bass guitar, jazz and Blues makes shivers up the skin.
Got Take Me To Church. Keen on Church chorales, Blues, jazz and soul Andrew Hozier-Byrne has recorded a sensual song that instantly won the hearts of millions of listeners. This composition allows to understand clearly all the benefits of treble in the ATH-SR9, but I have to give credit to the source.
Benjamin Clementine — Cornerstone. Why not test this couple with one of the best compositions of the musician who draws inspiration from the best authors of the piano — Chopin, Ravel, and Satie? Benjamin Clementine has long been not singing a Cappella, but his vocals makes you listen over and over again tracks one after the other. And I must admit, here is our today’s hero is surprised: piano worked on 5 out of 5, vocals — even better. So their use with classical music is the place to be.
Conclusion
Audio-Technica ATH-SR9 is a very interesting headphone in terms of design and in terms of sound flow. Despite the fact that the model is more universal, it is not devoid of its nature: every time listening to familiar tracks, if you open them from the other side.
It is worth noting that the best such headphones would feel at home or at a recording Studio, but sometimes they can “walk” paired with a smartphone — no wonder the engineers wanted to create a model for everyday use.
Pros
- Crystal clear high frequencies
- Genre versatility
- Comfort
- The quality of the product
Cons
- Brand MMCX connectors instead
- Perhaps too large to be portable
For music lovers who prefer music of different genres and styles, these headphones will certainly be an excellent option. The price they have, of course, relevant, but Japanese quality, however, has never been cheap. All the details from the link below.
Buy Audio-Technica ATH-SR9
Overview headphone Audio-Technica ATH-SR9: portable displays
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