CES 2020 - Audio-Technica Announces Three New Wood-Based Hi-Fi Headphones (Available End of March)

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Audio-Technica

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  pformag on 10/01/2020 - 14:26

  405 g, ouch

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    thebadmachine on 10/01/2020 - 14:46

    From my part the price is ouch.
    I was expecting something like $200 / $400 / $800. Instead seems like the range starts at $1099.

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      pformag on 10/01/2020 - 14:48

      +1

      Starting at $1099, you are competing with the Audeze's of the world.

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        thebadmachine on 10/01/2020 - 14:54

        I am assuming that the lightest 243g one is the cheapest.

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        [Deactivated] on 10/01/2020 - 16:47

        AT makes everything from low end to high end closed cans (ATH-Wxxx). They stopped the high end stuff for a couple of years but they're back.

        Audeze started from the top down. Their first major foray into market was the LCD2 and that was already in the four figure market.

        I guess it's all a matter of perspective.

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          thebadmachine on 10/01/2020 - 17:21

          @[Deactivated]: My thoughts were they were making this range all wood:

          - ATH-A550Z

          - ATH-A990Z

          - ATH-W1000Z

          (W1000Z is currently $699 @ StoreDJ fitting a bit better into my pricing thoughts)

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  payton on 10/01/2020 - 17:18

  Paying over $1000 and still being restricted by wires in current year seems … wrong. Its just not the era for it anymore.

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    Agarwal on 10/01/2020 - 18:59

    +1

    Not to mention the threat that termites pose.

    • 

      payton on 10/01/2020 - 19:52

      Be right back, buying naphthalene moth balls now

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    AdosHouse on 10/01/2020 - 21:36

    +1

    If I was buying Audiophile headphones for $1000+, I would want it to be wired.

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      payton on 10/01/2020 - 22:58

      true but a convenient device will get used/listened to a lot more frequently, and will be appreciated more (ie 'worth it')
      in my books anyway.

      I have a Sennheiser HD600 and WH-1000XM3 and the latter is always in the work bag.
      I'm aware some would consider the HD600 is nowhere near audiophile level.
      Plus I already have too much cable clutter as it is.

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        AdosHouse on 11/01/2020 - 02:00

        I completely understand the too much cable clutter thing, my chest of drawers top drawer looks like a cablers nightmare.

        I have a set of Sennheiser HD4.50BTNC which I use when out and about, and they are great for walks/flying/out-and-about. But if I was to get a pair of Audiophile headphones, it probably wouldn't be for out-and-about, especially since most that I see are open-back design, so not really practical for fine listening where there is background noise. More likely to be used in my living room or bedroom with a setup with a DAC/Amp, and where I'm not moving about.

        Not saying there aren't people that what top-tier headphone for on the go though.

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        krisspy on 12/01/2020 - 21:32

        +1

        Different target markets. People who buy these level headphones have multiple dac/amps on their desk along with esoteric cables and snake oils of all asorts. They would not dare to pair these with a portable amp.

        Portable "audiophiles" are using $1000 iems since Bluetooth still compresses the signal even with Ldac.

        TLDR:you can build a low impedence/high sensitive headphone, but "audiophiles" would still run it through esoteric amps.

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  Baa on 10/01/2020 - 21:26

  I bought some custom wood cup headphones from Zmf headphones years ago.

  They are heavy but find I do not get fatigued after long sessions of listening.

  Cost about 700ish