Buying Audio-Technica ATH-AWKT Closed-Back Headphones for ~A$1850

Lexar ANZ Chris on 30/05/2022 - 09:59

Moved to Forum: Original Link

Not sure if a 3500 dollar headphone dropped to 1850 is considered a deal or not, because it's definately still not affordable for most. But to me I found it's quite a discount.

In 2019 Audio Technica released 2 of the new flagship close back wood headphones.
They are ATH-AWKT, roughly selling for 3500 AUD, the other one is around 2000 AUD, a lower model called ATH-AWAS, despite the obvious different wood they use in the making of the wood cup, they also have different specs.
because the kokutan wood is extremely rare and is endangered, I heard from few friends that they are not going to make more of ATH-AWKT.

Audio Technica cleared out last batch of stock in Japan, only the AWKT not the little brother AWAS, and most likely there won't be anymore stock coming. I called few local dealer in Australia, few told me there is no ETA on stock, some say they might see more stock in August, not sure if it's true.
regardless, right now you can find in few places in Japan it's selling for 142k JPY (roughly 1420 AUD before shipping).

If you have a friend in Japan, you can get this around 1600 bucks depending on the exchange rate.

But if you don't have friends there, you can now find them on ebay shipping from Japan for around 1800 bucks. (depending on exchange rate), thus the title.

I recently sold my focal utopia and sony MDR-Z1R, and in desperate need to replace with something unique, was tossing between Audeze LCD series or fostex th900 mk2.
Until I came across this Audio Technica.

I eventually got it shipped to me with the help of a dear friend, it's arriving on 31st May (tomorrow).
Once it's here, allow me few days to test it, and then I'm open to answer more detailed question about this headphone.

Because of it's rarity, not many people have posted many things on internet about this headphone.

Here is one of the few reviews you can find on internet:
https://www.lbtechreviews.com/test/headphones/audio-technica…

Related Stores

Rakuten JP

• 

  Lexar ANZ Chris on 30/05/2022 - 10:06

  Note:

  Please don't waste time on Rakuten and try register and get it delivered to you.
  They used to ship globally, but now they don't ship to overseas locations.

  You either need someone to help you or choose ebay or find a agent.

  • 

    pharkurnell on 30/05/2022 - 10:14

    but now they don't ship to overseas locations
    aweeeeeeeee shucks… im disappointed.

  • 

    nismo on 30/05/2022 - 14:03

    You haven't ever looked into freight forwarding?

    Good that you have a friend, but you can get stuff shipped from Japan fairly easily with a FF.

    Buyee, Shipito, shopmate, Tenso. Etc

    I've used some of these in the past and there was a recent OzB on one of them. Can't find it atm

    • 

      nismo on 30/05/2022 - 14:05

      Post was this one https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/695290

      But, ah maybe Buyee is limited to certain stores now.

    • 

      Lexar ANZ Chris on 30/05/2022 - 14:05

      I did look into freight forwarding and agent option.
      but it works out around same price as buying from ebay.
      you can try get your forwarder to buy a 142k JPY headphone.
      it works out around 1800-1900 AUD delivered.
      might as well use ebay

      • 

        nismo on 30/05/2022 - 14:06

        Yeah, fair enough. I'm not usually spending that kind of money, so haven't compared options.

        Also, I have family in Japan if I get desperate! 😁

• 

  pharkurnell on 30/05/2022 - 10:11

  Probably quite a discount as nobody was dumb enough to pay 3500 for em.

  • 

    Lexar ANZ Chris on 30/05/2022 - 10:17

    All stock in AU sold out, and most of the stock in US sold out too, I see plenty stock still in China but they are still around 3500.

    You can only find this price in Japan and only drop to this recently.
    And if not surprise there won't be anymore of this model.

• 

  syd on 30/05/2022 - 10:46

  Hey Chris - do post a follow up after it's burned in.
  I've got a pair of Utopias as well, and keen to see your review.

  • 

    Lexar ANZ Chris on 30/05/2022 - 11:14

    Will do…but I have to say, after Utopia, nothing amazes me anymore.

  • 

    Lexar ANZ Chris on 02/06/2022 - 17:51

    Now I had it for few days…I can comment a little bit about it.
    English is not my first language, so please bear me.

    TLDR
    it's not worth 3500 dollars, there are some technical flaws to this headphone, but at around 1800 bucks it is a very strong competitor against LCD-XC or MDR-Z1R and similiar close back headphone even if you don't consider the properties other than sound. However if you like wooden products, you like the brand or you like rare and relatively collectible electronics, this would be a very good buy at around 2K (including imort tax etc)

    Ok longer version:

    at this moment, this headphone AWKT sits on top of entire Audio Technica lineup, it is the flagship model.

    My miniumn expectation is this is a close back version of ADX5000.

    I often feel Audio Technica doesn't know what audiophile wants, and trying too hard to please average user, rather than trying to reproduce the source and present a natual sound, they always trying too hard to make their headphone sound different and likeable. it makes commercial sense, but I personally not a fan. I want it to expose my source, raw and realistic, however a bit of tune to make things sounds natural is also appreciated.
    For the same reason I sold Z1R and didn't like Fostex. It's a common problem with Japanese headphones.

    So my most unrealistic expectation would be a revolutionized Audio Technica headphone that stopped trying to be likeable and different, focus only on producing the most natural sound.

    My testing rig including:
    the Sony gold brick
    SPL phonitor e
    Vinyl via Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol Z2
    Vinyl via Cambridge Audio Axr100
    Rodercaster Pro (for music, streaming, gaming and phone calls even)

    In terms of sounds.
    Average user would very much enjoy the detail and remarkable sound stage.
    For more experienced user, it does still come with strong Audio Technica signatures.
    Very bright sounding, high on tremble, but very controlled in bass.

    But comapre to their own ADX5000, I would say AWKT is more like a consumer model where ADX5000 is a professional model.
    The tune is too much to a point I think it's not smooth and realistically representing the source.
    Especially towards the higher side of the midrange, it's not smooth.
    ADX5000 is very smooth, this is not, however upon trying EQ it a bit, I would say the issues of AWKT has less to do with the hardware.

    I don't want to sound too negative, at this point, I'm judging it only by it's sound and I am consider it to be a 3500 dollar headphone not a sub 2000 AUD headphone.

    It's still very detailed, there are a lot to like about how this headphone can present acoustic music.

    But to me, it's way too artificial. This is pretty much the opposite of what Focal Utopia is.

    However you need time to like or dislike a Focal. But this one you can sense the difference very quickly.
    It only take me few albums to give me the conclusion that this is a expensive normie headphone, not the well positioned audiophile flagship Audio Technica I was hoping for. Can be fixed with EQ, but I am dissappointed…
    as mentioned at the start, I thought it would be a close back ADX5000.
    or something greater.
    But no, it's a Audio Technica trying to make a wood headphone that sounds like sennhiser HD800s and even go out there way to tune it more like HD800s.
    The end result is a exaggerated Audio Technica signature sound that is unatural

    if you don't have any expectation, to be fair, it's a very clear and detailed Japanese style sound, very light on the bass and focus on midrange and highend.
    Questionable tuning, but solid hardware performance nonetheless.

    ---

    By sound, it's a dissappointment for 3500, for 2000, I can't say it's better than LCD-XC.
    Why buy this over MDR-Z1R, or LCD-XC?

    Well…other than sound, this headphone has so many intangibles (or maybe it's tangibles).

    It's extremely well presented. The wooden box with silk cover is just good for camera from any angle.

    The wooden cup doesn't impress me all that much, it was polished too much, I'd rather have a raw, scratching hand polished wood cup that have imperfections but genuine.

    But I can't pick any fault in this headphone's build quality.
    And the whole package and open box experience is second to none.

    it's beautiful headphone, even smells very good (for few minutes and now it's smells like my face)

    Ear pads are a bit smaller than my ear, I have to put a tip of my ear into the ear pad to not feel anything.

    The head band does hurt my skull after a very long gaming session. But generally this headphone is very very comfortable.

    With few mods it will be as comfortable as Utopia but much lighter.

    in the wooden box they have a bag containing two cables, I am disspointed it's not a leather bag.

    It comes with the 6.3mm and a XLR cable.
    both of which are just plastic cable, good quality ones, but not braided wire.

    overall it presents very well.
    as much as I love Utopia, it's not a headphone I would bring out to walk around.

    This one is light enough, comfortable enough, and easy enough to drive for me to bring it around with me using the Sony gold brick.

    Can't say much the same on few of it's competitors.

    Conclusion.

    I think if someone just started burning money in this expensive hobby, spending 2k on this one is absolutely recommended. But only when you want something different and not HD800s. (and close back)

    You don't need any specific equipment to make it sound good, but it's better to EQ it to your liking if you know what you doing.
    changing devices doesn't give me a sense that it's different now.

    And if you already have some devices, and is an audiophile.
    Don't put too much hope into this, this is theroatically a flagship audio technica.
    But I think the value of this headphone is not that much about the sound but about it's appearence.

    And if you know about kokutan wood or in Chinese/Japanese 黑檀木。
    This is a very collectible piece.
    And consider how rare it is, I don't even see many reviews online.
    i think in 5 - 10 years, this can be a very cool headphone to show off.
    And when it's old and wore, I some what feel it's going to be more eye pleasing than it is new. (not saying you should damage it )

    If Utopia is 10/10

    Consider this one as a 3500 dollar headphone, i would give it 5/10

    but consider everything and it's actually sub 2K price.

    I think this is a solid 8+