Japanese manufacturer of high performance audio products, Audio-Technica, recently announced its high-end ATH-W5000 headphones, and we managed to have a little listen at Digital Summer '08 in London.
The headphones, pictured below, are housed in a striped ebony carving - taken from a solid block for superb acoustic matching, says Audio-Technica. The manufacturer claims to achieve new levels of audiophile sound quality and listening comfort and they might not be too far off the mark, these do sound spectacular.
According to Audio-Technica, the super powerful large aperture 53mm neodymium magnet based transducers have coils wound with what engineers call a “super pure 8N-Oxygen Free Copper with bobbing winding voice coil” - what they mean is a set of a headphones that projects sound from an ultra-low 5Hz to a high 45kHz.
The headset itself certainly packs the punch, and looks the part, but we weren't so sure on the Dracula-style coffin-turned-case:
The complete specification, as provided by Audio-Technica, is as follows:
- Type: Closed-back Dynamic, Double Air Damping System
- Driver Diameter: 53mm
- Magnet: Neodymium
- Frequency response: 5-45,000 Hz
- Maximum input power: 2,000 mW at 1 kHz
- Impedance: 40 ohms
- Sensitivity: 102 dB/mW
- Cord: 3m (OFC6N + Hi-OFC)
- Connector: Gold-plated ¼ ” (6.3mm) stereo mini plug
- Weight: 340g
UK availability for the ATH-W5000 is imminent, and the suggested retail price will be £699.95.
Official product page: atheadphones.com
