You won’t believe the price of Audio-Technica’s new headphones, but you’ll want them
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There are products that we consider to be some of the best over-ear headphones, and then there are limited edition sonic works of art – and that’s what we have here.
Audio-Technica has been in the business of audio for 60 years, and the Japanese hi-fi specialist is no stranger to cheap wireless over-ear propositions (see also the beautifully edgy ATH-SQ1TW true wireless earbuds) and cheap yet talented turntables.
But the limited edition ATH-W2022 over-ear wired headphones break the mold. Just look at them.
Completely produced and assembled in Japan, these dynamic closed-back headphones definitely celebrate 25 years of craftsmanship in wooden headphones, don’t you think?
Using the Japanese maki-e lacquer technique (which uses traditional urushi lacquer, but you knew that), the Mizume (Japanese birch) headphone cases include hand-painted Sakura (cherry blossom) and hou-ou phoenix designs, with mother-of-pearl respectively on the left – and right side.
But it’s not just about looks! Inside the beautiful housings are baffle-integrated 58mm drivers that have been specially developed and optimized for the new closed-back model. In addition, the diaphragm consists of a central dome of pure titanium, pressed to a thickness of 30 microns (0.03 mm), which emphasizes mid-high range audio reproduction and high frequency response.
You get a 60th anniversary wooden storage case with a Kiso cypress lid cut to shape the irimoya style of the headphone arms, and the newly designed magnet circuit includes a pole and yoke, structured from laminated pure iron sheets to counteract -electromotive force (aka back EMF. Naturally).
The ear pads and headband are made from deerskin for long-lasting durability and comfort, and you get two detachable 3m fabric wrapped cables (with A2DC connectors on the headphones), one with a gold-plated 6.3mm stereo plug, the other with a 4-pin XLRM balanced connector.
Opinion: I’m a delicate flower too – and these should be mine
Only 100 of the Audio-Technica W2022 will be available worldwide, and each set will be numbered from 1-100 (we’re not sure if you’ll get to pick your lucky number though).
Frankly, I am a delicate flower and I want them. My high-end headphones should be a reflection of me and these cans are the best display I’ve seen yet.
Obviously the Audio-Technica W2022 isn’t in the budget of this working class (just because there’s a cost of living crisis you see), but she can still dream, can’t she? And while I’ve never heard them before, Audio-Technica has done enough to convince me that it cares even more about the sound than the beautiful aesthetic…
How much are we talking about here? £8,900 / €10,000 which is about AU$14,750.
There’s no way to make that fee palatable in this universe, right? So I just unsubscribe. (Also a bargain!)