Audio-Technica ATH-AWX7000 - Japanese Cypress and Exceptional Sound

Audio-Technica has released its flagship closed-back, over-ear headphone model, the ATH-AWX7000, which embodies the manufacturer’s more than 60 years of audio expertise. The model utilizes a "True Closed-back Acoustic" (TCbA) design, which effectively leverages air pressure within the closed enclosure to deliver a full-bodied, rich sound.

At the heart of the Audio-Technica ATH-AWX7000 lies a Hybrid Matrix Diaphragm (HMD) - a structure composed of several thin films made from different materials, bonded together. Furthermore, the High-Concentricity X Dynamic Transducer (HXDT) technology - which ensures high-precision alignment of the magnetic system, voice coil, diaphragm, and driver support components - further enhances the audio performance.

Thanks to a specialized manufacturing process, assembly tolerances have been reduced to one-tenth of standard levels. The headphones also feature a magnetic system crafted from non-oriented electrical steel, designed to minimize energy loss.

The ear cups of the Audio-Technica ATH-AWX7000 are fashioned from Kiso cypress. This prized wood is known for its high durability and striking grain; it grows exceptionally slowly, taking up to 300 years to reach maturity. Each ear cup is finished by hand with traditional Japanese Echizen lacquer—a technique with a history spanning over 1,500 years.

The headphones come with two detachable cables: a 2.5-meter balanced cable featuring a 4-pin XLR connector by Neutrik, and a 3-meter unbalanced cable equipped with a standard 6.3 mm jack plug. Proprietary A2DC connectors are used to attach cables to the ear cups. The recommended retail price for the Audio-Technica ATH-AWX7000 closed-back, full-size headphones in Europe is 3,800 euros.