Наушники — Audio-Technica ATH-AWKT

The ATH-AWKT is a wooden over-ear headphone from Audio-Technica with a sealed back, whose earcups are carved from Kokutan, a striped ebony, and hand-finished in half-gloss. The maker states that all its wooden headphones are hand-assembled in Tokyo. It was shown at CES 2020 in Las Vegas alongside the ATH-AWAS and ATH-WP900, due for release in March 2020 at a suggested retail price of USD 1,899, later listed at USD 1,999.

Key specs that matter

Exclusive 53 mm driver units use German Permendur magnetic circuitry and a voice coil of 6N-OFC, a high-purity oxygen-free copper, and the driver carries a light, durable titanium flange. The quoted frequency range runs from 5 Hz to 45,000 Hz. Sensitivity is 102 dB/mW and impedance 48 ohms, while maximum input power is 2,000 mW. The headphone weighs 405 g. Supplied in the box are two detachable 3.0 m cables with A2DC (Audio Designed Detachable Coaxial) connectors - one ends in a gold-plated 6.3 mm stereo plug and the other in a balanced 4-pin XLR-M connector.

Engineering and use context

The Permendur circuit is described by Audio-Technica as highly efficient, and the titanium flange adds durability to the driver without much weight. Kokutan is a rare Japanese hardwood long used in woodwind instruments and pianos. Audio-Technica chose it because the dense wood suppresses unwanted resonance in the housing. The closed back isolates the wearer from outside noise and limits leakage, so people nearby hear little of what is playing. Earpads and headband are stitched from smooth, high-durability sheepskin, shaped ergonomically. The weight, much of it in the solid wood cups, is well above the lighter open-back models in the range, so fit over long sessions should be tried before purchase. Because the cables detach at A2DC sockets, a worn lead is simple to exchange.

Pairing

Being an efficient, moderate load, the ATH-AWKT does not depend on a high-voltage amplifier, and the single-ended lead fits the full-size output found on most stereo amplifiers, AV receivers and desktop headphone amplifiers. The balanced XLR-M lead lets owners of a balanced headphone amplifier use that output without an extra cable purchase. A portable player with a 3.5 mm jack would need an adapter, since no 3.5 mm lead is supplied.

Alternatives

The ATH-AWAS, launched together with the AWKT, uses Asada Zakura (ironwood) housings and was priced at USD 1,399.