When I was on a look out for my first serious headphones, I came across this beautiful 'Geisha' by the name of ESW9. 'Gorgeous' was the first word that I uttered upon gazing the headphone for the first time. But seeing a lot of stylish cans coming out as of late, I was wary; will it be another of those style over substance type of 'trash' I was hearing about? I did some more in depth research and decided that I pull the trigger on them. And all my doubts before were casted away completely when I started to listen to this grandiose work of art!
What's Inside
Opening the windowed black box reveals the headphones with the cups covered in a sticky plastic along with the synthetic leather pouch and the some papers. It could have been better if Audio-Technica come up with a ATH-HPP5 case instead as the poach, is not enough to shield the cups from scratches. (I was already over-protected on my pair and it still scratch) Though I guess adding the case would only add to the already hefty price tag on the ESW9.
Build, Ergonomics, Wearing experience
The headphones' construction (as far as the materials used) screams of luxury. The headband is padded with protein leather, seen in most car seating. It's soft and comfy, and very easy to clean. I wish Audio-Technica could have use them on the ear pads as well instead of the lambskin which is more susceptible to dirt and grime. The driver housing is made up of wood (the 'a' version on this review is made of african paduak while the standard Japanese release were cherry), with a hand-made finish. Simply put, it's beautiful and sophisticated, probably one of the best (if not, the best) looking headphones out there. The biggest downer though is the swivels that connects the ear cups. It's made up of very light, somewhat cheap-ish plastic with a fake gold grain texture. It can tear off real bad if you are the type that's rough on his/her things. Comfort is pretty good on this one, but may not suit people with bigger head as the headband is somewhat small. (bending it a bit might help) The bowl-shaped pads are soft and comfy though produce more heat on the ears and may not suit those people living in a tropic country. Still, it would make a good ear warmer in winter though. Isolation is another concern on these headphones considering they were designed as portables. They let in too much passive noise and sometimes can be really annoying when on commute. Because of this, they're may be more suitable as a transportable type, ideal to those who occasionally listen to music while at the office. In there, the isolation is just about right. The cables are soft and thin and doesn't inspire durability, though perhaps it's fine as long as you don't use it while jogging or playing ball.
Sound Quality
Before the review, I've already spent at least 100 hrs. or more head time from the date of purchase on these, and during those times I never noticed any improvement on the sound quality at all, so I guess it's safe to say that these doesn't burn in and already sound good out of the box. Or perhaps the sound was new for me, being my first high-end portable coming from entry level ones and all so my experience may vary. Just give her some more head time if the sound doesn't meet your initial expectations.
*Bass - Pretty good. Not the type that would make bass freaks happy though. The type that suits slow-paced music more like Jazz, or some various rock genres like synth-rock or pop-rock. A bit unrefined but still manageable, assuming you do not intend on using them as a 'banger' headphone.
*Mid-range - If there's one main reason you would purchase a ESW9 then this is it. The midrange on this one is sublime, with superb clarity and timbre. Perfect if you love your vocals. Instrument separation is excellent as well. From woodwinds to percussion, nothing is smeared over. All is there, with a good touch of warmth. It's the specialty of the house for the ESW9.
*Treble - A bit distant, but it's still there, sparkly, with a 'sweet' rendition, providing a smooth, non-fatiguing listening experience. A perfect side-step to those who want to take a break from a more 'aggressive' sound signature.
*Stereo Imaging (Soundstage) - Pretty good as well. It's a naturally rendered soundscape with no fake depth. I'm not too keen about describing the position of the instruments nor the positioning of them as oppose to the audience's (listener) perspective others are claiming, but to my ears it's just about right.
Conclusion
With that being said, I can never be more satisfied enough with how the ESW9 renders my music playlist. Surely, there are some shortcomings particularly concerning durability and ergonomics but that becomes easily negligible considering how well they perform, for my needs at least. Not to mention the sublime looks!