[chi2]

Hello fellow head-fiers!

I remember some discussions here about possible fake ESW-9s. While there certainly are many ES-7 knock-offs, there was some doubt that it economically makes sense to build fake ESW-9s due to the wooden bowls. I thought that, too, until I purchased on a small Swiss internet auction platform a pair of ATH-ESW-9. They were advertised as „new“ and „original“ and the pictures looked good. I got them for CHF 76 (=USD 65) which of course is too good to be true . (BTW I wasn’t that naive and have stipulated the right to return these within a week.) They didn’t come in a box and there were no documents at all. This and some of the features of the phones make me pretty sure that these are fakes. While the look and build quality of some parts (eg the headband and the cushions) is pretty good, other parts look and feel quite cheap. The wood is rather reddish and while the grain isn’t too bad, the quality of the woodwork leaves to be desired. The worst thing is the cable, which, with its rubbery and sticky feel, only can be fake.

Regarding the sound of these: As I haven't heard any legit ESW-9 up to now it’s not that easy for me to determine if they could be original. My pair sounds *extremely* bass-heavy and dark. The mids and highs are very recessed. There is some extension up to about 15kHz but at minus 15dB or so. While the bass is definitely too strong, it is, to my surprise, not completely without control. However, when looking at the frequency chart of Headroom I’d say: No way that these sound like that.

Now, my question to the ESW-9 owners among you is: Could you please compare the pictures I took to your phones and confirm if these are in fact fakes.

Thanks for your comments!
chi2/Urs

 

[i_don't_know]

-silver plug
-silver writing
-light brown at top of headband

I can't say for sure because I don't own them, but they look fake to me.

 

[chi2]

Thanks for the input. However, the plug is golden, so is the writing (colors in photos are alway a difficult thing). The light brown top of the headband isn't too far off from what can be seen in pictures like the one on AudioCubes.

 

[cheemo]

Hmm...I'm looking at my 9's and the wooden cup are not as separated as yours. What I mean is that, I do not have a gap between the cups and the circular frame. Also on the frame surrounding the cups a small bump sticks out right where the cable goes into the cup. The wood grain and colour on the cups seem a bit off but that can be due to your camera. Sorry don't have pics to show you, but others may chime in regarding my observations.

edit: I just popped off the pad and the driver looks a bit different than yours. I don't see any copper colour but more of a bluish surrounding the coil.

 

[Lil' Knight]

They look genuine to me but I'm not sure if they're totally untouched. Look like someone opened the earcups before and didn't put them back in the correct place.

 

[chi2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheemo /img/forum/go_quote.gif Hmm...I'm looking at my 9's and the wooden cup are not as separated as yours. What I mean is that, I do not have a gap between the cups and the circular frame. Also on the frame surrounding the cups a small bump sticks out right where the cable goes into the cup...

No bump where the cable goes in with mine, but there are two such small bumps in the frame at the (bracket-frame-) joints. Is the frame on your ATs made of plastic, too, or is it metal?

Thanks,
chi2

 

[chi2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lil' Knight /img/forum/go_quote.gif They look genuine to me...

Wow. Wouldn't have expected that! Does the cable on your ESW9 feel and *behave* (move around) like a rubber band, too??

 

[Lil' Knight]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chi2 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Wow. Wouldn't have expected that! Does the cable on your ESW9 feel and *behave* (move around) like a rubber band, too??

Both the cables on my ESW9 and ESW10 look like rubber.

 

[j2kei]

wood isnt that pink. engrave letter are unclear and badly engraved. silver plug. those are the most obvious

 

[Lil' Knight]

Here's the pic of my ESW9:

 

[cheemo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chi2 /img/forum/go_quote.gif No bump where the cable goes in with mine, but there are two such small bumps in the frame at the (bracket-frame-) joints. Is the frame on your ATs made of plastic, too, or is it metal? Thanks, chi2

The frame is made of plastic. The bumps are similar to the bracket-frame joints just a bit smaller and less pronounced. If you look at Lil Knights' pictures, you can see them.

 

[dallan]

They look real to me too and i have a pair of esw9s.

 

[LeonWho]

I'll take them if you don't want them.

But they look kinda fake. It could go either way.

 

[LouseRight]

Unfortunately I think it is fake,I compare it with mine.

 

[Lil' Knight]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LouseRight /img/forum/go_quote.gif Unfortunately I think it is fake,I compare it with mine.

or worst case, yours is fake and his is genuine