Audio Technica unveils ATH-ESW9 Sovereign Wood Headphones

Audio Technica's no stranger to high-end cans, and we must say, its flagship set for 2007 (its words, not ours) looks mighty sexy. The ATH-ESW9 Sovereign Wood Headphones are crafted from "Japan's finest Hokkaido cherry tree," feature 42-millimeter neodymium magnet drivers with fiberglass housing support, and come bundled with a carrying case to keep these beauties clean when not in use. You can pick these up to listen to (or just look at) come October 19th for ¥37,800 (or about $330).

[Via AudioJunkies]

[john @ Sep 30th 2007 1:57PM]

This doesn't work with the ipod touch nor the iphone so who cares.

[Kevin @ Sep 30th 2007 2:00PM]

Are you that ignorant that you think people should only create products that work with the iphone? There are other devices that use headphones just in case you forgot

[john @ Sep 30th 2007 2:03PM]

This site about Apple, Steve Jobs, the iphone and the ipod Touch ONLY
If you can't deal with that reality I suggest either make a stronger effort to conform to Mr. Jobs world or simply do not visit this web site ever again.

[Michael @ Sep 30th 2007 2:05PM]

These aren't for portable use, so who would want to plug them straight into their iPod anyways? Almost everyone in the target audience will amp them, bypassing the built-in and underpowered headphone jack present on most DAPs.

[Bloobie @ Sep 30th 2007 2:12PM]

Just ignore him. He's just trolling. :)

[john @ Sep 30th 2007 2:52PM]

Wtf are you talking about? Steve Jobs is NOT a troll? He is a fascist dictator, perhaps even the devil, but certainly not a troll. For shame.

[BrettB @ Sep 30th 2007 4:30PM]

Umm, I think the proper way to word your sentence is "The iPhone and iPod touch don't work with these" as these cans are clearly for the upper end, and no, the iPhone and iPod are not high end stuff, they are clearly aimed at the middle at best.

[kadajawi @ Oct 1st 2007 3:54AM]

Why shouldn't they work with the iPhone (ok, with an adapter, because the headphone jack is too deep in the case) or the iPod? Sure, these would probably make them sound terrible, the amp would probably be too weak etc. But you should be able to plug them in.

[Michael @ Sep 30th 2007 2:02PM]

Only $369? Awesome! I don't like the use of a minijack though, since my equipment uses 1/4".

[hikeskool @ Sep 30th 2007 2:09PM]

Certainly you are aware that there adapters for this application:
http://amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/103-7166276-4409440?initialSearch=1&url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=1%2F4%22+stereo+adapter&Go.x=0&Go.y=0&Go=Go

And for $369 I would not be surprised if they bundle in an adapter.

[i luv nose candy @ Sep 30th 2007 2:09PM]

Wood headphones? That is so hot! I love my hi-tech gadgets made out of wood, it's so sexy!
I'd like my pacemaker to be crafted out of wood, that would be hot! Oh, and my colostomy bag made from some exotic wood too. That would be crazy hot! Man, if I could get my hearing aids made from exotic hardwoods... that would be wicked sexy!
Oh yea! And my speaker cables from wood too. There's no reason why my speaker wires can't be made hella sexy, right?
Wood rules, man.

[CharlieX @ Sep 30th 2007 2:26PM]

ooh... too much nose candy this morning, eh?

[hikeskool @ Sep 30th 2007 3:16PM]

Not.

Funny.

[Twitchy @ Sep 30th 2007 3:53PM]

Just because your momma's ugly doesn't mean she can't turn tricks - beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

[xopethx @ Sep 30th 2007 4:23PM]

I'll stick with my Sennheiser HD-650s, thank you.

[Shane @ Sep 30th 2007 4:34PM]

I'm sure these sound good but I'll stick with my Sony 7506 cans. They are the "standard" when monitoring with headphones in most professional applications.

[kadajawi @ Oct 1st 2007 3:56AM]

Never heard those, but never had good experiences with Sony head- and earphones (the consumer stuff anyway). And Sony doesn't has the best reputation.

[Shane @ Oct 1st 2007 8:27AM]

The 7506 headphones are from Sony's Professional line. They sound very "neutral" (especially when they have been burned in for a while). Many of the Sony consumer grade headphones have a completely different response curve.

The ones I have heard all tend to have a very boomy low end and a very strange response in the high end.

[spm.peapot @ Sep 30th 2007 4:41PM]

Hey... this thing looks like a giant fruit fly with a pair of humongous eyes!!

[Kurt @ Sep 30th 2007 4:46PM]

Those look pretty nice but as for wood headphones this is the way to go http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product_Id=4170735&JRSource=googlebase.datafeed.GRA+GS1000 .....of course the Grado's make the $330 price tag seem quite cheap.

[Tom @ Sep 30th 2007 10:26PM]

Well, I own the GS-1000 as well as numerous other cans in various price-ranges up to $2.5k and I can say that the GS-1000 is one of my least favorite headphones. The sound is very unnatural and the highs are piercing. Very strange sounding headphones if you ask me.

[Charles Han @ Sep 30th 2007 5:08PM]

man that looks so hot, i dunno there is something about wooden headphones that gets me, it improves the sound as well but man the wood makes the headphone uber sexy. And this heaphone prolly won't reach its full potential without a good amp, which i dunt have T_T

[Naris @ Sep 30th 2007 5:38PM]

I wonder if these will sound as good as the W5000. They looked butt ugly but sounded delicious. Too bad a good amp for these will cost a good chunk of change. Plus you can't abuse wood like you can with metal and plastic.

I just checked Audiocubes and they're taking preorders for them at $369... not a bad markup for Japanese stuff.

[strider_mt2k @ Sep 30th 2007 9:18PM]

Wood knot.

[Tom @ Sep 30th 2007 10:26PM]

I've owned 32 headphones above $100 (a number above $1k and even $2k.) I can say for sure that Bose headphones are simply pitiful. They can't even compare with many of the under $100 offerings from Sennheiser, Koss, AKG, Grado, and Audio-Technica.

[Leonardo @ Oct 1st 2007 11:17AM]

I can't believe no one noticed the pure genious of the name yet. "Sovereign Wood"?? I can even see a reminiscence of breasts in that official product pic.
I hope this is an intentional ode to Internet culture.

[fixxxer667 @ Oct 1st 2007 5:05PM]

Bose headphones are a joke, as value/performance goes. There are some real gems in the