ATH-WP900 review

ATH-WP900 review: At the very outset, the ATH-WP900 look like robust headphones with ear cups covered with flame maple layer from Japanese guitar manufacturer Fujigen.

Over the years, hundreds of earphones of all shapes and sizes have gone over and inside my ears. And now, when I see a new headphone, I have a bit of prejudgment about what to expect or what not to. It is often a mix of design, brand and specs that gives the confidence that a certain audio product is going to be good. And for years now, Audio-Technica has been one brand that has ticked all these boxes and never disappointed me. So it was a no-brainer that I wanted to review the ATH-WP900 over-ear high-resolution headphones.

At the very outset, the ATH-WP900 look like robust headphones with ear cups covered with a flame maple layer from Japanese guitar manufacturer Fujigen. This is all subtle class, with the design aimed at wooing audiophiles who are not impressed by gimmicks. The leather cushioning on the band and inside the cups makes it comfortable to use the headphones for long hours.

There are two Audio Designed Detachable Coaxial connectors for each of the ears, and you have the option of changing the cords from 3.5mm to 4.4mm, depending on your source. But that means this is a fully wired set and not for those looking for headphones to go with their new smartphones.

The moment I started using the ATH-WP900 my ears felt as if they were sinking into a bean bag of audio bliss. And this was not because of the comfortable in-ear cushioning but the balmy audio profile that makes you feel at home with every song.

The leather cushioning on the band and inside the cups makes it comfortable to use the headphones for long hours.

I couldn’t help noticing how string instruments sounded so sharp and clear with these headphones. Every strum is as distinct as if you can see the strings in the air. Listening to a FLAC file of Mike Masse’s Tears in Heaven, this superb aspect of the ATH-WP900 stood out so clearly, that too without overpowering the wonderful lyrics at any moment. In fact, you can hear the strumming move… I can’t say I have had such an experience many times.

When I switched to a vocal-heavy number like Frank Sinatra’s Fly Me To The Moon, the instruments slipped to the background as the remastered voice of the master took you on a nostalgia trip. This is also a composition which tests the limits of most headphones with sudden flourishes that end up being noise on cheaper earphones. But the ATH-WP900 acted as if this song had been composed for it. No sweat.

There are two Audio Designed Detachable Coaxial connectors for each of the ears, and you have the option of changing the cords from 3.5mm to 4.4mm, depending on your source.

Then with something richer and robust like Free Tibet, the Vini Vici Remix, the headphones burst into a different level of energy that showcased the range capable with the 53mm drivers Audio-Technica has packed into this pair. It is like being in the middle of pyrotechnics show, with one firework or the other lighting up around you all the time.

In the week I used the headphones to destress as I recovered from another bout of Covid, the ATH-WP900 shows how much music can help you realise the small pleasures of life. I can’t say I could pinpoint flaws with this one.

For those like me with very few diversions in life, it might be worthwhile to invest in headphones like the ATH-WP900 that give you unfettered audio pleasure at your beck at call. But yes, this is an investment at not for everyone, and the Rs 1,13,390 price tag will keep a lot of music lovers away, but add this product to their wish list. But again, audio heaven always comes at a cost.