Audio-Technica, a brand known for some of the best studio and professional headphones around, has released the ATH-AWX7000. The company calls it its “finest headphones ever.” This new flagship closed-back model costs $3,799. It pairs hand-finished Japanese woodwork with a newly developed 58mm driver.
The earcups are made from Kiso cypress, a prized wood that was historically used for Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples.
Craftspeople finish each housing by hand with traditional Echizen lacquer. The lacquer brings out the grain and should darken over time. The frame and sliders come in a deep navy shade called kachi-iro, which has long been linked with samurai.
New Hybrid Matrix Diaphragm inside Audio-Technica ATH-AWX7000 Headphones
The ATH-AWX7000 is the first Audio-Technica headphone to use the company’s new Hybrid Matrix Diaphragm, or HMD. The 58mm diaphragm joins a polymer film with a metal dome, so it does not rely on one material alone.
You may also like: Audio-Technica ATH-M20xSTS StreamSet Review Specs
Audio-Technica says this design helps the diaphragm keep its shape under the high air pressure inside closed-back earcups. It works alongside the company’s HXDT molding process, which debuted on the ATH-ADX7000 and is meant to make the diaphragm move more evenly.
In practice, Audio-Technica promises stronger, cleaner bass, better dynamics, and a wider soundstage. The company describes the sound as warm and lush. Those are claims you will need to hear for yourself before you trust them.
Nothing else Audio-Technica ATH-AWX7000 Headphones is Ordinary
The ATH-AWX7000 has no Bluetooth and no active noise cancellation. It is a fully wired pair of audiophile headphones.
You may also like: JBL Quantum 120: $50 Headset With Flagship Drivers
Audio-Technica includes two detachable eight-braid cables with A2DC connectors. One is a 2.5-meter balanced cable with a four-pin XLR connector. The other is a 3-meter unbalanced cable that ends in a 6.3mm plug.
A magnesium frame and aluminum sliders keep the weight to about 353 grams. Japanese deerskin covers the headband and earpads. Each pair is made in Tokyo and ships with a hard carrying case. The ATH-AWX7000 is on sale now for $3,799.
