The $650 USD ATH-WP900 is the latest flagship portable headphone from Japanese manufacturer Audio Technica.
The ATH-WP900 comes in for review hot on the heels of its full-size stablemates, the ATH-AWKT and the ATH-AWAS. You can check out our other Audio Technica reviews here.
Note: Our thanks go out to Alena at Audio Technica Australia who organised to have a sample of the ATH-WP900 sent out our way for review. We appreciate the support, as always.
First-class carry-on
What sort of headphones would you pack if you could only take one solitary pair with you for an unknown length of time on a desert island? The old ‘desert island’ quandary is a nice way to make you stop and think about what the ideal characteristics of a pair of headphones are. When push comes to shove, ultimately I’d be looking to pack a pair of cans that are a) comfortable, b) reasonably portable, c) easy to drive, and of course – d) killer sounding. Audio Technica has gone and made a hot contender for the desert island survivalist’s ultimate audio companion with the release of their new ATH-WP900, their flagship on-the-go over-ear model which is available now for a not-inconsiderable but still (reasonably) attainable $650 USD.
I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing Audio Technica’s two newest line-up topping full-size close-backs already this year in the form of the ‘Kokutan’ ATH-AWKT and the ‘Asada Zsakura’ ATH-AWAS. The latter proved to be more of a hit with this particular reviewer’s ears despite its lower price tag ($1,399 USD vs $1,899 USD), thanks to its more engaging, richer timbre. Having been impressed by both headphones in terms of both their build and technical prowess, I was naturally keen to see what sort of ‘trickle-down’ abilities would find their way into the diminutive portable-oriented WP900, but also managing my own expectation in advance, as surely certain corners must be cut in order to be able to fit the WP900 into your carry-on luggage…right?
It’s a little ironic to be reviewing a pair of portable headphones at a time when there’s not much…um…porting(?) going on these days thanks to a little bug known as COVID-19. This time last year, I had already racked up around 75-odd flights between work and personal travel, and a dedicated pair of high-end on-the-go cans would have made a bunch of sense at the time. Travel complaints aside, any sense of ‘compromise’ in the new ATH-WP900 (let’s just go with WP900 here on in) was quickly dispelled soon after taking these lightweight beauties out of the box. Not only do we have a contender for the ultimate portable headphones on our hands here from the legendary Japanese audio house, but perhaps a contender for the most all-round, versatile headphones going around. Desert island headphones indeed? Let’s find out.
ATH-WP900 overview
The WP900 is a lightweight, over-ear pair of closed-back headphones, featuring a pair of all-new carbon-coated 53mm drivers with an impedance of 38 ohms and a sensitivity of 100 dB/mW. Each WP900 is handmade by individual craftsmen at Audio Technica Japan, and their pièce de résistance in the aesthetics stakes being their signature wooden earcups featuring a flame maple finish, provided by Japanese guitar manufacturer Fujigen. As a guitar player myself, they really are reminiscent of a sunburst maple guitar-body finish and look a million bucks in the flesh. The WP900 is good-looking enough to court second glances from those nearby without looking flashy or ostentatious. They look artisan, for lack of a better word, and give you the distinct impression that their business is making music – of the analogue variety.
To ensure the WP900 is as versatile as possible in portable use-cases, Audio Technica has equipped it with a pair of supplied detachable cables, each measuring 1.2 metres in length. One is a single-ended cable terminated in the ubiquitous 3.5mm jack, while in a nod to the future the other supplied cable is finished in a 4.4mm Pentaconn jack – the new balanced standard being adopted by the likes of Sony, Sennheiser as well as Audio Technica. I, for one, think that 4.4mm is both far more sturdy than 2.5mm balanced, and far more wieldy than 4-pin XLR. Hopefully, it becomes even more commonplace in the near future.
Head over to page 2 to hear more about the ATH-WP900’s build & comfort.
Rob Stivers
I have to agree with you on this one. I’m so happy someone has finally reviewed these headphones. They first caught my eye at CES in Las Vegas back in January. I listened to every headphone I could find at that show and thought the WP900s were the best I heard by a large margin. In fact, I kept coming back to the AT booth to hear them again. Fantastic headphones and those wood cups are arrestingly beautiful in person. Great review, Matty.
Matty Graham
Thanks Rob! They really do leap out and demand you take notice of them, they’re very easy to like.
Jo
It’s a nice build for a portable with a light weight, albeit less robust build compared to a HD600 / DT770. It’s also very attractive and comfortable.
But the sound… It’s not worth its asking price at 500+ USD. Especially when the R70x undercuts it by K most 150USD. The R70x is just the more agreeable listen with its neutral yet enjoyable tuning. It’s a generalist A- performer.
The WP900 sometimes does wonders with modern music. It pulls out instruments and electronic music instruments nicely. Sometimes it’s amazing. But it constantly kills male vocals, pushing them back against the aforementioned, really nice backdrop of instrumentals.
It’s just too polarizing a set to easily recommend, when Audio Technica has much better offerings both lower and higher in the price range.
This is too wonky. I wished it was a baby ADX5000 or AWAS.
Matty Graham
Hi Jo, the R-70x is a great headphone (and great value too) but that’s like comparing a hamburger with steak tartare – they’re completely different tunings, and designed for completely different listening circumstances. If you’re only after one pair of headphones and are happy listening at home with open back headphones, then I take your point. But, you could also view these two Audio Technicas as complementary to one another – one for home, one for away; one for a netral ‘hifi’ listening experience, one for fun and engagement.
Tibor
Can one hear it so differently than other? I had the impression that these are bass light from majorhifi review:
“The WP-900 delivers only a moderate amount of bass presence. Perhaps not enough for some. And overall, there’s little warmth in the low end. Instead, the bass profile is characterized by speed and tightness. And it’s a light and impressively clean profile.”
and than your words: “They reach deep, and they hit hard. The WP900’s bass is ever so slightly on the bloomy side of the equation”
I am torn apart now 😀 must try for myself, but thank you anyway, I really like them, the looks, form factor, should be good for traveling.
Thank You!
Matty
Unless they’re comparing them to Mr Beats by Professor Dre, they must have a defective unit on their hands.
Craig A Sands
Anyone know an exceptional case for these, surprised with such a beautiful finish such poor cables and case, sounds amazing though
Matty
A good question Craig – I’m sure there’s plenty of aftermarket options in terms of cases, although AT’s A2DC cable does make cables a trickier proposition. I think I’d be looking for a 4.4mm extension cable for general hifi use.
Luca
I share the sound impressions of the fun yet slightly non technical bass, lower midrange dip, and pretty big diffuse soundstage. Treble explanation is also spot on.
Although I hear a very slight fizzyness in the treble due to the lack of dampening, wood housing or driver itself I assume. I sometimes feel the edges could be crisper, the whole headphone has a sliiiight organic tilt. Despite the minor colder low mids. But those mids keep them very uncongested which is great.
This review is spot on and obviously written by an experienced headphone pro. Bravo.
Matty
Hi Luca, thanks for taking the time to read mate. As it turns out, I missed these so much after I sent the review pair back that I decided to actually buy them!
Damian
Thanks the great review! The AudioQuest NightOwl Carbon is a bit older now but how would these compare?
Matty
Thanks Damian. It’s been a while since I last heard the NightOwls, but they are most definitely a much ‘darker’ sounding pair of headphones as well as being far less portable.
Mike I
Hi Matty,
How do you compare them with the Grado’s you like also so much: GH1 and Hemp?
Thanks again for all your excellent reviews !
Matty
They couldn’t be more different, but at the same time they’re extremely complementary of each other. The Grados have forward mids and lower treble, whilst that region takes a back-seat in the WP900. The WP900 is far bassier, and of course – it’s closed-back.
Cheers for reading & commenting!
Jose
No, Matty! This headphones are goodsgood to listening Classic Rock, pop and Metal?
Barry Gibb
Great review, Matty – I read this, then pretty much everything I could find on the WP900s and eventually bought them.
I don’t know headphones enough to go into all the lingo but what I can say is that after listening to my Oppo PM-3s fir several year, these are a revaluation! Only way I can put it is they seem fuller, more natural and boy do they make my music come alive. Thank you!
For info, after a load of research, this case fits really well:
Geekria UltraShell Case for Bang & Olufsen B&O BeoPlay H95, H9, H9i, H8, H8i, H7, H6, H2 Headphones, Replacement Protective Hard Shell Travel Carrying Bag with Room for Accessories https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01IZ9ZJ9Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabc_YCZ6M8JXMG4Z5NCADS7F?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Barry Gibb
‘Revelation’ not revaluation! Thank you autocorrect 🙄
Vladas
Hi, Thanks for your excellent review!
It is possible to compare them with Beyerdynamic DT 177X GO,
I’m at a crossroads..
THX!
Shane D
I completely agree with your review. I had the Meze 99’s for three years as my portable headphone. I loved everything about them except they didn’t scale up at home.
They were a perfect match with my LG V30 phone or my Sony DAP though.
I just got my 900’s yesterday and I am Very impressed. Lots of bass, but I find the mids just a tad recessed. I think these will be a great portable set and they are pairing up nicely with my desktop amps.
Matty Graham
Great to hear that you’re enjoying them Shane. They’re certainly very deliberately V-shaped sonically, perhaps with a bit of EQ tinkering you might be able to up things in the instrument and vocal range slightly?
Tibor
Hey, thanks mate, WP900 are here and so far soo goood. I like to opt sometimes for this engaging sound to listen to Kygo or other pop dance music. The sound is a bit thin, but that is nothing that a copper cable from ForzaAudioworks can not do 😀 And they are so light and comfortable, really love them so far 🙂
+ I am testing my Hemps with Geekria bowl pad… the grainy bass is gone… nice 🙂
Thanks !! 😀
Tibor
Hi. These are bass monsters, the thin sound is gone… but the bass is really strong. I need to tune them somehow, silver cable maybe? But now I am really interested in ATH-AWAS, less bass and more detail? Yeah, that is what I am into now. 🙂
Wayne
Hi Marty, my wife has permanently borrowed my HD-600’s (which I love), and I’m currently pinching my daughters hd26 pro’s to listen to late at night. I was going to get the r70x, but by chance read your review. Now I’m tossing between the wp900($999) or the elegia($799). Your thoughts ?
Wayne
Matty Graham
Hi Wayne, they’re two very different but equally awesome headphones. The Elegia has a more neutral tuning and is a bit more isolating and ‘enveloping’. The WP900, on the other hand, is a lot more bass-y and V-shaped sounding while also being a bit less isolating. It’s definitely worth trying them both out first, if possible.
Wayne
Hi Matty, thanks for the insight. I did the
Covid thing and the wp900 arrived from minidisc. The sound signature, I can see why it’s a “v” , reminded me of the porta pro’s I used to have, just a mature version. Certainly they weigh nothing. I thought the box might have been empty ! Initial listening is having to get over the difference to the HD-600’s . Think I just need time to get adjusted.
Victor Yu
Hi Marty, I bought this headphone and love it,I wonder which DAC/AMP dongle you will recommend for this?
1. Violectric Chronos
2. Blue Dragonfly
3. THX Onyx
4. Sparrow
Let me know your thoughts
Thanks
Darek
I was listening them with Dragonfly Cobal and there is a match! They sound fantastic with this small device. I was listening with Galaxy S9 – they sound good. With Dragonfly Cobalt they sounds fantastic!
My current headphones costs arount 99 $ – but I fell in love, and I am going to buy this Audio Technica WP900 product. Because I love music 😉
Martin Schnoor
Hi Matty
I’m choosing between audio-technica wp900 and Denon ah-d7200. I haven’t heard the wp900 yet because it can’t be bought here in Denmark. I have used the old msr7 for many years but want to upgrade I think they miss a bit of low end. I have listened to the Focal Radiance and really liked their sound signature, but they are too expensive. I will use them with a smartphone and a Dragonfly Cobalt mainly at home. What do you think?
Best Regards
Martin Schnoor
Salih
ATH-WP900 and Dragonfly Cobalt match is something I wish for every person to hear once in their life. It’s absolutely mind blowing. Somehow it doesn’t sound same good with Dragonfly Red, but with Cobalt it turns to most emotionally engaging, fun and also accurate sounding headphone I’ve ever heard.
I also tried Denon AH D5200 and AH D9200 at a HiFi shop, I couldn’t believe how bad they are for their expensive price, just wonky mess, it’s disappointing. Not even close to ATH-WP900.
I hope my suggestions help someone to have good music in their life.