Review: Audio-Technica ATH-AD900

When my wife runs off with the review gear before I even get a chance to check it out, I know it's gonna be something good.

In this case, she saw the slick-looking Audio-Technica ATH-AD900 headphones, planted 'em on her dome, and never looked back. When I finally did retrieve them, it didn't take long to see and hear the appeal of these crazy-comfy cans with the bright, punchy sound.

The AD900s have a lightweight, honeycombed aluminum frame that seems plenty durable, and to complete the sci-fi look, 3D "wing supports" that float above your head for a self-adjusting fit. While you can't make the headphone bands tighter or longer, they seem to fit no matter how big your nugget. And with well-ventilated, plush foam ear cups, they can stand up to long listening sessions without causing ear fatigue or (the cursed) sweaty lobes. The long, sturdy cord lets you roam around the room sans snags (good for you air guitar jocks), and the gold-plated miniplug is a nice touch too.

With open-air cans, the noise carries far beyond your own ears, so these aren't going to make you any friends in a cubicle village or café. But open-air headphones are great for comfort and generally sound more natural and bright than closed ones.

The AD900s are no exception. They produce excellent treble and midrange, which results in a lively, energetic sound that is well-suited for most styles of music. The bass is OK, but not prominent by any means, so these are better for rock, pop, jazz and acoustic styles than thumpin' hip-hop, R&B or funk albums. The AD900s have a surprisingly big soundstage, which gives you a sense of being surrounded by the music, but with enough space that all the instruments can be heard. The sound clarity and detail, even at low volumes, is impressive.

A lot of full-size headphones like these are meant to be used with a dedicated headphone amp and don't perform well when connected to a mobile player. But these run at 35 ohms of impedance, so when I plugged them into my iPod, I only had to turn it up to about 70 percent volume to get a full, heady sound.

All in all, the AD900s are a good value if you're looking for a well-built pair of open-air cans that provide a clean, up-front, and well-balanced sound.

WIRED Comfy like a La-Z-Boy, but much more lively. Large 53-mm drivers give a frequency response between 5 and 35,000 Hz. Lightweight, durable design. Ear fatigue not an issue.

TIRED Bass-heads need not apply. Wearing these, don't be surprised if people peg you for a Trekkie.

Photos by Jim Merithew/Wired.com

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