Audio-Technica ATH-EW9 review

Sound quality is, in certain ways, spectacular. Paul Simon's "Still Crazy After All These Years" was the perfect way to get acquainted with the Audio-Technica ATH-EW9's charms. Simon's voice and guitar were richly balanced and ultraclear. The music sounded remarkably open and never exhibited the trapped-between-my-ears sound we get from most headphones. Comparisons with our Etymotic ER-4P in-ear headphones ($330) put the ATH-EW9's sonic charms in perspective. The ATH-EW9 had greater clarity, but the ER-4P solidified the bass, which was deeper and more powerful.

The Audio-Technica ATH-EW9's bass is as pure as its treble, but the lightweight sound won't rock anybody's world. Whether Radiohead or Aerosmith was playing, the sound was too insubstantial to be believable. When we switched back to the ER-4P, the sound kicked butt. Classical music was thrilling over the ATH-EW9, where its purity of sound came to the fore. Acoustic jazz was also excellent. During sax master Gerry Mulligan's live CD, At the Village Vanguard, the ATH-EW9 revealed intricacies of individual player performances in the big-band brass section like no other headphones. The detailed sound could be a bit much at times; for example, when the band turned up the heat, the sound had an aggressive edge.

In short, the Audio-Technica ATH-EW9 will appeal to listeners who crave a highly detailed sound or folks searching for elegantly designed headphones.