Audio Technica is responsible for some of the most well-known headphones on the market today. Their MX series has been a staple for producers and casual listeners alike. Now they are releasing two new headphones and a new turntable for a more dedicated audiophile audience. The W2022 and WB2022 are among the most high-end products the manufacturer has put out in quite some time. Here is everything you need to know about these new dynamic, closed-back headphones.
W2022
$9000.00
Sourced and assembled entirely in Japan, the ATH-W2022 blends technological innovation with traditional artistry to fashion a timeless audio component of refined elegance. The housings are expertly crafted from Mizume (Japanese birch) and finished with traditional urushi lacquer – just like our first wooden headphones, the ATH-W10VTG – to deliver pure tone quality with natural reverberation. Sakura (cherry blossom) and hou-ou phoenix designs are hand-painted on the left and right houses, respectively, using the Japanese maki-e lacquer technique, with the right housing also incorporating mother-of-pearl. The housings are suspended from arms shaped to recall the winged slope of irimoya roofs that cap many Japanese temples. Deerskin is used for earpads and headband to provide long-lasting durability and comfort.
Within the exquisite housings are baffle-integrated 58 mm drivers that were specially developed and optimized for these closed-back headphones. Adopting the innovative Core Mount Technology from our ATH-ADX5000 open-air dynamic headphones, the driver units are positioned for optimal airflow and full-range audio reproduction. A new magnet circuit incorporates a pole and yoke structured from laminated pure iron plates to reduce back electromotive force (back EFM). The diaphragm is comprised of a pure titanium center dome, pressed to a thickness of 30 microns (0.03 mm). This construction places emphasis on mid-high-range audio reproduction with the excellent high-frequency response, as well.
The ATH-W2022 comes with two detachable, cloth-wrapped cables made from high-purity 7N-class D.U.C.C. (Dia Ultra Crystallized Copper). Both of these 3.0 m (9.8′) cables have A2DC (Audio Designed Detachable Coaxial) connectors to attach securely to the headphones; one is terminated with a standard 6.3 mm (1/4″) gold-plated stereo plug, and the other features a 4-pin XLRM balanced connector for use with the latest high-fidelity equipment to achieve better channel separation. Also included is a 60th-anniversary commemorative wood storage case with a Kiso cypress lid cut to complement the irimoya styling of the headphone arms.
| Type | Closed-back dynamic |
|---|---|
| Driver Diameter | 58 mm |
| Frequency Response | 5 to 50,000 Hz |
| Maximum Input Power | 2,000 mW |
| Sensitivity | 98 dB/mW |
WB2022
$2,700.00
The housing of the ATH-WB2022 is carefully crafted from a selection of intertwined marbled maple, walnut, and mahogany wood. Behind the stunning exterior, the headphones house the world’s first* completely balanced audio output system. Equipped with an independent DAC and operational amplifier, the headphones support up to 24-bit/96 kHz high-resolution sound sources with both wireless and USB digital connections.
Only a limited number of these commemorative model are available in the world.
AT LP2022
$1200.00
This fully manual turntable with belt drive operation demonstrates the purity of analog audio. With a limited-edition Shibata stylus and carbon-fiber tonearm, the AT-LP2022 heightens everyday listening experiences and effortlessly unites people through sound.
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