Audio Technica Releases New High-End Headphones And Turntables For 60th Anniversary

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.

The stylish AT-LP2022 turntable comes equipped with a lightweight AT-HS4SV headshell and 30 mm-thick, high-density clear acrylic chassis that not only reduces resonance but reveals the sensor-monitor motor. The motor speed-sensor system is specially designed to maintain accurate platter rotation speeds of 33-â…“ and 45 RPM. Alongside the transparent acrylic platter for a stable rotation, this turntable is designed with high-isolation, height-adjustable feet to stabilize the turntable.

The clear-body Shibata stylus can pick up ultra-high frequencies, allowing users to discover sounds like never heard before. The Shibata stylus is easily interchangeable with the 0.3 x 0.7 mil elliptical stylus that comes installed on the included AT-VM95EBK (black) cartridge. The AT-LP2022 is the perfect turntable for all, offering an AT-VM95 cartridge that’s compatible with any VM95 Series replacement stylus, providing a range of options for every budget and application. The adjustable vertical tracking angle and dynamic anti-skate control ensure the turntable can be used with cartridges of various heights and weights. The turntable also features exclusively designed high-isolation, height-adjustable feet.

These new products from Audio Technica will be available soon at Audio46.

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