[The Quality Guru]

Audio Technica ATH-W100

Strengths
This headphone, which has lately been the victim of some contreversy, does have many strengths.

(A) The W100 is easily amplified; from receivers and CDP's it does well, and from the the inexpensive JMT CHA-47 it does very well.

(B) Since the W100 is relatively easy to drive and amplify to a more than sufficient extent, less money needs to be spent on amplification if a budget-concious system is your desire.

(C) Many claim that when using an amplifier providing the correct synergy with the W100, a state of near-transparency can be reached. This 'transparency' is most commonly said to be experienced with the EMP, as well as with other high-end amplifiers. Note that with this headphone (and all others) the inclination for transparency varies when different styles of music are played.

(D) Bass performance on this headphone has been described as very capable and enjoyable. It is said to be more 'tuneful' than one of its competitors, the HD600.

(E) The W100 is probably known above all other things to be musical. It conveys well the emotions of the music. The terms 'smooth' and 'fluid' are obvious traits of the W100, as such traits can help add to the W100's ability to convey the music well.

(F) External appearance, build quality and comfort are alll top notch on this headphone, all of which undeniably rival many top of the line headphones in and above its class.

(G) Wooden-bodied instrument reproduction is very, very realistic. It is at a level where it is undeniably equaling or in some cases bettering that of the HD600's reproduction in this aspect. Some think that it is due to the wooden enclosures of the W100 that such an accurate reproduction is possible. I acknowledge the importance of enclosures, although in this case, I am weary and would say,"Perhaps."

(H) Many times (dependent sometimes on amplification and source) the midrange of the W100 can be described as 'lush' and 'smooth.' Its midrange is one its greatest assets in my opinion. Near transparent, it is, many times.

Weaknesses All headphones are subject to weaknesses, the areas in which they are less inclinded to excel. The W100 has several, some of which I may forget. If you could remind me of some of the weaknesses of the W100 that I can vouch for as well, I will add them into this reply.

(A) The sonic colouration of this headphone is perhaps one of it's most known weaknesses. In audiophiledom, colouration is said to be simply 'bad.' It is said to detract from the quality of the sound be making it less realistic, or 'adding' a superfluous characteristic into the sound. There is no doubt about the fact that this headphone is coloured, although in what way, how much colouration existent, and how it affects the sound are matters that truly boil down to (a.) styles of music played and (b.) amplification and (c.) how tolerant you are or aren't of such things; in other words, personal preference. Some have claimed that they hear no colouration whatsoever. There are many factors that could attribute to there being colouration or not, prwhether it is more prevalent or less.

(B) Accuracy on the W100 is, well, decent, although not incredibly wonderful. Sometimes I get the impression that as a result of this headphone's 'fluid' and 'smooth' inclination towards musicality, it is in turn a bit less accurate. This makes sense, considering that the terms 'musical' and 'analytical' are many times antonyms and are rarely found in the same headphone.

(C) The bass performance on the W100 is many times gorgeous and very comendble, while at other times slightly overbearing in nature. Why the bass performance is at times like this is commonly dependent on the style of music played.