The ATH-A900Ti Appreciation Thread

Do they sound similar to AD900 but better? or do they sound completely different?

I've always been intrigued by these, but one can buy woodies for a bit more so that is what made me lose some interest. I'd still love to try these, maybe at a meet.

Thanks alot for your detailed review!!! It helped me alot deciding which direction to go. Glad that you are happy with your new headphone!

i have it,like it.they sound very good but i also like open cans so would maybe sell it to fund an akg k702,never listened to it yet.but as always,no chance to test in my area.

i went for k240mk2 and wouldn't need to sell the a900ti,as it's limited edition so i think it hold a great value after all. it has high quality drivers as well that made it stand out when it comes to specs.

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agree with everything positive in this thread. im enjoying these very much and i dont think i need another pair for a looong time. best allrounder I've ever had.

I just got them. I don't have too much experience with headphones. I have previously owned the Senn HD555 and the Sony EX300 IEMs. Before that I had owned the NHT Xd loudspeaker system. That said, I'll give a couple of quick thoughts for them:

On first listen, they sounded bright and bass-shy. After burn in, the frequency response flattened out alot more. The treble is less harsh and less pronounced while the bass started to get some thump in it. In short, do not judge out of the box. Let it burn in for a couple of days first!

The treble and the mids were crystal clear and transparency is good. The highs has a sparkle to it (due to the Titanium?) and seperation and detail is fantastic. I have never heard so much detail before! I can't say that I am displeased with the high and mids. The sound does edge towards an overemphasis of treble to me. Maybe it still needs a little burning-in, or maybe it is just a residual effect from a lasting first-impression. I recall that a review I read on the NHT Xd that compared the detail of the Xd to that of the Senn HD600 and said they offered equal levels of details. If that is true (I have my doubts), then the A900Ti surely beats the crap out of the Senn HD600 in terms of detail.

One of my pet hates of the HD555 is the lack of bass. I am not a fan of "doof doof" bass but I do like bass that is deep, meaningful and impactful. Bass should feel like a kick in the guts and make you jump out of your skin a little. And it should add to, not impeded on the music. Bass gives the sound weight and definition. Without it music sounds light and floaty. Kind of like a balloon compared to a football. On the HD555, it just doesn't happen. Where it does have bass it is decent bass. But it just doesn't go deep enough. I know manufacturers like to claim that bass starts from 5-15hz, but honestly, I don't even think you can hear reasonable bass from 60hz down on the HD555. Unfortunately, the same can be said of the A900Ti. Yes you can hear the deeper frequencies very faintly in the background, but I hate listening to my music from 100hz up. In contrast, the far cheaper Sony EX300 IEMs have far deeper and far more impactful bass. But the bass for the EX300 also sound more one-noted, more boomy and not at all emotional. I am not sure about others, but I think it is folly to fool myself into thinking that all is right in the world without bass. I hate the world without bass. And the A900ti didn't help much in that sense.

There is a real sense of spaciousness about it in the sense that you can hear if the sound is coming from far or near. Coupled it with great seperation, it is a listening experience to behold. But no, there is no stage or image to speak of. I've not tried any other high-end headphones, so I'm not sure if that's about as good as any headphone can muster, but it certainly isn't good enough for me -- especially since I've been pampered by the vast and precise stage of my recently sound NHT Xd Loudspeakers.

In terms of musical genres, the lack of bass makes it a poor choice for rock, techno, RNB, pop etc. It performs surprisingly well on natural, vocals (specially females), jazz and the kind. Norah Jones is a treat.

In terms of comparisons, the Xd looses out to the A900ti in terms of clarity, detail, seperation and treble. But the Xd completely trounced the A900ti in terms of bass, stage and image. The Xd has one of the best stages I have ever heard and the A900ti simply cannot compare. The A900ti comfortably beats the HD555 and the Sony EX300. It should. It costs twice as much (and more). It beats in terms of almost any sonic characteristic I can think of --> besides the fact that the Sony bass goes deeper and is more impacful. In comparison both sound warm, fuzzy and lacking in clarity, detail and seperation.

So, in short conclusion:
Strengths: Treble. Clarity. Seperation. Detail.
Weakness: Bass (or the lack of it). Stage. Weight/Definition/Command to the sound (due to the lack of bass).

If I remember correctly the 900LTD and 950LTD might be the same 'phone... someone correct me if I'm wrong.