Audio Technica ATH- ES 10 Impressions Thread

[lbbef]

Quote:

I am wondering now if your new esw11pads would be best choice or esw9 pads or ws55 pads..

 
I've tried it the last time at a local headphone shop, swapping the earpads just for a test. The ESW11LTD earpads didn't really change the sound much, but was ALOT more comfortable.
 
Then again, ignorance is bliss, save our wallets! :X

 

[Maxx134]

My esw9 pads just came in from audio Technica..


will compare now..
Good news and bad news (sort of )..
Bad news is Audio Technica chose to update to thinner lambskin area,
Good news is that it IS a leather wich actually preserves the sound qualities like the original.
.edit: I am seeing same newer pads on recent esw9 photos so looks like lambskin phased out.

So on to the comparison.
I was using the ws55 pads wich I considered a noticeable increase in comfort and sound.
I do not remember what qualities of sound but my ears perceived a noticeable improvement over stock pads.

Now onto the new version of the esw9 pads...
At first I did have the bias that they would not be up to par.
And I was really sore and pissed off that there was no more lambskin surface for the ear.
But from memory I knew that the lambskin does not seal a good as these.
So after extensive A/B comparison to the ws55 pads.
There is a distinct difference in the mids.
The mids are more clear, while the slightly larger ws55 pads do not convey this clarity.
What the ws55 pads did do, was give the bass a slightly more pronounced effect.
While the sub bass remained unaffected.

So it looks like the new esw9 pads are actually better than the ws55 pads.
I am now going to test these two pads on the es700,
Which I consider share many similar qualities in upper mids and trebles to the es10. (The es10 Lil brother)
Edit:
Confirmed same results on the es700. .

 

[Maxx134]

Can someone please describe to mewwhat to expect with burn in process?
So far my burn producing better bass but I like to know how it will change the mids

 

[Bill-P]

I can't quite remember how the ES10 was when I first got it, but midrange is very prominent now with my pair.
 
As in... I'm hearing bass and treble, but midrange easily overpowers both of them. Vocals are extremely forward and upfront.
 
One thing I can tell also is that my ES10 also doesn't sound anything like a closed can. My dad's M50, DT770, and a recently heard Mad Dogs, A900X, etc... all sound a lot more closed in than my ES10.

 

[waynes world]

Hey Maxx134, you're services are required here to provide your impressions of the ES10 versus the WS99.

 

[Bill-P]

On a side note, though people may say otherwise, I've noticed that my ES10 does need some amplification in order to sound "full".
 
If unamped, they sound like there's a hollow space in between the midrange.

 

[Maxx134]

Ok thanks and yes I noticed that as well but the pad change help that and so far right now the mids are not as forward as you say.
Right now they are actually less forward than both the es700 and the ws99.
I have less than 30 hours on them so must burn for it to play with its  siblings (ws99) lol.

 

[Bill-P]

I think it takes a long time to burn in because the ES10 has so much headroom. Audio Technica rates them at 2000mW.
 
And I think they actually burn in every time they are plugged into a source... until you reach a point where the source is so good that it allows the ES10 to settle in. I've only reached that point with the UHA-6S Mk.II recently, but I'm wondering if they'll start burning in again when I have an even better source...

 

[Bill-P]

I've finally had the time to sand the ear cups. It took literally just 15 minutes of careful work, and what came out was something I didn't quite expect.
 
Some photos:
 
Sanded one cup, the other one is still glossy (and full of scratches)
 
 

 
The reduction in reflection is pretty significant.
 

 
The matte cup looks classier to me. Reflections don't look good when there are so many scratches on it.
 

 
And now both cups done.
 

 

 

 

 

 
If you ask me, the matte texture on the ES10 just looks so much better! I wonder why Audio Technica didn't sell them like this.
 
Side note: I forgot to include the dampening foam on one of the cup, and the sound immediately became muddled, with smaller soundstage. Adding that foam back in helped tremendously. Looks like I can mod the dampening foam for some interesting effects. Hmm...

 

[waynes world]

Quote:

If you ask me, the matte texture on the ES10 just looks so much better! I wonder why Audio Technica didn't sell them like this.
 

 
Wow - they look great like that! Nice work.

 

[Rayzilla]

I agree that the matte looks better in every way. One day I will do that to mine too. Thanks for sharing your impressions and pictures.

 

[Maxx134]

They look absolutely gorgeous!
What are you talking about "dampening foam"?
You mean the yellow fiberglass looking material behind the speaker?
I don't think that can be surpassed as it is optimized for the driver and from reading thru some Fostex t50rp threads that would relate to any internal reflections so would alter soundstage,
BUT I Do think the metal cup or internals could possibly be dampened slightly but the design overall leave little room for modifcation I assume the materials are highly optimized already. .

 

[lbbef]

Long awaited upgrade!
ESW11LTD earpads!
Damage: SGD76
 
Initial impression:  Slightly bigger soundstage. Slightly more bass. Bass is slightly more controlled. Vocals are slightly warmer. Clarity Is slightly better. Seems to have a slight change in balance. Comfort is a lot better. I think all these changes are cause the newer pads aren't flat like the used old ones
 
Overall I love it
 
I'll do a proper comparison after I come back from a hackathon.
 

 

[dallan]

I like em. Did they have adhesive to fasten them. I saw a pair a while back for sale to be shipped from Japan but I wasn't ready to be the guinea pig this time.[

 

[kskwerl]

Quote:

I've finally had the time to sand the ear cups. It took literally just 15 minutes of careful work, and what came out was something I didn't quite expect.
 
Some photos:
 
Sanded one cup, the other one is still glossy (and full of scratches)
 
 

 
The reduction in reflection is pretty significant.
 

 
The matte cup looks classier to me. Reflections don't look good when there are so many scratches on it.
 

 
And now both cups done.
 

 

 

 

 

 
If you ask me, the matte texture on the ES10 just looks so much better! I wonder why Audio Technica didn't sell them like this.
 
Side note: I forgot to include the dampening foam on one of the cup, and the sound immediately became muddled, with smaller soundstage. Adding that foam back in helped tremendously. Looks like I can mod the dampening foam for some interesting effects. Hmm...

That looks so much better than the original, the original was always a turn off for me