The WS99/WS77 PG 57..
Feb 9, 2013 at 7:27 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 1,799

Dsnuts

Headphoneus Supremus
Joined
Jun 20, 2011
Posts
15,601
Likes
31,914
So this one is gonna be what my thoughts on these cans are..
 
I am a big fan of ATs older WS55. A thread I started a while back..I just got my new WS99 been burning them in and started listening. Here are some early impressions of what I think will be a big hit.
 



 
The WS99 is a musical flavor of the extreme kind. The sound is more than just musical it has traits that went beyond your standard bass cans in sound..
Headphones
Type:Close-back Dynamic
Driver Diameter:Ø53 mm
Frequency Response:8 - 25,000Hz
Max Input Power:1,000mW
Sensitivity:102 dB/mW
Impedance37 Ω
Weight:250 g
Connector:Ø3.5mm gold-plated stereo mini plug
Cable:0.4 m Y-type
Attached Microphone
Type:Condenser
Polar Pattern:Omni-directional
Open Circuit Sensitivity:-40 dB (0dB=1V/Pa,1kHz)
Frequency Response:50Hz - 16,000Hz:
 
Build..
 
The build on these cans are solid like the bass using thicker plastic for the band.Thin but flexible metal frame for sub frame for the band.. The aluminum housed cups have chrome accents that could be scratched if not careful but these cans overall the build is nice and strong on them.. Comes with 2 extension cords. One with a volume nob and a microphone for your smart phones. Nice extra. Cords have a nice quality to them.. Could have been better but for me the sound is where it matters.
 
Sound. Early impression.
 
I gave them a good listen before I started my Drum N Bass work out.. I left it on to play all day and I just had a chance to put them on my head. The club like atmosphere is there.. The sound spacing in these cans are unique because of the dual chambers they have out back.. There are some similarities to the CKS1000 and I will mention those a bit later.
 
The one aspect of the new AT sound that I am big fan of is their sound balancing and these are no exception in that regard.. These have more than balance. They have immense depth and very ample stage for a closed can. I would say Medium Wide..Very nice stage for a closed can actually. My CKS1000 earphones also has a wide stage for earphones with this depth.. The highs have not only the best control I have heard but has a high end sparkle to it then you add this depth. Depending on recording. You can make out what part of the stage the highs are at. Frontal. Mid to lower so this dynamic here is mind blowing of itself.  Cheaper phones don't do this. Lets be clear about that. The mids are not only defined like a high end sound but they have lushness and a smoothness I am gonna predict should show up more and more with burn in..
 
Then there is the bass.
 
This is indeed a guilty pleasure like nothing I have heard before. The bass on these cans make other bass cans not so dynamic..These truly sound like subs in your sub bass. The texture is one thing but the sheer power is another. I haven't heard sub bass this strong since my XB90EX earphones...But see what is just too awesome is when you add the previous paragraph to this bass...  More to come.
 
A bit more on the bass and overall sound of these cans.. The way the drivers are mounted on these cans and the direct sound approach to how sound is channeled to your ear drums. These have some of the fastest bass notes you have ever heard on any can. Because of how tight the speed is. This makes rock and speed metal drums the fastest you guys can muster seem like childs play.. The speed of percussion and authority is second to none. This is yet another refinement that is commendable on these cans. Even more low end to love. Lol.
 
Feb 9, 2013 at 7:47 PM Post #4 of 1,799
Nice. I'll follow as per usual and wish that I could grab a pair in the coming weeks lol!
 
Feb 9, 2013 at 8:11 PM Post #7 of 1,799
Quote:
How do these compare with the Audio Technica ATH-ES700? Should I cancel my order of ES700 and order these instead?
I'm not into EDM, but do like a balanced can with good bass.


Na you want to get your ES700.. Keep your eyes on the prize.. I think you would be sad if you missed out on the sound that is on the ES700.. Keep on course soldier.
 
Feb 9, 2013 at 8:15 PM Post #8 of 1,799
Ok so in a bit of bad news they do have a clamp and the cups are shallow with shallow pads so the tip of your ears can and will touch the driver metal grill. So I have my Shure SRH850 pads I have on order and I will try those. Initially I didn't think they needed a pad swap but I hope to find the WS55 pad equivalent to the ES700. For the WS99. 
 
Feb 9, 2013 at 8:22 PM Post #9 of 1,799
how are your first impressions different from the ES700? I was planning on buying ES700s possibly in the next week so I was wondering if the sound quality of the ws99 is any better or in what's way it's different. Since you were heavily recommeding to buy WS55 pads for the ES700, I was wondering if I should just get the WS99. The pads would cost me around 30 bucks so the Ws99 might end up cheaper. Also, is the WS99 really a big upgrade from the WS55?
 
Feb 9, 2013 at 8:28 PM Post #10 of 1,799
Here we go again, Dsnuts hyping another AT product! :D Nah but I am curious and will follow until I've got a better idea of them. The only other person's feedback I read was some1 who had demoed them somewhere and didn't find them overly impressive. I think the unique design alone with dual chamber is interesting enough to wake my curiosity.
 
As for shallow pads, I guess you could always deepen the pads with paper towels like I tend to do. :p
 
EDIT: What's the diameter of the inner circumference of the pads? Just trying to figure out if it's circumaural or not for me. I think I need something like ~50 mm to fit inside with a round shape, my Q40 is 52~53 mm and fits nicely around the ear.
 
Feb 9, 2013 at 8:34 PM Post #11 of 1,799
Quote:
how are your first impressions different from the ES700? I was planning on buying ES700s possibly in the next week so I was wondering if the sound quality of the ws99 is any better or in what's way it's different. Since you were heavily recommeding to buy WS55 pads for the ES700, I was wondering if I should just get the WS99. The pads would cost me around 30 bucks so the Ws99 might end up cheaper. Also, is the WS99 really a big upgrade from the WS55?

The scale of the sound is bigger on the WS99. More bass obviously.  The Es700 has more of a sophisticated sound over the WS99.  The Ws99 does have sound similarities to the ES700 but think much bigger bass end.. The ES700 bass I don't feel is light or lacking. It is very nice and tightness with tonality with a nice sense of space on the ES700 makes them unique over the WS99. The WS99 has a bigger mid bass so much bigger punch for your bass notes. And the bass on the WS99 is specialized for bass lovers. Not only deep and very nicely textured the bass tonality and strength is like a full frontal sub woofer.. It has sheer bass authority. So the stuff that bass heads love about bass in gobs. Making these cans the Night CLub in your head but this time a stupid high end one.  
 
Go with the one you think is better for you. I can't help it if AT keeps on making crazy great sounding product as of late. Don't blame me. I am just here to report what I hear.
 
Feb 9, 2013 at 8:46 PM Post #14 of 1,799
Quote:
Here we go again, Dsnuts hyping another AT product! :D Nah but I am curious and will follow until I've got a better idea of them. The only other person's feedback I read was some1 who had demoed them somewhere and didn't find them overly impressive. I think the unique design alone with dual chamber is interesting enough to wake my curiosity.
 
As for shallow pads, I guess you could always deepen the pads with paper towels like I tend to do. :p
 
EDIT: What's the diameter of the inner circumference of the pads? Just trying to figure out if it's circumaural or not for me. I think I need something like ~50 mm to fit inside with a round shape, my Q40 is 52~53 mm and fits nicely around the ear.


Good to see you RPG. Just for you my friend I measured a 3 1/4 inch diameter inside the cups.  I tried my HM5 pads and they fit on these. A tad loose but they fit. The HM5 pads adds too much mid bass and bloats the sound so those are a no go. I have hopes for my Shure SRH840 pads. I am thinking your pads will fit fine on these cans. If I had my M-50 with me I would have tried the M-50 pads as well. I am sure we will find out soon enough the best pads for these.. The stock pads are a bit shallow. Not bad but not great.
 
Feb 9, 2013 at 9:02 PM Post #15 of 1,799
Ok so much like how the WS55 loosened up. These are getting much more comfier with more use. 
 
You know the thing I love about this sound. You can just listen to your tunes and get lost in that lushness and just enjoy what your hearing..Lol. This sound don't suck. With the 3 headed AT surprise I don't know which one surprised me the most..,  AD900X,  ES700 and now these
 
 
AD900X. ATs new version of their classic AD900..More bass and what seems to be a better version with a wide large scope of music and added air makes them just dreamy for vocals and instruments. One of the best cans I have ever heard for rock. Jaw dropping stage and air to the sounds. Amazing amount of layering and depth with a great balanced take on an AT classic.
 
ES700.. The best portable can I have ever heard in my life.. Sweet forward mids with a great amount of refined texture tonality and smoothness. These have what I consider ATs high end sound to them.
 
WS99..By far the best bass phones I have ever heard.. See the reason why Danny is such a resource is he owns the M100 and the Tiestos and many more he will compare with..Can't wait.
 
I am willing to bet these cans will give any new bass can a scare. The combination of high end tuning and that deep lushness with this bass I could have never thought. Full frontal AT.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top