[Dr_Gus]

(sorry if my english is not perfect, French here)

Hello,

So I was a happy owner of an Audio-Technica ESW10jpn that I bought something like 10 years ago.
At the time i was very into the world of headphones. I even owned a Sennheiser HE60 I bought here, sold for lack of use and lack of financial resources to offer it an amp worthy of its name (the HEV70 being what it is).
The ESW10 suited me so well that I stopped looking for informations about new headphones.

But as you can see in the picture, it broked, and unless you have a better idea than 3D printing, it seems I'm good to buy new headphones (the transductors still perfectly work)... I thought rebuying an old and cheaper ESW9 just to use the parts I need (even a counterfeit would do the trick !), but it's almost impossible to find nowadays.

A quick look on headphones currently produced by AT made me wonder if the ATH-WP900 wouldn't be the right and natural substitute.
700€ is quite more expensive than the price I spent in the ESW10, but I can afford it nowadays and saw used ones on sale here on head-fi.
If there are HP equivalent to the ESW10 cheaper that would be nice, but I definitely can't buy something less good than the ESW10...

I'm also interested in and intrigued by the Audeze LCD-1, but I wonder if I can enjoy it from my smartphone and PC without an amp. Also I don't want to many sound leaks since it's open (but I read they're not that bad with the LCD-1) ; some little leaks (same as semi-open HP) would be acceptable since I use my HP mainly in private space.

I've also read some good things about the Audeze Mobius (I also use my HP a lot for gaming), and some bad ones. I'm quite unsure if it's practical in mobile situation (and it seems you can't passively run them) ; if you think differently feel free to tell it.

Maybe Audeze Sine ?

What about the Kennerton Jord ? I'm just discovering this brand and it tickles my interest. Despite the fact they're not foldable, these HP seems at least really sturdy, and despite an on-ear design and a weight of 580g they seem comfortable.

Hifiman Edition S seems nice with his both closed & open back design, I would have prefer a over-ear than on-ear design tough.

Oppo PM3 ? I'm afraid to find them kind of boring/dull compared to my joyful ESW10.

Other pick : Austrian Audio Hi-X55.

Has anyone listened to those above ? How do they compare between them with the ESW10Jpn ?
Any other relevant idea ? I am not really up to date anymore with the world of HP.

So of course I am looking for :
- (trans)portable headphones, that can be put in a backpack withouth taking ALL the space (foldable if possible and/or sturdy)
- doesn't have to be strictly closed if there aren't much disturbing sound leaks around
- isolation doesn't matter a lot
- no amp strictly required (I may consider buying one for home/PC usage, but I need to be able to use the HP with a smartphone)
- I would prefer over-ear HP than on-ear, the ESW10 could be quite painful after many hours, and I want a bigger soundstage
- no IEM

Price wise, the less the better but I still have a pretty good "leeway", I just won't put more than 1000€/1200$. Although I've not found yet HP with portability potential up to this type of price range.

I like a vast variety of musics, by order of preference/habit : all kind of rocks, hard rock, folk, jazz, vocal, soft electro (funk/hip hop inspirations), sometimes soundtrack.
As I said I also use my headphones a lot for video games on PC, a nice presence and resolution in the lows would be appreciated as well as a good spacialisation but I favor musicality rather than artifice like 7.1...

I love(d) how the ESW10jpn sound, easylistening, detailed but still natural (for my taste) and almost warm, not lacking in the lower spectre but not sloberry, treble never tiring (that's important for me), decent imaging considering they are over-ear and closed HP - a better and larger soundstage would be appreciated.
However I'm not exclusively looking for HP with the exact same frequency response, but I might be bored with something to neutral.
I'm not against buying second-hand, but I don't want to search the rare pearl for ages.

Thanks

 

[Dr_Gus]

Up

 

[SilverEars]

Superglue.

 

[Dr_Gus]

Superglue.

Already try, doesn't work.
It broke in the worst place.

 

[Raketen]

I would prefer over-ear HP than on-ear, the ESW10 could be quite painful after many hours, and I want a bigger soundstage

I would avoid the Sine for this, both on-ear and in your face soundstage (similar to hd25 IIRC). Not necessarily recommending it but Campfire Cascade might be one to add, although the bass could be too much (have not heard esw10).

Also, did you try contacting audio technica to see if they have a replacement headband that might fit?
For instance in the US they work with a parts supplier with (out of stock, so may not be sourecable, idk) headband bits from ES9 and 10 including "joint cover" and "yoke" parts, europe may have similar options:

https://www.fullcompass.com/brand/a...s-replacement-service/headphone-parts/?page=1

 

[pbui44]

Maybe you need this notoriously fragile part:

https://www.fullcompass.com/prod/219417-audio-technica-134407490-joint-cover-for-ath-esw9

 

[Dr_Gus]

Maybe you need this notoriously fragile part:

https://www.fullcompass.com/prod/219417-audio-technica-134407490-joint-cover-for-ath-esw9

I would avoid the Sine for this, both on-ear and in your face soundstage (similar to hd25 IIRC). Not necessarily recommending it but Campfire Cascade might be one to add, although the bass could be too much (have not heard esw10).

Also, did you try contacting audio technica to see if they have a replacement headband that might fit?
For instance in the US they work with a parts supplier with (out of stock, so may not be sourecable, idk) headband bits from ES9 and 10 including "joint cover" and "yoke" parts, europe may have similar options:

https://www.fullcompass.com/brand/a...s-replacement-service/headphone-parts/?page=1

Thanks for the link, and thanks for the answers, unfortunately from Europe I've got an error 1020 "access denied" when I try to go to this website.

Otherwise I asked Audio-Technica support if they still have spare parts, but they don't.

As the earcups are still fully functional, I will try to get another headband, but it might take time.
So I'm still looking for new headphones.

 

[CJG888]

Here’s a long shot (but sometimes they hit the mark…).

Shipibo in Poland make excellent replacement frames and gimbals for Grados. Maybe they could manufacture something suitable. You need a new gimbal and headband- maybe a Grado one (suitably dimensioned) could be adapted… It would be a bespoke job, but your ESW10jpns are definitely worth saving!

I was never too impressed by the headband mechanism of the portable “Earsuit” range.

BTW, I have a pair of ATH-W1000Z incoming…