[mark2410]

[size=12.0pt]ATH-CKW1000ANV Quick Review[/size]
 
[size=12.0pt]Thanks to SwimSonny for the loan.[/size]
 

 
 
[size=12.0pt]Brief:  Audio Technica had an Anniversary [/size]
 
[size=12.0pt]Price: Circa £456 on ebay before HMRC has a go at them[/size]
 
[size=12.0pt]Specification:  Driver Diameter 14 mm, Frequency Response 5 - 30,000 Hz Maximum Input Power 200 mW, Sensitivity 103 dB/mW, Impedance 17 ohms, Weight 11 g without cable Cable 0.6 m, Y-type, Connector 3.5 mm (1/8") mini stereo, gold-plated, [/size]
 
[size=12.0pt]Accessories:  Leather case; interchangeable earpieces (XS, S, M, L); 0.6 m extension cord; polishing cloth[/size]
 
[size=12.0pt]Build Quality:  The thing is wood and Titanium, AT do some of the best build quality in the world.[/size]
 
[size=12.0pt]Isolation:  Meh, very little.  These are really open and maybe that works for you but I wouldn’t use these out and about.[/size]
 
[size=12.0pt]Comfort/Fit:  Rather nice.  They sit super shallow but were very comfortable and easy to stick in.[/size]
 
[size=12.0pt]Aesthetics:  For something that wood and Titanium they look nothing special.  Tbh I didn’t realise they had wood on them until I saw it in their description and then I looked.  They are just dark and uneventful visually.[/size]
 
[size=12.0pt]Sound: Meh.  These don’t sound especially good at all and never mind their price.  They aren’t terrible but their bass is really rolled off due to not being well sealed.  It not especially quick, it fairly quick and has a bit of punch to it but then I remember the price and I am underwhelmed.  The mids again are so so.  In fact they really come very close to being sibilant and I can’t say I’m wildly enjoying them at all.  It’s never a good a sign when I start turning down the volume and they are just not making me enjoy them.  The highs, meh.  They exist but are muted and lack extension.  I realise I’m not being overly technical but I don’t see a point.  These where limited edition so never freely available and now out of production so if you don’t have a set you probably won’t be getting one.  You won’t after this anyway.  They don’t sound terrible but with the standard you can get for £100 today I can think of no reason at all to buy these unless you want them for their rarity.[/size]
 
[size=12.0pt]Value:  Terrible, insanely expensive for nothing but meh’ness.[/size]
 
[size=12.0pt]Pro’s:  Good name, nice build quality[/size]
 
[size=12.0pt]Con’s:  Terrible price to sound ratio[/size]

 

[uelover]

Mind sharing what are the gears used to drive this?
 
I have read some very good reviews on the CKW1000ANV on some Japanese websites so I am rather surprised to see such disparaging comment on it.

 

[mark2410]

mostly the hisoundaudio studio V 3rd anv as it suited it best.  the ipad and xm5 was even thicker.

 

[uelover]

Quote:

mostly the hisoundaudio studio V 3rd anv as it suited it best.  the ipad and xm5 was even thicker.

 
 
Quote:

[size=12.0pt]Sound: Meh.  These don’t sound especially good at all and never mind their price.  They aren’t terrible but their bass is really rolled off due to not being well sealed.  It not especially quick, it fairly quick and has a bit of punch to it but then I remember the price and I am underwhelmed.  The mids again are so so.  In fact they really come very close to being sibilant and I can’t say I’m wildly enjoying them at all.  [/size]

 
Here, I am really confused. You felt that the CKW1000ANV sounds thicker on the iPad and XM5 so you used the Studio V to drive it.
 
But then, you critiqued that the bass is really rolled off due to poor seal. So, how does a thick sound with rolled off bass come together?
 
Also, is sibilance in the mids (which I assume to be the upper mids that you are referring to) due to the poor seal as well as the sound of the Studio V?

 

[mark2410]

Quote:

 
 
 
Here, I am really confused. You felt that the CKW1000ANV sounds thicker on the iPad and XM5 so you used the Studio V to drive it.
 
But then, you critiqued that the bass is really rolled off due to poor seal. So, how does a thick sound with rolled off bass come together?
 
Also, is sibilance in the mids (which I assume to be the upper mids that you are referring to) due to the poor seal as well as the sound of the Studio V?

 
correct, thick as in thickness to the notes in the mids and bass yet the lows didnt extend well.  the sibilance could be due to the poor seal but no it wasnt just due to the studio, less pronounced on the xm5 but it was there with it and others too.

 

[blazer78]

You should aim to get a good seal before critiquing the sound

 

 

[uelover]

Quote:

You should aim to get a good seal before critiquing the sound

 

 
Yup. From his description of the CKW1000ANV it sounds like the common result of a bad seal rather than the inherent sound signature of the CKW1000ANV.

 

[mark2410]

oh that must be it, you know this being the first IEM ive ever used i clearly have no idea what im doing.
 
i mean if anyone want to send me another pair then feel free as a i never rule out the possibility its that the pair i have is off.  however what i wrote is how i found them and im sorry you disagree.

 

[up late]

Yeah I can see you're a noob.

 

[Omnirai]

They were pretty good when I had an audition. Maybe not exactly the best value with the premium pricing, but certainly a good upper-tier IEM. Maybe your pair or fit was problematic.

 

[Swimsonny]

I think Mark here is spot one, i get a great seal and the only view we do not agree on is i think they have capable sub-bass but he nails the rest with his description. these really are not a good buy!

 

[GN-0015]

Hey Mark, I've read lots of your reviews on other IEMs and to me you're a good reviewer and I have to say you're one of my respected reviewer.
 
That said, I really want to ask you if your problems with getting good seal were specifically when using the stocked tips (because they're part of what you're paying for, so it couldn't be more fair to judge these IEMs with what most people will get when they buy it), or were you experiencing problems when using with some aftermarket tips too? What about Hippo or Comply foam tips? I had bad fit with RE0 that can only be solved with some Comply T400.

 

[mark2410]

well i dont believe i was getting any problems with a seal.  i just think for an IEM at its price it just doesnt come anywhere close to deserving it.

 

[blazer78]

Quote:

 
the sibilance could be due to the poor seal but no it wasnt just due to the studio, less pronounced on the xm5 but it was there with it and others too.

 
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by mark2410 /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
[size=12.0pt]They aren’t terrible but their bass is really rolled off due to not being well sealed.  It not especially quick, it fairly quick and has a bit of punch to it but then I remember the price and I am underwhelmed.  [/size]

 
I'm just wondering what you mean by "poor seal" in your previous two posts? It seems to contradict what you just stated.
 
You can understand why people would be skeptical. That being said, for the same price I agree you could get something with a sound signature that is vastly different.

 
My recommendation is to try and give the CKW1000 another go. This time, listen to them for 2 hours straight, listen to high quality MP3's. Start your judgement around the 47 minute mark.

 
have fun ^^

 

[Swimsonny]

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