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Headphoneus Supremus
Does the Clear have more bass slam for drums and such than the wp900?
I like my lower mids, upper bass punchiness.
I like my lower mids, upper bass punchiness.
Audio-Technica ATH-WP900
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JML
Headphoneus Supremus
The Clear is phenomenal, and while the WP900 is excellent, it's not quite the same. The Clear costs twice as much as the WP900! The bass on the WP900 seems to depend more upon fit and what's driving them. It's tight, fast, and articulate, but it doesn't go as deep as the Clear, but it can be equalized if you want. I do not find the WP900 to be lacking in bass, but when you put on the Clear you realize that it's really at another level of performance all around.
Neither is a bass head phone!
Neither is a bass head phone!
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Nostoi
Headphoneus Supremus
Marvellous, thanks so much for the info. I put in an order from Amazon. Import fees to Vienna are pricey, but I couldn't resist. I actually have a couple of late 80's guitars made in the Fujigen factory where the WP900 cups are sourced, and the quality of those guitars is absolutely outstanding.
If they have the clarity of the Clear, then they look to be excellent. To my mind, the Focal Clear are perfectly tuned in every respect. I also like the tuning of the MSR7B, which is somewhat similar to the Clear in terms of tuning though of course lacks the technical ability and depth, so I suspect I'll like the WP900 very much.
I actually already have that case you pictured for my MSR7B. How do you avoid the cups touching in the case?
Yes, my WM1A is only FLAC and DSD. I like the fairly aggressive and revealing nature of the MSR7B, so I look forward very much to seeing how the WP900 pair with the Sony!
JML
Headphoneus Supremus
Between the two cups I put a polyester microfiber/suede pouch that came with the Meridian Explorer. Something similarly soft ought to work fine. I wish the case had a divider built-in.
TubeStack
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Can anyone compare these to the MSR7b?
Nostoi
Headphoneus Supremus
You can find my comparison here.
Mark Up
1000+ Head-Fier
Great review. The signature Audio Technical never quite got right on display there. I wish they'd make one with plastic or light metal vs. wood to cut costs. I'm sure the wood imparts something but they can get 90% of the sound and maybe put in a bit of damping to prevent resonances that wood can sometimes alleviate. It would also make it more portable and less likely for them to crack by accident.
JML
Headphoneus Supremus
Great review! I agree with you on all the points comparing the WP900 to the Clear and using the with the WM1A, but don't have the MSR7b. I'm so glad you like 'em, after I kind of pushed you past your initial concerns!
Maybe you can post your full review in this thread instead of just a link?
Maybe you can post your full review in this thread instead of just a link?
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Nostoi
Headphoneus Supremus
Heh, I'm glad you pushed me! Let me edit/tweak my review and add some decent pictures, then I'll add it to this thread.
JML
Headphoneus Supremus
And add the WP900 to your signature!
Nostoi
Headphoneus Supremus
Heh, you're right. Updated! I'll edit and add my review in a moment or so.
Nostoi
Headphoneus Supremus
I wanted to offer some reflections on the WP900 in comparison to the MSR7B. I’ve already posted an earlier version of this on the MSR7B thread, but this is an extended set of impressions of the WP900.
First, these things are absolutely beautiful. I already have the ZMF Eikon, which many people including myself regard as fine looking headphones. They are. But I have to say, the WP900 are probably the best looking headphones I’ve seen. Despite being a flamed maple finish, they’re actually not overly “flash.” I know this finish and the factory where they come from quite well as I have MIJ Fender and a Charvel (for hair metal fans) both from the late 80s from that factory. I tried to take some decent photos, but the battery on my Lumix died. You get the idea, though. See below. The build quality is solid without in any sense being bulky. They are light and the rotating hinge on the cup feels smooth and solid. I understand the chap who designed the MSR7B also designed the WP900. The structure is similar, though the materials are of course different. Pads are very comfortable as is headband. It's amazing that the cups house full size 53mm drivers in such a small unit.
To the sound. When I bought these blindly, I was expecting them to a more refined version of the MSR7B. The MSR7B are excellent headphones for the price. Their technical attributes are outstanding and probably deserve more recognition. The WP900 is quite a bit warmer than the MSR7B. Bass is more accented. Probably by 3db in the 80khz region. This gives them more slam and impact. They handle deep sub-bass remarkably well. Potentially problematic tracks – much of Hans Zimmer’s late output, for example – can cause distortion and clipping in some headphones. My Focal Clears actually distort when pushed too far, which I don’t recommend doing. The sub-bass and bass on the WP900 is detailed and controlled. A track like “YYZ” by Rush or “Teen Town” by Weather Report is a good test. It’s a beautiful experience on the WP900. Deep, impactful, and textured. Kick drums and bass guitars are powerful and layered. Zero bloat. Massive Attack’s “Angel” is another good test track. I’m listening to it now and I hope people get the chance to try this out – because it’s sweet.
But these are not “basshead” headphones. There’s zero bleeding of the bass into the mids, which I welcome. I’m a fan of the Beyer sort of bass – tight, controlled, and with an accent on sub-bass. I don’t like mid-bass and especially when it’s flabby (I think here of the Nightowls and to some extent the Campfire Cascade when they’re unmodified). Mids are superb; lush, detailed, full. There is no recession. Male vocals are present but not shouty. Guitars are powerful. I’m listening to a 32/192 WAV rip of the re-mastered issue of Van Halen’s “Fair Warning” (arguably the greatest guitar tone of all time). The tone is rich, organic, and immensely satisfying.
When I first plugged the WP900 into my WM1A, my first sense was the WP900 does not have the peaky treble of the MSR7B. I have to say, I don’t mind a bit of sharp treble, not to the point of sibilance, but I’d rather have too much of a peak and lower it in EQ than not enough. I have now had a good day or so of listening fairly solidly to the WP900 and find the treble to be balanced, detailed, but not fatiguing. One of my test tracks for treble is Dio “Holy Diver,” especially the cymbals and high-hats which can be piercing on the wrong headphones. Here, they are close to perfect. When I’m not listening to Sibelius, Bruckner, or Mahler, I listen to a lot of supposedly “bright” rock/metal from the ‘80s (hey, boomer). It all sounds superb and detailed on the WP900. Immensely pleasing.
Soundstage and imaging are indeed outstanding. The final movement of Mahler’s 2nd must be one of the most demanding pieces of music to reproduce in any recorded format; I have quite a few DSD/SACD recordings of this symphony and the level of clarity, detail, and precise imaging on the WP900 is outstanding. The same is true of complex passages in progressive rock and metal. Listen to Dream Theater’s “Images and Words” with these for a good exercise in imaging and separation.
They pair exceptionally well with the WM1A. I already thought the synergy between the WM1A and the MSR7B was excellent – no EQ needed. I find the WM1A is actually quite a picky dap. My ZMF’s and my former pair of Sony Z7M2 sound tepid and just “off” with the WM1A, even when run through a powerful amp. But the WP900 just works. They really come to life here. I also want to add that the WP900 scale exceptionally well. I bought them mostly for portable use, but when I plugged them into my RME ADI-2 and Pathos Aurium, I was pleased to hear that they sound excellent. This is an amazing combo. On my desktop set-up, the WP900 are exceptionally snappy and precise. They could easily be one’s main desktop cans, without a doubt. Out of interest, I just A/B’d these with my ZMF Eikon. The Eikon are definitely more technically proficient headphones, more spacious, better detail retrieval, but the WP900 are not far behind.
Hope this helps those interested in these fine headphones; happy to provide more info if needed. Excuse any typos.
First, these things are absolutely beautiful. I already have the ZMF Eikon, which many people including myself regard as fine looking headphones. They are. But I have to say, the WP900 are probably the best looking headphones I’ve seen. Despite being a flamed maple finish, they’re actually not overly “flash.” I know this finish and the factory where they come from quite well as I have MIJ Fender and a Charvel (for hair metal fans) both from the late 80s from that factory. I tried to take some decent photos, but the battery on my Lumix died. You get the idea, though. See below. The build quality is solid without in any sense being bulky. They are light and the rotating hinge on the cup feels smooth and solid. I understand the chap who designed the MSR7B also designed the WP900. The structure is similar, though the materials are of course different. Pads are very comfortable as is headband. It's amazing that the cups house full size 53mm drivers in such a small unit.
To the sound. When I bought these blindly, I was expecting them to a more refined version of the MSR7B. The MSR7B are excellent headphones for the price. Their technical attributes are outstanding and probably deserve more recognition. The WP900 is quite a bit warmer than the MSR7B. Bass is more accented. Probably by 3db in the 80khz region. This gives them more slam and impact. They handle deep sub-bass remarkably well. Potentially problematic tracks – much of Hans Zimmer’s late output, for example – can cause distortion and clipping in some headphones. My Focal Clears actually distort when pushed too far, which I don’t recommend doing. The sub-bass and bass on the WP900 is detailed and controlled. A track like “YYZ” by Rush or “Teen Town” by Weather Report is a good test. It’s a beautiful experience on the WP900. Deep, impactful, and textured. Kick drums and bass guitars are powerful and layered. Zero bloat. Massive Attack’s “Angel” is another good test track. I’m listening to it now and I hope people get the chance to try this out – because it’s sweet.
But these are not “basshead” headphones. There’s zero bleeding of the bass into the mids, which I welcome. I’m a fan of the Beyer sort of bass – tight, controlled, and with an accent on sub-bass. I don’t like mid-bass and especially when it’s flabby (I think here of the Nightowls and to some extent the Campfire Cascade when they’re unmodified). Mids are superb; lush, detailed, full. There is no recession. Male vocals are present but not shouty. Guitars are powerful. I’m listening to a 32/192 WAV rip of the re-mastered issue of Van Halen’s “Fair Warning” (arguably the greatest guitar tone of all time). The tone is rich, organic, and immensely satisfying.
When I first plugged the WP900 into my WM1A, my first sense was the WP900 does not have the peaky treble of the MSR7B. I have to say, I don’t mind a bit of sharp treble, not to the point of sibilance, but I’d rather have too much of a peak and lower it in EQ than not enough. I have now had a good day or so of listening fairly solidly to the WP900 and find the treble to be balanced, detailed, but not fatiguing. One of my test tracks for treble is Dio “Holy Diver,” especially the cymbals and high-hats which can be piercing on the wrong headphones. Here, they are close to perfect. When I’m not listening to Sibelius, Bruckner, or Mahler, I listen to a lot of supposedly “bright” rock/metal from the ‘80s (hey, boomer). It all sounds superb and detailed on the WP900. Immensely pleasing.
Soundstage and imaging are indeed outstanding. The final movement of Mahler’s 2nd must be one of the most demanding pieces of music to reproduce in any recorded format; I have quite a few DSD/SACD recordings of this symphony and the level of clarity, detail, and precise imaging on the WP900 is outstanding. The same is true of complex passages in progressive rock and metal. Listen to Dream Theater’s “Images and Words” with these for a good exercise in imaging and separation.
They pair exceptionally well with the WM1A. I already thought the synergy between the WM1A and the MSR7B was excellent – no EQ needed. I find the WM1A is actually quite a picky dap. My ZMF’s and my former pair of Sony Z7M2 sound tepid and just “off” with the WM1A, even when run through a powerful amp. But the WP900 just works. They really come to life here. I also want to add that the WP900 scale exceptionally well. I bought them mostly for portable use, but when I plugged them into my RME ADI-2 and Pathos Aurium, I was pleased to hear that they sound excellent. This is an amazing combo. On my desktop set-up, the WP900 are exceptionally snappy and precise. They could easily be one’s main desktop cans, without a doubt. Out of interest, I just A/B’d these with my ZMF Eikon. The Eikon are definitely more technically proficient headphones, more spacious, better detail retrieval, but the WP900 are not far behind.
Hope this helps those interested in these fine headphones; happy to provide more info if needed. Excuse any typos.
Has anyone compared this with a Beyerdynamic T5p (2nd Gen)? I like the sound of the Beyer, and I can get it used, albeit in mint condition, for a slightly lower cost than a brand-new WP900. However, some of the early reviews and impressions of the WP900 paint a very good picture. Any impressions will be helpful. Thanks!
Nostoi
Headphoneus Supremus
Check out the MSR7B thread, where I make a comparison between the T5P and the WP900.
Your opinions were very helpful, thank you!
I am not looking at either can as a portable. I listen to my headphones only at home; I use my IEMs on the go. Hence, the portability factor isn't a major issue. In this comparison, I am leaning toward the T5p (2nd Gen), but the WP900 is a very compelling option, too.
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