phkd
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Mar 5, 2004
- Posts
- 311
- Likes
- 10
Hello everyone. This is a comparison review between the esw9 and esw10, as they are both currently in my possession.
The test equipment was:
hooray for pictures:
headphones: Audio-technica ATH-ESW9 (almost a year of moderate use), Audio-technica ATH-ESW10 (almost a day of heavy use).
sources: 5.5 gen iMod (DIY, used with amp), 1st gen iPod nano.
amp: Ray Samuels Audio SR-71.
interconnect: ALO jumbo copper for iMod.
music:
Shubert's 8th "Unfinished" symphony, 1st mov. (Wav),
"Pletzturra" - Infected Mushroom (mp3@239kbpsVBR),
"One" - Metallica (mp3@260kbpsVBR),
"Cheers Darlin'" - Damien Rice (mp3@188kbpsVBR).
I recommend hearing these tracks on your headphones, they were selected for a reason. I can't supply you with them though unless a moderator allows it or unless you pm me.
Since these are both technically portable headphones, I am only testing them out of my portable rig. I'm testing the um-amped versions on my friend's iPod (5.5 gen).
esw9:
(iMod) with amp
Oh the warmth! I love warmth! The highs are there and very good, but not with the same quality as the esw10. The mids are big and in your face, and remind me of a grado-style sound, but minus some of the upper-mids. These should work really well for anyone who loves the "rock" EQ preset.
(iPod) without amp
The frequency response does not seem to change much without the SR-71. The noticeable effects were unfocused sound which is caused in part by an overall shrinking image, and reduced detail across the frequency band.
esw10:
(iMod) with amp
Same sound as the esw9, but what seems to be the biggest difference is a reduction of the low-mids. a little less warmth, over all, but the highs are silk now (enhanced but not harsh), the detail present here is very impressive. Source separation is more accurate on these headphones too because of the beautiful upper range, which helps localize. The middle and bass frequencies are both represented clearly and accurately, with neither dominating when in an even mix in the music. The warmth from the 9's is there, but less so, which makes them more neutral than the 9's, but less "fun sounding" as people say.
(iPod) without amp
I think the best way to describe this is that the esw9 and esw10 sound almost identical when not supplied with a stock ipod amp. The 9 is still warmer, but the soundstage shrinks a little, the highs aren't as nice, and the detail drops off some.
Comparison and final thoughts:
These headphones, as I'm sure no one is surprised, sound similar. They have the same signature with slight differences. My esw10 also have not seen as much use as the esw9, but it's impossible to say if and how much their sound will change. If it is noticeable, I will update this review.
In the classical department, the ESW10 has dominated. Details like the conductor almost-silently tapping his baton are only heard on the 10. Some reverb is missing from the esw9 as well. The low-mids are less prominent in the esw10, this my be to many people's chagrin. the soundstage is better in the esw10, which surprised me, i expected the same thing out of the same sized headphones. The accuracy i mentioned earlier that these phones have really make amazing use out of a wave file's high resolution. This yields an applause-worthy presentation of detail-oriented recordings like symphonic music. In this test, it does seem like the esw10 was designed to trade those nice warm mid/low-mids from the esw9 for detail, and to add a bigger soundstage.
The other music I chose tries to span a range of sounds: electronic, hip hop, rock, metal, acoustic, and pop. It is also in mp3 since they don't benefit from being in wav like classical does, and i also wanted to test the most common type of file. First of all, while I am strong proponent of the mp3, the esw10 is going to be the way to go if you use lossless. If you use mp3's however, you may just want to stick with the 9's. One of the 10's particular strengths is detail, which means more accurate reproduction (across all frequencies) and a bump in the highs. the 9's strength i would say is its warmer sound, making it great for the rock music. Rock music is not really all about detail nor soundstage which are cornerstones of good classical recordings.
Also, I find this hard to believe, and perhaps it's placebo, but the 10 seems to benefit more from the SR-71 than the 9. The 10's output impedance is only high than the 9's by 3 ohms, however. Both headphones saw noticeable stereo widening with the SR-71. I wouldn't recommend getting an esw10 if you aren't going to use it with an amp (and the sr-71 is a hell of an amp), I would recommend getting an esw9.
It is true that the esw10 is the better headphone, since the main goal of the phones is to reproduce sound as accurately is the performer intended to play it. But you cannot say that one of these headphones clearly sounds nicer than the other one. They both give you a fairly forward sound with a nice diffused sound field when prompted or a nice focused image if that's the case in the music. Neither headphone sounds anything less than pleasing at any frequency range. If you want a little extra warmth and don't care about a smaller stage and less detail, the esw9 is better. Personally I think they have a more crowd pleasing sound while the esw10 caters to those who have the extra money and want to really hear all their music and portable gear has to offer.
The test equipment was:
hooray for pictures:
headphones: Audio-technica ATH-ESW9 (almost a year of moderate use), Audio-technica ATH-ESW10 (almost a day of heavy use).
sources: 5.5 gen iMod (DIY, used with amp), 1st gen iPod nano.
amp: Ray Samuels Audio SR-71.
interconnect: ALO jumbo copper for iMod.
music:
Shubert's 8th "Unfinished" symphony, 1st mov. (Wav),
"Pletzturra" - Infected Mushroom (mp3@239kbpsVBR),
"One" - Metallica (mp3@260kbpsVBR),
"Cheers Darlin'" - Damien Rice (mp3@188kbpsVBR).
I recommend hearing these tracks on your headphones, they were selected for a reason. I can't supply you with them though unless a moderator allows it or unless you pm me.
Since these are both technically portable headphones, I am only testing them out of my portable rig. I'm testing the um-amped versions on my friend's iPod (5.5 gen).
esw9:
(iMod) with amp
Oh the warmth! I love warmth! The highs are there and very good, but not with the same quality as the esw10. The mids are big and in your face, and remind me of a grado-style sound, but minus some of the upper-mids. These should work really well for anyone who loves the "rock" EQ preset.
(iPod) without amp
The frequency response does not seem to change much without the SR-71. The noticeable effects were unfocused sound which is caused in part by an overall shrinking image, and reduced detail across the frequency band.
esw10:
(iMod) with amp
Same sound as the esw9, but what seems to be the biggest difference is a reduction of the low-mids. a little less warmth, over all, but the highs are silk now (enhanced but not harsh), the detail present here is very impressive. Source separation is more accurate on these headphones too because of the beautiful upper range, which helps localize. The middle and bass frequencies are both represented clearly and accurately, with neither dominating when in an even mix in the music. The warmth from the 9's is there, but less so, which makes them more neutral than the 9's, but less "fun sounding" as people say.
(iPod) without amp
I think the best way to describe this is that the esw9 and esw10 sound almost identical when not supplied with a stock ipod amp. The 9 is still warmer, but the soundstage shrinks a little, the highs aren't as nice, and the detail drops off some.
Comparison and final thoughts:
These headphones, as I'm sure no one is surprised, sound similar. They have the same signature with slight differences. My esw10 also have not seen as much use as the esw9, but it's impossible to say if and how much their sound will change. If it is noticeable, I will update this review.
In the classical department, the ESW10 has dominated. Details like the conductor almost-silently tapping his baton are only heard on the 10. Some reverb is missing from the esw9 as well. The low-mids are less prominent in the esw10, this my be to many people's chagrin. the soundstage is better in the esw10, which surprised me, i expected the same thing out of the same sized headphones. The accuracy i mentioned earlier that these phones have really make amazing use out of a wave file's high resolution. This yields an applause-worthy presentation of detail-oriented recordings like symphonic music. In this test, it does seem like the esw10 was designed to trade those nice warm mid/low-mids from the esw9 for detail, and to add a bigger soundstage.
The other music I chose tries to span a range of sounds: electronic, hip hop, rock, metal, acoustic, and pop. It is also in mp3 since they don't benefit from being in wav like classical does, and i also wanted to test the most common type of file. First of all, while I am strong proponent of the mp3, the esw10 is going to be the way to go if you use lossless. If you use mp3's however, you may just want to stick with the 9's. One of the 10's particular strengths is detail, which means more accurate reproduction (across all frequencies) and a bump in the highs. the 9's strength i would say is its warmer sound, making it great for the rock music. Rock music is not really all about detail nor soundstage which are cornerstones of good classical recordings.
Also, I find this hard to believe, and perhaps it's placebo, but the 10 seems to benefit more from the SR-71 than the 9. The 10's output impedance is only high than the 9's by 3 ohms, however. Both headphones saw noticeable stereo widening with the SR-71. I wouldn't recommend getting an esw10 if you aren't going to use it with an amp (and the sr-71 is a hell of an amp), I would recommend getting an esw9.
It is true that the esw10 is the better headphone, since the main goal of the phones is to reproduce sound as accurately is the performer intended to play it. But you cannot say that one of these headphones clearly sounds nicer than the other one. They both give you a fairly forward sound with a nice diffused sound field when prompted or a nice focused image if that's the case in the music. Neither headphone sounds anything less than pleasing at any frequency range. If you want a little extra warmth and don't care about a smaller stage and less detail, the esw9 is better. Personally I think they have a more crowd pleasing sound while the esw10 caters to those who have the extra money and want to really hear all their music and portable gear has to offer.
