[JohannLiebert]

I find the es10 already fatiguing after some minutes. But I admit, they sound very exciting.

 

[ExpatinJapan]

I find the es10 already fatiguing after some minutes. But I admit, they sound very exciting.

exactly my thoughts. (Even when i put leather pads on my ES10 they were fatiguing) The ATH-ESW11 just keep getting better with time.

 

[Maxx134]

Exactly.
My esw11 have a very supple detailed presentation.
I will be putting the original pads back onto hear the differences again.

They have slightly more soundstage, detail and space retrieval than the esw10, BUT ..
I still find the esw10 slight more "woody" and solid in the mids..
These are my two top portables that can't let go.
I use the esw11 with the plastic sceen protectors (cut for an es7 in size) on them and not have to worry taking them outside.. But my esw10 I am worried there is no way to protect them..
I am afraid to put anything on the finish..
Oh well.

 

[xplosive]

exactly my thoughts. (Even when i put leather pads on my ES10 they were fatiguing) The ATH-ESW11 just keep getting better with time.

 
+1.. I really don't know whether it is the esw11 that keep on sounding better or the amp that is actually breaking in. the esw11 really scale up depend on the amp and source its used. I believe have not find its maximum potential yet. Also I am really impressed with its driver.. Somehow they are able to make very loud sound without any distortion whatsoever..

 

[ExpatinJapan]

This sounds sublime, perfect to my ears.

 

[Maxx134]

Aha!.. Cheater!.. You are super amped!

 

[Maxx134]

UPDATE ON PAD SWAPPING...

I have been on the esw9 pads for a while and that produced a lively and airy sound and less bass... Yet it lost some "meatyness" in the process..

Then I switched back to my original esw11 pads, and WOW I forgot about that tremendous bass!
Mids realism turned spooky and smokey...
But some of that brightness from the esw9 pads was also diminished..

Why can't I have it all?
Enter more pad swapping...

I had some generic cheapo pads that actually fit nice and were larger (!).
Bass was still impressive but mid majic got sucked out..!
So much for fake ass eBay pads..

Then out of the blue, I decided to try one last time with my spare es10 pads that I had on my esw9...
It is also the thinnest pads which gave the esw9 a more deeper and intimate tone since I found my esw9 too laid back..

So I put the es10 pads on the Esw11...

OMG.. Yes OMG again!!
These pads lie right in the middle of the two other pads! (Esw11 & esw9 pads)

Wow the sound!
Now I have almost all the bass of the esw11pads .
Now I have more intensity in the mids(!)
While also retaining the supple smoothness
A more intimate and deeper and larger sound than the esw9 pads(!)
Wow the mids really shine now for me.
So deep and engaging with a more natural tone!
I always thought my es10 pads were garbage lol !

Now I am hearing a perfect balance and solution to what I missed in my smaller esw10(solid natural mids) that I am afraid to take outside due to it's expensive amazing lacquer finish..

So it is definitely an improvement and excellent sound.
You can hear the vapor dewdrops in a singer's breath! Lol
Ok I am just being over-excited over the sound... Maybe

 

[cky8]

And if I had to nitpick.. the es10 earpads are not leather. Sensitive ears here with regards to comfort.
Sigh.. sometimes I just wish to stop 'tweaking' and enjoy the music !!
 
We just need the Audio Technica engineers come up with a new leather ear pad that extracts all the best sonic performance out of that esw11ltd.
 

 

 

[JohannLiebert]

What about the isolation? Biggest lackluster for me

 

[Maxx134]

What about the isolation? Biggest lackluster for me

Definitely more leakage with esw9 pads but I forget how much on stock pads .
I am finding much better isolation with es10 pads.

The overall headphone isolation is better than the esw9.
I think the es10 may have greater isolation but I don't remember much as I never focused on it.
I was always concerned over the sound.

I will be ordering esw10 pads soon to put on my es700 .
They are much too tight to dare pull off my esw10, so I am assuming they won't fit the esw11.
So for now I using es10 pads.
For sensitive ears I would suggest some foam inside pads..

 

[ExpatinJapan]

What are you using as a source/player, Max?

 

[Maxx134]

What are you using as a source/player, Max?

I am satisfied right now with this

Odac (just got today)
ALO Continental V2
Laptop

For portable I connect the Continental to my Galaxy Note2 audio jack good enough.

 

[JohannLiebert]

You really really sure about that isolation boost? Is the only reason I would buy the pads lol because I use them mostly while commuting.. as they are now I prefer my better isolating ie800.

 

[zorin]

I am satisfied right now with this

Odac (just got today)
ALO Continental V2
Laptop

For portable I connect the Continental to my Galaxy Note2 audio jack good enough.

Does the Continental V2 give a bit more resolution/detail and does it tightens the bass a bit ?

 

[Maxx134]

You really really sure about that isolation boost? Is the only reason I would buy the pads lol because I use them mostly while commuting.. as they are now I prefer my better isolating ie800.

Most of the time it takes a more listening after initial impression the sound changed more larger, intense and bassy so I was under assumption that the pads did give isolation boost but after extended listening it is more the sound more easily covering outside sounds rather than more isolation so I would say total isolation jumped about 20% so iy is up to you if that is worth the change.

To me the sound change makes it totally worth it.