audio-technica ATH-AD900X Open-Back Audiophile Headphones,Black

I purchased the Audio Technica ATH-AD900X here from Amazon. I became interested in the AD900X after trying on a pair at a retailer and getting a opportunity to demo them with different genres of music. What immediately grabbed me was the quality of the sound but also the comfort for a full-size over-the-ear headphone.Pro'sSound - The AD900X are an open design headphone. The sound is very forward and clear, with clean and bright mid-range and treble sounds. Others have criticized the AD900X as being too bright. Personally, I didn't find that to be the case. The sound present is very lively and enjoyable. Bass sounds are clear, but not boom-y or thump-y like many newer bass-heavy headphones. If anything, I would describe the sound of the AD900X as being neutral across the spectrum. Vocals, in particular, are very enjoyable on the AD900X - coming across very forward and center stage. If I had to compare the AD900X to other headphones I either own or have heard, I would say the sound is very much in the "reference class" of headphones like the AKG K550 or K70X series or the Beyerdynamic DT880. The sound is very uncolored and realistic, which personally I like a lot.Comfort - To start, the AD900X is a large set of headphones. The speakers and ear pads are slightly over 4 inches in diameter and circular in shape, covered in black velour. As a result, the ear pads and speakers will cover even the largest of ears. For its size, the AD900X have to be one of the lightest full size over ear headphones. The only lighter headphones I can compare them to are the Bose AE2, another very light headphone. The AD900X has a very unique design for the headband. Instead of a full over-the-head headband, the AD900X has 2 padded "wings" above the actual cans that rest upon the side and slightly over the top of your head. You feel virtually no pressure on the head from this design. Out of the box, the clamping pressure from the upper support bands is a bit tight, resulting in the ear pad cushions getting mashed against the sides of my head and the grills of the speakers to push in and rest on the ear. A quick stretch of the support loosened it up nicely. These headphones appear to have been designed specifically for users with extended wear times like sound engineers, DJ's, recording engineers and others. The AD900X can easily be worn for hours at a time with no discomfort.While not a comfort issue, the AD900X comes with a very long 10 foot cable terminating in a mini-plug. A 1/4 inch gold plated adapter is also included. For pro users like an engineer at a sound board, DJ's, musicians and others who require mobility while wearing the headphones, this ideal. For a home user, the longer cord is nice feature - allowing you to connect to a home entertainment unit or amplifier directly and not have to sit on top of the unit or require a headphone extension cable.Other reviews mentioned this, but I'll second what they indicated - the AD900X really needs a headphone amplifier or stereo receiver to properly drive the speakers to provide the best sound quality. While you can plug them into a smartphone, tablet or music player directly, those units really don't have the output to drive the AD900X properly. Plus, based on the design, these really are not portable headphones. Despite the light weight and comfort, the AD900X is just too big and the cord too long to use as portable headphones.Con'sFit - As other reviewers have mentioned, due to the unique head "support wing" design, there is nothing running over the top of your head holding the headphones in place. After an extended period of listening, the ear pads will slightly droop, with the top edge of pad sliding down to rest on the top of the ear. While it's a minor annoyance, these are headphones you will periodically need to reposition to maintain an optimal fit and comfort level. Again, it's not that big of a deal - however if you are coming from a Sennheiser or Beyerdynamic headphone that have both great comfort and can be left in place without repositioning for hours at time, just be forewarned that you will fidget a bit with the AD900X to keep the cans in the "sweet spot".SummaryThese are a great pair of headphones I've added to my collection. The sound is outstanding along with the comfort and light weight for a full sized headphone. I now understand why Audio Technica has such devoted fans of their headphones. Despite my minor criticisms, these are a super pair of headphones. You can't go wrong picking up a pair.

My main purpose was to find an alternative to buying expensive gaming headsets. That's when I was introduced to the term 'audiophile'. I was intrigued by the open headphones. I was warned about the sound leakage, and I will tell you that you can definitely hear what is playing without fail.When putting these things on the head I thought that there is an opening from the rear, but there isn't. It feels that light. The cups are huge. I can see them from my peripheral vision. The velour fabric felt prickly at first but I got use to them any they feel softer now. Everything feels light, however, with the wing-clamp things, I feel a slight pressure along my temple. It disappears after a while. Yes, with a bald head, a slight jerk will cause the headphones to shift off my head. Sneeze and be warned. No I haven't tried the "rubber-band hack" to keep it still.The cord is long. I do not recommend taking them to the streets because you have a lot of slack and wire to carry (let alone those poles at the top screams weird in public).Being open headphones, you will hear everything around you (dog barks, pots clanging, kids screaming, etc.) You can still feel the wind through them. Heck, you can literally SEE through them. But the open airiness really changes the quality of the music compare to my bass heavy headsets.I will not go into detail about quality too much. Websites like www.headfi.org can explain this like they are sipping on fine wine. Based on a short and simple description is that I can hear more instruments and subtle details to the music than my old headphones (Sony XB700 = DISCONTINUED = RARE). HOWEVER with an amplifier (I used a gaming brand amplifier), my XB700 sounds more full and fun. The AD900x sounds great, but less bass as to what many others say. To be honest, I like it that way. Spotify for Android has an equalizer under settings, so I set it up to where the bass is there, but not overbearing. Plug into my PC and I can set it up that way as well. You can't lose.For soundstage, I'd say it's great. It could be a little better. I heard about the 1000x fixes that. I mean, if I am suppose to hear sounds spread all over like I'm in an actual concert, I don't hear that unless I press the simulated surround sound on the amp. That mode is irritating with all that reverb.When it comes to gaming, my main purpose, I feel I made a great purchase. For being open headphones, I actually do feel like I am in the world. The best game I have so far that I can use an example is Far Cry 4. I played it on the XBox One. With an amp, since XB is proprietary with their controller, it's great. I never use the surround sound feature on my amp, it'll just make the sounds sound farther away that it actually is. The spatial sense is there without the simulated surround sound: front, side to side, behind, I can hear it all.In the end, if you want an entry level audiophile headset then look no further. With the price as it is, don't hesitate. Get an amplifier, I also purchased this recently: Ear Force DSS 7.1 Channel Dolby Surround Sound Processor via Amazon (discontinued = CHEAP). It has a bass booster that makes everything sound perfect for me. A perfect alternative to the expensive MixAmp, plus it's more portable.I guess I should add that after a year or two with these I may upgrade to a Hifiman 560, or if I plan to be broke, the Audeze LCD2. I am intrigued as a novice audiophile.Enjoy them.