Two beautiful new Audio-Technica headphones landed on my desk today, both aimed at the Audiophile, one for the Audiophile on the move!

The two models are the ATH-ES10 Portable Audiophile Headphone, and the ATH-W1000X ‘Grandioso’ Audiophile Headphone designed for use in the home, or studio.



The ATH-W1000X replaces the older ATH-W1000, itself a beautiful headphone, but it’s one fault was a lack of real bottom end slam, which made it suitable to the lover of simple string quartets or piano/vocal type of music which it reproduced beautifully.

So what has changed with the new model? Well, visually the new model sports American wood and the ear pieces seem to be carved a little ’sharper’ than the older models more rounded ear pieces. Build quality is the usual Audio-Technica fair, which is near perfection.

Sound quality is where the greatest change occurs. I must stress that this review is based on headphones straight out of the box so they have not had the benefit of a good 100 hours of burn in. This however only helps to make their performance even more remarkable.

The ATH-W1000X retains all of the wonderful mid-range detail and great airy top end of it’s predecessor but adds the missing bottom end slam. Bass weight is therefore more realistic making this headphone now suitable to fans of rock, funk and R&B for example.

Sound staging is a little constrained, but I would guess this is the newness of the headphone and it is sure to open up nicely with burn in. All in all, this is wonderfully revealing headphone which will only broaden the appeal of Audio-Technica’s headphones.



The ATH-ES10 tries to do for the mobile audiophile what the ATH-W1000X does for the house bound counterpart. How well does it succeed you may ask? In short very well indeed!

With the above comments on the ATH-W1000X in mind, by comparison the ATH-ES10 sound a little less revealing in the mid-range, but still very good for a portable headphone. Bass however is huge, and yes it is weightier than the larger ATH-W1000X and will probably suit the mobile listener and help in getting it’s sound ‘over’ the noise around you as you commute on the train or bus etc.

Build quality is still very good, and it’s polished Titanium ear pieces look gorgeous. Comfort on this headphone is surprisingly good, even for those with ears larger than normal. It does not grip the head like a vice (as the Sennheiser HD-25 does) nor does it feel loose and like it will come off easily, and the soft leather headband is easy on the head too.



Once again, Audio-Technica have produced two superb headphones, with typical AT build quality, finish and performance. In fact, I think they have hit the ball out of the park with both of these headphones. The ES10 is easily the best portable I have heard, and the ATH-W1000X is for the money asked, simply brilliant! Now, should I get one or both?

Buy Audio-Technica ATH-W1000x and Save!
Buy Audio-Technica ATH-ES10 and Save!