Audio-Technica Audio-Technica - ATH-WP900 Over The Ear Headphones - Maple Review
The Audio-Technica ATH-WP900 headphones are a stunning piece of design let down by terrible comfort and mediocre sound. We explain why looks aren't everything.
The 30-Second Version
Gorgeous wood, terrible headphones. Paying a fortune for looks you can't enjoy because they're painfully uncomfortable to wear.
Overview
Let's get this out of the way first: the Audio-Technica ATH-WP900 is a beautiful, expensive-looking pair of wired headphones that are shockingly uncomfortable to wear. That's the one thing you need to know. Audio-Technica went all-in on the aesthetic, partnering with a Japanese guitar maker for that stunning flame maple finish, but they seem to have forgotten that headphones are meant to be worn. The specs promise high-fidelity sound with fancy 53mm drivers and DLC-coated diaphragms, but in our database, the actual performance lands squarely in the 'meh' category.
Performance
Looking at the numbers, nothing really surprised us in a good way. The sound quality sits in the 36th percentile, which is just below average. That means for the price, you're getting a sonic experience that lags behind most other premium headphones. The comfort score is the real shocker, landing in the 3rd percentile. That's one of the worst we've seen, and it's a deal-breaker. You can have the prettiest headphones in the world, but if you can't wear them for more than 20 minutes, what's the point?
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Stunning, unique flame maple wood design that ages beautifully.
- Includes both a standard 3.5mm and a balanced 4.4mm cable right in the box.
- Solid, premium build quality with machined wood housings.
- The 53mm drivers and DLC coating suggest potential for detailed sound.
Cons
- Comfort is abysmal. The headband and earpads are a major letdown. 3th
- Sound quality is underwhelming for the price, landing below average. 9th
- They are strictly wired, with no Bluetooth or noise cancellation options. 22th
- They are absolutely not for gaming, scoring near the bottom of our charts. 23th
Specifications
Full Specifications
Design
| Weight | 0.8 kg / 1.8 lbs |
Connectivity
| Wireless | No |
Microphone
| Microphone | No |
Value & Pricing
Worth it? Not even close. The price range we see is insane, from a somewhat reasonable $588 to a laughable $63,491. Even at the low end, you're paying a huge premium for the looks while getting middle-of-the-pack sound and some of the worst comfort on the market. If you find them for $588, you're still overpaying for a fashion accessory that happens to play music.
Price History
vs Competition
This is a wired-only headphone, so comparing it to wireless giants like the Sony WH-1000XM6 or Apple AirPods Max isn't fair—those offer features this set completely lacks. A better comparison would be other premium wired cans. For similar or less money, you could get a Sennheiser HD 660S2, which offers best-in-class comfort and sound that's a standout. Or, if you want beautiful design and great sound, the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 (though wireless) is a much more complete package. The WP900 loses on both fronts.
| Spec | Audio-Technica Audio-Technica - ATH-WP900 Over The Ear Headphones - Maple | Sony Sony - WH-1000XM6- Best Wireless Noise Cancelling | Apple AirPods Max Apple - AirPods Max (USB-C) - Midnight | Sennheiser Sennheiser - ACCENTUM Plus Wireless Bluetooth | Bang & Olufsen Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX Noise-Canceling Wireless | Bowers & Wilkins Bowers & Wilkins - B&W Px8 S2 Over-Ear |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | - | Over-Ear | Over-Ear | Over-Ear | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Driver Type | - | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Driver Size (mm) | - | 30 | 40 | 37 | 40 | 40 |
| Impedance Ohms | - | 48 | 16 | - | 24 | - |
| Wireless | false | true | true | true | true | true |
| Active Noise Cancellation | - | true | true | true | true | true |
| Open Closed Back | - | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.3 | 5.0 | 5.2 | 5.1 | 5.3 |
| Battery Life Hours | - | 30 | 20 | 50 | 35 | 30 |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
Common Questions
Q: Are these good for all-day listening?
No. The comfort score is in the bottom 3% of all headphones we track. Most people find them uncomfortable after a very short time.
Q: Do I need a special amp to drive these?
Not necessarily. They include a standard 3.5mm cable for phones and a balanced 4.4mm cable if you have a compatible high-res player or amp. They're not particularly hard to drive.
Q: Will the wood finish change over time?
Yes, that's part of the design. The flame maple finish is meant to deepen and develop a patina with age, like a fine guitar.
Who Should Skip This
If you're looking for a comfortable, great-sounding pair of headphones to actually listen to music with, this isn't it. Go get a Sennheiser HD 660S2 instead. The only person who should consider these is a collector who values the unique wood aesthetic above all else and plans to display them more than wear them.
Verdict
We can't recommend the ATH-WP900. It's a classic case of style over substance. Audio-Technica created a gorgeous piece of wearable art, but they failed to make a good pair of headphones. The terrible comfort and mediocre audio performance make it impossible to justify the price, even before you consider the complete lack of modern features like wireless connectivity. Save your money and your ears.