Sennheiser HD 650 Headphones Review - Audio Technica ATH ESW9 Comparison

	Audio-Technica ATH-ESW9 Comparison
• ATH-ESW9s are slightly more durable and have a classier look. • HD 650s have better audio quality overall. • ATH-ESW9s isolate better, but neither set of headphones isolate well. • ATH-ESW9s have some fit issues. • ATH-ESW9s are less expensive.
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Design

The ATH-ESW9s are a high-class set of headphones. They have wooden backs and lambskin padding. They look quite rich.

The ATH-ESW9s also feature a slightly more sturdy construction, mainly due to their closed backs.

Aesthetics
HD 650	Audio-Technica ATH-ESW9

Sound Quality

The ATH-ESW9s have some issues with their high end. After 1kHz, the ATH-ESW9's response starts dropping and falls below our bottom limit, then becomes erratic.

Frequency Response
HD 650	Audio-Technica ATH-ESW9

In terms of distortion, both headphones are equally amazing.

Distortion
HD 650	Audio-Technica ATH-ESW9

The HD 650s have better overall tracking, remaining much flatter up until the high end and remains less erratic as it approaches the 10kHz mark.

Tracking
HD 650	Audio-Technica ATH-ESW9

Isolation

The ATH-ESW9 can isolate much better than the HD 650, but we wouldn't say either have particularly good isolation.

Isolation
HD 650	Audio-Technica ATH-ESW9

Comfort

The HD 650s are more comfortable overall. We thought the ATH-ESW9s were too tight and got slightly worse over time. The ATH-ESW9s had far more comfortable padding, however, so be sure to try on both sets of headphones: if you don't run into the fit issues we did, the ATH-ESW9s would easily be more comfortable.


Verdict

Both the HD 650s and ATH-ESW9s have different strengths and weaknesses. The ATH-ESW9s don't have the same calibur audio quality that the HD 650s do, but they look significantly nicer. If you're not much of an audiophile and you want a good sound and better looks, the ATH-ESW9s are a good option.