Two Japanese Hi-Fi Icons Just Introduced a Stunning Pair of Audiophile Headphones

The brands say the headphones will “captivate guitar enthusiasts and enjoyers of high-quality, portable audio.”

Over-ear headphones with wood-finish ear cups and black padded headband on a silver stand.

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Published 1 hour ago

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Audio-Technica introduced the ATH-WP900 back in 2020. The beautifully designed, over-ear headphones are a joint collaboration with Fujigen, the iconic Japanese guitar brand, as their earcups are made of the same maple hardwood that it exclusively uses to build its guitars.

Audio-Technica still currently sells the ATH-WP900 for $699.

Fast forward to the present, and the two Japanese audio makers are collaborating again on a special edition version of those same headphones. The all-new ATH-WP900SE has a new look and promises improved sound (as well as a significantly increased price).

Audio-Technica ATH-WP900SE

Audio-Technica teamed up with Fujigen to create a special-edition version of the pair’s signature wooden headphones.

Audio-Technica

The Audio-Technica ATH-WP900SE (or special edition ATH-WP900) are quite similar to the originals in most ways. They are closed-back wired headphones that are designed to be portable; each pair comes with detachable cables.

The main difference with these SE models is that they feature Fujigen’s iconic 3‑tone sunburst lacquer finish and, according to the brand, pay homage to the “timeless beauty of classic instruments.”

In fact, the collaboration marks the first time Audio-Technica has applied the popular lacquer finish to any of its headphones. And in addition to looking lustrous, the brands say the finish also adds durability to the headphones.

The SE models also featured updated drivers and promise refined acoustics.

Audio-Technica

But it’s not just looks. Audio-Technica gave the ATH-WP900SE new 53mm drivers paired with an advanced voice coil. According to the brand, this combo has been meticulously tuned to “specifically tuned to faithfully render the tones of stringed instruments.”

The headphones ship with two sets of detachable cables: 4.4 mm and a standard 3.5 mm cable. Each features Audio-Technica’s A2DC connectors.

Over-ear headphone with wooden ear cup featuring a sunburst finish and black leather ear cushion. — The headphones remain lightweight and primed for portable use.

Person wearing over-ear headphones with wood-finish ear cups and black headband. — At $969, they are quite a bit more expensive than their non-SE siblings.

Availability and pricing

Audio-Technica hasn’t specified how many of these limited-edition headphones they’ll make. But each pair will ship with a special handwritten serial number card, certifying its exclusivity.

The Audio-Technica ATH-WP900SE costs $969 and is available for purchase now.

Over-ear headphones with black leather padding and wooden ear cups with a sunburst finish.

Audio-Technica ATH‑WP900SE

$969 at Audio-Technica

About the Author: Tucker Bowe has been on Gear Patrol’s editorial team since 2014. With a passion for consumer tech and hi-fi, he tracks everything from headphones and turntables to smartphones and wearables. If it lights up or makes noise, he probably covers it.

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