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Audio-Technica ATH EW9 Review | 93 Data compared

Avg. price:~£130Form factor:on-earConnectivity:wiredBattery life:N/A hoursActive noise cancellation (ANC):no

Audio-Technica ATH EW9 Review: Compare 93 technical specifications and user reviews to see how this product ranks in the Headphones category and whether it is worth buying.

Audio-Technica ATH EW9
5.3/10

Overall score

Score
5.3/ 10
✕
What it is
An overall evaluation of the headphones' quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.
When it matters
When you need a quick reference to identify the best headphones on the market.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 93% of models
Score components

80%

5.3

Technical score

20%

?

User score

â–¼Worse than 93% of headphones
6.6

Value for money

Value for money
6.6/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator that combines the headphones' overall rating with their cost.
When it matters
When you are looking for headphones that offer a strong balance of performance, features, and price.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 89% of models
Score components

70%

5.3

Overall score

30%

9.8

Price

â–¼Worse than 89%
5.3

Technical score

Technical score
5.3/ 10
✕
What it is
An assessment of technical performance for products in the Headphones category across these key areas: Sound, Calls & Controls, Connectivity, Features, Battery, Design.
When it matters
When you want to compare headphones based on technical performance and available features.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 85% of models
Score components

52%

5.3

Sound

20%

4.0

Features

10%

8.7

Design

8%

4.6

Connectivity

6%

4.0

Battery

4%

5.4

Calls & Controls

â–¼Worse than 85%
?

User score

User score
8.0/ 10
✕
What it is
A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the headphones.
When it matters
When you want to understand how headphones perform in real listening and how reliable they are in terms of comfort, audio quality, battery life, and long-term use.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 58% of models
Score components

70%

?

User ratings

30%

?

Number of reviews

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Where to buy
    N/A~ £130
Best rankings
Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).All: ranking among all products in the database.
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Technical Specifications of pair of headphones Audio-Technica ATH EW9

Technical score
Technical score
5.3/ 10
✕
What it is
An assessment of technical performance for products in the Headphones category across these key areas: Sound, Calls & Controls, Connectivity, Features, Battery, Design.
When it matters
When you want to compare headphones based on technical performance and available features.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 85% of models
Score components:

52%

5.3

Sound

20%

4.0

Features

10%

8.7

Design

8%

4.6

Connectivity

6%

4.0

Battery

4%

5.4

Calls & Controls

5.3
User score
User score
8.0/ 10
✕
What it is
A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the headphones.
When it matters
When you want to understand how headphones perform in real listening and how reliable they are in terms of comfort, audio quality, battery life, and long-term use.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 58% of models
Score components

70%

?

User ratings

30%

?

Number of reviews

?
Popularity
Popularity
1.0/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the headphones.
When it matters
When you prefer headphones that have already been chosen and reviewed by many other users.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 99% of models
Popularity:
Audio-Technica ATH EW9 has a popularity score of 1 point, which is lower than that of 73.4% of products in this category.
1.0
Value for money
Value for money
6.6/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator that combines the headphones' overall rating with their cost.
When it matters
When you are looking for headphones that offer a strong balance of performance, features, and price.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 89% of models
Score components:

70%

5.3

Overall score

30%

9.8

Price

6.6
Active noise cancellation (ANC)
no
This pair of headphones does not support active noise cancellation. 27.5% of headphones support active noise cancellation.
Driver type
dynamic
Driver size
28 mm
Market range: <10 mm – >50 mm
This pair of headphones uses a driver size of 28 mm, smaller driver size than 81.7% of headphones and equal to 0.3% of headphones.
Number of drivers
1
Market range: <1 – >4
This pair of headphones uses 1 drivers, fewer drivers than 4% of headphones and equal to 96% of headphones.
Lowest frequency
14 Hz
Market range: <5 Hz – >20 Hz
This pair of headphones reaches a lowest frequency of 14 Hz, lower lowest frequency than 64.2% of headphones and equal to 0.4% of headphones.
Show more
Noise-canceling microphone
no
This pair of headphones does not support a noise-canceling microphone. 39% of headphones support noise-canceling microphones.
Can be used as a headset
yes
This pair of headphones is headset-ready, 84.8% is not. 15.2% of headphones can be used as headsets.
Number of microphones
?
Boom microphone
no
This pair of headphones does not include a boom microphone. 13.5% of headphones have a boom microphone.
Microphone SNR
N/A
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Connectivity
wired
This pair of headphones supports wired connectivity, less flexible connectivity than 49.2% of headphones and equal to 50.8% of headphones.
Bluetooth version
N/A
Maximum Bluetooth range
N/A
Audio latency
N/A
Multipoint support
no
This pair of headphones does not support multipoint. 30.6% of headphones support multipoint.
Show more
Ambient sound mode
no
This pair of headphones does not offer ambient sound mode. 24.9% of headphones support ambient sound mode.
EQ support
no
This pair of headphones does not support EQ customization. 23.2% of headphones support EQ.
Companion app
no
This pair of headphones does not work with a companion app. 21.6% of headphones support companion apps.
Adjustable ANC levels
N/A
Voice assistant support
no
This pair of headphones does not support voice assistants. 60.9% of headphones support voice assistants.
Show more
Battery life
N/A
Battery life with ANC
N/A
Charging time
N/A
Quick charge
no
This pair of headphones does not support quick charging. 33.1% of headphones support quick charge.
Battery capacity
N/A
Show more
Brand name
Audio-Technica
Form factor
on-ear
Weight
33 g
Market range: <14 g – >340 g
This pair of headphones weighs 33 g, lighter than 82.1% of headphones and equal to 0.1% of headphones.
Acoustic design
closed-back
Clamp force
?
Show more

Audio-Technica ATH EW9 vs the average pair of headphones

246810TotalDesignSoundBatteryConnectivityCalls & ControlsFeatures
  • Hi-Res Audio certification
    This pair of headphones has Hi-Res Audio certification, the average pair of headphones does not. 23.1% of headphones are Hi-Res Audio certified.
  • 84.9% lower weight
    This pair of headphones is lighter than the average pair of headphones (33 g vs 218 g). The average pair of headphones weighs 218 g.
    33 g vs 218 g
  • Direct 3.5 mm plug
    This pair of headphones includes a direct 3.5 mm plug, the average pair of headphones does not. 39.8% of headphones have a 3.5 mm male connector.
  • 4 Hz lower bass extension
    This pair of headphones has a lower lowest frequency than the average pair of headphones (14 Hz vs 18 Hz). The average headphones reach a lowest frequency of 18 Hz.
    14 Hz vs 18 Hz
  • 4,000 Hz higher treble extension
    This pair of headphones has a higher highest frequency than the average pair of headphones (24,000 Hz vs 20,000 Hz). The average headphones reach a highest frequency of 20,000 Hz.
    24,000 Hz vs 20,000 Hz
  • 3 dB/mW higher sensitivity
    This pair of headphones has a higher sensitivity than the average pair of headphones (105 dB/mW vs 102 dB/mW). The average headphones have sensitivity of 102 dB/mW.
    105 dB/mW vs 102 dB/mW
  • 15 dB higher max SPL
    This pair of headphones has a higher max SPL than the average pair of headphones (125 dB vs 110 dB). The average headphones reach a max SPL of 110 dB.
    125 dB vs 110 dB
  • 84.9% lower weight
    This pair of headphones is lighter than the average pair of headphones (33 g vs 218 g). The average pair of headphones weighs 218 g.
    33 g vs 218 g
  • Hi-Res Audio certification
    This pair of headphones has Hi-Res Audio certification, the average pair of headphones does not. 23.1% of headphones are Hi-Res Audio certified.
  • 4 Hz lower bass extension
    This pair of headphones has a lower lowest frequency than the average pair of headphones (14 Hz vs 18 Hz). The average headphones reach a lowest frequency of 18 Hz.
    14 Hz vs 18 Hz
  • 4,000 Hz higher treble extension
    This pair of headphones has a higher highest frequency than the average pair of headphones (24,000 Hz vs 20,000 Hz). The average headphones reach a highest frequency of 20,000 Hz.
    24,000 Hz vs 20,000 Hz
  • 3 dB/mW higher sensitivity
    This pair of headphones has a higher sensitivity than the average pair of headphones (105 dB/mW vs 102 dB/mW). The average headphones have sensitivity of 102 dB/mW.
    105 dB/mW vs 102 dB/mW
  • 15 dB higher max SPL
    This pair of headphones has a higher max SPL than the average pair of headphones (125 dB vs 110 dB). The average headphones reach a max SPL of 110 dB.
    125 dB vs 110 dB
  • Direct 3.5 mm plug
    This pair of headphones includes a direct 3.5 mm plug, the average pair of headphones does not. 39.8% of headphones have a 3.5 mm male connector.
  • No passive noise reduction
    This pair of headphones does not offer passive noise reduction, while the average pair of headphones does. 82.6% of headphones have passive noise reduction.
  • 12 mm smaller driver size
    This pair of headphones has smaller driver size than the average pair of headphones (28 mm vs 40 mm). The average headphones use a driver size of 40 mm.
    28 mm vs 40 mm
  • No voice assistant support
    This pair of headphones does not support voice assistants, the average pair of headphones does. 60.8% of headphones support voice assistants.
  • Fixed cable
    This pair of headphones has a fixed cable, while the average pair of headphones has a detachable one. 62% of headphones have a detachable cable.
  • No battery indicator
    This pair of headphones does not show battery level clearly, while the average pair of headphones does. 56.3% of headphones have a battery level indicator.
  • 5.87x less popular
    Audio-Technica ATH EW9 is less popular than the average pair of headphones (1 vs 5.9).
    1 vs 5.87
  • 9.6% worse value for money
    Audio-Technica ATH EW9 has worse value for money than the average pair of headphones (6.63 vs 7.3).
    6.63 vs 7.27
  • 10 older release date
    This pair of headphones was released earlier than the average pair of headphones (2006 vs 2016). The average headphones were released in 2016.
    2006 vs 2016
  • 5.87x less popular
    Audio-Technica ATH EW9 is less popular than the average pair of headphones (1 vs 5.9).
    1 vs 5.87
  • 9.6% worse value for money
    Audio-Technica ATH EW9 has worse value for money than the average pair of headphones (6.63 vs 7.3).
    6.63 vs 7.27
  • Fixed cable
    This pair of headphones has a fixed cable, while the average pair of headphones has a detachable one. 62% of headphones have a detachable cable.
  • No passive noise reduction
    This pair of headphones does not offer passive noise reduction, while the average pair of headphones does. 82.6% of headphones have passive noise reduction.
  • 12 mm smaller driver size
    This pair of headphones has smaller driver size than the average pair of headphones (28 mm vs 40 mm). The average headphones use a driver size of 40 mm.
    28 mm vs 40 mm
  • No battery indicator
    This pair of headphones does not show battery level clearly, while the average pair of headphones does. 56.3% of headphones have a battery level indicator.
  • No voice assistant support
    This pair of headphones does not support voice assistants, the average pair of headphones does. 60.8% of headphones support voice assistants.
  • 10 older release date
    This pair of headphones was released earlier than the average pair of headphones (2006 vs 2016). The average headphones were released in 2016.
    2006 vs 2016

Third-party reviews

What customers like about Audio-Technica ATH EW9

  • Stunning aesthetic design featuring a premium Hokkaido cherry wood housing.
  • Warm, thick, and highly detailed mid-range performance, making it excellent for female vocals and acoustic pieces.
  • Very lightweight and comfortable on the ears for long listening sessions once properly adjusted.
  • Open, airy, and highly musical soundstage presentation that reveals intricate layers in classical and jazz music.
  • Great collectibility and novel pop-culture appeal, notably recognized from the Persona video game series.

What customers don't like about Audio-Technica ATH EW9

  • Noticeable lack of sub-bass and an overall weak, lightweight low-end performance.
  • Uneven and peaky lower-treble region that can occasionally cause harsh sibilance or screechy high notes.
  • Poor passive noise isolation and significant sound leakage due to the nature of the clip-on form factor.
  • Ergonomics can be hit-or-miss, with some users with larger ears struggling to get a secure or steady fit.
  • The built-in stock cable is awkwardly short (around 0.5 metres), requiring the constant use of an extension cord.

Verdict

The Audio-Technica ATH-EW9 is a premium clip-on headphone featuring high-quality housings carved from Hokkaido cherrywood, known for its natural resonance and sophisticated finish. It utilizes 28 mm dynamic drivers with neodymium magnets, delivering a frequency response of 14 Hz to 24,000 Hz, a sensitivity of 105 dB/mW, and an impedance of 29 ohms. Its main characteristics include an adjustable slide-fit mechanism for a custom fit, metal ear hangers, and a lightweight 33g design. Main pros are its exquisite craftsmanship, airy treble, and highly portable form factor. However, notable cons include limited bass impact, poor isolation due to the on-ear design, and a very short 0.6 m asymmetrical cable that often requires the included extension for practical use.

Compare Audio-Technica ATH EW9 with other products in the Headphones category

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