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ALTERNATIVES
SPECS
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REVIEWS
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Audio-Technica ATH WS990bt Review | 93 Data compared

Avg. price:~£220Form factor:over-earConnectivity:wirelessBattery life:30 hoursActive noise cancellation (ANC):yes

Audio-Technica ATH WS990bt Review: Compare 93 technical specifications and user reviews to see how this product ranks in the Headphones category and whether it is worth buying.

7.9

Overall score

Score
7.9/ 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
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
▲ Better than 89% of models
Score components

80%

7.9

Technical score

20%

?

User score

▲Better than 89% of headphones
7.9

Technical score

Technical score
7.9/ 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
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
★ Better than 90% of models
Score components

52%

9.4

Sound

20%

6.0

Features

10%

6.6

Design

8%

6.9

Connectivity

6%

4.1

Battery

4%

8.1

Calls & Controls

★Better than 90% of headphones
?

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
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
▼ Worse than 58% of models
Score components

70%

?

User ratings

30%

?

Number of reviews

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Best prices

    N/A~ £220

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 WS990bt

Technical score
Technical score
7.9/ 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
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
★ Better than 90% of models
Score components:

52%

9.4

Sound

20%

6.0

Features

10%

6.6

Design

8%

6.9

Connectivity

6%

4.1

Battery

4%

8.1

Calls & Controls

7.9
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
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
▼ 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
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
▼ Worse than 99% of models
Popularity:
Audio-Technica ATH WS990bt 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
8.3/ 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
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
▲ Better than 86% of models
Score components:

60%

7.9

Overall score

40%

9.4

Price

8.3
Active noise cancellation (ANC)
yes
Active noise cancellation (ANC)
yes
▲ Better than 73% of models
This pair of headphones supports active noise cancellation. 72.6% of headphones support active noise cancellation.
Driver type
dynamic
Driver size
53 mm
Driver size
53 mm
★ Better than 95% of models
Market range: <10 mm – >50 mm
This pair of headphones uses a driver size of 53 mm, larger driver size than 94.8% of headphones and equal to 1.6% of headphones.
Number of drivers
1
Number of drivers
1
▼ Worse than 4% of models
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
5 Hz
Lowest frequency
5 Hz
▲ Better than 86% of models
Market range: <5 Hz – >20 Hz
This pair of headphones reaches a lowest frequency of 5 Hz, lower lowest frequency than 86.3% of headphones and equal to 10.8% of headphones.
Show more
Noise-canceling microphone
yes
Noise-canceling microphone
yes
▲ Better than 61% of models
This pair of headphones supports a noise-canceling microphone. 61.1% of headphones support noise-canceling microphones.
Can be used as a headset
yes
Can be used as a headset
yes
▲ Better than 15% of models
This pair of headphones is headset-ready, 84.8% is not. 15.2% of headphones can be used as headsets.
Number of microphones
1
Number of microphones
1
▲ Better than 27% of models
Market range: <0 – >4
This pair of headphones has 1 microphones, more microphones than 26.9% of headphones and equal to 50.9% of headphones.
Boom microphone
no
Boom microphone
no
▼ Worse than 14% of models
This pair of headphones does not include a boom microphone. 13.5% of headphones have a boom microphone.
Microphone SNR
?
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Connectivity
wireless
Connectivity
wireless
▲ Better than 51% of models
This pair of headphones supports wireless connectivity, more flexible connectivity than 50.8% of headphones and equal to 49.2% of headphones.
Bluetooth version
4.1
Bluetooth version
4.1
▲ Better than 62% of models
This pair of headphones uses Bluetooth version 4.1, newer Bluetooth version than 62.3% of headphones and equal to 5.4% of headphones.
Maximum Bluetooth range
10 m
Maximum Bluetooth range
10 m
▼ Worse than 17% of models
Market range: <10 m – >15 m
This pair of headphones offers a Bluetooth range of 10 m, higher Bluetooth range than 2.7% of headphones and equal to 80.6% of headphones.
Audio latency
?
Multipoint support
yes
Multipoint support
yes
▲ Better than 69% of models
This pair of headphones supports multipoint. 69.4% of headphones support multipoint.
Show more
Ambient sound mode
yes
Ambient sound mode
yes
▲ Better than 75% of models
This pair of headphones supports ambient sound mode. 75.2% of headphones support ambient sound mode.
EQ support
no
EQ support
no
▼ Worse than 23% of models
This pair of headphones does not support EQ customization. 23.2% of headphones support EQ.
Companion app
?
Adjustable ANC levels
N/A
Voice assistant support
yes
Voice assistant support
yes
▲ Better than 39% of models
This pair of headphones supports voice assistants. 39.2% of headphones support voice assistants.
Show more
Battery life
30 hours
Battery life
30 hours
▲ Better than 46% of models
Market range: <10 hours – >70 hours
This pair of headphones offers battery life of 30 hours, higher battery life than 46.3% of headphones and equal to 10.4% of headphones.
Battery life with ANC
25 hours
Battery life with ANC
25 hours
▼ Worse than 61% of models
Market range: <15 hours – >55 hours
This pair of headphones offers battery life with ANC of 25 hours, lower battery life with ANC than 61.3% of headphones and equal to 3.7% of headphones.
Charging time
5 hours
Charging time
5 hours
▼ Worse than 96% of models
Market range: <1.5 hours – >3.5 hours
This pair of headphones needs 5 hours to charge, higher charging time than 96.1% of headphones and equal to 0.6% of headphones.
Quick charge
no
Quick charge
no
▼ Worse than 33% of models
This pair of headphones does not support quick charging. 33.1% of headphones support quick charge.
Battery capacity
?
Show more
Brand name
Audio-Technica
Form factor
over-ear
Weight
300 g
Weight
300 g
▼ Worse than 81% of models
Market range: <14 g – >340 g
This pair of headphones weighs 300 g, heavier than 80.9% of headphones and equal to 1.3% of headphones.
Acoustic design
closed-back
Clamp force
?
Show more

Audio-Technica ATH WS990bt vs the average pair of headphones

246810TotalDesignSoundBatteryConnectivityCalls & ControlsFeatures
  • Active noise cancellation
    Active noise cancellation (ANC)
    yes
    ▲ Better than 73% of models
    This pair of headphones supports active noise cancellation, the average pair of headphones does not. 27.5% of headphones support active noise cancellation.
  • Hi-Res Audio certification
    Hi-Res Audio certification
    yes
    ▲ Better than 77% of models
    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.
  • 13 mm larger driver size
    Driver size
    53 mm
    ★ Better than 95% of models
    Market range: <10 mm – >50 mm
    This pair of headphones uses a larger driver size than the average pair of headphones (53 mm vs 40 mm). The average headphones use a driver size of 40 mm.
    53 mm vs 40 mm
  • Ambient sound mode
    Ambient sound mode
    yes
    ▲ Better than 75% of models
    This pair of headphones supports ambient sound mode, the average pair of headphones does not. 24.9% of headphones support ambient sound mode.
  • 13 Hz lower bass extension
    Lowest frequency
    5 Hz
    ▲ Better than 86% of models
    Market range: <5 Hz – >20 Hz
    This pair of headphones has a lower lowest frequency than the average pair of headphones (5 Hz vs 18 Hz). The average headphones reach a lowest frequency of 18 Hz.
    5 Hz vs 18 Hz
  • Multipoint support
    Multipoint support
    yes
    ▲ Better than 69% of models
    This pair of headphones supports multipoint, the average pair of headphones does not. 30.6% of headphones support multipoint.
  • More flexible connectivity
    Connectivity
    wireless
    ▲ Better than 51% of models
    This pair of headphones offers more flexible connectivity than the average pair of headphones (wireless vs wired). The average headphones support wired connectivity.
    wireless vs wired
  • 20,000 Hz higher treble extension
    Highest frequency
    40,000 Hz
    ▲ Better than 84% of models
    Market range: <20k Hz – >40k Hz
    This pair of headphones has a higher highest frequency than the average pair of headphones (40000 Hz vs 20000 Hz). The average headphones reach a highest frequency of 20000 Hz.
    40,000 Hz vs 20,000 Hz
  • 14.5% better value for money
    Audio-Technica ATH WS990bt has better value for money than the average pair of headphones (8.32 vs 7.3).
    8.32 vs 7.27
  • Foldable design
    Foldable
    yes
    ▲ Better than 52% of models
    This pair of headphones has a foldable design, the average pair of headphones does not. 48.3% of headphones are foldable.
  • Active noise cancellation
    Active noise cancellation (ANC)
    yes
    ▲ Better than 73% of models
    This pair of headphones supports active noise cancellation, the average pair of headphones does not. 27.5% of headphones support active noise cancellation.
  • Hi-Res Audio certification
    Hi-Res Audio certification
    yes
    ▲ Better than 77% of models
    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.
  • 13 mm larger driver size
    Driver size
    53 mm
    ★ Better than 95% of models
    Market range: <10 mm – >50 mm
    This pair of headphones uses a larger driver size than the average pair of headphones (53 mm vs 40 mm). The average headphones use a driver size of 40 mm.
    53 mm vs 40 mm
  • 13 Hz lower bass extension
    Lowest frequency
    5 Hz
    ▲ Better than 86% of models
    Market range: <5 Hz – >20 Hz
    This pair of headphones has a lower lowest frequency than the average pair of headphones (5 Hz vs 18 Hz). The average headphones reach a lowest frequency of 18 Hz.
    5 Hz vs 18 Hz
  • 20,000 Hz higher treble extension
    Highest frequency
    40,000 Hz
    ▲ Better than 84% of models
    Market range: <20k Hz – >40k Hz
    This pair of headphones has a higher highest frequency than the average pair of headphones (40000 Hz vs 20000 Hz). The average headphones reach a highest frequency of 20000 Hz.
    40,000 Hz vs 20,000 Hz
  • 5 dB/mW higher sensitivity
    Sensitivity
    107 dB/mW
    ▲ Better than 71% of models
    Market range: <94 dB/mW – >115 dB/mW
    This pair of headphones has a higher sensitivity than the average pair of headphones (107 dB/mW vs 102 dB/mW). The average headphones have sensitivity of 102 dB/mW.
    107 dB/mW vs 102 dB/mW
  • 10x higher input power handling
    Max input power
    1,000 mW
    ▲ Better than 78% of models
    Market range: <10 mW – >1.6k mW
    This pair of headphones has a higher max input power than the average pair of headphones (1000 mW vs 100 mW). The average headphones handle max input power of 100 mW.
    1,000 mW vs 100 mW
  • Removable battery
    Removable battery
    yes
    ★ Better than 92% of models
    This pair of headphones has a removable battery, the average pair of headphones does not. 7.8% of headphones have a removable battery.
  • Rechargeable battery
    Has a rechargeable battery
    yes
    ▲ Better than 52% of models
    This pair of headphones has a rechargeable battery, the average pair of headphones does not. 47.9% of headphones have a rechargeable battery.
  • Multipoint support
    Multipoint support
    yes
    ▲ Better than 69% of models
    This pair of headphones supports multipoint, the average pair of headphones does not. 30.6% of headphones support multipoint.
  • More flexible connectivity
    Connectivity
    wireless
    ▲ Better than 51% of models
    This pair of headphones offers more flexible connectivity than the average pair of headphones (wireless vs wired). The average headphones support wired connectivity.
    wireless vs wired
  • LE Audio support
    Bluetooth LE Audio
    yes
    ▲ Better than 88% of models
    This pair of headphones supports LE Audio, the average pair of headphones does not. 11.6% of headphones support Bluetooth LE Audio.
  • AAC codec support
    AAC
    yes
    ▲ Better than 68% of models
    This pair of headphones supports AAC, the average pair of headphones does not. 32.2% of headphones support AAC.
  • AptX support
    aptX
    yes
    ▲ Better than 82% of models
    This pair of headphones supports aptX, the average pair of headphones does not. 18.4% of headphones support aptX.
  • Clear call microphone
    Noise-canceling microphone
    yes
    ▲ Better than 61% of models
    This pair of headphones offers a clear call microphone, while the average pair of headphones does not. 39% of headphones support noise-canceling microphones.
  • On-device controls
    On-device controls
    yes
    ▲ Better than 53% of models
    This pair of headphones includes on-device controls, the average pair of headphones does not. 46.8% of headphones support on-device controls.
  • Wind noise reduction
    Wind noise reduction
    yes
    ▲ Better than 66% of models
    This pair of headphones reduces wind noise, the average pair of headphones does not. 34.3% of headphones support wind noise reduction.
  • Ambient sound mode
    Ambient sound mode
    yes
    ▲ Better than 75% of models
    This pair of headphones supports ambient sound mode, the average pair of headphones does not. 24.9% of headphones support ambient sound mode.
  • 3 hours longer charging time
    Charging time
    5 hours
    ▼ Worse than 96% of models
    Market range: <1.5 hours – >3.5 hours
    This pair of headphones has a higher charging time than the average pair of headphones (5 hours vs 2 hours). The average headphones need 2 hours to charge.
    5 hours vs 2 hours
  • 37.6% higher weight
    Weight
    300 g
    ▼ Worse than 81% of models
    Market range: <14 g – >340 g
    This pair of headphones is heavier than the average pair of headphones (300 g vs 218 g). The average pair of headphones weighs 218 g.
    300 g vs 218 g
  • 5.87x less popular
    Audio-Technica ATH WS990bt is less popular than the average pair of headphones (1 vs 5.9).
    1 vs 5.87
  • Tangle-prone cable
    Tangle-free cable
    no
    ▼ Worse than 64% of models
    This pair of headphones uses a tangle-prone cable, while the average pair of headphones is easier to manage. 64.2% of headphones use a tangle-free cable.
  • 2.44x more expensive
    Audio-Technica ATH WS990bt is more expensive than the average pair of headphones (£220 vs £90).
    £220 vs £90
  • 5 hours shorter ANC battery life
    Battery life with ANC
    25 hours
    ▼ Worse than 61% of models
    Market range: <15 hours – >55 hours
    This pair of headphones has a lower battery life with ANC than the average pair of headphones (25 hours vs 30 hours). The average headphones offer battery life with ANC of 30 hours.
    25 hours vs 30 hours
  • 5.87x less popular
    Audio-Technica ATH WS990bt is less popular than the average pair of headphones (1 vs 5.9).
    1 vs 5.87
  • 2.44x more expensive
    Audio-Technica ATH WS990bt is more expensive than the average pair of headphones (£220 vs £90).
    £220 vs £90
  • 37.6% higher weight
    Weight
    300 g
    ▼ Worse than 81% of models
    Market range: <14 g – >340 g
    This pair of headphones is heavier than the average pair of headphones (300 g vs 218 g). The average pair of headphones weighs 218 g.
    300 g vs 218 g
  • Tangle-prone cable
    Tangle-free cable
    no
    ▼ Worse than 64% of models
    This pair of headphones uses a tangle-prone cable, while the average pair of headphones is easier to manage. 64.2% of headphones use a tangle-free cable.
  • 3 hours longer charging time
    Charging time
    5 hours
    ▼ Worse than 96% of models
    Market range: <1.5 hours – >3.5 hours
    This pair of headphones has a higher charging time than the average pair of headphones (5 hours vs 2 hours). The average headphones need 2 hours to charge.
    5 hours vs 2 hours
  • 5 hours shorter ANC battery life
    Battery life with ANC
    25 hours
    ▼ Worse than 61% of models
    Market range: <15 hours – >55 hours
    This pair of headphones has a lower battery life with ANC than the average pair of headphones (25 hours vs 30 hours). The average headphones offer battery life with ANC of 30 hours.
    25 hours vs 30 hours

Video reviews

Hands-on testing, unboxing, and real-world video evaluations

Third-party reviews

What we like about Audio-Technica ATH WS990bt

  • Punchy and impactful bass response that balances well without muddying other frequencies
  • Great overall sound quality with crisp treble and detailed high frequencies
  • Excellent battery life, providing up to 25–30 hours of continuous playback
  • Comfortable ear cup padding and flexible headband suitable for long listening sessions
  • Sturdy build quality featuring a robust aluminum frame design

What we don't like about Audio-Technica ATH WS990bt

  • Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) performance is relatively weak and mild compared to top competitors
  • Ear cups feel a bit shallow, which causes some users' ears to touch the inner fabric
  • Slightly bulky frame that folds flat but does not compress into a highly compact size for travel
  • Mid-range sound performance can occasionally make specific instruments like guitars sound slightly muddy
  • Original retail pricing felt somewhat high for the limited number of extra luxury features provided

Verdict

The Audio-Technica ATH-WS990BT Solid Bass headphones feature large 53 mm Deep Motion drivers and high-flux magnetic circuitry designed to deliver powerful, high-resolution audio with a wide frequency response of 5 Hz to 40,000 Hz. These wireless over-ear headphones support Bluetooth 4.1 with aptX and AAC codecs, offering up to 30 hours of battery life (or 25 hours with active noise-cancellation enabled). Key pros include exceptional bass performance, high-fidelity wired listening capabilities, and superior comfort provided by exclusive dual-layer memory-foam earpads and a lightweight aluminum housing. However, some users note that the noise-cancellation performance is relatively subtle compared to competitors and that the micro-USB charging port is somewhat dated.

Compare Audio-Technica ATH WS990bt with other products in the Headphones category

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