Latest news with #Audio-Technica
Hindustan Times
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
New ear resolution: Sanjoy Narayan on the iconic Sennheiser HD 600 headphones
There's something humbling about stumbling onto greatness way after the hype train has left the station. Like binge-watching The Wire in 2024 (I did this!) and cracking open Dune with everyone else already quoting it (I'm on it!), my late discovery of the Sennheiser HD 600 headphones feels like I've unearthed a gem that's been chilling in plain sight for nearly 30 years. For years, I have been a bit of an audio wanderer. I've vibed with budget-friendly Chi-fi (or Chinese hi-fi) earbuds, grappled with the surgical precision of Audio-Technica's ATH series, geeked out over AKG's studio-grade clarity, admired Shure's obsessive craftsmanship, and even dabbled in HiFiMan's planar magnetic magic. I've scrolled through endless Reddit threads where audiophiles argue about soundstage depth like it's a matter of life and death. Yet, somehow, the iconic HD 600, launched in 1997 and basically unaltered since, slipped under my radar. When I finally plugged them in, these understated headphones had me sceptical. Then I hit play. The opening piano chords of Bill Evans's Peace Piece didn't just play; they breathed. Each note carried the creak of the piano's wood, the air of the recording room, even Evans's subtle exhales. The HD 600's famed midrange peeled back layers I'd missed all these years — not by hyping the sound, but by stripping away the haze I hadn't even known was there. These aren't headphones that scream for attention with booming bass or glittery treble spikes. They're a slow burn that makes one rethink what 'neutral' means, over hours of listening. My digital rip of Led Zeppelin's Ten Years Gone suddenly felt like a 3D soundscape. Jimmy Page's layered guitars weren't just stacked, they were having a conversation across space. John Paul Jones's bass didn't just hold it down; it told its own story. Robert Plant's vocals revealed raw emotion and technical finesse I'd missed in countless spins. I became a Led Zep head. Again. The magic kept unfolding across genres. Herbie Hancock's Maiden Voyage floated like it was recorded on a cloud. D'Angelo's Voodoo hit like a masterclass in production, Questlove's drums pulsing with life. Even Burial's Untrue, usually a dreamy sonic haze, broke into distinct layers without losing its moody soul. The HD 600's clarity is a double-edged sword. Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly showcased the headphones' knack for untangling dense, jazz-infused mixes. But some of my favourite '90s hip-hop tracks? Yikes. These cans exposed mastering flaws I had happily been oblivious to. These headphones don't sugarcoat; they just tell it like it is. Doesn't such precision feel sterile? No way. Nina Simone's gut-wrenching Strange Fruit hit even harder, the raw edges of her vocal break cutting deeper. Not because the HD 600 added drama, but because it let her pain shine through unfiltered. Miles Davis's Kind of Blue felt brand-new. I found myself discovering new notes in Coltrane's sax tone and Bill Evans's subtle comping. And to think these details had always been there, just waiting for gear honest enough to let them shine through. What's wild about the HD 600 is how it has stayed relevant in a world obsessed with the shiny and new. While brands churn out 'game-changing' drivers every year, this 28-year-old design is still the gold standard. There's a quiet confidence in that. In a world of planned obsolescence, Sennheiser's loyalty to this design feels like a middle finger to the hype cycle. One can replace every part of the Huh Duh Six Hungeos (as they're known in audiophile circles) oneself: the drivers, the earpads, even the headband. It's no surprise that the model has spawned a cult following. Hop onto any audiophile subreddit and one will see 'HD 600 lifers', people who have tested $3,000 electrostatics but keep coming back to these humble German cans that can be bought for about $270. They're the audiophile's equivalent of a beat-up Fender guitar: a tool that melts into the art instead of stealing the spotlight. The HD 600 isn't flawless. Today's headphone models might boast wider soundstages or deeper bass. But none I've tried nail the vibe quite like these do, whether I'm sinking into Tom Waits's gravelly vocal experiments or getting lost in Radiohead's melancholic brilliance. What these headphones deliver is the deeper satisfaction of knowing one is hearing music as it was meant to be heard; no filter, no fluff. They essentially just get out of the way. This shines brightest with live recordings. Jeff Buckley's Live at Sin-é puts the listener right there in that tiny NYC café. John Coltrane's Live at Birdland doesn't just play notes, it captures the room, the moment, with Elvin Jones's drums resonating like they're alive. In a world of endless gear upgrades, there's something real about finding a tool that doesn't demand one's attention but points it where it belongs: to the music. The HD 600's real superpower isn't what it adds; it's what it takes away: the techy noise between the listener and the artist. Sometimes the best finds are the ones right under your nose, waiting for you to catch up. Almost three decades late, I've finally shown up — and the music's never felt more real. (To write in with feedback, email
The Verge
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Verge
You can see right through Audio-Technica's new transparent turntable
Audio-Technica's engineers are seemingly working overtime to elevate the design of the record player. Following the reveal of its floating, glowing Hotaru turntable last month, the company has announced its new AT-LPA2 featuring a chassis and platter made from transparent acrylic. With electronics like its power supply and playback controls packed into a separate unit that can be kept out of sight, the turntable is a reminder that transparent tech can still look modern and sleek. The AT-LPA2 features a similar design to the Audio-Technica AT-LP2022 turntable that was released in January 2023 to help commemorate the company's 60th anniversary. The previous version was limited to just 3,000 units made available worldwide and sold for $1,200. The new AT-LPA2 is available starting today, and while its rollout won't be as limited, it now costs $2,000. The base of the turntable is made from a 30mm thick slab of high-density transparent acrylic, while the spinning platter atop is made from the same material that's 20mm thick. It not only makes for a striking design, but acrylic is also an effective material for dampening vibrations which improves playback performance and helps keep the turntable operating quietly. Direct drive turntables, in which the spinning platter is part of the electric motor, offer superior performance over those that use a separate motor connected with a belt. But in this case, a belt drive actually serves to enhance the aesthetics of the AT-LPA2. To ensure accurate playback, Audio-Technica includes an optical sensor that monitors the platter's rotation so it maintains a constant speed of either 33 1/3 or 45rpm. The company redesigned the tone arm included with the limited edition model, but it's still made from carbon fiber to help reduce its weight and includes interchangeable counterweights that can be added and removed to help keep the arm balanced with different cartridges. To help keep the turntable's chassis as transparent as possible, playback controls and other buttons are included on a separate unit that also houses the power supply. That approach not only lets you position the control unit out of sight since it's not transparent and doesn't match the AT-LPA2's aesthetic, Audio-Technica says it also isolates the turntable's audio components from power supply noise 'resulting in a cleaner, more accurate sound.'
Stuff.tv
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Stuff.tv
If this Audio Technica turntable sounds as good as it looks, I'm in for a treat
There are plenty of top turntables for you to pick from, but they all look fairly samey. Limited releases aside. But this new Audio Technica turntable is one of the best looking I've ever seen with a transparent design. And if it sounds as good as it looks, then I'm in for a treat. The AT-LPA2 is a striking slice of acrylic engineering that looks like it's been nicked straight out of a sci-fi film set. You can gawk at its 30mm acrylic chassis and 20mm platter, all while your vinyl spins round. Read more: Best Bluetooth speakers in 2025 reviewed and rated It's a fully manual affair – no buttons in sight. Just a belt-drive setup with speeds for 33-1/3 and 45 RPM, which is all most of us need unless you've got some ancient 78s knocking about. The newly designed carbon-fibre tonearm, with adjustable vertical tracking angle, screams precision. It's paired with an AT-OC9XEN moving coil cartridge, which uses a 0.3 x 0.7 mil elliptical nude stylus. There's also no USB output here, nor Bluetooth, nor an app pretending to 'enhance' your listening experience. It's just pure, mechanical vinyl playback done with precision and flair. That 20mm acrylic platter isn't just for show – it adds real weight and stability, helping keep your records spinning at exactly the right pace without any of the wobbly nonsense. And while the turntable is stealing the spotlight, Audio-Technica has also quietly overhauled its VM cartridge line with the new AT-VMx series. It's their first big refresh since 2016, which in vinyl years is practically a generation. With a range that stretches from entry-level to audiophile indulgence, the new cartridges promise better responsiveness, deeper low-end grunt, and a generally richer sonic experience. They're using PCUHD wire in the coils now – the same stuff found in their high-end audio cables. It's also nice to see a variety of stylus options, from your standard conical to more advanced profiles. The Audio Technica AT-LPA2 turntable will set you back £1699/€1999, and is available through Richer Sounds and The new AT-VMx cartridges start at £99/€119, with pricing scaling up depending on just how audiophile you fancy being. There's no US pricing or availability information yet, but we'll let you know if this changes.
Forbes
15-05-2025
- Forbes
Audio-Technica Reveals Stunning New Transparent AT-LPA2 Vinyl Turntable
With a blend of stunning contemporary aesthetics and the promise of excellent sonic performance, the new fully manual AT-LPA2 turntable has been announced by Audio-Technica and draws on the brand's successful AT-LP2022 model for inspiration. Made from high-density transparent acrylic, the AT-LPA2 has been precision-assembled to provide vinyl listeners with something extraordinary to look at and listen to. Designed for vinyl lovers who love both form and function, the AT-LPA2 has a striking 30mm transparent and high-density acrylic chassis as well as a 20mm acrylic platter. The unique construction looks impressive, but Audio-Technica also says acrylic provides exceptional resonance control, minimizing unwanted vibrations for clearer playback. At the heart of the AT-LPA2 is a precision-engineered belt-drive mechanism with an optical sensor positioned beneath the spindle. This arrangement constantly monitors the platter rotation, ensuring accurate playback at both 33-1/3 and 45 RPM speeds. The turntable uses an external power supply and control unit. By separating these two essential components from the turntable, the AT-LPA2 can isolate sensitive audio parts from any potential electrical interference, preserving the clarity of the music. Carbon-Fiber Tonearm The AT-LPA2 comes pre-fitted with Audio-Technica's AT-OC9XEN dual moving coil cartridge. With its nude elliptical stylus and high-purity PCOCC coils, Audio-Technica claims the AT-OC9XEN can capture every detail and nuance from a vinyl record with clarity, excellent channel separation and low distortion. Completing the package is a newly designed straight carbon-fiber tonearm. Engineered for superior tracking, the tonearm has an adjustable VTA, azimuth adjustment, a finely adjustable string-type anti-skate mechanism and interchangeable counterweights for broader cartridge compatibility. Pricing and Availability: The Audio-Technica AT-LPA2 turntable will be available from selected distributors from 15 May 2025 and will retail for £1,699 / €1,999. Key Features:
Forbes
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Audio-Technica's ATH-R30x Open-Back Headphones Have A Breakthrough Price
The new Audio-Technica ATH-R30x open-back headphones are the company's first to be launched with a ... More breakthrough price. Any serious music lover will tell you that there's nothing quite like a pair of open-back headphones for enjoying a long listening session with your favorite music. Open-back headphones deliver an airier sound and because the earpieces aren't enclosed, your ears don't become hot and sweaty while you're listening to Hotel California. Now Japan's Audio-Technica has announced a pair of open-back headphones at something of a breakthrough price. The new ATH-R30x headphones are aimed at content creators and home-based music producers. They are also an affordable introduction to Audio-Technica's highly regarded R-Series of open-back reference headphones. The new ATH-R30x headphones are designed to deliver a professional-grade performance at a competitive price point and the sound offers accuracy and transparency as well as comfort. This sound signature of the ATH-R30x has minimal distortion because the open-back design enables sound to flow naturally from the drivers. The transducer design relies on very little additional tuning or damping and translates the diaphragm movement directly into sound. Audio-Technica says the result is a spacious soundstage with natural clarity, treating the listener to authentic and immersive audio. The new Audio-Technica ATH-R30x offer an open and airy sound with a well balanced tone and a ... More realistic soundstage. The ATH-R30x have an adjustable headband for a secure and flexible fit where the weight is evenly distributed for long-term comfort. The earpads of the ATH-R30x are made with soft velour and the breathable open-back design provides comfortable listening during extended listening sessions. Ideally suited for home studio production, multimedia content creation, gaming and music listening, the open-back design lets the drivers move without restrictions creating a clearer and more natural sound. The enhanced 40mm drivers promise well-defined lows, transparent mids and smooth treble that Audio-Technica claims will bring out the detail in any mix while producing a realistic soundstage. The headphones weigh just 210g and have a new headband design for longer-lasting comfort. The ATH-R30x are supplied with a 6.3mm adapter. The Audio-Technica ATH-R30x headphones are available now and priced at $99 / £85 / €99. Driver diameter: 40mm Frequency response: 15 – 25,000Hz. Max. input power: 1,000mW Sensitivity: 92dB. Impedance: 36Ω. Connector: 3.5mm (1/8") stereo headphone jack.
