The new Audio-Technica ATH-AWKG made of KUROGAKI wood combines Japanese craftsmanship with hi-fi audio.
Audio-Technica announces the ATH-AWKG headphones as “a hi-fi headphone with wooden ear cups. Hand-assembled in Tokyo, the ATH-AWKG features ear cups made of KUROGAKI wood, a type of wood with unique physical properties that combines exceptional sound quality with a unique and striking design.’ A headphone the manufacturer says it is proud of – probably rightly so.
KUROGAKI
KUROGAKI is a type of wood favored by Japanese artisans. This wood is characterized by black inky patterns and comes from the persimmon tree. It symbolizes the mystery of nature. Only the wood from trees more than a hundred years old shows this unique phenomenon. Moreover, this type of wood has a very exclusive reputation in Japan because of the knowledge and know-how required to dry it. The wood has been admired by nobles and scholars for centuries because of its mysterious, Zen Buddhist-like patterns, the cause of which has not been identified to date. The ATH-AWKG is hand-lacquered by experienced craftsmen. This emphasizes the natural beauty of the wood grain, a beauty that only increases with age.
Comfort
After this cultural-wood technical explanation, back to theAudio-Technica ATH-AWKG for a moment. The stitched ergonomic ear pads and headband of this are made of smooth and highly durable sheep leather, for long-lasting comfort. In addition, the headphones’ bracket is made of magnesium alloy and placed at an angle for an ideal fit.
The headphones are characterized by – according to the manufacturer: ‘Audio-Technica’s superior audio performance and feature exclusive 53 mm drivers with highly efficient German permendur magnets, which combine exceptionally precise audio with a vast sound field. In addition, each driver has a lightweight and durable titanium flange and voice coil made of 6N-OFC, for optimal signal transmission. Finally, the Double Air Damping System guarantees fast and accurate bass response‘.
As a finishing touch, the new Audio-Technica ATH-AWKG comes in a beautifully designed storage box decorated – again – with KUROGAKI wood. Also included are two 3-meter detachable cables with A2DC (Audio Designed Detachable Coaxial) connectors on the headphones: one with a gold-plated 6.3-mm stereo plug and another with a 4-pin XLR-M balanced connector. You have to pay $4200 for all this beauty.
Features
For your convenience, here’s a list of all the features of the Audio-Technica ATH-AWKG, in the manufacturer’s words:
- The housing is made of precious KUROGAKI wood, which guarantees a remarkably clear sound quality. In addition, the hand-applied lacquer coating highlights the unique physical properties of the wood.
- The 53 mm drivers are equipped with circuits of highly efficient German permendur magnets, for powerful audio with a vast sound field
- The drivers have a flange made of light and durable titanium, allowing the diaphragm to respond even more accurately to signals
- The voice coils are made of 6N-OFC (high purity oxygen-free copper), for optimal signal transmission
- The D.A.D.S. (Double Air Damping System) structure guarantees deep bass response
- The headphones’ bracket is angled for an optimal fit with a superior ear seal
- Stitched ergonomic ear pads and headband are made of smooth and highly durable sheepskin leather for long-lasting comfort
- The headphone cables are made of high-quality textile that prevents tangling of the cables
