Audio-Technica ATH-A990Z Art Monitor Headphones Black

Let me start by saying I have been mixing and producing music since 2008, so I am no amateur. I have used both monitors and headphones during that time. I was honestly hoping after reading the “great” reviews all over the internet an watching countless videos, I could jump into these as they were very close to the specifications I wanted. I need low Ohms (35-40), 5-30K frequency response, and the drivers have to be 53mm.

They sound great, IF you don’t want clarity and to miss artifacts and frequencies in your mixes. These DO NOT give a “flat” or true response for music and instead have more of a stereo width (which is only great for music listening) and even then, you get hit with a somewhat heavy low end with mids and highs trying to catch up.

Audiotechnica has still yet to make a decent headphone for Mixing, DJing, or even just listening

I will not indulge in techno babble regarding these fine headphones. I will preface to say that I currently own at least 8 pairs of fine quality headphones, and have owned no less than 30 pairs over the years. I am a musician and producer and consider myself a fairly good judge of sound recording reproduction.
I had not had very good success with other AT headphones, always finding them lacking in sound quality or comfort or both. I heard these at a friend’s studio and was very pleased with them. They are very well tuned for playback of various types of music. Having purchased my own pair, I have been using them and very happy with them. I would not use them for monitoring, mixing or mastering, but for leisurely playback they are very impressive. They are also very comfortable. They have a very impressive soundstage, one of the best I have experienced with headphones costing less than $250CAD. Even more impressive is the fact that they are closed back. You would not think so from the soundstage. I like the wing design. I can’t even feel that I have them on. They also don’t make my ears sweat, like other closed back phones that I use on a regular basis. I listened to McCartney’s RAM half speed master vinyl album that was just released last month and I was treated to the best recording on that album that I have ever heard. I used these headphones to listen to it, along with a couple of other pairs I like to use, and these headphones sounded great. I am very pleased. YMMV.

Appearance – A little bit ridiculous looking with the big Audio Technica wing support and otherwise very simple in looking, all black plastic, rubber and pleather with understated branding on the cups.

Build Quality – They do feel cheap when holding them, definitely a lot plastic involved. Bu seem solidly enough put together, I wouldn’t worry much about durability, there’s just nothing premium about the build. The cable is fixed (which is disappointing, not sure why Audio Technica is still so intent on making fixed cable headphones) and as mentioned very long.

Comfort – The A550Zs are very comfortable fit (I do have a large head so lack of clamp force may be an issue for people with smaller heads). They are quite light, I find the clamp force absolutely perfect (secure but I don’t feel any squeezing) and the stock ear pads are quite comfortable for several hours continuous. I’d prefer a cloth earpad to leather or pleather but these are quite comfortable regardless. They seem a bit smaller than the older models using the wing support, which will be good for most people.

Sound quality – They generally sound wonderful, especially if you are looking for detailed, vivid sound without over the top bass. Very detailed, excellent for gaming or complex music. Even the little flaws in recordings pop out from time to time. Decent soundstage, though not huge (My old AD900s have a substantially larger soundstage, but those are higher end an d open back) but better than expected fro a closed back headphone in this price range. The big thing with the A550Zs is exquisite upper mid range and treble. Vocals are beautifully lifelike and strings are an absolute pleasure. The bass is very typical of AT headphones, crisp, tight, precise if a little reserved. The bass is definitely more prominent when using a decent DAC than just plugging into a computer or phone, but they are easy enough to drive. Sound isolation good, but not great. All around a great sounding pair of headphones.

Value – Excellent. The A550z are probably the best sounding closed back headphones under $250 that I have put on (sound quality/signature is very similar to the A990Z, although the A990Z feels much better put together and has maybe a smidge more bass) and nothing else at its price point seems particularly close. If you need a ton of bass or really want a premium feel then you’ll want to look elsewhere, otherwise if you’re looking for something closed back its hard to find much not to like.