Audio-Technica ATH-SR9

Does anyone have any experience with these? Any measurements? The reviews I've found lack measurements and people's conclusions are all over the place. I've read that they're neutral, that they're V-shaped, that they lack bass, that they emphasize treble over everything else. Some people love them, some people hate them. No consensus.

I have the original MSR7, and they're good but a bit bass-light for my tastes. I'd read that the MSR7SE was an improvement with a revised driver, but since I think they were a Japan domestic only product, they were hard to come by. There is now the MSR7b which has a worldwide release and has a further refined driver and design, and replaces the 3.5mm TRS connector on one of the cups with two A2DC connectors, one on each cup, like the SR9, and they bundle a 4.4mm Pentacon balanced cable in the box. I'm particularly curious how the MSR7b compares to the SR9.

 

I did find some graphs. Based on these, the SR9 have rolled off sub-bass, a bit of a mid-bass hump, and quite a bit of upper treble emphasis:



Raw frequency response:



THD past 10% in the sub-bass frequencies isn't great, but otherwise below 1%:



Can't speak to the accuracy of these measurements. Here's where I got the graphs from (text in Korean):

http://dpg.danawa.com/news/view?boardSeq=62&listSeq=3569222

Looks like Audio-Technica was going for something intentionally "analytical" in nature.

 

I had the MSR7SE and SR9 which also uses the DLC drivers.

I very much prefer the 7SE more even midrange and higher treble peak around 8-10khz. For some reason the treble response is much cleaner and articulate on the 7SE.

The SR9 was thinner in the midrange, and unnatural shouty sounding, Some said the bass is lacking, it is certainly boosted, but I dont think the texture on it is all that great. I didnt hear them as treble boosted, rather boring. It just didnt sound clean to me.

 

Thanks very much for relating your first-hand experiences. I'll skip the SR9. I did just place an order for the MSR7b, an aftermarket balanced cable, and the YAXI MSR7 Comfort earpads, so we'll see how that goes.

 

I have the MSR7B now and I think it is fantastic. More free floating rumble in the bass, although some Japanese enthusiasts claim it moves towards the Sony competition (MDR-1AM2) It is not loose sounding at all. The sound does seem that it has been given more room, but I dont hear any reflections. Imaging and staging seems slightly improved on the MSR7B. Treble is slightly smoother, yet highly resolving.

The key difference to me is that the DLC coating makes the timbre more organic, and less dry, while retaining all the speed and nuanced details.

Very easy to drive too.

I think MSR7B > MSR7SE > MSR7 > SR9.

the only downside I think is the slightly creaky build quality that remains.