Solid ash wood, a three-tone sunburst, and a driver tuned for strings
Everyone has seen a sunburst finish. Starting with 1950s Fender Stratocasters, carried by Hendrix, Clapton, Page — that gradient from bright center to dark edge is the most enduring finish in guitar history.
Audio-Technica put it on a pair of headphones. For the second time.
In 2020, Audio-Technica partnered with Japanese guitar maker Fujigen to release the ATH-WP900, finished in flame maple — the same wood Fujigen reserves exclusively for its own guitars. Six years later, the two companies returned with the ATH-WP900SE. This time, not maple but solid ash, and the first three-tone sunburst lacquer Audio-Technica has ever applied to a headphone.
Different Wood, Different Sound
The original WP900 layered thin flame maple veneer over machined solid maple. The WP900SE is carved from solid ash throughout. Where maple delivers a stiff, bright, transient-fast sound signature, ash carries a different resonance profile entirely. Fujigen’s luthier-grade craftspeople were involved from wood selection through final lacquer coating.
Each earcup receives its sunburst gradient by hand. No two are identical. Every unit ships with a handwritten serial number card and a dedicated Fujigen cleaning cloth made specifically for lacquered surfaces.
A Driver Built for Strings
A newly designed 53mm dynamic driver pairs with an upgraded voice coil. Audio-Technica says the combination was “specifically tuned to faithfully render the tones of stringed instruments.” Frequency response runs 5Hz to 50kHz, sensitivity 98dB/mW, impedance 37 ohms. Acoustic ports, driver, and voice coil are engineered together to capture the precise vibration of a plucked string.
A2DC detachable connectors come with both 3.5mm and balanced 4.4mm cables. Weight: 235g. Earcups swivel flat for the included carrying pouch.
Price and Availability
£599 in the UK, €699 in Europe. Released June 11, 2026. Audio-Technica has confirmed no U.S. release is planned — American buyers will need to import from Europe.
Compared to the standard WP900 ($699), the SE commands a premium reflecting solid ash construction, hand-finished lacquer, and limited production.
Editor’s Note
The way HERZ works leather and KANEITEI works discarded tents and bottles, Fujigen has spent a lifetime working wood and strings. What happens when that hand touches a headphone earcup? Audio-Technica asked the same question six years ago. The answer, again, is a piece of wood that sings.
Audio-Technica ATH-WP900SE | £599 / €699 | Released June 11, 2026 (Europe only, no US release)
Material: Solid ash wood + 3-tone sunburst lacquer (hand-finished by Fujigen)
Driver: 53mm newly designed dynamic + upgraded voice coil | Frequency: 5Hz–50kHz
Weight: 235g | Cables: A2DC detachable (3.5mm + 4.4mm balanced)
Includes: Fujigen cleaning cloth · handwritten serial card
Predecessor: ATH-WP900 (2020, flame maple, $699 — still sold)
