The Audio-Technica ATH-SJ3 is a pair of monitor headphones that bears a resemblance of the AKG K 416 P. The latter made appearance at the Reviewed section of HWM Philippines last April. Likewise, the ATH-SJ3 looks like a crossbreed between a circumaural and a supra-aural type of headphones. The hinges that link the earpieces to the headband allow users to neatly fold the set in similar fashion to AKG’s 3D-Axis mechanism.

 

 

 

But unlike the K 416 P, the ATH-SJ3 has an economical build which makes it very portable but delicate. It is entirety almost made up of plastic, whereas the 1.2 meter-long cable snaking from the earpieces feels a bit frail. The cable ends up with a gold-plated 3.5-mm stereo connector. Each earpiece is covered with a soft, replaceable padding that gently rests against the ear.

 

 

 

 While the AKG K 416 P's headband is made up of stainless steel arches, the ATH-SJ3's is made up of retractable plastic.

 

Its overall motif and the use of white suggest that Audio-Technica had somehow envisioned the ATH-SJ3 as an accessory for the popular Apple iPod from the very start. If that’s the case, Audio-Technica got a good point, taking into account that Apple has sold over 206 million iPods to date. But in any case, this headphone set would still look nice when paired with any brand of portable media player.

 

 

 

A closer look at one of the hinges.

 

 Examining the audio intensity of the ATH-SJ3, this headphone set is loud enough even at 50-60%, using Media Player Classic. We did the music playback tests under this volume range. We started off testing treble with some soundtracks from the movies Gladiator and The Transformers. With the ATH-SJ3, these soundtracks, characterized with an elaborate tapestry of various musical instruments topped with powerful trumpet sounds that exude the feeling of grandeur, each instrument remained distinguishable with no hint of muddiness. Treble, in our perception, was not wanting in this category.

 

 

 

 The paddings are replaceable.

 

For midrange test, we picked Diana Krall’s “My Love Is” and Michael Buble’s “Fever”. The ATH-SJ3 adequately put emphasis on the suave and untarnished vocals of the two artists mentioned.

 

 

 

At work and at rest.

 

 Lastly, we proceeded on testing bass. In The Preset’s “My People”, which we thought difficult for average speakers to play with, bass was tolerable with the ATH-SJ3, but still left us with some reservations. Trip-hop pieces, Gorillaz’ “Kids With Guns”, Thievery Corporation’s “Warning Shots”, Massive Attack’ “Superpredator”, confirmed our qualms. If the ATH-SJ3 has an Achilles’ heel, we say that it is its bass, though in theory, it could have delivered better bass quality because of its wider frequency range of 10Hz – 23kHz. Most headphones and speakers have a frequency response of 20Hz – 20kHz, which is the standard.

 

 

 

Never a bête-noire, the ATH-SJ3 in noir.

 

Interestingly, Audio-Technica is marketing the ATH-SJ3 as a headphone set for DJs, a fact which we would like to comment by real-life DJs once they tried it out. Nevertheless, for average consumers, the ATH-SJ3 is a headphone set that you would love to flaunt around. If you are not sold on the idea of picking up a twosome of large-cupped headphones, looking ridiculous while wearing them, but yearn for good sound isolation and decent sound quality, the ATH-SJ3 is the right stuff to get. It makes for a respectable upgrade for those plain, bundled earbuds that come with your iPod or other PMPs, and an ideal peripheral as you chill out with your PC. For more information about its specifications, visit www.audio-technica.com.