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Buyer's Guide: The Best Monitors 
Audio Technica ATH-CKS90
| Caractéristiques | |||
| Headphone Type | Semi in-ear | ||
| Frequency Response | 5 kHz - 25 kHz | ||
| Speaker | Dynamic transducer | ||
| Impedance | 16 ohms | ||
| Sensitivity | 106 dB | ||
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| Cable Length | 1.2 m |
| Weight | 9 g |
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Tristan François
Translator: Catherine Barraclough
Test date: January 21, 2011
Translator: Catherine Barraclough
Test date: January 21, 2011
Double Resonance Chamber
There's just no way around the fact that boosting the bass also boosts the size of a pair of headphones
In these headphones, Audio Technica has made room behind the transducer membrane to squeeze in a dual resonance chamber. Just like the bass-reflex system typically used in speakers, this chamber offers more freedom of movement for the membrane which in turn enhances the bass.
In these headphones, Audio Technica has made room behind the transducer membrane to squeeze in a dual resonance chamber. Just like the bass-reflex system typically used in speakers, this chamber offers more freedom of movement for the membrane which in turn enhances the bass.
The CKS series is Audio Technica's bass-boosted range of in-ear headphones. They may have souped-up resonance chambers for ear-popping bass but the SKS90 aren't short on treble either.
Hardware & Deign: a hard but bulky caseThe CKS90 hold no real surprises in design, except that the resonance chamber has been flipped round 90° and doubled in size. They are easy to position in your ears and they feel fairly stable once in place. Users with small ears may still find them a little uncomfortable.
Although the accessories are just as thin on the ground as with models lower down the range, the CKS90 headphones do come with a hard case. It's just a shame that it's quite so big and bulky.
Sound Quality: under control
Relative frequency response centred on the level measured at 1 kHz
Vertically, one square = 5 dB, red line = -3 dB - ideally the frequency response curve would be flat, at 0 dB
Here, we can see the frequency response starts to drop at 6 kHz and drops under -3 dB (red line) at 14.3 kHz
Vertically, one square = 5 dB, red line = -3 dB - ideally the frequency response curve would be flat, at 0 dB
Here, we can see the frequency response starts to drop at 6 kHz and drops under -3 dB (red line) at 14.3 kHz
As expected, the CKS90 headphones are heavy on the bass. The overall frequency response is, however, better handled and more linear that with other products in the range, although there's still the same dip in power at 1000 Hz.
The best thing about these headphones is that they don't scrimp on treble, unlike the CKS50, for example. Here, although the line on the frequency response graph could be a little tidier, there's still a decent level of sound present after 14 kHz. You can hear the difference in the sound quality too, as the output is fuller and more accurate.
For fans of bass who don't want to sacrifice the rest of the spectrum, the CKS90 earphones are a better choice than the CKS50 or CKS70. To get the best out of them, make sure you listen to audio sources that give an accurate output ... but then that's a whole other can of worms.
Pluses
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Decent build quality
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Bulky but fairly comfortable
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High frequencies managed well
Minuses
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Not so good for small ears
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Accessories a bit thin on the ground
The ATH-CKS90 are probably the best headphones in the Audio Technica CKS range. Even though they're heavy on bass, the rest of the spectrum hasn't been overlooked.
