The Audio-Technica ATH-DSR9BT are fairly versatile over-ear headphones. They're comfortable to wear for a while, and they're made with premium and solid materials. However, they feel a bit tight on some larger heads, and they aren’t very versatile since you can’t use them with a regular audio cable. They also take a long time to charge, which is disappointing for the amount of battery life you get. They look and feel like premium headphones but might not be worth the investment for some.
Our Verdict
The Audio-Technica DSR9BT are okay for mixed usage. They have a good audio reproduction but sound thin on vocals and leads, making them better suited for bass-heavy music. They won’t be a great option for commuting since they don’t block out lower-end frequencies like engine rumbles. They trap quite a bit of heat inside their ear cups, and the over-ear design won’t be ideal for sports. On the other hand, you can use them at the office since they don’t leak too much and have good battery life. However, their latency might be a bit too high for watching TV and gaming.
- Comfortable fit.
- Premium and durable design.
- Good audio reproduction.
- Very long charging time.
- Sub-par noise isolation.
- Bass delivery is prone to inconsistencies across users. Sensitive to glasses.
The Audio-Technica DSR9BT are decent for neutral sound. Their bass is powerful and decently well-balanced, their mid-range is mostly flat, and they have an excellent treble range performance. However, their bass is prone to inconsistencies across different users and is slightly boomy. There's also a big dip in their mid-range, making vocals and lead instruments sound noticeably thin. Overall, these headphones will be good but not ideal for bass-heavy music. Also, the dip in mid-range will hurt most genres with vocals.
The Audio-Technica DSR9BT are passable for commuting. They don’t do much against plane and bus engine rumbles, which means noise will seep into your audio. Their bulky design is also a bit harder to travel around with, but the cups swivel to lay flat, meaning that you can wear them around your neck or store them in their nice hard case. On the upside, they're comfortable, and their 16-hour battery life should be more than enough during long rides and flights.
The Audio-Technica DSR9BT are decent for sports. They're tight on the head and are fairly stable. However, this means they trap heat inside their ear cups and make you sweat more than usual when using them during physical activity. These headphones weren’t designed for sports.
The Audio-Technica DSR9BT are alright for the office. They're comfortable to wear throughout your workday, although they might be a bit tight for people with larger heads. They have decent isolation against ambient chatter and A/C systems, and their 16-hour battery life should be long enough for a typical workday. You can use them with their USB cable to get hi-res audio when plugged into your work computer. They also don’t leak too much, so you shouldn’t bother surrounding colleagues when playing music at high volumes.
The Audio-Technica DSR9BT aren't suitable for wireless gaming. When used wirelessly, these headphones won’t be a good option for this use due to their Bluetooth latency. Their microphone is also sub-par for online games. On the upside, if you don’t need a mic, you can use them with their USB cable for hi-res audio and eliminate the latency as well.
Changelog
- Updated Jun 11, 2021: Changed USB Audio results for clarity.
- Updated Mar 11, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Audio-Technica ATH-DSR9BT are okay mixed usage headphones that set themselves apart by their looks and build quality. However, they might not offer the best value for Bluetooth headphones, especially since you can’t use them passively and they take a very long time to charge.
See our recommendations for the best audiophile headphones and the best budget wireless headphones.
The Bowers & Wilkins PX Wireless are more versatile headphones for everyday casual use than the Audio-Technica ATH-DSR9BT are. The Bowers & Wilkins have a great noise cancelling feature, a longer battery life, and their metal build is very sturdy. On the other hand, the sound quality of the Bowers & Wilkins is more suited for bass-heavy genres. The Audio-Technica have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer, and are more comfortable. However, they can’t be used wired with phones since you can’t use them with a 1/8” cable. The Bowers & Wilkins also offer more battery life and can connect to multiple devices simultaneously.
The AKG N700NC are overall better headphones than the Audio-Technica ATH-DSR9BT. The AKG are noise cancelling headphones that are decent at every use case, on top of having a very good audio reproduction. They offer about the same battery life but take half the time to fully charge, which is nice. The AKG can also be EQ’ed in their app and be used wired with phones. On the other hand, the AKG have a bit of a plastic feel compared to the very well-built Audio-Technica. Overall, the AKG will offer better value.
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018 are better and more versatile headphones than the Audio-Technica ATH-DSR9BT Wireless thanks to their very comfortable fit and well-balanced and natural sound profile. The Bose are one of the best noise cancelling headphones we’ve reviewed so far, making them great for commuting or travel as well. Their battery lasts longer, and they take less time to fully charge than the Audio-Technica. You can also use them wired with a phone, even if the battery is dead, which is convenient. On the other hand, the Audio-Technica look and feel more premium overall, but the Bose are likely a better value for most people.
The Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless are better and more versatile headphones than the Audio-Technica ATH-DSR9BT Wireless. They have a great noise cancelling feature, are more comfortable, and have a great companion app that offers plenty of controls and customization options. While the Audio-Technica have a better out-of-the-box sound profile, you can EQ the Sony with their app to suit your preferences. The Sony also have amazing battery life and can also be used wired with phones, which you can’t do with a normal 1/8” cable with the Audio-Technica.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
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