Audio-Technica ATH-WP900 (AGAINST THE GRAIN)

These wood-finished wonders are a star-studded well, wood-studded) audio delight

A 'revival' is all well and good, but a good revival picks and chooses - it doesn't just take wholesale. The Audio-Technica ATH-WP900 A over-ear headphones aren't just wired: they feature extensive use of wood in their construction - although there's nothing old-school about the asking price. Expensive, portable, wired over-ear headphones - is it a revival too far?

For once, here's a pair of headphones you wouldn't mistake in a line-up. And, what's more, the ATH-WP900 manage to be distinctive and good-looking without being any great departure from the long-established over-ear headphones design template.

Certainly it's business as usual where the hanger, headband and slider mechanism are concerned. Everything feels robust in a nicely weighted manner, and both the padding and the synthetic leather wrapping of the headband is comfortable and tactile in equal measure.