Fake and genuine Audio-Technica ATH-FW3 comparison review (18 images)

[Matt]

This is a quick Audio-Technica ATH-FW3 fake and genuine headphone comparison for you all. Sorry about the rushed nature of the review, but I'm on holiday for the next two weeks, but I'll be looking in from time to time.

I would just like to say how grateful I am for Audio-Technica UK supplying fakeheadphones.com with a pair of genuine FW3's. For those of you who aren't familiar with Audio-Technica, they are the number 1 headphone brand in Japan. The likes of the ATH-ON3 now (ATH-ON300) are a massive hit in the Far East, hence this is why I'm doing this review. I hasten to add that I also feel that there are Counterfeit FW5 headphones on the market as well. 

For information on all Audio-Technica products, click the link below.

http://www.audio-technica.com/world_map/

I've broken the images into three main sections.

1) The Packaging

2) The Headphones

3) The Pouch

Fake and genuine Audio-Technica ATH-FW3 comparison review

The Sound

However let's deal with the sound, which is why you would buy these in the first place.



The Genuine ATH-FW3

I have to say that I'm impressed with the FW3 headphones. They are slightly more comfortable than my ATH-ON3 headphones, as they have a traditional headband instead of the (innovative) single wire set up of the ON3's. The sound has slightly more bass than the ON3, which is welcome, however there is a slight lack of the ON3's sweetness. Both the ATH-ON3 and ATH-FW3 are never going to be contenders for 'The best basshead headphones' award, and the FW3's are a touch... lean when it comes to the bass.



ATH-FW3 Sound Comparison

I have to say that the fakes sound thick and ponderous in comparison to the genuine FW3's. They simply don't have the speed of the genuine FW3's, however they are some serious problems with the fakes. They have an intermittent leaning of the sound to the left-hand driver. Its not a 'loose cable' kind of fault, however when I turned the volume up full on Nelly Furtado's - Promiscuous the left-hand driver shows it displeasure, with the diaphragm cracking in time to the beat.

In contrast, the genuine ATH-FW3 can handle Nelly at full volume.... and they go very, very loud. I can take a lot of volume, however the genuine AT's volume with this track had me beaten. Not only that, but the FW3 can handle full volume on my iMac without straining. It was me that gave in first



Sound Conclusion

What do you expect from counterfeits? Like the fake Bose Triport In Ear earphones, the counterfeit FW'3 build quality spoil the music. Not only is the sound sub standard, but also the counterfeits reveal limits in the build quality. Basically, they don't have any build qualtiy



Fakes are always on the left unless stated otherwise

Packaging

Just a small thing, but this small part to the images on the box is nearly balck, as opposed to the genuine FW3 headphones.







The instructions that came to the fakes were folded ... in a hurry it  would seem













Headphones













Audio-Technica haven't given me permission to take these apart. However, on the fakes, the ear pads came off easily, but the genune FW3's ear pads seemed to be glued in. I had a good pull around, but they seem like they're bolted in there.  So for now, there are no images of the internals. Sorry folks





Pouch
















Tell me what you think. Please share any experience for good or bad with us here on the fakeheadphones.com forum. 


http://www.audio-technica.com/world_map/

[Matt]

And so it begins

these are fake, and before you deny it, my genuine FW3 have kindly been supplied to me direct from Audio-Technica UK!


http://img37.imagefra.me/img/img37/2/3/1/captain73/f_t2aw0xceckqm_736c029.png

http://img38.imagefra.me/img/img38/2/3/1/captain73/f_pxvhxgq767nm_f978f37.png

http://img37.imagefra.me/img/img37/2/3/1/captain73/f_tvd7wyaqr03m_2f16ebc.png

http://img37.imagefra.me/img/img37/2/3/1/captain73/f_nu8ht74dfl9m_6ff8740.png

If you want more pictures of the fakes that you've sold me, I'd be more than willing to share them with you.

As for now, I expect a full refund, and I will not be wasting my time and money shipping this piece of junk back to you.

Matthew Scarlett

[Matt]

And so it begins

these are fake, and before you deny it, my genuine FW3 have kindly been supplied to me direct from Audio-Technica UK!


http://img37.imagefra.me/img/img37/2/3/1/captain73/f_t2aw0xceckqm_736c029.png

http://img38.imagefra.me/img/img38/2/3/1/captain73/f_pxvhxgq767nm_f978f37.png

http://img37.imagefra.me/img/img37/2/3/1/captain73/f_tvd7wyaqr03m_2f16ebc.png

http://img37.imagefra.me/img/img37/2/3/1/captain73/f_nu8ht74dfl9m_6ff8740.png

If you want more pictures of the fakes that you've sold me, I'd be more than willing to share them with you.

As for now, I expect a full refund, and I will not be wasting my time and money shipping this piece of junk back to you.

Matthew Scarlett

You've gotta read this!

Dear m_scarlett,

Dear Buyer,

I am so sorry for this matter...

This item I directly brought from the AT factoty's
staff,and he told me this is the real one..

I will ask him what is the problem,I think he
already fake me too...

But this is totally my fault so I will full refund
to you..

and I will cancel all of this item which are
selling in Ebay..

Finally,Could you please to help me to cancel this
order so I can get the listed fee..

Is these action acceptance for you?

I am apology for the below matter and make you so
inconvenience....

Thanks
Brian Fung

- goal.electric

get your tissues out, this is a really bad sob story!

Dear m_scarlett,

Dear m_scarlett,

Could you please don't mark me as bad comment,this
is very tragic for me and all of my future life...

Since too difficult of livelihood in Hong Kong,I
just get more money for my BA studying....

Could you help me on this
problem...please...please...

Thanks
Brian Fung

- goal.electric

[Matt]

My reply

Dear goal.electric,

Given the prices that you've sold your Audio-Techinca headphones, I think you know full well that the AT headphones you've been selling are counterfeit.

(quote)Could you please don't mark me as bad comment, this
is very tragic for me and all of my future life...(quote)

How many other people have you asked to not give you negative feedback?

The only way to not get negative feedback, is to sell genuine items.

http://www.yesasia.com/global/audio-technica-ath-fw3bw-brown-portable-headphones/1011442332-0-0-0-en/info.html

http://www.audiocubes.com/product_info.php?cPath=23_26&products_id=2470

So how comes you're selling your headphones so cheap?

and the rest can be said for the rest of the headphones you’ve sold. looking now, i realize that they're all too cheap to be genuine.

I expect a full refund, and I will give you the feedback that you bad counterfeit headphones deserve.

BTW, not only are the headphones you sold me fake, but they are also faulty.


- m_scarlett

[Den90]

Found a suspicious FW3 - http://cgi.ebay.com.au/GENUINE-ATH-FW3-HEADPHONES-IN-BOX-FOR-MP3-PLAYER_W0QQitemZ280441455577QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Electronics_Portable_Audio_Accessories?hash=item414b9d03d9
The seller is suspicious to, he have a wide range of brands, and prices good and looks real, but some of the headphones looks strange on his photos: http://cgi.ebay.com/Genuine-SONY-EX85SL-EX85-Earphones-in-Box_W0QQitemZ270511277650QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Electronics_Portable_Audio_Accessories?hash=item3efbba8652
Extension cable looks strange, and the build quality to.
Matt, if you look for Fake Sony, maybe this is it.

[Matt]

Those FW3's look very fake. Getting hold of genuine SONY EX85SL will be interesting.