Audio-Technica asked me to review the oddities in the design of the NARUKAMI ATH-AWKG. I always look forward to new wood cup designs from AT as they are always groundbreaking designs with rare and exotic wood. Established in 1962, Audio-Technica makes gear for high-end audio systems, including cartridges and headphones. It is committed to research to improve its designs. The NARUKAMI ATH-AWKG was designed with a 53mm driver, and the wood is a rare persimmon wood found in Japan called KUROGAKI. Following the traditions of a great company, Audio-Technica builds all the NARUKAMI models in Japan by hand with fine artisan craftsmen committed to the highest sound quality standards. I began my journey with the magnificent NARUKAMI ATH-AWKG wood closed-back headphones.

Design features

NARAKUMI takes its name from a Japanse legengadry god. Exclusive 53 mm drivers featuring highly efficient German Permendur magnetic circuitry, which enables the delivery of exceptionally accurate audio with an expansive sound field, equipped with a lightweight, durable titanium flange and a 6N-OFC (high-purity, oxygen-free copper) voice coil to ensure precise diaphragm movement and optimal signal transfer. Audio-Technica’s D.A.D.S. (Double Air Damping System), which divides the housing structure into two separate acoustic chambers, provides smooth, accurate bass response. KUROGAKI wood, a rare and exotic Japanese wood, possesses unique physical properties that contribute to exceptional sound quality. Constructed from a lightweight, highly rigid magnesium alloy the arms that secure the housings are angled to ensure the best possible fit with an excellent earcup seal. Soft sheepskin leather pads are installed on the design, and a pair of ZMF Universe pads are included to enrich the design further and create a different listening experience. Fine cables, both single-ended and balanced, are included. I used the balanced cable for my balanced systems.

Listing at $4,200 the NARUKAMI was a perfect match for the dCS Lina system. Substituting the Bartók Apex DAC with Moon Audio cables for the best sound on the planet, pushing the boundaries to what is possible in sound for a total system cost approaching 40K.

Listening Party

Starting with Keb’ Mo’ “Good To Be (Home Again)” provided an exceptional listening experience. The NARAKUMI came to life, and I could hear excellent bass texture. Keb’ Mo’s vocals were vibrant with superb articulation, and the sound was very dynamic and came alive, excelling in the room’s response. Putting dCS Lina amp and clock, together with the Bartók Apex, all connected via Moon Audio’s excellent interconnects and cables to good use, the NARAKUMI was able to disappear on this track.

Junior Wells’ track “Why Are People Like That” from the excellent Telarc recording “Come On Into This House” with Sony Landreth on slide guitar makes for a toe-tapping listening session with its dynamic sound. The harmonica sounded musical, and the bass drums kicked with exceptional inner detail retrieval. I could close my eyes and see every musician in this room. Landreth’s electric slide was in synch with Wells’ present vocal. Every instrument was in its own space with imaging to die for, with air and space. I could hear all the details presented without any harshness.  Musical detail and the tonality of bass strings coming through from the acoustic bass with the dCS Lina system once again were magnificent, and the NARAKUMI was up to the challenge. Amazing!

Listening to Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb” from “The Wall” showcased how good the NARAKUMI is as a rocker. Listening to Gilmour’s guitar comes alive and has excellent transparency. The NARAKUMI showcased music without compromise and never sounded harsh or annoying. I seemed to keep moving my volume down on the dCS Lina system. This is an excellent transducer that made Pink Floyd come to my studio—another wow moment.

Holly Cole Trio’s “Live in Montreal” is an exciting set. “Little Boy Blue” has exceptional acoustic bass, and Holly never sounded off-key. Her acoustic jazz is a treat for me to listen to. The Canadian-born songstress is outstanding, and I can hear bass strings visualized in the recording exceptionally. The bass was deep and extended, just what you would hear in a concert hall.

The balanced design was a fantastic adventure into musicality, the NARAKUMI had Holly front and center, with the acoustic bass on the left. Transparency to die for, David Piltch’s excellent bass was vivid and showcased the bass of the transducer, which was textured and deep while always sounding real. The performance and album remind me of the two times I saw Holly perform, and when I closed my eyes, I felt as if her beautiful vocals were seducing me. Exceptional!

Julien Chauvin playing “VIVALDI Concerti per violino VIII ‘Il teatro’” would highlight any deficiencies in the treble and the NARAKUMI once again delivered a flawless performance of this layered orchestra. Chauvin’s exceptional and transparent violin was alive with body and inner detail, and the strings were delivered without flaw and his performance was magnificent. The NARAKUMI presented a flawless performance with a layered soundstage, and the Treble extension was beautifully reproduced without evidence of any strident sound. The inner detail retrieval was once again impeccable.

Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man” on Reference Recordings is an excellent track to use in listening sessions as the Oue conducted orchestra was layered and the tympani whacks are headbanging and defined; the crashing sound was fast and detailed and never collapsed using the NARAKUMI. The treble extension sounded endless, and musicality was beyond reproach. The sound that I heard with NARAKUMI was flawless in reproducing this demanding track showcasing a performance that needed to be heard. NARAKUMI’s speed again was as fast as I have heard playing this flawless and exciting whack on the tympani, in a layered soundstage along with the orchestra. This track is something to be heard with this transducer.

Supertramp’s 1977 “Even In The Quietest Moments” sounds as fresh today as it did back in ’77.  “Give a Little Bit” propelled this supergroup into another stratosphere, and the musicality was exceptional. The band sounded fantastic while, yet again, the NARAKUMI delivered its magic. I could see the stage and visualize the band’s presence as the transducer seemed to vanish and left me with musicians in their own space with separation and synergy. Once again, I felt transferred back in time listening to this exceptional headphone.

“Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd is one of my favorites. Pink Floyd’s tribute to Syd Barrett. The sound was incredible. The sound was true to life, and what I heard live in the performances I attended. The acoustic guitar strings were alive, and strumming the guitar was excellent, and the vocals were to die for and consumed me. The perfect sound to end a listening session and the NARAKUMI treated me to a live performance from the greatest rock band ever. Emotionally, this album is an exceptional recording, and NARAKUMI delivered a big sound flawlessly.

Final thoughts

 When I started my journey in 2008, there were few reference headphones. Stax was always a reference headphone but lacked a bottom end. Sennheiser came through with the HD800, which, in my opinion, was bass light. Audeze and Hifiman introduced planar designs that would change the industry.

Mavericks like Dan Clark and Zach from ZMF tinkered until they started creating new and revolutionary designs. Companies like Spirit Torino introduced high-quality planars and designer bling to their designs.  Antonio Meze created a partnership and developed a ground-shaking design.

Audio-Technica has created a new design in 2024 that is in the top tier of any headphone on the planet. The NARUKAMI ATH-AWKG’s beautiful handmade wood design takes closed-back listening to another level. This transducer’s speed is much like a planar design and will reproduce any music, from large-scale orchestras to leading rock bands, almost flawlessly.

Total isolation in the NARUKAMI ATH-AWKG is not up to other closed designs. Leakage at different levels makes it a more open session. Still, looking at that flaw, the transducer impressed me so much during my listening session with the sheer power of the dCS system, which showcased musicality beyond reproach. The NARAKUMI never felt overmatched and was synergistic.

$4,200 is on par with other top-tier designs. Suppose you’re looking for a transducer of the highest quality that will deliver endless hours of stress-free musicality. In that case, the NARAKUNMI provides everything you want in a high-end headphone with musicality and endless treble and bass extension while recreating the performance music lovers crave. At the same time, it is not that expensive, the NARAKUMI is a winner that will give you a listening experience every time you put it on. Highest Recommendation.

Price: $4,200

Manufacturer’s Website: https://www.audio-technica.com/en-us/headphones/all/ath-awkg

Specifications

Headphones
Type	Closed-back dynamic
Driver Diameter	53 mm
Frequency Response	5 to 45,000 Hz
Maximum Input Power	2,000 mW
Sensitivity	102 dB/mW