Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2 assessment: Lengthy battery life and satisfying sound for $150

For earbuds within the $150 vary, there’s normally not loads to get enthusiastic about. Positive, these fashions usually provide the fundamentals with respectable sound high quality, however only a few have a stand-out function that leaves an enduring impression. For its ATH-CKS50TW2 ($149), Audio-Technica sought to do that with extremely long battery life and a neat trick that can assist you to take advantage of it. There’s much more to love on this set, together with an inventory of instruments that rival dearer options, however the ATH-CKS50TW2 is way from a whole bundle. The satisfying audio efficiency and skill to make use of them for over 20 hours on a cost is perhaps sufficient to entice you to miss these shortcomings.

The nice: battery life, magnets and sound high quality

When Audio-Technica introduced the ATH-CKS50TW2 at CES, the primary merchandise on the spec sheet that struck me was the battery life. The corporate says you may anticipate as much as 25 hours on a full cost with out energetic noise cancellation (ANC) and as much as 40 extra hours from the charging case. With ANC enabled, you’ll nonetheless get a whopping 15 hours of listening time, which is about double what a variety of the competitors presents nowadays. Importantly, these claims really held true throughout my exams.

To maximise these numbers, the corporate outfitted the ATH-CKS50TW2 with so-called Magnetic Swap know-how. Particularly, the earbuds snap along with magnets to show off earlier than you set them within the case. A lot of the competitors doesn’t energy down till the earbuds are within the case, however with the ATH-CKS50TW2, you don’t want to fret about that additional step. Merely take them off and snap them collectively, you then’ll know you’re now not wasting your battery energy whereas the buds are resting in your desk. This additionally means the ATH-CKS50TW2 gained’t at all times be charging within the case while you’re not utilizing them, which ought to assist lengthen battery longevity.

I’m additionally glad to report that Audio-Technica introduced its trademark heat, inviting sound profile to the ATH-CKS50TW2. Extra particularly, the inventory audio isn’t overly tuned, so bass stays pleasantly thumpy when wanted and dialed down when it’s not. The bassline of Kendrick Lamar’s “television off” booms whereas the hi-hats, claps and vocals minimize by way of clear. If you change over to one thing extra mellow with much less low-end bombast like Turnpike Troubadours’ “Be Right here,” you get the complete gamut of the acoustic devices and light-weight drums with out bass overpowering the combination.

It doesn’t ship the improved readability and pristine element that dearer, flagship-level earbuds do, however the ATH-CKS50TW2 is a lot good for $150. In truth, this can be the most suitable choice when it comes to sound high quality on this worth vary. On Jason Isbell’s Foxes within the Snow, for instance, the acoustic guitar — the lone instrument on the album — doesn’t have the expressive nuance because it does on Technics’ AZ100 or Bowers and Wilkins’ Pi8. However I’ll admit the ATH-CKS50TW2 holds its personal in opposition to equally priced competitors. That, and the prolonged battery life alone make these earbuds a compelling bundle.

The not so good: design, controls and a lacking function

By 2025 requirements, the ATH-CKS50TW2 earbuds are massive and ponderous. In addition they really feel unbalanced, with a lot of the load sitting nicely outdoors the curves of your ears. This implies they’re not as comfy as smaller fashions and really feel unsteady. I by no means had points with them falling out, however they really feel like they may, which isn’t nice. Maybe Audio-Technica wanted the additional house for larger batteries, which I’m guessing might be an appropriate trade-off for customers trying to find longer listening occasions between costs.

Audio-Technica gave the ATH-CKS50TW2 bodily controls, which is normally a superb factor. Like among the firm’s earlier fashions, the buttons are small, positioned alongside the highest fringe of the earbuds. Because of the design of the ATH-CKS50TW2 although, it’s important to maintain the earbuds in place whereas urgent these buttons. It’s cumbersome, largely as a result of measurement and weight of every bud. The cumbersome, unbalanced building has trickle-down results on different features of the listening expertise.

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The ATH-CKS50TW2 is lacking a vital function — put on detection. However the firm has carried out nicely to incorporate ANC, Hear-By (ambient sound) mode, a five-band EQ, soundscapes, media controls and battery updates in its app. There’s additionally a “non-public timer” and low latency mode for video games and video. You’ll be able to even regulate what number of steps quantity changes will bounce and take a look at your microphone to see if optionally available noise discount is required throughout calls. Moreover, a quick-attention, Speak-By mode that reduces quantity and prompts ambient sound for temporary chats too. However you gained’t discover the straightforward, and helpful, computerized pausing while you take away the earbuds out of your ears.

The ultimate verdict on the ATH-CKS50TW2

My preliminary assumption was right: the primary motive to purchase the ATH-CKS50TW2 is the extraordinarily lengthy battery life. I don’t assume the Magnetic Swap function is critical to hit the promised runtime, however it’s good to know the earbuds are off with out having to place them within the case the place they’ll recharge even while you don’t want them to. Audio-Technica’s sonic prowess is on show right here as nicely, albeit to a lesser diploma than among the firm’s different earbuds and headphones.

The design isn’t probably the most comfy and the controls are awkward to make use of, however the full checklist of the ATH-CKS50TW2’s options is sort of lengthy. Regardless of a number of flaws, there’s a lot to love right here, together with the 2 most vital issues for lots of customers: sound and battery life.

This text initially appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/audio-technica-ath-cks50tw2-review-long-battery-life-and-satisfying-sound-for-150-130042531.html?src=rss

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