For earbuds within the $150 vary, there’s normally not loads to get enthusiastic about. Certain, these fashions sometimes supply 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 extraordinarily lengthy battery life and a neat trick that can allow you to profit from it. There’s much more to love on this set, together with a listing of instruments that rival dearer options, however the ATH-CKS50TW2 is way from a whole package deal. The satisfying audio efficiency and skill to make use of them for over 20 hours on a cost could be 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 possibly can 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 loads of the competitors presents today. Importantly, these claims truly held true throughout my assessments.
To maximise these numbers, the corporate outfitted the ATH-CKS50TW2 with so-called Magnetic Change 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 inside the case, however with the ATH-CKS50TW2, you don’t want to fret about that further step. Merely take them off and snap them collectively, you then’ll know you’re now not squandering precious battery energy whereas the buds are resting in your desk. This additionally means the ATH-CKS50TW2 received’t at all times be charging within the case once you’re not utilizing them, which ought to assist prolong battery longevity.
I’m additionally completely happy 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 reduce via clear. Once you swap 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 lots good for $150. In reality, this can be the most suitable choice by way of sound high quality on this value 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 package deal.
The not so good: design, controls and a lacking function
By 2025 requirements, the ATH-CKS50TW2 earbuds are massive and ponderous. Additionally they really feel unbalanced, with a lot of the burden sitting nicely exterior 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 might, which isn’t nice. Maybe Audio-Technica wanted the additional area for larger batteries, which I’m guessing will likely be an appropriate trade-off for customers looking for longer listening instances between prices.
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, you must maintain the earbuds in place whereas urgent these buttons. It’s cumbersome, principally as a result of dimension and weight of every bud. The cumbersome, unbalanced development has trickle-down results on different features of the listening expertise.
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 “personal timer” and low latency mode for video games and video. You possibly can even modify what number of steps quantity changes will bounce and check your microphone to see if non-compulsory noise discount is required throughout calls. Moreover, a quick-attention, Speak-By mode that reduces quantity and prompts ambient sound for transient chats too. However you received’t discover the easy, and helpful, automated pausing once you take away the earbuds out of your ears.
The ultimate verdict on the ATH-CKS50TW2
My preliminary assumption was appropriate: the primary purpose to purchase the ATH-CKS50TW2 is the extraordinarily lengthy battery life. I don’t assume the Magnetic Change function is critical to hit the promised runtime, nevertheless it’s good to know the earbuds are off with out having to place them within the case the place they’ll recharge even once 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 essentially the most comfy and the controls are awkward to make use of, however the full record of the ATH-CKS50TW2’s options is kind of lengthy. Regardless of just a few flaws, there’s lots to love right here, together with the 2 most vital issues for lots of customers: sound and battery life.
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