With the likes of Apple, Sony, Bose, and even Bowers & Wilkins dominating the earbuds space, you may balk at the idea of purchasing a new pair of in-ear monitors from a company that isn’t as well-known for them. However, Audio-Technica dominates in its own right with its ubiquitous turntables at both the entry- and mid-tier levels.
This week at the CES tech show, AT has unveiled its latest earbuds, which revolutionize battery life and usage, and it’ll only set you back $150.
The name won’t roll off the tongue, but the ATH-CKS50TW2 has some seriously cool features that will win you over when selecting your next pair of buds. On top of the 25 hours of battery life (15 hours with ANC activated), you get an additional 40 hours with in-case charging (25 hours with ANC activated). This is a game-changer if you’re traveling or going on a long flight where you’re worried about longevity.
Compare this to the 6 hours of the Apple AirPods Pro 2 or the 8 hours of the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2. The AT buds’ 15 hours of ANC listening rivals even many of the industry leaders in over-ear headphones, which is quite remarkable.
The charge time of the earbuds is 2.5 hours, while the case charges in 4.5 hours or 7.5 hours wirelessly.
While these numbers are highly impressive and rare in the earbuds space, they’re not the most eyebrow-raising feature of these earbuds. Audio-Technica figured out a way to halt battery drainage even if you don’t have the case on your person.
For this amazing feat, the monitors are equipped with a “Magnetic Switch” that cuts the power whenever the buds are close to each other. The built-in magnets join the pair together if, say, you put them in your pocket or bag and forget to turn them off. This also makes them a larger combined unit and helps you find them easier.
The forward-thinking tech is pretty on-brand for AT, who has released earbuds in the past with other revolutionary case tech, including one that can literally clean your monitors for you with UV light — a tech that surprisingly still hasn’t caught on.
In terms of tech specs, the earbuds boast 9-mm high-def drivers, IP55 dust and water resistance, and wireless charging. As for the ear tips, they feature a hybrid design that combines hard and soft silicone for a “snug fit” that precludes any sound leakage.
Drivers: 9mm dynamic
Battery Life: 25 hours (15 hours with ANC)
Case Charging: 40 hours (25 hours with ANC)
Charging Time: 2.5 hours
ANC?: Yes
Water-Resistance: IP55
Available now for the spectacular price of just $149 in either black or beige, the ATH-CKS50TW2 will hopefully set a trend for future earbuds to come from other brands. Head over to Audio-Technica’s site to order a pair today.
Audio-Technica unveil new earbuds with industry-leading 65 hours of total playback (with case) and a “Magnetic Switch” that allows them to turn off automatically so they don’t drain battery life in your pocket.
