That is the total time including charging them from the case, but the impressive part is that they can last up to 20 hours between those charges. There’s noise cancelling, too, and they’ll still last 15 hours with that turned on. The 50-hour total matches the best battery life we’ve seen from wireless earbuds, but even the Cambridge Audio Melomania Touch has to run in a low-power mode to achieve it. Audio-Technica’s buds are packed with tech, too. There’s feed-forward active noise-cancelling, support for 360 Reality Audio, Low Latency Mode and more. “The new lightweight model combines advanced acoustic technology with a secure and comfortable fit to deliver phenomenal sound with deep, powerful bass,” said Audio-Technica.
The feed-forward active noise-cancelling means the earbuds have mics on the outside that listen to the noise around you. That’s the traditional method of doing ANC. The ATH-CKS50TW also have a hear-through mode which lowers playback volume and allows some sound in so you know what’s happening around you. 9mm ‘HD’ drivers provide “phenomenal sound with deep, powerful bass” as the company has spent a decade looking into the relationship between bass and fit. The earbuds are also Sony 360 Reality Audio certified for an immersive experience via streaming services such as Deezer and Tidal that support the format. There’s also IPX4-equivalent splash protection, Bluetooth 5.2 with Fast Pair and Multipoint Support for simultaneous connections, Qualcomm aptX Adaptive Audio, Qualcomm cVc Generation 8.0 (clear voice capture), a simple button design for control and ‘sidetone’ allowing you to hear your own voice during calls. The Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50 is available to buy immediately for £149.99/€169 from Audio-Technica. US pricing is still to be determined.
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Tech Advisor’s Reviews Editor, Chris has been reviewing all kinds of tech for over 10 years and specialises in audio. He also covers a range of topics including home entertainment, phones, laptops, tablets and more.
