Audio Technica finally launched a series of their true wireless earbuds. With the ATH-CK3TW that I every much recommend and enjoy, they also have a slightly more expensive variant ATH-CKS5TW, retailing at S$218.
What’s with the additional “S” in the naming? The “S” stands for “Solid Bass“, so as the name suggests – expect even more ear thumping bass from this model.
Unboxing
The ATH-CKS5TW comes in three colors – black, blue, and white. The one I have is the black model.
- ATH-CKS53TW earbuds
- Charging case
- Ear tips x4 (XS, S, M, L)
- USB-C cable
Tech specs
- Driver Size: 10mm dynamic driver
- Frequency Response: 5Hz – 40kHz
- Bluetooth version: 5.0
- Charging time: 2 hours to full (3.5 hours for charging case)
- Music playtime: 15 hours (30 hours in charging case)
- IPX2 waterproof rating
- Weight: 8g (each earbud), 60g (charging case)
- Support Codecs: Qualcomm aptX / AAC / SBC
- Chipset: Qualcomm TrueWireless™ Plus
Build quality and features
The charging case is pretty large and is made of plastic which comes in a nice matte finish. The slots in the case containing the earbuds are shaped really well, so it is really easy to place them back in the case. Unlike the ATH-CK3TW’s case, the ATH-CKS5TW’s case has 3 LED indicators to display the battery level.
As for the earbuds, they are relatively large compared to other earbuds I have reviewed. Even though they weigh in at 8g each, I feel no extra weight on my ears. This is particularly due to the comfortable ear tips and ear fins provided. The ATH-CKS5TW earbuds only come with IPX2 water resistance rating, so while you can go jogging with these in your ears, I do not recommend going for a heavy workout with them.
As for controls, the ATH-CKS5TW utilises buttons. But unlike many true wireless earbuds, the buttons of the ATH-CKS5TW are located on the side rather than on the face of the earbuds. This makes it more comfortable to press on it because you won’t be jamming the earbuds into you ears.
Overall, both the case and the earbuds have pretty solid build quality. No loose parts or flimsy materials were found throughout my testing.
Battery life
The ATH-CKS5TW comes packed with a whopping 15 hours of music playtime per full charge and has another 30 hours in the case, giving you a total of 45 hours. If you ever need a pair of earbuds to survive a 14 hour flight with you, the ATH-CKS5TW can do that. The charging case charges via USB-C which is great.
Fit
The ATH-CKS5TW comes with 4 different sizes of ear tips, which I really appreciate. This gives you the best configuration to get you the perfect comfortable fit. Furthermore, it also has ear fins if you want to achieve a secure fit.
Unlike the ATH-CK3TW, the ATH-CKS5TW doesn’t have a contoured stem, so the earbuds do not sit that deep in your ear canal. However, the tapered ear tips and ear fins really help to keep the earbuds in my ear. The fit feels very non-obtrusive and light on your ears. I think some folks may actually prefer this fit because it does not really create a “vacuum” in your ears like the Creative Outlier Air and ATH-CK3TW because of how deep these can get in your ear canal.
Pairing and connectivity
Pairing the ATH-CKS5TW to your phone is fairly easy. You remove the both earbuds and the name ‘ATH-CKS5TW’ should appear in your Bluetooth settings. The earbuds are seen as one unit in your Bluetooth settings.
Having Bluetooth 5.0, the connection was really stable and I barely experienced any audio dropouts. The ATH-CKS5TW also comes with high-quality Qualcomm aptXTM audio codec and with Qualcomm TrueWireless Plus.
The ATH-CKS5TW comes with a companion app. But the actual benefit from the app is really limited. Do not expect Jaybird’s level of app where you go do crazy customisations. Instead, you are only able to customisation of media controls and selection of audio codecs. Do note that if you’re on iPhone, you won’t be able to access aptX.
Sound quality
The sound signature of the ATH-CKS5TW as you can expect by its naming, is very bass boosted. You can be sure to experience incredible sub-bass response and energetic bass feedback.
Midrange is warm sounding, supporting the base but seems to be lacking a bit in clarity. The best way I’d describe the midrange is that it is relaxed but present. Treble is also on the warm side, so they aren’t as crisp and bright on other earbuds with an energetic V-shaped sound signature. For example “Raw by Sigrid”, her voice not as bright and clean as I would like. The sound signature on the ATH-CKS5TW is really tuned more towards the warm side, and for people who prefer bass.
Soundstaging is pretty okay with a good level of openness to it for your music to not feel cramped and one-dimensional.
Conclusion
The ATH-CKS5TW is tuned for folks who really enjoy deep bass and a warm sound signature. The impressive 15 hours of battery life on a full charge, and comfortable fit in your ears should combine nicely for a great listening experience. For S$218, I would have expected better waterproofing to accompany the whole package.
Where to buy
You can buy from many online retailers in Singapore, but I will always recommend Qoo10 as the ability to use coupons means you can always snag a great price on these fantastic set of earbuds.