The new Audio-Technica ATH-S220BT wireless on-ear headphones aim to provide comfortable and enjoyable audio experience of the trusted Audio-Technica sound at an entry level price of S$88. It is able to last up to 60 hours of use, and can be connected wirelessly or wired for a variety of use.
Unboxing
Inside the box, you will find the following items:
- Audio-Technica ATH-S220BT on-ear headphones
- 3.5mm audio cable with in-line mic and control
- USB-C to USB-A cable (30cm)
- User manual
Design and build quality
You can tell that the Audio-Technica ATH-S220BT is made with a low budget. Almost everything is made out of plastic, which isn’t exactly a bad thing as it keeps the headphones light. The only metal you’ll find is the headband extender. There is no creaking of the plastic but there is observable rattling when you shake the headphones. Apart from that build quality is fairly decent – buttons are tactile and the extender extends and retracts well.
The design of the Audio-Technica ATH-S220BT is kept minimal – just a subtle Audio-Technica logo on the ear cups, and everything else is kept black in colour. The headphones is only able to fold flat, so you won’t be able to fully fold it in for greater portability. Having said that, the ATH-S220BT folded flat is still portable enough such that it won’t take up too much space in your bag.
Controls and connectivity
Audio-Technica ATH-S220BT uses button controls which is found on the left ear cup. It is a simple 3-button volume rocker combo layout. A single tap of the volume buttons will increase/decrease volume, while holding down for 2 seconds will go back/forward on tracks. You can also trigger your smart assistant on ATH-S220BT by holding the power button for 2 seconds.
There is also a 3.5mm audio jack on the left ear cup, so if you want to use it wired you have an option to do so.
Battery life
Audio-Technica ATH-S220BT is slated to last an impressive 60 hours of use on a single charge. ATH-S220BT also supports fast charging – just 10 minutes of charging will give you 3.5 hours of play time. Charging is done via the USB-C port found on the left ear cup.
Fit and comfort
Ear cushions are a key factor for comfort for on-ear headphones as they have direct contact with your ears. The ear cushions used on the ATH-S220BT isn’t the softest and plushiest I’ve tested since they aren’t made from memory foam. It can feel a little firm at times, but thankfully they don’t thread into the category of ‘uncomfortable’.
Other factors such as weight and clamping pressure also contribute to comfort, and in these aspects the ATH-S220BT does well. At just 180g, the ATH-S220BT feels really light on my head. The headband could use a little more cushioning though. Clamping pressure of the ATH-S220BT is just right as well.
You can check out the cushioning of the ATH-S220BT in the video below:
Pairing, connectivity, and latency
Audio-Technica ATH-S220BT is equipped with Bluetooth 5.0 and pairing with my devices was a breeze. ATH-S220BT supports low-latency mode which you can toggle on by pressing the power button 3 times. Even without low-latency mode turned on, there is no audio-video latency/lag observed when watching YouTube videos from the YouTube app on my iPhone 11.
ATH-S220BT also supports multi-point connectivity which allows you to connect the headphones to two devices at once. When you start playing media/audio on the other device, it will automatically play on the ATH-S220BT without lag in between.
Sound quality
For a pair of S$88 headphones, the Audio-Technica ATH-S220BT sound pretty good. The overall tuning is quite balanced. Bass is present and punchy, but never overpowering or weighty. If you’re used to boomy reverb on your headphones, then the ATH-S220BT may feel underwhelming to you. Mids have good clarity and vocals and instruments often have good presence. Treble doesn’t have the bright sparkle I’m accustomed to, but it sounds clean and precise.
Overall, if I had to describe the audio quality of the ATH-S220BT in one word, it would be ‘clean‘. It has a balanced or flat sound signature, with a slight boost in bass for slightly more rounded listening experience. Generally at price points below S$100, the audio tuning is too heavy on bass which too often makes the sound too dark and warm which compromises on clarity.
Microphone quality
The microphone on the ATH-S220BT if you use it wirelessly is average at best. My voice sounds distant and quite soft. If you want to use the microphone on this, I’d recommend using it wired with the 3.5mnm in-line mic and control audio cable. Voice will sound clearer and fuller, thought it can sound a tad distant and is sensitive to wind. I found holding the mic closer to my mouth to greatly improve the audio quality.
Conclusion
There Audio-Technica ATH-S220BT offers a great deal of functionality for wireless on-ear headphones in this price range, where its main competitors would likely be JBL Tune 500BT or Sony WH-CH510. With impressively long battery life, multi-point connectivity, and low-latency mode, the ATH-S220BT becomes a highly versatile set of headphones where you can use it for music or gaming for extended periods of use.
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