Back in early 2020, Audio-Technica launched ATH-CKS5TW, which was a part of “Solid Bass” line of true wireless earbuds. The earbuds had a sound signature that was different from what people who Audio-Technica for, but cater to consumers who like bass heavy sound. 2 years later, we have a successor which is the new ATH-CKS50TW. The new ATH-CKS50TW still retails at the same S$218.
Unboxing
The ATH-CKS50TW comes in three colors – black, blue, and white. The one I have is the blue model.
- ATH-CKS50TW earbuds
- Charging case
- Ear tips x4 (XS, S, M, L)
- USB-C cable
- User manual
Tech specs
| Driver type | 9mm Dynamic |
| Frequency response | 5 to 20,000Hz |
| Impedance | 20 ohms |
| Microphone type | MEMS type |
| Bluetooth type | 5.2 |
| Supported audio codec | aptX Adaptive, aptX, AAC, SBC |
| Battery life | 20 hours per full charge 50 hours total with charging case |
| Weight | Earbuds: 8g each Charging case: 60g |
| Water resistance | IPX4 |
Build quality and features
The charging case ditches the long shape from the old ATH-CKS5TW, and now features a more squared shaped case like the ATH-CK3TW. However, the case is still pretty large and thick, so it is going to be hard to pocket it. This case is made of plastic with smooth matte finish, and has good build quality. The front of the case has 4 LED indicators to display the battery level as well.
As for the earbuds, they are relatively large but I believe they are smaller when compared to their predecessor ATH-CKS5TW. The build quality of the earbuds are pretty good, the plastic has a matte finish and does not feel cheap. ATH-CKS50TW now has an improved water-resistance rating of IPX4 so it should be a good companion for your workouts.
ATH-CKS50TW retains the use of physicals buttons, which think works well due to the size of the earbuds. The buttons are located on the top of the earbuds, making it more comfortable to press when wearing the earbuds.
AT-Connect App
One key feature the new ATH-CKS50TW has is the support for Audio-Technica’s AT-Connect app, which helps provide more customization to the overall user experience. If you’re not satisfied with how the default button controls are designed, you won’t be able to change them all, but you can only edit what the long 1 sec press does as shown below.
Apart from customizing button controls, you can also configure certain settings regarding audio and the general quality of life. 360° Reality Audio is supported but your music has to be streamed from supported apps such as Tidal. You can also adjust the EQ and design custom presets to tune the audio signature to your liking. The amount of change you can do to the audio tuning is discernable. Other small but useful features such as enabling low latency mode, customizing volume step adjustments, and enabling side tone for calls are also available.
HearThrough mode
To keep the ATH-CKS50TW relevant in today’s crowded true wireless earbuds market, ATH-CKS50TW also has HearThrough which is essentially transparency mode that allows external noises to come in. The transparency effect is done quite naturally but mild. There is no unnatural amplification of any surrounding noises, and what is let in is mostly the lower and midrange frequencies.
Battery life
The ATH-CKS50TW is packed with an incredible 20 hours of music playtime on a full charge and has another 30 hours in the case, giving you a total of 50 hours. This long battery life is indeed impressive and may well be a good trade-off of its size.
The charging case charges via USB-C, but unfortunately does not support wireless charging.
Fit
ATH-CKS50TW comes with 4 different sizes of ear tips, and they are the flat-tip style. Despite the large size of the earbuds, I found that the earbuds still provided a really secure and comfortable fit. This was largely due to the ergonomic design of the earbuds and the combination of the flat ear tips.
The overall fit of the ATH-CKS50TW is one that is unobtrusive as the flat ear tips means the earbuds doesn’t go too deep into my ear canal. The gentle curves of the earbuds lets it rest nicely along the grooves of my ears. Despite its 8g weight, I found the ATH-CKS50TW really comfortable to wear for long hours.
Pairing and connectivity
With the latest Bluetooth 5.2, the connection during my time of testing was really stable and I barely experienced any audio dropouts. If you’re on Android, you’ll be glad to know that the ATH-CKS50TW has supports for aptX audio codec for higher quality audio streaming. Also, the earbuds support Google Fast Pair feature so it even more straightforward when pairing to Android devices.
I did not experience any latency or lag when watching YouTube videos from the YouTube app on my iPhone 11. If you wish to use just one earbud, you can use either the left or right earbud.
Sound quality
ATH-CKS50TW is tuned for bass lovers, so you can expect a warm overall sound with bass that hits deep. However, this time the bass isn’t amplified to go overly dark like its predecessor of ATH-CKS5TW, where the other frequencies struggle to stand out.
Bass produced are full and can be felt throughout the soundstage. The bass extends its presence up to the lower midrange to give vocals and instruments a warm tone. Mids can feel a tad covered up by the bass, but if you want mids to stand out a little more, I find that customizing the EQ does help to bring out the mids. Treble is also warm sounding but thankfully isn’t obscured too much by bass, and remains clear and relatively present in the overall mix.
ANC performance
ATH-CKS50TW do offer ANC and the performance is actually not too shabby. It definitely won’t compete with the ANC kings such as the Technics EAH-AZ60, but it remains largely effective at reducing the low rumbling engine noises and keeping overall noise volumes in outdoor surroundings lower than if ANC wasn’t available. Overall, I’d say that the ANC on the ATH-CKS50TW is average.
Microphone quality
Microphone on the ATH-CKS50TW is pretty reliable if you are conversing in a quiet and controlled environment such as your home. In such places, my voice was delivered with clarity and had some bass for a comfortable warm sound for the receiver. However, in noisier environment the microphone can start to struggle in cancelling out the noises so the output starts to sound messy.
I like how Side Tone is automatically turned on when the microphone is used, so that way I have a better sense of what my volume of my voice is like when speaking.
Conclusion
The ATH-CKS50TW is rare departure from Audio-Technica’s usual audio tuning but it caters to individuals who enjoy a warm sound coupled with impactful bass. At a price of S$218, it still comes with latest flagship features such as ANC, HearThrough, and customizable EQ, making the ATH-CKS50TW truly an all rounder. The impressive 20 hours of battery life on a full charge is no doubt another standout feature, of course if you are not put off by the large case.