The Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2 earbuds are my new contenders for the best wireless earbuds, and it’s really not hard to see why. With up to 65 hours of battery life, they blow other earbuds in their price range out of the water, and their innovative “Magnetic Switch” technology means you don’t even need the case with you to conserve energy. They also have the most impressive ANC performance of any inexpensive earbuds I’ve tried, completely blocking out ambient sound in testing.
There are also custom EQ settings in the app to get your ideal sound from the earbuds, while multipoint connectivity helps you switch between devices seamlessly. The IP55 waterproof rating also makes them ideal for working out or getting caught in the rain, without having to worry about damaging them.
Admittedly, the buds are a little heavy, although the eartips do a good job at supporting them and holding them in place. My only other qualm is that, as a metal lover, I was disappointed with the performance of heavier music. Thankfully, these flaws don’t detract majorly from the earbuds’ strengths. So, could these be the budget buds of your dreams? You can find out more by reading this full Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2 review.
Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2 review: Cheat sheet
- What is it? Budget earbuds that pack a serious punch and offer a lot of customization.
- Who is it for? Anyone who needs a set of all-rounder earbuds for day-to-day use and working out.
- How much does it cost? The Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2 earbuds are available at Best Buy for $159 and at Amazon U.K. for £125.
- What do we like? The 65-hour battery life is seriously impressive, and the ANC is so effective I couldn’t hear anything around me.
- What don’t we like? The buds are a little heavy and can’t cope with metal music.
Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2 review: Specs
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Price
$159/£125
Dimensions
4.9 x 3.6 x 2.5 inches
Charging case weight
1.8 ounces
Earbud weight
0.35 ounces
Battery life
Up to 65 hours
Connectivity
Bluetooth 5.3
Max paired devices
2
Waterproof rating
IP55 (earbuds only)
Accessories
USB charging cable (USB-A/USB-C), eartips (XS, S, M, L)
Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2 review: Price & availability
Launched at the beginning of 2025, the Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2 earbuds are available for $159 at Best Buy in the U.S. and for £125 at Amazon U.K. The earbuds are available in black or beige in the U.S., and black or green in the U.K.
You can also purchase Star Wars collaborations of the earbuds, which represent some of the key characters in the franchise. The Darth Vader Edition of the buds is available for purchase at Amazon U.S. for $179, while editions inspired by The Mandalorian, Grogu, and R2-D2 cost $179 from Audio-Technica.
The special editions are a little more expensive, but at their standard price, the Audio-Technica buds compete with the Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 ($149), Apple AirPods 4 with Noise Cancelation ($179), and the Bose QuietComfort earbuds ($179). And they perform pretty similarly to the Bose buds, at least in ANC terms, so for $20 less, the Audio-Technicas are a great option.
Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2 review: Design & controls
- Comfortable to wear for long periods
- IP55 rated
- Button controls
The Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2 earbuds look great and seriously impressed me with their comfort, despite being a little heavier than other buds of similar shape and style, such as the Bose QuietComfort earbuds or the Beats Studio Buds.
These buds have a rounded design akin to the Bose QuietComfort earbuds, which only weigh 0.29 ounces per bud. However, the Audio-Technicas weigh a little more at 0.4 ounces per bud. While this doesn’t sound like a big difference, it was noticeable.
They look pretty bulky, too, and as someone with smaller ears, I thought they looked a little silly at times. There’s also no drop-stem, which I typically prefer for readjusting the earbuds and for easier access to controls.
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
That said, the buds are still very comfortable to wear for long periods of time. I wore them all day and never felt like I needed to readjust their positioning or even take them out for a break. In comparison, I always have to adjust my Apple AirPods 3 earbuds. A solid, secure fit.
The buds are kept securely in place by the hybrid eartips. These combine hard and soft silicone, and felt secure enough. And despite this extra security, they don’t feel much different from regular silicone eartips. As I mentioned, the earbuds are a little heavy, but the eartips do a good job of keeping them in place without putting strain on your ear. There are also four different sizes of eartips in the box to get the best fit for optimum support and ANC performance.
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
The buds have a resistance rating of IP55, meaning they are protected from low levels of dust and low-pressure water jets. This is a better rating than the Skullcandy Method 360 ANC earbuds. I wore the Audio-Technica buds out in the rain, and they weren’t affected at all. But, as with all earbuds, I made sure to wipe them before putting them back in the case, which doesn’t have the same waterproof rating.
The charging case measures 4.9 x 3.6 x 2.5 inches and weighs 1.8 ounces. It’s the perfect size to pop in my pocket when I head out for a walk. It also feels very sturdy, and the magnetic closure means the buds will stay securely in the case. The case is pretty plain, but the lid is a more transparent plastic than the base, so you can see the lights on the earbuds to indicate they’re charging.
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
The controls on the Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2 earbuds are super simple to get the hang of. There’s one button on each earbud that is controlled by a series of clicks and long holds. I was able to change the actions of these commands in the system settings of the Audio-Technica app. The commands are very reliable and responsive; unlike touch controls, as you’ll find in the Skullcandy Method 360 ANC.
Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2 review: Features & connectivity
- Bluetooth 5.3
- No LDAC codec
- Multipoint connectivity
The Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2 earbuds use Bluetooth 5.3 and are compatible with Bluetooth LE for newer features like Auracast, which can be used for tuning into publicly broadcast audio via Bluetooth. This means you could use it to hook up to Auracast-compatible TVs at the gym, for example.
However, there’s no support for the LDAC high-res codec, which is available in even cheaper earbuds such as the EarFun Air Pro 4 ($89) and the EarFun Air Pro 4+ ($99), so Hi-Fi fans may feel like they’re missing out.
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
The Audio-Technica buds support multipoint pairing for up to two devices. This was easy to set up in the app and only took a few seconds. It’s also easy to remove devices and swap them out for something else. I always love having this feature in my earbuds as it makes it easy to switch between work calls on my computer and music on my phone.
Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2 review: Sound quality
- Default EQ is flat
- Custom EQ options
- Dynamic sound
The default sound profile of the Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2 earbuds is very flat. I was listening to my usual testing playlist, which features a mixture of rock, indie, pop, and bass-heavy tracks, and I wasn’t impressed by any genre. But you can make alterations to the EQ through the Audio-Technica app to get your ideal sound.
I first listened to Running Up That Hill by Kate Bush, an incredibly dynamic song that relies heavily on backing vocals. Therefore, if the EQ used is too flat, all of the harmony elements are lost, and this makes the epic sound fall flat. I used the premade V-shaped EQ, which boosts the bass and treble, leaving the mids slightly lower. This vastly improved the sound and became my go-to EQ setting when using these buds.
(Image credit: Audio-Technica)
I then listened to The Last Man on Earth by Wolf Alice. I opted to use the clear vocal preset, as this song uses delicate vocals and piano before building into a more drum-heavy crescendo. The EQ supported that combination brilliantly and brought the vocals to the forefront, where they were initially fading into the background.
I also listened to I CARE by Turnstile and created a custom EQ. It ended up looking a lot like the V-shaped EQ but with higher bass and lower mids. This song has some electronic elements, but primarily relies on an electric guitar performance and the addictive drum beat that Turnstile are best known for. There was a good balance across all elements of the song, including the vocals.
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
Finally, I listened to Sleepwalking by Bring Me The Horizon, which sounded best with the bass boost EQ. But this was after a lot of trial and error, since as I cycled through the EQ settings, almost everything sounded flat. This could be due to the dynamic shifting in this song between the pitches of the vocals and fast drums. The buds struggled with instrument separation when the guitar and drums came together in the breakdown. That said, this song still sounded better than with my regular wired Apple EarPods and my Apple AirPods 3 earbuds, which can’t cope with metal music at all.
Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2 review: ANC
- Impressive ANC
- Hear-through is good for awareness
- Great microphone performance
The Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2 earbuds have impressive active noise cancellation (ANC) capabilities. Everything around me was completely silent; I couldn’t even hear the person sitting next to me speaking. The advanced hybrid noise-cancelling technology means I’ve been able to easily switch from complete silence to ambient awareness with ease, but this has to be done manually in the app.
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
The hear-through setting amplifies voices and announcements, making it a great option when I was waiting for my train and listening to travel announcements on the platform. I also used this when working in the office to remain aware of everything going on around me. Although when the sound came through, the voices sounded as if they were on the phone.
Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2 review: Call quality
- Minimizes ambient sound
- Beamforming mics
- Clear on both ends
The microphone performance of the buds is good, too. The dual MEMS mics and beamforming technology work together to make my voice sound clear on the other end of the phone, and it did a good job of minimizing ambient sound. I called my mom, and she said I sounded better than when I usually call her with my Apple AirPods 3 earbuds.
Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2 review: App
- Custom EQ controls
- Soundscapes
- Left and right ear volume adjustment
The Audio-Technica app gives access to other modes, such as low latency for video streaming, ambient sound controls, and EQ settings. There is also a feature to find misplaced earbuds, and the app can also be used to set a timer (although I’m not sure why you wouldn’t just use your phone for that).
There is a soundscape section in the app, which is perfect for helping with focus. I listened to the ocean setting (which was the only one downloaded on the app) while I was reading one evening, and I was able to focus and give all of my attention to the words on the page.
(Image credit: Audio-Technica)
You’re also able to adjust the left and right sound balance of the earbuds. This is great if you’re hard of hearing in one ear, as it enables you to even out the playback. However, other apps, like the Soundcore app, build on this with a test to help you find what balance is best for you — I would’ve appreciated this feature in the Audio-Technica app.
Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2 review: Battery life
- 65 hours of playback with ANC off
- 40 hours of playback with ANC on
- Magnetic Switch technology
Battery life is where the Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2 earbuds seriously shine. When the earbuds and case are combined, they have 65 hours of playback. I tested the buds for about 4 hours at a time, and they never dropped below 90% battery.
With ANC turned off, the buds have 25 hours of playback, and the case can add 40 extra hours to that. But when ANC is enabled, the battery life is reduced to 15 hours for the buds and an extra 25 hours for the case. Despite the stark reduction in the playback time, the Audio-Technicas still offer far more power than the Apple AirPods Pro 3, which only offer 8 hours of listening with the buds and a total listening time of 24 hours with the charging case.
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
The Audio-Technica earbuds take two and a half hours to fully charge, and the case takes four hours. This is obviously a long time, but you won’t have to charge them anywhere near as often as other earbuds. The case also supports wireless charging, but this will take a little longer as the uptake of power is slower. Nevertheless, you can get 90 minutes of playtime with just 5 minutes of charging.
These buds feature “Magnetic Switch” technology, which is a great way to conserve power when they’re not in use. This new technology means there’s no need to place the buds back in the case; you can stick them together and they will automatically disconnect and switch off to save power. They immediately turn on and reconnect when separated. This meant that I didn’t always have to have the case with me, but I could still switch the buds off whenever I needed to conserve energy.
Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2 review: Verdict
I’m very impressed by the performance of the Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2 earbuds, despite their midrange price tag. They have all the necessary features of a good pair of earbuds, like multipoint connection, an IP55 durability rating, and a great app.
But the best thing about these buds is the ANC capabilities, which put me in my own bubble, allowing me to focus completely on what I was doing. The buds are a little heavier than other models, but the eartips do a good job of keeping them in place.
And the whopping 65 hours of battery life with the charging case and ANC turned off meant I never had to worry about my battery dwindling. The buds themselves have 25 hours of battery, which is seriously impressive, and the Magnetic Switch feature means this can be conserved when needed without the case.
And with the great sound quality and scope for EQ personalization, these buds are certainly a new staple in my audio rotation.
