Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2: Longest Battery Life in the $150 Earbud Class?

Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2: Longest Battery Life in the $150 Earbud Class?
Photo Credits: Audio-Technica

For earbuds in the $150 price range, finding something truly exciting can be a challenge. Many models offer basic functionality and acceptable sound, but few truly stand out. Audio-Technica aimed to change that with their ATH-CKS50TW2 ($149), focusing on exceptionally long battery life and a clever feature to maximize it. These earbuds offer a surprising number of tools comparable to more expensive options, but they aren’t without their drawbacks. Ultimately, the satisfying audio quality and ability to enjoy over 20 hours of listening on a single charge might just make you willing to overlook those imperfections.

What’s Good?

  • Battery Life: Truly exceptional, pushing the boundaries of what’s expected in this price range.
  • Magnets: A simple but effective addition to conserve power.
  • Sound Quality: Audio-Technica’s signature warm and inviting sound profile delivers a pleasant listening experience.

Announced at CES, the first thing that really caught my eye about the ATH-CKS50TW2 was the promised battery life. Audio-Technica claims up to 25 hours of playback on a full charge without Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) enabled, and an impressive 40 hours with the charging case. Even with ANC turned on, you still get a remarkable 15 hours – roughly double what many competitors offer. The great thing is, these claims held up during testing.

To further extend battery life, Audio-Technica incorporated “Magnetic Switch” technology. The earbuds physically snap together with magnets, effectively turning them off before you place them in the case. Many other earbuds only power down once they are inside the case, but this design eliminates that extra step and prevents unnecessary charging cycles, potentially prolonging the overall battery lifespan.

And the sound? Audio-Technica has brought its renowned warm sound to these earbuds. The audio isn't overly processed to push certain frequencies. Instead, the bass is present and impactful when needed but doesn't overpower the other elements of the music. For example, Kendrick Lamar’s “tv off” has a booming bassline, but the vocals and high frequencies remain clear and distinct. Switching to something more gentle like Turnpike Troubadours’ “Be Here” allowed the acoustic instruments and drums to shine through without muddying the sound.

While they don't quite reach the clarity and detail of higher-end, flagship earbuds, the ATH-CKS50TW2 offers excellent sound quality for $150. In fact, they may be the best option in this price bracket. On Jason Isbell’s Foxes in the Snow, the acoustic guitar lacks the nuanced expressiveness found on more expensive models like the Technics AZ100 or Bowers & Wilkins Pi8, but they are more than competitive against other earbuds at this price point. The extended battery life is a significant bonus, making these a very compelling choice.

Areas for Improvement

  • Design: The earbuds are noticeably large and bulky.
  • Controls: Physical buttons are small and awkwardly positioned.
  • Missing Feature: Lack of wear detection.

Let's be honest, in 2025, the ATH-CKS50TW2 earbuds feel a bit… sizable. They're bulky and feel slightly unbalanced, with the weight distributed outside your ear. This can impact comfort and stability. While I didn’t experience them falling out, they felt like they might, which isn’t ideal. I suspect Audio-Technica prioritized space for the larger batteries (which, for some users, will be a worthwhile trade-off).

Audio-Technica went with physical buttons for controls, which is generally a good thing. However, they're small and positioned along the top edge of the earbuds. The design necessitates holding the earbud in place while pressing the buttons, which can be cumbersome due to the size and weight of the buds. The bulky and unbalanced construction affects the overall user experience.

One feature notably absent is wear detection – the automatic pausing of music when you remove the earbuds. While the accompanying app offers a robust set of features, including ANC, Hear-Through (ambient sound) mode, a five-band EQ, customizable soundscapes, media controls, battery updates, a “private timer,” low latency mode for gaming, adjustable volume steps and a microphone test, the lack of automatic pausing is noticeable.

Final Thoughts

My initial impression was right: the primary reason to choose the ATH-CKS50TW2 is the remarkable battery life. The Magnetic Switch feature isn't essential to achieving the stated runtime, but it’s a welcome addition that provides peace of mind, knowing the earbuds are off and not draining power when not in use. Audio-Technica’s signature sound quality shines through, though to a lesser extent than some of their more premium offerings.

The design isn’t the most comfortable, and the controls take some getting used to, but the ATH-CKS50TW2 boasts an impressive feature set. Despite a few shortcomings, these earbuds offer a lot to like, particularly in two key areas that matter to many users: sound and battery life.