Audio-Technica ATH-CKS30TW+ – Hardware Review
It’s already been a while since we reviewed Audio-Technica’s ATH-M50xSTS-USB, which proved to be a great gaming or streaming companion. We concluded that we were getting a lot of bang for our buck, and we still use the headset outside of our review work to wind down after a long day. That being said, today we’ll be taking a closer look at one of Audio-Technica’s smaller products, namely the ATH-CKS30TW+ wireless headphones. Don’t be mistaken by the tiny case and the small size of the earbuds, as these mid-price ranged earbuds pack a hefty punch.
Design
For our review, we were given the Transparent Black model of the ATH-CKS30TW+. While we are mostly used to solid black or white earbuds, Audio-Technica managed to do something different that still retains its overall classy feeling. The transparent case and even the earbuds themselves look rather futuristic and, for lack of a better word, cool. Being gamers first and foremost, the transparent exterior brought us bittersweet memories of the old-school clear Game Boy design. This is still a design that is often used for handheld devices, such as the ones Anbernic produces to emulate games. Even though these wireless headphones are not necessarily catered towards gamers, they still look nice as an addition to a gaming rig.
Without digressing too much, the overall design is neat. You’ll be treated to one of the smallest wireless earbuds cases we’ve ever seen, with only subtle features. You’ll find the Audio-Technica logo on top of the lid, and apart from a small LED light on the front of the case, there aren’t any real bells and whistles. The earbuds themselves don’t have a stick design, making them smaller than a lot of other devices on the market. There aren’t any standout features here either, as the earbuds look classy with only the Audio-Technica logo on them.
Comfort
In terms of comfort, the ATH-CKS30TW+ proved to be rather comfortable. As the earbuds don’t have a traditional ‘stick’ design, you’ll have to slightly twist them to ensure they rest properly in your auricles. You’ll notice when it feels comfortable for you, and then the earbuds will also remain securely in place. There are different ear adapters in the box, allowing you to choose the right fit for you. The latter is a basic comfort feature for most brands nowadays, but it still warrants a mention.
As stated above, the ATH-CKS30TW+ probably has the smallest case of all the similar products we have reviewed on the site so far. The case also has a more vertical design; thanks to this, it easily fits in your pocket when you’re out and about. As we always mention, be sure to turn off ANC when you’re outside to remain aware of your surroundings. That being said, the case is extremely light as well, weighing roughly 28 grams without the earbuds. With the earbuds inserted, you’ll add roughly another 9 grams to the weight. This means you’ll barely notice the case in your pocket, making it a light travel companion. We did find it a bit more difficult to remove the earbuds from the case compared to more traditionally designed products.
Overview
Pairing the earbuds is done easily. When turning on the earbuds (by simply taking them out of the case), you’ll just have to go to your Bluetooth settings on your phone and search for them. You can easily pair by selecting them, and then your phone will prompt you to download the dedicated app. In the dedicated app, you can adjust all basic settings such as ANC and hear-through options, basic equalizer settings, and even mess around with certain ‘white noise’ options. You can even adjust settings concerning the playback center if you want more audio feedback in your right or left earbud. It’s fairly basic stuff, but the app is intuitive to use and has a clear user interface.
Probably the most important item of the earbuds, aside from general comfort, is of course the sound quality. The ATH-CKS30TW+ packs a real punch, as the sound quality is very crisp and the bass tones are quite deep. This means you can enjoy a bass-heavy soundtrack whenever you want, but you’ll also hear voices clearly when listening to your favorite podcasts. As stated above, you can adjust the settings further with the app, and messing around with the equalizer might finetune things more for specific occasions. The microphone quality is also quite decent when making calls.
There were a few things we noticed that were somewhat different compared to many other brands on the market. For example, when we inserted one of our earbuds back into the case, the music or other audio that was playing would not pause or stop. For some, this might be ideal, as they are simply swapping to a way of staying more aware of their surroundings, while other listeners might best consider pausing their audio in advance. The earbuds also have an individual power on/connection sound, clearly indicating that they are active. We personally found this a nice touch. On top of that, our phone always gave the pop-up with a connection request, while other brands often do this automatically after the first pairing. These are only minor differences that take a short time to get used to.
Battery life as a whole is also decent. You’ll have roughly twenty hours of playtime with a fully charged case and fully charged earbuds. The earbuds last roughly seven and a half hours on a single charge, and the case then holds up to another twelve and a half hours when fully charged. Charging the case is done via a USB-C connection.
Conclusion
Audio-Technica’s ATH-CKS30TW+ are great and affordable premium wireless earphones that pack a proper punch. The earbuds prove to be comfortable for longer listening sessions, making them ideal if you’re going through all your Spotify playlists, but also when listening to podcasts or binging your favorite shows in bed when you’re supposed to be sleeping. The small case makes it ideal for on-the-go, and the battery lifespan ensures you don’t run out of juice quickly. All in all, this is a pair of earbuds we can easily recommend. We do have to note that the no-stick design might take a bit of time to get used to.
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