Audio-Technica has announced a new pair of earbuds that have a self-cleaning feature. For those who don't know, Audio-Technica is a Japanese audio company that is best known for its professional headphones, microphones, and turntables. While it also makes consumer headphones, it didn't release its first pair of truly wireless earbuds until 2018. Two years later, it launched its first pair of earbuds with ANC.
The brand's latest pair of earbuds sit in the premium earbuds category and will be facing off against the AirPods Pro 2, Bose QuietComfort II, Samsung's Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, and Sony's WF-1000XM4. All of these earbuds boast features such as ANC, transparency mode, wireless charging, and spatial audio.
The Audio-Technica ATH-TWX9 earbuds have a different design from the brand's other earbuds. They have stems, albeit short ones, that stick out from the ears, whereas its other models have a stem-less design. In addition, the new pair of earbuds have removable ear tips made from a hybrid of hard and soft silicone for the best fit and are rated IPX4 for protection against sweat and rain. The earbuds come in a uniquely designed case that stands out from the competition, but they are bulky for an understandable reason. Audio-Technica has tried to go for a unique appearance with the ATH-TWX9, but the design may not resonate with everyone.
They Have Adaptive ANC & Spatial Audio
The ATH-TWX9 earbuds have 5.8mm high-resolution dynamic drivers and an extended high-frequency range. In addition, Audio-Technica says they feature a hybrid-noise canceling technology that users can adjust. Users can switch between five preset noise-canceling modes or an optimized mode that adapts to the environment. There is also a transparency mode dubbed Hear-through mode for when there's the need to allow external sounds, such as when having a conversation or listening for an announcement at the airport. The earbuds have dual high-performance MEMS microphones with beamforming technology. They also boast Qualcomm's cVc 8.0 noise-canceling technology for crystal-clear calls.
The earbuds connect via Bluetooth 5.2 and support Bluetooth Multipoint, which means users can pair them to two devices simultaneously. They work with Android and iOS devices, and a companion app is available on the App Store and Google Play Store. Owners can adjust ANC, activate a low-latency mode, choose the voice assistant, and tune the equalizer, among others, right from the app. There is also support for Qualcomm's Snapdragon Sound and its aptX Adaptive and aptX audio codecs. They also support AAC and SBC but not LHDC. Audio-Technica also says in the press release that they have support for Sony's 360 reality Audio (spatial audio)
An exciting feature of the ATH-TWX9 is its UV LED sterilization system built into the case. This is not unheard of, as LG has multiple earbuds with a similar feature. Audio-Tecnica says the sterilization process eliminates bacteria and viruses from the surface of the earbuds but adds a caveat that it is not effective against all bacteria and viruses. According to the product page, the earbuds have a battery life of six hours and an additional 18.5 hours with the case. The case charges via a USB-C port on the back and supports Qi wireless charging. The Audio-Technica ATH-TWX9 earbuds are priced at $299 and available in a single color option.