Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2 review: Long battery life and satisfying sound for $150

Forget everything you might think about $150 earbuds. Audio-Technica’s ATH-CKS50TW2 just don’t offer mere decency; they are a marathon runner in a sprint. While most earbuds would offer you competence such as founders, these earbuds attempt to immortalize themselves with battery life that scoffs at deadlines. With more than 20 hours per charge, the CKS50TW2 is not just another player in the game; it is rewriting the rules.

But endurance is another story. Audio-Technica has packed an entire toolbox of features usually found in pricier competitors. There are slight imperfections that are maybe even endearing to some, but just fulfilling sound and the almost unbelievable Life battery should be able to make you a believer! This isn’t just about earbuds; this is something of a statement.

The good: battery life, magnets and sound quality

When the Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2 earbuds were launched at CES, one feature was immediately pegged for the spotlight in the show: battery life. We are talking marathon-type endurance here. Audio-Technica touts 25 hours of player time from one charge (ANC off), pushed farther by another 40 hours from the charging case. Then again, with ANC on, you get a phenomenal 15 hours of battery… That is double the time most competitors give you. And this is the best part about those numbers: they did not hold up in a controlled lab setting but rather gloriously in real-world scenarios.

Enduring battery drain for earbuds that just sit still? Enter ATH-CKS50TW2 with the bright idea called Magnetic Switch technology. There’s no need to fumble fiddly ways trying to set them in the case. The earbuds snap together magnetically, shutting themselves down in an instant. No pain, no wastage, save all for the battery. Most competition powers themonlyonce in the case; the ATH-CKS50TW2, however, allows you to do this any time at will: click, detach, and rest assured they’re not sucking power. Bonus: charging less means extended battery life, giving more time for your music to pump.

Audio-Technica/Engadget

Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2

Audio-Technica’s ATH-CKS50TW2 earbuds deliver knockout sound and marathon battery life without KO’ing your wallet. Flagship performance, half the price.

Pros

Long battery life
Neat magnetic on/off switch
Warm, pleasing sound
Wireless charging

Cons

Bulky, unbalanced design
No wear detection
Cumbersome controls

$149 at Audio-Technica

Having all the warmth you’ll ever need with a terribly balanced sound from Audio-Technica, the bass just knows when to pump and when to take a break. Kendrick Lamar’s “tv off” carries a hard-hitting bassline while every hi-hat sizzles, every clap snaps, and Kendrick’s voice soars crystal clear. Then suddenly, with the beautiful strokes of Turnpike Troubadours with “Be Here,” you’ll have an all-encompassing acoustic setting with subdued drums while the bass is truly helpful and non-intrusive.

The ATH-CKS50TW2 earbuds are not very capable of delivering apex sound, in terms of ultimate clarity and detail, but they seem to punch way above their price of $150. Actually, for that kind of money, having an alternative that sounds just as good would be a rare find. As Isbell’s “Foxes in the Snow” played, the acoustic guitar, admittedly less breathtakingly nuanced than on the Technics AZ100 communication or the Pi8 communication, was rich to be able to compete. However, far from being the icing on the cake: Put great audio performance and marathon battery life together, and you have a very attractive proposition.

The not so good: design, controls and a missing feature

The ATH-CKS50TW2 earbuds? It was not a beauty contest-winning design in 2025. Imagine this: substantial, almost bulky, and weighted like a tipsy penguin staggering on your ears. Comfort is compromised – smaller earbuds provide much more comfort. They never actuallyfellout, but the constant feeling that theycould? Quite anxiety-provoking. Audio-Technica probably needed all that extra real estate for some serious battery power. If marathon listening sessions are your holy grail, the awkward fit might just be a necessary evil.

One praised feature on Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2 is physical controls. In a way these controls really seemed to take a step in the wrong direction. On the top edge of the earbuds, these tiny buttons require some stabilizing force while operating. Therefore, it is only logical to point to the design since the big size and weight of the earbuds make for a clumsy operation of these physical buttons. This awkwardness, which comes from the imbalance between big size and little buttons, does not only affect the controls but overshadows the entire experience of listening.

Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2 review: Long battery life and satisfying sound for 0

Billy Steele for Engadget

The ATH-CKS50TW2 earbuds deliver a buffet of features with full ANC, Hear-Through, a custom EQ, engrossing soundscapes, touch controls for media playback, and even flashing battery level updates right to your screen. Concentrate? There’s a private timer for that. Gaming? Can’t wait for the low-latency mode. Adjust volume jumps, assist call clarity with a mic test, and get Talk-Through going when you need to chat without fumbling. It’s a packed list of tech, and one glaringly-off-the-radar in the absence of wear detection. You’ll be really hoping for that magic automatic pausing when you take these out of your ears.

The final verdict on the ATH-CKS50TW2

Turns out I really got that right. The major highlight-the biggest draw for the Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2-was the interminable battery life. The Magnetic Switch? Perhaps it was a bit over-the-top, but a nice touch all the same, making sure that the earbuds are genuinely off, thereby saving them from needless charging cycles. And surely, the official sound quality shines through, if not the greatest in the Audio-Technica stable.

Apart from a few ergonomic hiccups here and there and some control quirks, the ATH-CKS50TW2 reveal a startlingly wide array of features. The earbuds aren’t perfect, but they are uber-cool where it counts: deep, immersive sound and marathon battery life, making them a compelling option if this is already how you think about an audio experience and endurance.