Audio-Technica ATH-TWX7 review: Good earbuds with frustrating flaws

I’ve come to count on sure issues from Audio-Technica earbuds and headphones. First, there’s the corporate’s heat, soothing sound profile that’s straightforward to take heed to for hours at a time. It’s normally good, however not essentially nice, although the corporate usually combines it with a stable total expertise due to options and efficiency. That every one holds true on the ATH-TWX7: a $199 set of wi-fi earbuds with energetic noise cancellation (ANC) and a bunch of useful instruments that rival dearer opponents. Some work higher than others, however the firm has finished properly over time to develop its capabilities, although the ATH-TWX7 lacks one primary merchandise.

Design

Regardless of their stickbud look, the ATH-TWX7 appears extra refined than most similarly-priced earbuds. Audio-Technica opted for a mixture of black and silver (or white/silver or grey/silver) that makes the earbuds look much like high-end headphones. The primary housing is kind of small, which translated to a extra snug slot in my ears. The case additionally has a novel teardrop form that permits the earbuds to take a seat at an angle reasonably than standing up or laying fully flat whereas charging. There’s no actual profit right here, however it’s a departure from the norm price declaring.

Audio-Technica did one thing for the onboard controls on the ATH-TWX7 that’s uncommon in earbuds. It makes use of each contact and bodily buttons for playback, calls, sound modes and to summon a voice assistant. Sometimes you see this on headphones the place the playback controls are contact and the noise cancellation and transparency modes are assigned to a button, however I don’t recall seeing each on earbuds like this earlier than. Granted, I’ve been reviewing audio gear for a number of years at this level, so I hesitate to proclaim Audio-Technica because the “first” to take action.

That will help you discover the best match, Audio-Technica consists of two various kinds of ear suggestions. One is labeled “smooth,” and it’s designed to be extra snug, whereas the usual choice is supposed to supply a safer match. I anticipated the “smooth” model to be foam, or at the very least partially foam, however they’re virtually an identical. One is barely thinner, however they each appear to be the identical silicone materials you see in most earbuds, and neither actually feels softer than the opposite.

The very last thing I’ll level out when it comes to the ATH-TWX7’s design is its ingress safety (IP) score. These are solely rated IPX4 in opposition to water splashes they usually’re not constructed to resist spray jets or submersion. That’s most likely sufficient for exercises, and whereas it’s about common for mid-range earbuds, barely dearer fashions enterprise into IPX7 territory.

Software program and options

Once I reviewed the ATH-CKS5TW earbuds in late 2019, Audio-Technica’s app was so restricted there was actually no purpose to ever fireplace it up. Until it was to put in a firmware replace, it didn’t supply something helpful and even the onboard management customization was restricted. I’m completely happy to report that’s not the case because the A-T Join software program now presents a way more strong checklist of settings and reconfigurable instruments than earlier than.

The app’s dwelling display screen is dedicated to choices for altering the music codec, EQ and sound mode, in addition to exhibiting the battery life for every earbud. Tapping the picture of the ATH-TWX7 takes you into the detailed settings, divided into Audio and System sections. All of that is commonplace fare with entry to every part the onboard controls supply within the app, together with the power to remap the contact and bodily buttons as you would like. However regardless of letting you set an computerized energy off timer when there’s no audio, the ATH-TWX7 doesn’t have computerized pausing while you take them out of your ears. That’s an enormous omission in 2024 when virtually each set of wi-fi earbuds does this.

I’ll level out a few issues which are fairly novel. First, underneath the Name Microphone settings, Audio-Technica goes a step additional with an in-app name take a look at so you’ll be able to hear what you’ll sound like earlier than you dial. That is along with options like Pure Mode for quiet areas or Noise-Discount Mode for windy or loud environments. The latter isn’t very unique, however will nonetheless come in useful. You’ll be able to disable the contact controls and simply depend on the tiny bodily buttons on the earbuds. What’s a bit revolutionary is the power to tweak the sensitivity of these panels, set to medium by default with high and low choices when you want ‘em.

The inclusion of each contact and bodily buttons provides you loads of flexibility when it comes to the way you set these up. All the pieces on the ATH-TWX7 is reconfigurable, which implies you’ll be able to transfer issues from the buttons to the contact panels and vice versa, or add issues that aren’t there by default. Along with choices for playback, calls, voice assistant and noise cancellation settings, you’ll be able to add Speak-By means of, Low Latency Mode and Verify Battery Degree. Audio-Technica didn’t reinvent the wheel when it comes to what these earbuds can do, however the better customization provides you far more choices for assigning duties in a approach that makes essentially the most sense for you.

Sound high quality and noise cancellation

Almost each set of Audio-Technica earbuds and headphones I’ve ever examined has an identical sound profile. It’s a heat, inviting tone that’s nice to take heed to for hours on finish, principally as a result of the dynamics aren’t exhausting. The ATH-TWX7 is extra of the identical, for higher or worse, with some exceptions.

Softer, acoustic-driven types are wonderful, with crisp particulars in drums and guitars that lend texture to tracks like Zach Bryan’s “Heavy Eyes” and Charles Wesley Godwin’s “Household Ties.” The ATH-TWX7 additionally does properly with jazz and synth-heavy pop, rock and instrumental tunes. Hip-hop is good as properly, however the earbuds begin to wrestle with arduous rock, metallic and extra chaotic, bombastic genres. Higher Lovers’ “30 Beneath 13” remains to be the gritty, raucous hardcore I do know and love, however every part sounds flat and has much less vitality than on different earbuds. The sound on this album and different metallic alternatives like Gojira’s Fortitude is extra compressed than with different genres, with much less area for every part to open up – particularly guitars that usually soar round in your head.

Like plenty of ANC earbuds, the energetic noise cancellation on the ATH-TWX7 does properly with fixed noise, however struggles with issues like human voices. This mannequin had no hassle combatting the roar of the noisy heating unit in my Las Vegas lodge throughout CES, and the identical goes for white noise machines and followers at dwelling. It’s not Bose-level sound blocking, but it surely’s positively above common.

Sound high quality in Hear-By means of or transparency mode can also be fairly good. There’s a pleasant, pure factor to it that doesn’t appear as compressed or muted as among the competitors. Nevertheless, the ATH-TWX7 doesn’t pipe in your voice just like the AirPods Professional, so the general impact isn’t as when you aren’t sporting earbuds in any respect. I assumed the Speak-By means of characteristic would help with this, however as an alternative that software merely lowers the amount or mutes content material. Confusingly, regardless of providing two choices to let in your surrounding sound, this software doesn’t allow you to merely pause. It’s Hear-By means of adjoining reasonably than a very useful setting for a fast chat. As a result of your voice isn’t beamed again to your ears, you’ll nonetheless really feel the necessity to converse up, which implies you’re extra more likely to get shouty when you aren’t cautious.

Name high quality

Props to Audio-Technica for the simplest option to test name efficiency ever on the ATH-TWX7. Because of that in-app name take a look at, you will get an thought of the way you’ll sound earlier than answering or dialing in, which is approach higher than hoping you sound okay to your caller. I additionally discovered this useful in assessing which setting labored finest for the place I used to be on the time, even when I used to be at dwelling.

Noise-Discount Mode lives as much as its identify, but it surely additionally sacrifices some voice high quality. Pure mode sounds the most effective, but it surely picks up background noise simply. Should you’re in a quiet spot although, the ATH-TWX7 provides you above-average voice efficiency that’s noticeably clearer than the standard speakerphone-like high quality most earbuds supply.

The ATH-TWX7 additionally appears to wrestle a bit with computerized switching through multipoint Bluetooth, however solely on the subject of calls. If I used to be hopping from my telephone to my laptop computer for music or another audio, the changeover was fast and seamless. Nevertheless, if I used to be listening to one thing on my MacBook Professional and received a name, there have been a number of instances the earbuds had hassle swapping over to it. Since that is the almost certainly situation wherein I’d want that auto switching, this was disappointing. Finest case situation was for me to faucet to vary the audio from my iPhone to the ATH-TWX7 after answering, however that’s not likely a perfect workflow.

Battery life

Audio-Technica promised as much as 6.5 hours on the earbuds themselves with two further expenses within the case. It doesn’t specify if that’s with ANC on or off, however throughout my exams I had no hassle hitting the acknowledged determine whereas blocking background noise. That’s doing a mixture of music and calls, with the occasional couple of minutes of Hear-By means of mode and leaving the ATH-TWX7 to mechanically flip off twice. I may reliably eke out half-hour greater than the corporate claimed, and some minutes additional is all the time factor.

The competitors

Within the $200 value vary, an apt comparability for the ATH-TWX7 are Sony’s LinkBuds S. An honorable point out on our greatest wi-fi earbuds checklist, these have related battery life and the identical IPX4 score, however are extra snug to put on and have some trademark Sony options. These embody assist for DSEE Excessive upscaling along with Fast Consideration Mode that’s useful for fast chats within the workplace, espresso store or airport. What’s extra, the LinkBuds S can mechanically pause while you converse and an adaptive sound mode may be configured to vary settings primarily based on exercise or location. Plus, they’re accessible for $200 at full value.

iPhone house owners will probably be extra happy with the second-gen AirPods Professional over the ATH-TWX7. At present accessible for underneath $200, the 2022 model of the earbuds are the best choice in case your life is intertwined with iOS, iPadOS and macOS. New options like Adaptive Audio deliver computerized changes to your day and Apple’s tackle transparency mode continues to be the most effective within the enterprise. Lastly, they’re extra snug for an extended time period than the ATH-TWX7.

Wrap-up

There’s loads to love in regards to the ATH-TWX7. A sturdy set of options brings plenty of comfort to your day. However a number of of these instruments may nonetheless use some fine-tuning and the shortage of computerized pausing in 2024 is a head scratcher. Nonetheless, the audio is usually good, albeit inconsistent at instances, and transparency mode is healthier than most. Add within the stable name high quality and the in-app voice take a look at and the ATH-TWX7 are a worthy consideration, particularly at this value. Too dangerous it falls in need of being a extra full bundle among the competitors presents for a barely bigger funding.