When Audio - Technica ( A - T ) introduced its ATH - TWX9wireless earbudsin 2023 , I was impressed by their levelheaded timbre , design , and features . But it was their comfort and noise canceling that really stood out .
regrettably , so did the price . At $ 299 , they ’re among the more expensive options . It seemed to me then that A - MT believably could put the best parts of the TWX9 in a solidifying of earbuds that cost less . Apparently , A - T felt the same way . One year afterwards , it debut the ATH - TWX7 for $ 199 .
The question is whether A - T made the correct choices regarding which feature to keep and which to omit . Now that I ’ve had a few weeks to try them , I think the equalizer is almost perfect — especially if you ’re picky about speech sound . Here ’s my full take .
Audio-Technica ATH-TWX7: design
I really care the way the TWX7 look . A - T has chosen a mix of colour and finishes that make it come along as though the earbuds ( whichcome in three color choices ) are build on a alloy living accommodations . It ’s a artifice but a convincing one . All the parts are , in fact , plastic .
Much like their flagship siblings , theATH - TWX9 , the TWX7 use a hybrid approach to their control : A - T logos mark the touch - tender expanse , while small strong-arm buttons protrude from the leading edges of the bow .
The matt - finished charging suit ( which include wireless charging in addition to USB - C ) has an unusual , curving grapple shape that might not be tiptop pocket - friendly , but it does provide fantabulous access to the earbuds .
A large head indicator on the front shows the casing ’s barrage capacity , while minor LED on each earbud show their several capacities ( this info is also usable in the A - T Connect companion app ) . One note about the earbud LEDs : they scoot once every 5 second while powered on , and there ’s no manner to disable that .
A - T say the buds areIPX4 tell on , which mean they can handle a splash of body of water here or there , and effort should n’t be a problem at all as long as you pass over them clear after a physical exercise .
Inside the box , you ’ll find the bud in their case , a short USB - A - to - C institutionalize cable length , a cotton drawstring protective pouch , and a generous classification of eartips .
Audio-Technica ATH-TWX7: comfort, controls, and connections
In general , I find stem - base earbuds to be more well-situated — but sometimes less secure — than stemless designs . The TWX7 seem to be one of the few exceptions . They finger swell and barely move at all . I find the same to be genuine with the TWX9 , and gratefully A - T has given the TWX7 the same ergonomic shape .
It also help that A - thyroxine includes two types of eartips ( soft and strong ) with four sizes each — an unusually large aggregation , even with earbuds that cost considerably more .
I ’m equally enthusiastic about the mastery . They ’re very responsive ( especially the tactile button ) , and while it may seem complicated or even perplexing , having both buttons and touch controls is unco intuitive . By default option , the touch panels are used for audition - touch purpose such as active noise cancellation ( ANC ) , transparence , and talk - through mode . They also lease you spark off your voice assistant . The button are for playback , volume , and call management .
However , you may change all of them inside the A - T Connect app , including handicap the touch restraint if you get they ’re more annoying than helpful . This is way more choice than you ’ll get in the TWX9 — those earbuds are Amazon Alexa - enable , which typically results in a qualified level of control customization .
Sadly , A - T has n’t bear on the TWX9 ’s endure sensors in the TWX7 , so there ’s no auto - pause when you remove a bud .
Speaking of the app , it let you enableBluetooth Multipointto connect to two simultaneous devices . Better yet , it gives you a dedicated projection screen for finagle these devices — you may memorize several and then select which two you need to be alive . The screen also permit you add additional devices by labour the earbuds into sexual union fashion — no strong-arm button presses needed .
Audio-Technica ATH-TWX7: sound quality
Overall , the TWX7 auditory sensation smashing . While A - T ’s studio headphones — like the popularATH - M50x — are observe for their matte response , the company ’s earbuds tend to deliver a bit more hike , particularly in the lower frequencies . It lends spare punch to a running like Billie Eilish’sbad hombre , without drown the mids or highs Eilish ’s whispery vocal are still equal to of eliciting anASMR - like reply .
I love that nonpayment strait signature ; it worked well with every genre I tried . But if you prefer a different residuum , the A - T Connect app has a full equalizer with presets and impost preferences .
The soundstage is generous , which can assist create a deep gumption of immersion , particularly if you like listen toDolby Atmos Musictracks .
There is one arrest , however . A - T has used a very low horizontal surface of amplification on the TWX7 . So low that 50 % loudness — a banner on which most companionship base their battery - life expectations — is unruffled to the full point of being useless for gratifying hearing .
In fact , I was able to crank the earbuds to 95 % volume without experiencing any discomfort , which is extremely unusual .
The TWX7 use the same 5.8 millimetre driver as the pricier TWX9 , and both models arehi - res audiocapable . I was fully expecting them to fathom more or less the same when mate with Android earphone that support the relevant hi - resBluetooth codecs(Sony ’s LDAC on the TWX7 , Qualcomm ’s aptX adaptative on the TWX9 ) . But that was n’t the typeface .
It ’s the first time I ’ve been able to make a true unmediated comparison between these codecs ( it ’s rare for a company to issue well-nigh identical products that utilize different codecs ) , and the dispute was desolate : aptX Adaptive on the TWX9 sounded much better .
Moreover , when I forced my two Android test phones ( Google Pixel 7 ProandMotorola ThinkPhone ) to useLDACat its high 990kbps mount , severe audio separation set in , even at distances of less than one fundament .
Audio-Technica ATH-TWX7: noise cancellation and transparency
We ’re quickly pay back to the point where you do n’t need to spend crazy money to get a great set of noise - set off ( ANC ) earbuds , and the TWX7 are a swell example . The ANC style did a antic line of work of blocking out a wide variety of unwanted sounds , from dealings to sound of screen background chatter in a deep brown shop class . It even handled some winding without needing to be shifted to a specific malarkey - noise fashion .
I have n’t had a chance to do the classic plane cabin mental testing . But base on how well they handle other type of sounds , I ’m very optimistic about it .
transparence is also very good , but it ’s targeted : you ’ll be able-bodied to get wind the most of import sound in your immediate surround ( including people ’s voices ) , but your own part will stay quite softened .
Within the A - T Connect app , you could pick out whether to toggle between off , ANC on , and transparentness modes , or just ANC and transparentness .
There ’s also a ready to hand lecture - through mode , which is basically the transparency mode with automatic music mass reduction , make unnecessary you the need to pause your tune or remove the earbuds .
Audio-Technica ATH-TWX7: call quality
Calling on the ATH - TWX7 can be a very near experience for your callers , but you ’ll demand to select the veracious modality in the A - T Connect app . The so - called natural voice modality is heavy for indoors when there ’s little to no background noise . However , it ca n’t vie with noisy and/or windy situations ; there ’s a noise - decrease mode for those moments .
I ’m not thrilled by this — many other wireless earbuds at the same terms or less can conform mechanically to different environment .
But my grown gripe with calling on the TWX7 is the want of a side - tonicity setting so that you could get a line your voice more clearly . You ca n’t tack ANC modes during a call , but even if you could , foil mood ( as I mentioned above ) does n’t avail much .
Audio-Technica ATH-TWX7: battery life
A - T claims you ’ll get about 7.5 hours of playtime per charge on the TWX7 if you keep ANC turned off . That set down to 6.5 60 minutes if you leave it on . When you include the charging case ’s capacity , your total playtime will be 20 or 24 hours , severally . Those numbers put the TWX7 in one of the lower battery life categories — about the same as theApple AirPods Pro .
However , these numbers need to be believe best - typeface scenario , and candidly not very well achieved good - eccentric scenarios .
Remember when I said I take to pump the volume way higher than 50 % ? take heed at brassy volumes will shave 30 to 45 minutes off these time . And if you need to take vantage of LDAC for hi - res audio , have a bun in the oven to pay a hefty tax . A - T does n’t publish playtime numbers when using LDAC , but Technics does .
For theEAH - AZ80earbuds , the difference is significant : Seven hours with ANC but no LDAC , and just 4.5 hours with ANC and LDAC .
A similar reduction ( 35 % ) on the TWX7 could mean as piddling as 4.3 hours when ANC and LDAC are used simultaneously .
With excellent comfort , nifty effectual quality and noise cancellation , and a clever and slick design that expose the mold of typical wireless earbuds , the Audio - Technica ATH - TWX7 have a lot to recommend them .
While not consummate — stamp battery life sentence is n’t as strong as I ’d like , and the lack of a straight side - tone can make calling a fatiguing experience — they still liken very well to similarly priced models .
Sony’sLinkBuds S($200 ) , for case , use the same LDAC hi - Re codec and sound very proficient , have very good noise - canceling and ( since a firmware update ) stomach Bluetooth multipoint . They also have wear sensors , which the TWX7 lack , but they do n’t have a wirelessly charging case .
For those who want all the Alexander Graham Bell and whistles , include better heavy lineament when paired with an aptX Adaptive Android phone , the more expensiveATH - TWX9might be worth the extra $ 100 .
