Audio-Technica just launched ‘auto-sterilizing’ earbuds and I 100% don’t get it
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It’s not the first time we’ve seen this sort of thing: LG has been offering bactericidal cases bundled with its Tone earbuds since 2020 – and I’ve really enjoyed the company’s latest T90 buds, but that had nothing to do with the bacteria blitzing and anything to do with wild head-tracked Dolby Atmos.
But it is the first time Audio-Technica approaches true wireless headphones in this way.
Now I’ll be the first to sit up and take note since the company’s inaugural stab in the true wireless market, the ATH-SQ1TW was honestly excellent for their nominal asking price and some of the best cheap wireless earbuds I’ve ever owned heard, but do our earbuds really need a 70-second “sterilization process” every time we put them back in the case?
And what does it…? Audio-Technica explains that there is a “unique deep UV sterilization system in the charging case” and that every time your earphones are placed in it “starts a 70-second sterilization process that removes bacteria and viruses from the surface. Mirrors have also been used to distribute the light evenly for greater effectiveness.”
Okay, anyone else?
Advice: self-cleaning aside, I still buy Audio-Technica earplugs
Don’t get me wrong: only on sonic merit something Audio-Technica does is worth your attention. The Japanese company has been playing this game for 60 years and knows a thing or two about sound quality. Also (and in case I didn’t stress it enough already), the company’s ATH-SQ1TW earbuds are genuine terribly good for the sound quality at the level.
But whether this cleaning technology with UV light is worth the extra outlay is up for debate… For some, it will be nice to know that they are putting something clean in their ear canals. To others, it comes across as a perk they never asked for or wanted.
Otherwise, the ATH-TWX9 with “advanced noise reduction technology” plus three hearing profiles, support for Sony’s 360 Reality Audio and high-resolution 5.8mm drivers. And since it’s Audio-Technica talking (and this is the first time the company has added active noise-nixing or spatial audio solutions to the output of its earbuds), we’re more than a little intrigued.
Elsewhere, the claim is up to six hours of continuous playback from the buttons and up to 18.5 hours of extended use with the charging case, plus an IPX4 equivalent splash-proof rating – which is good, but not outstanding. For reference, the AirPods Pro 2 has a total playtime of 24 hours, as does the excellent Honor Earbuds 3 Pro.
And the price is a bit high in my humble opinion, because the Audio-Technica ATH-TWX9 will be on sale from November 9, 2022 at Audio Technica (opens in new tab), priced £279.99 (that’s about $325 or AU$496).
Yes, the astute will note that Audio-Technica’s latest earbuds are more expensive than the $249 / £249 / AU$399 of the latest Pro-Suffixed AirPods. But they apparently come with 12 (yes, 12) different sizes and styles of earbuds.
Will the sonic chops make them worth it? Will we see them strolling through our best noise-cancelling earbud buying guide, just in time for some juicy Black Friday deals on other options? Time will tell…