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CES 2024 continues to present us with exciting gadgets, and the upcoming Audio-Technica LDAC buds are definitely one of them. Audio-Technica is a big name in the audiophile world. They’re no Sennheiser or Beyerdynamic, but they’ve always made very capable headphones. The flagship ATH-TWX9 are excellent TWS earphones, and the newly announced ATH-TWX7 will be using their drivers. Audio-Technica is marketing the TWX7 to people who want the TWX9’s brilliant sound at a cheaper cost.
The ATH-TWX7 will be compatible with LDAC
LDAC, for those unaware, is a Bluetooth codec that delivers a much higher bitrate over traditional codecs. Where SBC and AAC go up to 328 kbps and 320 kbps respectively, LDAC goes up to 990 kbps. This is a massive step up from even premium Bluetooth codecs like aptX and aptX HD. LDAC compatibility is only just making its way into Bluetooth audio gear and often carries a hefty price tag.
The ATH-TWX7 being LDAC buds means consumers can have excellent audio even over a wireless connection. LDAC isn’t truly lossless at 1400+ kbps, but it is still a significant upgrade. There is a lack of wireless audiophile gear on the market. Most consumer audio manufacturers like Sony and Bose prefer bassy sound signatures over neutral ones. This leads to a lot of detail being lost as bass overpowers the mids and highs. Audio-Technica’s LDAC buds are going to be recommended for a long time amongst audiophile circles.
Audio-Technica LDAC buds features and pricing
It’s not just stellar sound Audio-Technica is promising, however. The ATH-TWX7 also comes with active noise cancelation and they promise clearer call quality using multiple microphones. As is standard, the ATH-TWX7 also have touch controls instead of physical buttons. There are also multipoint pairing and ambient modes to let outside noise in. Lastly, the ATH-TWX7 run for 6.5 hours on a single charge, and 20 hours total with the charging case.
The ATH-TWX7 are being released today after having been shown off at CES. Their pricing marks a decent drop from the ATH-TWX9; with the pair being almost £90 cheaper at £190. They sport stems like the Apple AirPods, and come in three different colors. Ash Black, Rich White, and Stone Grey sound very traditional, but the design adds unexpected appeal to each of them.
The ATH-TWX7 are most definitely not the first pair of TWS buds from an audiophile-centric brand. Sennheiser’s Momentum lineup and the Moondrop Space Travel beat them to the punch. Even the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro and the AirPods Pro are touted as having excellent, relatively neutral sound signatures. But the ATH-TWX7 are sure to give them a run for their money at this price point, especially because of their support for LDAC.