audio-technica
Latest
The best audio gifts, from headphones to DJ gear
We're sure there's at least a few audiophiles, music lovers and musicians on your shopping list. It's hard (and sometimes a bit pricey) to get them gifts you know they'll love. But over the course of the year we've tested and reviewed countless speakers, headphones and even synthesizers and we're confident in saying these gifts will make almost anyone happy. Whether they like making music or just listening to it, we've got some solid holiday shopping suggestions. On the music-making side, 2019 has all about going small, portable and affordable. There's a dirt-cheap synth, portable MIDI controllers and a powerful music computer for the artist on your list. We've also got an amazing-sounding smart speaker to recommend, not to mention some top-notch true wireless earbuds and a stellar pair of time-tested wired headphones. Because, let's be clear: New isn't always better. And what you really want to get your friends and family is the best, not necessarily the latest.
Audio-Technica's $99 true wireless earbuds sound amazing
Audio-Technica is no stranger to the true wireless game, and at IFA this week, the company debuted two new models. For me, the $99 ATH-CK3TW is the more compelling of the two, mostly because it's great to see one of the audio giants introduce a set that won't break the bank. Audio-Technica's other new model, the ATH-CKS5TW, is also affordable at $149. However, I was most curious to see what the company could accomplish for under $100. As it turns out, the ATH-CK3TW is a really great-sounding pair that I can't wait to spend more time with.
The audio gear we recommend to students
A life without music is a pretty dull one. Obviously, you need to make sure you're ready for the school year with some solid headphones, a decent pair of speakers and something good to listen to. There's an overwhelming number of choices out there when it comes to personal audio, but because we review this stuff year round, it was easy for us to just cull the list for you. Whether you need something with noise-cancelling to block out an annoying roommate, or headphones for the gym that shrug off sweat, we've got you covered. And, what you listen to on those speakers and headphones is just as important. You'll want to stay on top of the latest podcast sensation and you need a way to stream the new Bon Iver album for your crush. But remember, music isn't just a passive experience: We're also recommending a few tools for the budding songwriter and producer. It may sound cliché, but these are some of the most important years of your life, and how you soundtrack them will stay with you forever.
Audio-Technica debuts a wireless model of its popular M50x headphones
Audio-Technica's M50 headphones may have been designed for studio use when they debuted in 2007, but the original fixed-cable model and its successor (the M50x) became a popular option for everyday use. Now that wireless is all the rage -- thanks in part to fewer ports on our devices -- it makes sense that the company would stick with the M-Series for a Bluetooth model. Today, Audio-Technica revealed the M50xBT, which, as the name suggests, puts the "sonic signature" of its predecessors in a cable-free set of headphones for $199.
Audio-Technica is the latest to debut true wireless earbuds
Just because Audio-Technica is better known for its wired headphones doesn't mean you'll have to look elsewhere if you want high-quality sound without cables. The brand has unveiled its first all-wireless in-ear headphones, the catchily-named ATH-CKR7TW. They tout the familiar oversized earbud design you've seen from established rivals but put a focus on (surprise!) fidelity above the smart features you sometimes get elsewhere.
The best noise-cancelling headphones
By Geoff Morrison This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter, reviews for the real world. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read the full article here. After testing 42 headphones, including 22 for this update, the Bose QuietComfort 25 are still the best option for most people who want over-ear noise-cancelling headphones. They have the best overall noise reduction of any wired noise-cancelling headphone available, plus they're comfortable, lightweight, and able to fold down into a compact carrying case. They aren't perfect—the sound quality is decent enough, just not spectacular—but if your goal is to turn down the volume on the outside world, these are hard to beat.
The best turntable for casual listening
By Chris Heinonen This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer's guide to the best technology. When readers choose to buy The Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read the full article here. After spending over 50 total hours comparing turntables and measuring their performance, we've determined that the Audio-Technica AT-LP120-USB is the best turntable for most people. It's highly adjustable, has a built-in phono preamp for hassle-free setup, sounds great out of the box, and even has a built-in USB port if you want to digitize your LP collection. It's also very speed-accurate, according to our tests.
The best USB microphone
By Kevin Purdy and Lauren Dragan This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer's guide to the best technology. When readers choose to buy The Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read the full article here. After 75 hours of research, interviews, and making audio professionals and regular humans listen to voice samples from 25 different USB microphones, we've decided for the third year in a row that the Yeti by Blue makes your voice sound the best with the least hassle. If you're an enthusiast, you might be able to get better results by putting time into a different, likely more expensive microphone, and more elaborate equipment (see our USB audio interfaces guide), but the Yeti puts the fewest hurdles between you and an ear-pleasing sound.
Audio-Technica has a turntable for your wireless speakers
There's no doubting the vinyl resurgence, and this year's CES has a few turntable options for those hobbyists. In addition to Sony's new model that digitizes vinyl tunes and a Technics revival, Audio-Technica has a turntable for your wireless speaker setup. The company's AT-LP60-BT offers Bluetooth connectivity in a fully automatic belt-drive stereo turntable. This means that in addition to speakers, you can also pair the device with your wireless headphones (more on that in a second). You can connect up to eight different speakers as well, which would seem to make it a solid option for multi-room audio. However, we'd want to test the range before confirming you can use it in that manner.
The best $150 over-ear headphones
By Lauren Dragan This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer's guide to the best technology. Read the full article here. If I wanted to spend $150 or less on a pair of over-ear headphones, the Sony MDR-7506, for the third year running, is the model I'd buy. After we researched all of the over-ears in this price range that are currently available (around 110 units in total), read countless professional and user reviews, and conducted three separate listening panels of audio professionals, the Sony MDR-7506 emerged as the clear winner.
Vox jams guitar amps into Audio-Technica headphones, dubs them Amphones (ears-on)
Guitarists and Bassists have many tools at their disposal for practicing fresh news licks without disturbing others around them. One of our favorites is Vox's AmPlug -- a guitar amp-modeling dongle that plugs into your instrument's 1/4-inch jack, allowing you to connect headphones and an MP3 player to practice privately. Building on the idea, Vox worked with Audio-Technica to simply embed the AmPlug in a new line of headphones, dubbing them Amphones. The company quietly put the cans up on its site recently, and it's now officially ready to shout out loud about them. Guitarists can choose from AC-30 (British crunch), Lead (hi-gain) and Twin (clean) variants, and bassists can snag the Bass version, which is based on Vox's AC100. Just like the AmPlug, each Amphone features volume dials -- sadly, these don't go to 11 -- for setting gain, volume and tone, along with a fourth for a built-in effect (compression for the Bass and reverb with the AC30, for example). A duo of triple AAs power the cans and, as you'd expect, the 'phones have a 3.5mm jack for hooking in external sources as well as a 1/4 adapter to plug into your axe. These Vox-styled units will be available in the US sometime in October for $100 a pop (double the cost of an AmPlug). Hungering for more already? We were able to give a pre-production version of the AC30 model a brief run, and you'll find our initial impressions after the break.
Audio-Technica unveils ATH-ANC9 noise-cancelling cans
Audio-Technica has been quiet on the noise-cancelling headphones front for some time, but today it announced a new set of sound-nixing cans, the ATH-ANC9. While earlier ATH models block out 85 percent of outside noise, the new version ups the ante to 95 percent. Also new are three Tri-Level Cancellation modes, each tailored to drowning out sound in a particular environment (airplanes, noisy office and libraries, for example). This over-the-ear set has 40mm drivers and an input sensitivity of 100 dB to make the music you choose to hear sound nice and clear. The ATH-ANC9 comes with two detachable cables, two adapters and an AAA battery. It's available now for $349.95 on the Audio-Technica website and at other retailers. Get the full details in the presser below.
Audio Technica AT-HA35i melds headphone amp and iPod dock
Headphone amps may not be a necessity for the average user with a pair of off-the-shelf 'phones or iPod buds, but they're definitely a must-have for a particular subset of users, and Audio Technica is looking to make their lives a bit easier with its new AT-HA35i amp. From the looks of it, it this one doesn't skimp too much where it counts, and includes a D/A converter that supports 192 kHz/24bit audio, along with a max output of 440mWx2, 20-20kHz frequency response and support for 32kHz, 44.1kHz, 48kHz sampling. Unlike other amps, however, this one also packs a built-in iPod dock, plus some RCA, S-Video, and digital audio outputs 'round back to connect it to your other audio / video gear. Of course, Audio Technica headphone amps tend not to come cheap, and this is no exception -- look for it to set you back ¥50,400 (or about $560) when it rolls out in Japan next month.
Guitar Hero gets branded up
Activision has announced a whole slew of brands will be supporting the upcoming Guitar Hero: World Tour, from amps right on down to guitar strings. It's nothing new to us, considering the company did the same thing for previous Guitar Hero games, but the list for World Tour is kind of massive. It goes: Ampeg Audio-Technica EMG Pickups Ernie Ball Evans Drumheads Guitar Center Krank Amplification Mackie Marshall Orange County Drum & Percussion Pork Pie Percussion Regal Tip Sabian cymbals Vox Zildjian drumsticks Of course, with Rock Band tapping Fender for their guitar needs, and Gibson suing everyone on the planet, we wonder why Activision hasn't found another suitable Guitar manufacturer to feature in their game. May we suggest Ibanez? They make some nice guitars!%Gallery-23491%[Via Joystiq]
Audio-Technica's newest noise-cancellers, the ATH-ANC3 QuietPoint
We gotta say we're loving the absolutely over-the-top headphone press releases that have been coming out of CES this year, but Audio-Technica appears to be immune -- and the new ATH-ANC3 QuietPoint noise-cancelling in-ears are similarly all business, employing a pair of external mics to block 85 percent of all external noise. Unlike other active noise-canceling sets, the ANC3s work without batteries, or you can switch it around and use the noise-canceling features without audio playback. A-T says these'll hit in spring for $169 -- guess you'll have to keep your earplugs in until then.
Audio Technica unveils ATH-ESW9 Sovereign Wood Headphones
Audio Technica's no stranger to high-end cans, and we must say, its flagship set for 2007 (its words, not ours) looks mighty sexy. The ATH-ESW9 Sovereign Wood Headphones are crafted from "Japan's finest Hokkaido cherry tree," feature 42-millimeter neodymium magnet drivers with fiberglass housing support, and come bundled with a carrying case to keep these beauties clean when not in use. You can pick these up to listen to (or just look at) come October 19th for ¥37,800 (or about $330).[Via AudioJunkies]
Audio-Technica's AT-SP550TV infrared speaker cuts through the noise
If your initial reaction to the Audio-Technica infrared speaker was, "pfff, pointless," then we welcome you to our party of ambivalence. Still, let's all ferment in their madness just for the moment, mkay? The AT-SP550TV provides a directed stream of 2W (1W + 1W) stereo audio at a distance of about 7-meters (23-feet). So instead of blasting the sound from your bigazz flat panel across the room, they relocate the speaker to the viewer thereby reducing ambient noise pollution for others in the house. That way, mama can watch TV from the kitchen while baby is lulled to sleep by the wounding glow of consumer narcissism. The unit operates for up to 10 hours off standard alkalines and includes a headphone jack in the speaker section to keep things totally on the hush hush. See, there is some magic to the madness after all. Available in Japan starting June 22nd for ¥16,800 or about $138. [Via Impress]
Audio-Technica's titanium earbuds
We thought crafting your devices from aircraft-grade titanium was, like, so 2001, but Audio-Technica went and proved us wrong with the release of their deep metallic toned titanium ATH-CM700Ti (left), and ATH-CM700, fashioned from aluminum in coppery brown or silver (right). We're not sure what kind of abuse you're putting your earbuds through that would require such exotic materials (and we might remind you to better mind the abuse you're subjecting your eardrums to on the daily), but if you're over Japan way they can be had for ¥17,325 and ¥12,600, respectively (about $155 and $113 US)
