True wireless earbuds are a fantastic invention — tiny, no tangled cords, and now even offering noise cancellation. However, despite the advancements over the years, due to their design, bass has often been lacking in most earbuds. Enter Audio-Technica with a new pair of true wireless earbuds designed for bass lovers — the ATH-CKS30TW+.
Ignoring the uninspired name for a moment, these ATH-CKS30TW+ earbuds promise thumping bass alongside Audio-Technica’s signature clean sound, with a dash of noise-cancelling, all for a competitive price of $199. I’ve been using them for work, play, and gaming, and while they live up to some of the marketing hype, they aren’t without flaws.
Design and Build
The ATH-CKS30TW+ are true wireless earbuds, meaning they are Bluetooth-powered nubs that sit inside your ears. These buds have no stems, making them very compact. I didn’t experience the usual fit issues — the buds sat snugly in my ears right from the start. They come with various ear tips, essential for getting the right fit. Once in, they stay secure, which is great for those who work out. Plus, they’re IP55 dust and water-resistant, so sweat or light rain won’t be a problem.
One thing to note is how deep these buds sit in your ears. You’ll need to try the different silicone tips(of which you get four pairs) to find the best fit, as the seal is crucial for optimal sound and bass. I struggled with inner-ear pressure and had to experiment with several tips before finding the right one. Even now, there’s a bit of discomfort, making it difficult to wear them for longer than three hours. Your experience may vary depending on your ear shape, but I wish Audio-Technica included memory foam tips, like Beyerdynamic’s Free Byrds.
The buds feature a touch-sensitive surface marked with the Audio-Technica logo, which allows for the usual taps and presses to control playback, volume, noise-cancelling, and phone calls. The touch sensitivity is responsive and worked smoothly for me. If needed, you can customize the controls via the AT App for iOS and Android.
The ATH-CKS30TW+ are available in four colors: Matte Black, Evergreen, and a stunning Translucent Black, which lets you see the internal components. The carry case matches the earbuds and is compact — slightly smaller than the Apple AirPods Pro 2 case. It has a grippy, textured surface, unlike the slippery AirPods case, and strong magnetic connectors ensure the buds stay secure. The case charges via USB-C but doesn’t support wireless charging. A small LED on the front indicates battery levels.
Connectivity and Battery
The ATH-CKS30TW+ use Bluetooth 5.1, which feels slightly outdated for 2024, as 5.3 would have been preferable. That said, these buds still perform well where it counts. The range is excellent, the connection stable, and they support multi-point connection and low-latency mode for gaming. Multi-point worked perfectly, seamlessly switching between my MacBook Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max during calls.
The earbuds also support fast pairing, meaning they quickly connect to your phone when removed from the case. While they lack AptX or LDAC, supporting only AAC and SBC, the sound quality is still impressive. If you’re prone to misplacing your earbuds, the app has a handy feature that helps locate them, and the out-of-range alerts notify you if you’ve left them behind.
Battery life is solid, offering around 6.5 hours with noise-cancelling on, plus an additional 17.5 hours from the case. Without noise-cancelling, you get an extra hour of playback time and up to 20 hours from the case. This was enough for a full day of use with no issues.
Sound and Performance
So, how do the ATH-CKS30TW+ sound? Pretty good, as expected from Audio-Technica. The overall sound signature is clean, with clear highs, good detail, and, of course, a generous helping of bass. However, achieving that deep bass depends heavily on getting the right fit. Initially, I was underwhelmed, but after finding the right tips, the bass dramatically improved. It was punchy, almost like having tiny subwoofers in your ears.
These buds use 9mm dynamic drivers with a frequency response of 5-20,000Hz, delivering impressive audio across music, movies, and gaming. In games like CoD: Warzone Mobile, the low-latency mode worked well with no delay, and gunshots were punchy, with clear, distinct footsteps. In Diablo Immortal, the atmosphere of Sanctuary was immersive, and every sound effect was crisp and satisfying.
However, the noise-cancelling performance was a letdown. While I don’t expect much from earbuds in this regard, the ATH-CKS30TW+ barely made a dent in ambient noise. It’s more of a slight dampening effect, but it won’t block out plane or bus noise. I’d recommend leaving noise-cancelling off to extend battery life, especially since better noise-cancelling options exist for $100 more, like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds or AirPods Pro 2.
Additionally, the microphones on the ATH-CKS30TW+ fall apart when there is plenty of background noise. You can listen to the sample provided where I stood on my apartment balcony which overlooks a busy street. The microphones struggled to keep my voice front and center which is something to consider if you talk a lot on the phone on the go.
The Audio-Technica app allows you to update the firmware, adjust the EQ and customize the various tap functions. There’s a few EQ presets to choose from and you can customise your own with ease. A notable addition is the “soundscapes” feature, offering different nature sounds, perfect for focus, meditation, or relaxation. In the app is where you can also find the product locator and adjust the sensitivity of the out range.
Verdict
If you love earbuds and bass, the ATH-CKS30TW+ are worth considering. They deliver great sound with deep bass and have useful features like multi-point connectivity, a solid app, and good battery life. Music listening was enjoyable, and gaming was a pleasant surprise. However, they don’t stand out in the crowded market of true wireless earbuds.
The lackluster noise-cancelling, microphone and the fitment issues—critical for the bass experience—are notable drawbacks. Personally, I found them less comfortable for long sessions compared to my AirPods Pro 2, which I can wear all day without discomfort. Audio-Technica has crafted a solid product, but I’d like to see better noise-cancelling and more comfortable options in future iterations.
Audio Technica kindly provided the ATH-CKS30BT+ to PowerUp for the purpose of this review
