Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW

Wire-free earbuds with deep bass and extra-long battery life

Two features really jump out at me with the ATH-CKS50TW wireless earbuds. One is the strong bass: Audio-Technica tuned their large 9mm drivers to thump out deep, punchy low-end. The other is the incredible battery life. These earbuds offer up to 15 hours of music listening with noise cancellation — and up to 20 hours without it — on a full charge. That's a lot for this category.

The ATH-CKS50TWs are bigger than most earbuds, likely so the drivers have space to do their thing. It may be a fair trade-off for fans of Audio-Technica's clear, detailed sound signature — and those who like tight, well-defined bass. Plus, there are four sizes of silicone ear tips and a pair of ear loops to help keep the fit comfortable and secure.

Noise cancellation and more

Of course, when it comes to the true-wireless category, the convenience features are just as important as the sound. And these 100% wire-free headphones offer active noise cancellation, touch controls, and work with a free downloadable app for Apple and Android phones. It lets you control the sound signature and can help track down lost earbuds using your phone's GPS.

Strong, high-quality wireless audio

Music plays wirelessly from your phone via Bluetooth 5.3 — a newer, more reliable version of Bluetooth. Plus, multipoint connection lets you pair two devices at the same time, so you can quickly sync to your phone or laptop.

For higher quality streaming, aptX® Adaptive technology is on board. This versatile wireless audio codec automatically detects if you're in an area with competing Bluetooth signals, and it will optimize either reliability or sound quality accordingly. It can also sense when you're watching a video on, say, Netflix or YouTube, and keep latency low. So, the audio and video should be better synced up.

A carrying case that recharges your earbuds wirelessly

Even with the strong battery life, you'll have to recharge at some point. Just snap the earbuds into the included charging case. This compact case fits in your pocket or bag and banks a generous 30 hours of power to recharge your headphones.