Audio Technica ATH-TWX7 review: snug fit, immersive sound

These buds offer good ANC, very good overall sound quality, decent app support and a secure snug fit

While I might sound biased, the Japanese know how to make great gadgets. From televisions to gaming and even audio products, there is something about Japanese technology that feels right. Now before you start firing at me in the comment sections, know that I rocked a pair of Bose AE2 for the longest time, Klipsch is my go-to brand for building a home theatre and the Mackie CR5BT was my studio monitor for music and gaming – all American brands. Not to mention the Apple AirPods Pro 2 that have a snug fit for someone like me who has unusually shaped ears where the large ear tips of IEMs are too big and medium are too small. For the past couple of weeks, I have been rocking the Audio Technica ATH-TWX7, priced at about 19,990 in India. They compete not only with the Apple AirPods Pro 2 but also the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, Marshall Motif Ii ANC and the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 to name a few. Do the Audio Technicas have what it takes to stand out from the crowd?

Table of Contents

Design

The Audio Technica ATH-TWX7 come in a case that has a tapering design. At its thickest, it is larger than the AirPods Pro 2 case, but at its slimmest, it is almost the same size. The overall footprint is not that big when compared to other TWS in its segment. Its unusual shape meant I could always find it in my bag without looking especially if like me you have a lot of small gadgets in your backpack. The case is dual-tone black and grey with a matte finish which I like. The build quality is very good and the rubberized finish gives the case a good grip.

Flip open the case, and you can pick the buds from the stem. This might seem like a small thing but it makes grabbing the bud and slotting it into your ear a breeze – a much better experience than pulling buds from the top as we have on the Airpods Pro 2 or even the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro. The front of the case has an LED charging light and the back has a USB-C port for charging. The case also supports nice wireless charging. It should also be noted that you get 8 pairs of ear tips in the box which is just outstanding.

Specs and features

As Audio Technica’s premium TWS, the ATH-TWX7 come with everything you’d expect from premium earphones. Below is a list of some of the features that are important to users.

App

While you can connect the TWS to your smartphone via Bluetooth in your smartphone settings, I recommend downloading the A-T Connect app to make the most of the TWS. In addition to providing updates for the TWS, the app has a bunch of handy features. You can control/set the noise cancellation, and equaliser, check the connected devices and more. There is also a Low Latency mode as well for gamers.

An interesting feature in the app is soundscape where you have sounds of the ocean, waterfall, stream, rain and more. Think of it as something you would listen to on the Calm app. If you are someone who likes a bit of ‘white noise’ to help you focus on work, then this is a good feature to have. It also helps drown out the noise around you if you need to focus on the task at hand.

Sound quality and ANC

Let’s kick things off with the ANC. It is very good. I sat in the room with my wife watching TV, my daughter running around the room singing songs and I could only hear a fraction of the noise around me – very good ANC. A part of the ANC also has to do with how snug the TWS fit in your ears. I found that changing the tips to something with a tighter seal helps give you a better ANC than a pair of ear tips that don’t fit so well. So, it is a boon that the TWS comes with a bunch of ear tips in the box.

Moving over to the sound quality, the TWS sound sublime. Getting the only con out of the way, they lack the thump of bass found on something like the Sony WF-1000XM5. But apart from that, the TWS sound sublime. The vocals are very clear, background scores audible and in a song like Eagles – Hotel California the 1998 Induction, you can make out the guitarist picking on the stings. It is truly remarkable.

You can go into the equiliser setting and choose the V-shaped setting which should give you more bass to make the TWS sound fuller.

The overall sound output of the Audio Technica ATH-TWX7 is very good and will give tough competition to the likes of the Sony WH1000-XM5, the AirPods pro 2 (which are generally Rs 18-19K during the sale season) and even the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro.

I saw a couple of movies when connecting the TWS to my TV and the audio experience was very good. Watching Top Gun Maverick, the channel separation was nice especially during the aerial combat sequences in the movie providing an immersive experience.

Battery life

The battery life of the Audio Technica ATH-TWX7 is rated at 6.5 hr for the TWS + 13.5 hrs of case charging. Your mileage could vary depending on usage. The wireless charging feature of the case means you can always place it on your wireless charging pad at the end of the day and ensure the case and TWS are ready for you first thing in the morning.

Verdict

With an MOP of about Rs 19,990 on Amazon, the Audio Technica ATH-TWX7 is positioned as a premium TWS. What it has going for it is pretty good ANC, very good overall sound quality, decent app support and a secure snug fit, especially if you work out or go running. However, the premium space is quite populated with offerings from Samsung, Apple, Sony, and Bose, to name a few. While Apple offers better channel separation as well as “Spatial Audio” and Sony has the signature well-rounded sound with deep bass, I can see the appeal of the Audio Technica ATH-TWX7 for those looking for a more minima design, especially if you want a pair of TWS you can fall asleep with. It is good for listening to podcasts too.

Editor’s rating: 8.5 / 10

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