Summary
Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW review.. What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of wireless earbuds, like headphones? My mind immediately goes to Apple AirPods, which have the traditional long stem form. As a result, earbuds that have a rather bizarre appearance constantly capture my attention. Enter the Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW, earphones that not only have a stunning appearance but also provide a stunning sound.
Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW review
The fact that they are colorful, have excellent sound quality throughout music and phone conversations, come with a hear-through capability that allows you to hear ambient noises, and are only $79 makes them affordable for even the most budget-conscious individuals. However, the market for budget earbuds seems to be extremely saturated, and in order for businesses to secure a position among the top inexpensive wireless earbuds, they cannot afford to lose points by omitting popular features like as active noise cancellation (ANC), wear detection, and companion applications. Additionally, Audio-Technica has accomplished this goal.
Learn all you need to know about the Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW by reading our comprehensive review.
REVIEW OF THE AUDIO-TECHNICA ATH-SQ1TW: APPROPRIATENESS AND AVAILABILITY
There is a retail price of $79 or £49 for the Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW, and the lowest price that we have seen them drop to is $44 when purchasing them on Amazon. In comparison to the other wireless and truly wireless earbuds offered by the company, they are the most cost-effective in terms of performance. Additionally, the ATH-SQ1TW is offered in a variety of appealing hues, including licorice, blueberry, caramel, popsicle, cupcake, and popcorn, respectively.
The offering from Audio-Technica is in competition with other headphones like as the 1More PistonBuds Pro and the EarFun Air Pro 3, but these headphone models come equipped with active noise cancellation (ANC), which is unfortunately absent from the ATH-SQ1TW.
A DISCUSSION OF THE AUDIO-TECHNICA ATH-SQ1TW: Its Comfort and Design
When you take a short look at the Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW, you will see that they do not appear to be typical earbuds. This is something that will immediately catch your attention. In contrast to the majority of earbuds, which have either lengthy stems or circular shapes, the
features an irregular cubic form, which is something that I really like. I was able to wear them for three hours in a row without experiencing any discomfort. In addition, the earbuds do not have any buttons; all of the functions that you want, like adjusting the volume or switching between high and low latency modes, may be accomplished by just touching them. To reiterate, they are available in a variety of vibrant hues. Popsicle goes by the affectionate moniker of our test model. Due to the fact that the name of the earbuds is a bit of a mouthful, I have begun to refer to them by their color instead.
Even if you are taking out the earbuds in the dark, you won’t be able to forget which one is which since each earbud includes an LED light that illuminates the L and R indications. Each pair of earphones weighs 0.18 ounces, and their elegant and compact container weighs 1.2 ounces, making it much simpler to carry them in your pocket. There are also four additional sizes of earbuds included in the package in case the default size does not work for you. However, switching them out is not the simplest thing to do.
If, like me, you prefer going for lengthy walks even when it is pouring, you may want to reconsider purchasing these earphones after giving them some thought. According to Audio-Technica, these headphones are just splashproof, which is why they have an IPX4 classification. This means that the ATH-SQ1TW will not be able to withstand being soaked. When you have them on your person, it is best to avoid going for a swim or sitting in a sauna.
CONNECTIVITY: A REVIEW OF THE AUDIO-TECHNICA ATH-SQ1TW Device
Although they use Bluetooth 5.0, the Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW does not provide compatibility for more modern codecs that are now available. The earphones in question only support the SBC codec, which is the most fundamental of all codecs. The fact that many of the earbuds that are included on our list of the best inexpensive wireless earbuds support alternative codecs is a source of disappointment. This includes even very inexpensive earbuds like the JLab JBuds Mini ($39) and the Skullcandy Dime 3 ($29), all of which support the SBC and AAC codecs.
However, the ATH-SQ1TW is simple to link with your phone, which is a positive aspect. Simply remove them from their case, and a notice will appear on your mobile device, whether it is an Android or an iOS operating system. When you remove the earbuds from their case, the touch sensor is also locked. This prevents you from tapping them by mistake and starting the music playing when you do not want to, for example.
Due to the absence of multipoint connection, it is not possible to connect both your phone and your laptop at the same time. This is the source of the issue. I have become so used to having my earbuds or headphones linked to two different devices at the same time, particularly while I am at work, so that I can switch between them whenever I want to.
SOUND QUALITY ANALYSIS OF THE AUDIO-TECHNICA ATH-SQ1TW: A REVIEW
I used my Google Pixel 7 Pro equipped with the standard SBC codec to listen to a playlist on Spotify Premium, which is widely considered to be among the most excellent music streaming services. This was done for the purpose of this review. It came as a pleasant surprise to discover that the sound quality remained reliable throughout all of the songs. The moment I inserted the ATH-SQ1TW earphones into my ears for the first time, I stated out loud, “These sound great.” It was not exactly the case that one piece of music had a tinny and distant sound while another song had a flawless sound. During my evaluation of the EarFun Air Pro 3, I was dissatisfied to discover that the song “Every Other Freckle” by Alt J did not have a complete sound. On the other hand, when I listened to the song on the ATH-SQ1TW, the sound was full.
Among my favorite musical styles, heavy rock is one of my favorites, and for the last several months, I have been completely infatuated with the soundtrack of Alan Wake 2. When I listened to the song “Herald of Darkness” by Old Gods of Asgard on the ATH-SQ1TW, the guitar chords in the song truly came to life that I had never experienced before. In addition, the earphones do an excellent job of bringing the many voices and instruments in the song into harmony with one another. There is no sense of confusion among them, and there is no instance of one voice being heard more clearly than the other.
The song “A&W” by Lana Del Rey gave me a newfound appreciation for her voice that I had not before experienced. It was the second part of the song that produced a fully immersive 360-degree experience, with the bass kicking in and the speed ramping up. The backing vocals sounded just perfect without being overbearing to Lana’s voice. If we are talking about bass, the ATH-SQ1TW is an excellent amplifier for that. Try out MGMT’s “Little Dark Age,” and you’ll understand what I mean by what I’m saying. I was able to pick out every single note in the musical composition’s groovy bassline, which is something I am working very hard to master on my bass. Perhaps the clarity that these earphones provide will help me make more progress.
Review of the Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW: Quality of the Calls
It is also possible to use these earphones for making phone calls. To put it simply, a Sidetone feature allows you to hear your own voice as well as other noises from your surroundings via the microphone. This helps you avoid the sensation of speaking at an excessively high volume. It was brought to my attention that the person on the other end of the phone sounded really clear, and I was also informed that my own voice was well understood. You may also use the hear-through option, which allows ambient noises to enter the device and ensures that you are always aware of your surroundings.
REVIEW OF THE AUDIO-TECHNICA ATH-SQ1TW: SPECIAL AND UNIQUE FEATURES
One of the features that I really like about earbuds is the wear detection feature, which allows the music to be automatically paused when you remove one earbud and resumed when you put it back in. The absence of this well-liked function on the ATH-SQ1TW was a source of disappointment for me. There is also no active noise cancellation (ANC), which is a feature that even more affordable versions, like as the Donner DoBuds One ($49), include these days.
In addition, I would have appreciated the possibility of modifying the sound to a certain extent, such as by adjusting the equalization and increasing the bass, via the use of a companion app. It is true that the Audio-Technica Connect app is available for both iOS and Android smartphones; however, it does not support the ATH-SQ1TW earbuds, which means that there is no way to upgrade them. According to what I’ve heard, the Connect app also has a helpful function called Find My Product, which provides information about the earphones’ most recent known location. It would have been much more convenient for me to be able to utilize that, particularly considering how compact the earphones and the case are. It’s a terrible shame.
A REVIEW OF THE AUDIO-TECHNICA ATH-SQ1TW: BATTERY LIFE FOR THE
From the moment you remove the Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW from their packaging for the very first time, you will be required to charge them from the ground up, which is a process that takes around ninety minutes. In addition, if you use a 30W USB-A to USB-C converter to charge the earbuds while they are still in the case for fifteen minutes, you will have around one hour of playtime, which is perfect for when you are traveling. The earphones are advertised by Audio-Technica as having a battery life of 6.5 hours, but when I tried them, it took seven hours for the battery to run out of charge.
However, it is essential to keep in mind that the ATH-SQ1TW case does not enable wireless charging. As a result, you will need to make sure that you always have a charging cord with you at all times.
An evaluation of the Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW: VERDICT
The Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW earbuds have the most stylish appearance of any earphones I’ve ever heard of. In the event that you have a different style, the cubic shape would be an excellent choice, and the candy-themed hues are not only visually appealing but also sound tasty. The sound quality was impressive to me, particularly the way that these earbuds boost the bass, and I would say that these are some of the best-sounding earbuds that you could purchase for the price of $79 for a pair of headphones.
However, they are lacking in essential characteristics. If sound quality is the only thing you care about when it comes to wireless earbuds, the ATH-SQ1TW are the perfect pair for you. Even though the construction and sound quality are outstanding, I am not sure how long I could go without active noise cancellation (ANC), and I would really like it if there was app support so that I could customize my listening experience. Personally, I’m going to avoid these occurrences. EarFun Air Pro 3 headphones, which are priced at the same as the ATH-SQ1TW, provide good active noise cancellation (ANC) and support sophisticated codecs like aptX Adaptive and AAC. Alternatively, I could save ten dollars and get the 1More PistonBuds Pro headphones.
