The ATH-TWX9 was announced on 9 Nov 2022 in Europe. I received a review unit a week later and spent a good amount of time listening to it during my regular train commute to work. The earbuds is officially announced for sale in Singapore at a retail price of S$398. Pre-order 6 to 12 Feb to enjoy S$50 discount at S$348 with additional one-year warranty from Audio-Technica Funan Mall and online, authorised resellers: AV One, Connect-IT Asia, Sam Trading, Jaben, Zeppelin and Co., as well as e-commerce platforms: Lazada, Shopee and Qoo10.
Design and Features
The TWX9 looks every part a flagship true-wireless earbuds model from Audio-Technica. Its design is unlike any that A-T has launched, the model number is also different, so they must have put in a lot of effort on the TWX9. The matt-coated black finishing with bronze accent, the curvy charging case with five LED indicators that light up in a left-to-right animated sequence, these are intentional design elements to showcase the premium style.
It comes with features that are familiar to true-wireless earbuds users – Active Noise Cancellation, Hear-Through, Side Tone, Low Latency Mode, IPX4 water resistant, Qi wireless charging, Multipoint pairing. It supports Bluetooth audio codec formats like Snapdragon Sound, aptX Adaptive Audio, aptX, AAC, SBC. It is also one of the few non-Sony earbuds to support 360 Reality Audio. Similar to the LG TONE Free FP9 and T90, the TWX9 is also equipped with UV sterilisation with mirrors inside the case to increase the effectiveness of the sanitisation. The earbuds do not look as compact but they are ergonomically shaped to fit comfortably in the ear cavities. The battery life of 6 hours per charge and 18.5 hours with the charging cable is adequate for daily commute though it might not be sufficient for cross-continent plane flight.
Notice that the TWX9 earbuds come with both touch sensors and click buttons. The touch sensors are to toggle ANC and Hear-Through, the left click buttons control volume, and the right click buttons control tracks. As time of publication, the key assign are very limited, which is a pity. I hope Audio-Technica can update the firmware to support a wider range of key assignment, which was possible on the ATH-CKS50TW.
Besides customising some of the key controls, the Audio-Technica Connect app allows EQ adjustment, turn on Side Tone, adjust L-R balance (an uncommon but important feature for users with imbalanced hearing). It also supports ear detection which I usually disable because I do not like the auto-pause function. I would also disable voice guidance after getting familiarised with the controls, so that the actions have shorter lags without the need to wait for the voice to finish the phrase.
ANC and Hear-Through
The ANC comes with five preset modes – Airplane, Train, On The Go, Office/Study, and Home. There is an additional “Optimized” mode that measures the ambient noise to set the optimal level, and this can be activated conveniently by press-hold the touch sensor for 3 seconds. I like to use this feature to optimise ANC when I am in a new environment. The ANC is effective in reducing ambient noise to allow me to focus on my music, but general noises inside the train can be heard faintly when the music volume is not loud. The Sennheiser Momentum TW3 is better in removing ambient noise.
For the Hear-Through mode, there are five levels to adjust the intensity. At the highest level, the ambience is almost close to the natural level. There is another mode, “Quick Hear-Through“, which is activated by triple-click the left button. This mode increases the mic sensitivity to boost the midrange frequency. The difference with this mode and the normal Hear-Through mode is that the music volume is reduced or muted, as this mode is meant for the wearer to hold a conversation or to listen to the ambience.
Audio Quality
It was mentioned in the Singapore press release that the new 5.8mm highly rigid diaphragm drivers are made of three layers of hard and soft materials, featuring an edge-mounted external magnetic circuit, thin stainless-steel plate for increased drive, floating voice coil to handle more accurate audio signal, external magnetic circuit to achieve rich audio production from a small driver. This driver system is designed to “minimize vibrations to ensure excellent transient characteristics while also producing crisp low-frequency sounds and an extended high-frequency range for a full immersive soundscape.”
As always, I am a reviewer that do not emphasize much about technicalities. All it really matters is how the technology translates to music to my ears. Having tested a lot of Audio-Technica true-wireless earbuds – CK3TW, CKS5TW, CKS30TW, CKS50TW, ANC300TW to name a few – the TWX9 is to date the best-tuned TWS from them. The tuning is not excessively V-shaped which was the case for CK3TW, nor was it too warm, which I found on the ANC300TW, nor was the bass too strong like the CKS50TW. Compared to the new CKS30TW, the TWX9 is certainly a better earbuds with better treble clarity and the bass is more musical, open and detailed. Sound stage and stereo imaging is more accurate on the TWX9.
The TWX9 offers a comfortable listening experience with a generally safe but immersive tuning. Its strength is in the sound staging that presents the music in a tight room setting. The bass instruments are delivered with good intensity yet does not linger too long to sound muddy. This characteristic continues towards midrange, allowing instruments to sound full yet not too ringing. The upper frequencies sit on top of all these meat with sufficient clarity and presence but without exaggerated transparency.
If you are more accustomed to the Sennheiser type of tuning, the TWX9 might sound relatively less clear. The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 is a more impressive-sounding earbuds due to the signature sizzling treble, but they occupy a more compact imaging. The TWX9 may not emphasize on the upper range, but they sound more spread out, hence still sounds clear. The bass on the TWX9 is more intense and occupies more space, while the Momentum TW3 bass is less prominent, thus overall sound staging is less compact and if you turn up the volume, you can really enjoy the treble air. To sum up, the TWX9 sounds more analog while the Momentum TW3 sounds more digital.
Call Quality
Most true wireless earbuds call quality are average at best. On the TWX9, the mic picks up the voice that sounded distant, soft, and rather natural. General ambient noise removal is effective but any loud high-pitch sounds will disrupt the voice, and in windy conditions, the mic can still somewhat pick up the voice as long as you articulate loudly. Enabling Side Tone will let you hear your own voice and prevent speaking excessively loud.
Verdict
The Audio-Technica ATH-TWX9 is one of the few uniquely-designed true wireless earbuds in the market, a break from the rest of the pack. It has everything that any premium true wireless earbuds can ask for, and a sound presentation that tops any Audio-Technica earbuds. Personally, my daily commute preference deviates towards the Sennheiser MTW3 as it offers a little better sparkle with more controlled bass, and an ANC performance which works better for commuting. But I find the TWX9 better at appreciating music where the instruments sound intimate and smooth, dynamics feel analog-like.
Pre-order the ATH-TWX9 between 6 – 12 Feb 2023 to enjoy special price of S$348.
