AT UPDATES BEST SELLER
Audio Technica has updated its best-selling Bluetooth headphones by incorporating beam-forming technology with two new microphones and updating the Bluetooth profile, along with other improvements.
“Audio Technica’s new M50xBT2 studio monitoring headphones deliver the same exhilarating wireless listening experience as their predecessor, offering exceptional clarity and deep, accurate bass response,” said Alena Striebel, of Technical Audio Group (TAG), which distributes Audio Technica in Australia. “In addition to the hardware improvements, Bluetooth connectivity has also been improved with the addition of multi-point pairing to let users connect wirelessly to two Bluetooth devices at once; a low-latency mode to improve synchronicity between audio and video for smoother streaming and for gaming; and increased compatibility thanks to the multiple audio codecs on-board — SBC, AAC and LDAC.”
Audio Technica has also added additional features to its A-T Connect app, allowing control of the low latency mode, equalisation, channel balance, voice assistant choice, misplaced headphone location and codec. Users can also now adjust the headphones’ equalisation settings by making the changes in the A-T Connect app and saving those settings on the headphones themselves.
The M50xBT2 uses an AKM AK4331ECB device, which is a 32-bit high-quality stereo audio DAC that has a built-in headphone amplifier. It also has sidetone circuitry to allow users to hear their voice in the headphones when making calls on most smartphones.
Controls on the left ear-cup access volume, mute, music, and calls, and voice assistants. A ‘Fast Pair’ feature enables quick pairing with Android OS smartphones via a single tap. Battery life is quoted at 50 hours on a full charge, with a further 3 hours possible following a 10-minute quick-charge. The M50xBT2 has 45-mm diameter drivers, a fold-flat design with 90-degree swivelling ear-cups, and comes with USB charging cable, and a detachable 1.2m cable for wired operation. It sells for $349 (RRP).