Most manufacturers subscribe to the notion that more is better; however, by adopting this approach, they frequently alienate a significant consumer segment that prefers simplicity, which is where Audio-Technica’s ATH-SQ1TW Earphones come into play.
I am one of the hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people in the UK who prefer simple-to-use and effective products over those with all the ‘bells and whistles’. Although I am no stranger to technology, I prefer things that can be taken out of the box, charged up and used without needing an intensive training course. I am pleased to state that Audio Technica’s ATH-SQ1TW Earphones met my needs with aplomb.
Choosing a set of earphones or earbuds in today’s world is far from straightforward; you only need to type the keywords into Amazon for proof; the available choice is mindboggling. To offer an insight into just how big the earphone market is, a study by Polaris Market Research stated that the true wireless earbuds market sector should reach USD 14.51 billion by 2028, and leading the growth is the Asia Pacific region.
The confusingly huge choice is why I have shied away from upgrading my current set, which I have had for around four to five years. Only recently, I found the courage to purchase another set. Fortunately, as luck would have it, Audio Technica, by pure coincidence, reached out to me, suggesting I try some of their products, and of course, given the uphill task facing me, I was more than happy to oblige.
The Audio Technica ATH-SQ1TW Earphones
The first thing to note about the ATH-SQ1TW earphones is their light weight (approximately 5.2 g per earphone). The company states that the earphones take 1.5 hours to charge, giving you around 6.5 hours of constant use, depending on the operating conditions.
The earphones come with what now is the obligatory charging case/box, which, when fully charged, provides enough power for two full cycles. The case also boasts a quick charge facility which is extremely handy as you’ll get one hour of playback after just five or so minutes in the case.
In-ear, they are comfortable to the point I frequently forgot I was wearing them. They were also very secure and very good at minimising any ambient sounds. The earphones are attractive to look at thanks to their square design, which kept reminding me of an Austin Allegro.
Some younger readers might be confused by that statement. The Allegro was a groundbreaking car in the 1970s with a futuristic square-shaped steering wheel, very similar to the shape of the earphones. Irrespective of what shape your ears are, you shouldn’t have any problems thanks to Audio Technica’s inclusion of four different-sized ear tips.
The ATH-SQ1TW Earphones boast a sizeable touch-sensitive surface, providing access to the features. To access features such as play, pause, call answering, volume and forward and back, it’s just a case of a single or double tap with a finger.
The earphones are worlds apart from my current set, and I was delighted with the overall sound quality. The ATH-SQ1TW Earphones don’t have active noise cancelling, which isn’t something that didn’t concern me in the slightest; however, this might be viewed as a negative by some more advanced audiophiles.
I used the earphones to watch a couple of documentary videos, which also allowed me to try out their low latency mode, designed to minimise any sound delays. Given my eyes are well over fifty years old, everything seemed as it should to me. However, those with better eyesight might have a different opinion with regard to this.
Another of the features I particularly liked was the hear-through function, which allowed me to hear some of the sounds around me when the earphones were firmly in place. It does this via a built-in microphone that captures ambient sounds and feeds them to the ears. Another well-thought-out feature is their IPX4-equivalent splashproof design, which should alleviate any fears when the British weather has its way.
The earphones are available in a range of colours, including white, as shown above. The pair I tested was a rather smart-looking black colour that matched my hair. Overall, I was very impressed with how the ATH-SQ1TW Earphones performed. If you are on the lookout for not frills, quality earphones that won’t bamboozle you, these should definitely be on the list.
ATH-SQ1TW Earphone Specifications:
- Type: Dynamic
- Driver Diameter: 5.8 mm
- Frequency Response: 20 – 20,000 Hz
- Sensitivity: 100 dB/mW
- Impedance: 16 ohms
- Battery: Headphones: DC 3.7V lithium-ion battery; Charging case: DC 3.7V lithium-ion battery
- Battery Life: Headphones: Max. Approx. 6.5 hours*; Charging case: Max approx. 13.5 hours*
- Weight: Headphones: Approx. 5.2 g (0.18 oz) (L), approx. 5.2 g (0.18 oz) (R); Charging case: Approx. 34.2g (1.2 oz)
- Charging Time: Headphones: Approx. 1.5 hours*; Charging case: Approx. 2 hours*
- Operating Temperature: 5°C to 40°C (41° F to 104°F)
- Microphone Type: MEMS
- Microphone Sensitivity: −38 dB (1V/Pa, at 1 kHz)
- Microphone Frequency Response: 100-10,000 Hz
- Microphone Polar Pattern: Omnidirectional
- Accessories Included: 30 cm (12″) USB-A/USB-C charging cable, ear tips (XS, S, M, L)
- Bluetooth® Version: Bluetooth version 5.0
- Operating Range: Line of sight – approx. 10 m (33′)
- Maximum RF Output: 10 mW EIRP
- Frequency Band: 2.402 GHz to 2.480 GHz
- Modulation Method: FHSS
- Compatible Bluetooth Profiles: A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP
- Support Codec: SBC
- Supported Content Protection Method: SCMS-T
- Transmission Band: 20-20,000 Hz
In the UK, the ATH-SQ1TW Earphones are priced at £79.99. For more information on them and a list a full list of global distributors, visit www.audio-technica.com.
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