Audio-Technica has just at the IFA 2018 his two brand new Premium Bluetooth over-ear headphones presented- the ATH-SR30BT and ATH-SR50BT.

Above all, they should be extremely comfortable to wear, a good Klang and an immense battery life shine. We from HIFI-Online will briefly introduce both models to you today and tell you what these two Bluetooth headphones are capable of.

 

 

Straight to the individual points:

 

About the manufacturer

 

Audio-Technica is an audio entertainment electronics company. The Japanese manufacturer was founded in 1962 by Hideo Matsushita founded in Tokyo. The first product released by Audio-Technica on the market was this pickup system AT-1 for turntables. In 1974, the company presented its first line of headphones - the AT-700. In addition to classic products such as turntables and cartridges, Audio-Technica now offers many different products, including headphones, microphones and wireless audio devices.

Audio-Technica microphones are used by show greats such as Gwen Stefani, Linken Park or Metallica used. In the field of headphones, the company covers a wide spectrum from in-ear and over-ear to studio and sport headphones. The price spectrum also ranges from entry-level to high-end and professional models.

 

Choosing the right headphones

 

There are countless variants of headphones:

In-ears, on-ears, over-ears, wired or wireless, noise-cancelling or non-cancelling, studio, gaming or sports headphones.

 

So that you can get a small overview of this headphone jungle and find out which one is right for you, we will show you what all these terms mean and for which areas of application they are useful.

In-ear vs on-ear vs over-ear headphones

 

In-ear headphones are the small plugs that you put in your ear and completely shield you from the outside world. You can then usually connect it to your cell phone or music player with a cable, for example. In the meantime, however, there are also various Bluetooth models that are particularly useful for sporting activities because you don't have any annoying cables flying around your body. Everyone knows it when you jog or exercise, the cable pulls on your ears or just falls right out. Of course that's damn annoying. That is why Bluetooth models are becoming more and more popular.

In-Ear Although headphones are small, handy and can easily be put in your pocket when not in use, not everyone likes them. The fit has to be right, they often fall out of the ear or are stuck in too deep. Also the well-known "earwax problem" and the difficult cleaning are no advantages. That's why many use on-ear or over-ear models instead.

On-ear Headphones lie on the ear and are usually relatively light and flexible. Most DJs in particular rely on this type of headphones because they are easy to put on and take off and still offer a loud sound. In contrast to over-ear headphones, they are often not as bulky and large and therefore a lot more stylish and suitable for everyday use.
However, some are bothered by the placement of the pads on the ear. If you listen to music for a long time, these can be particularly pressing and painful.

For this reason there is still Over-Ear models. These lie completely over the ear and therefore do not press as hard. They are also particularly good for noise isolation as they completely enclose the ear! Many studio headphones are therefore also over-ear versions, which offer a very good wearing comfort for long studio sessions and an immensely good and unadulterated sound. Since these offer the most space for the entire audio technology, they also have the greatest potential and usually offer a great sound and deep bass. In some cases, however, some on-ear and even in-ear variants can keep up and offer a great sound.

Conclusion

However, the respective models also differ greatly from one another and one cannot say that in-ears, on-ears or over-ears are responsible for exactly one area. Depending on the manufacturer and price segment, there are many qualitative differences and different designs.
In the end it's just a matter of taste and it's up to you which model you prefer. Whether in the ear, on the ear or over the ear, everyone likes their headphones differently. That's why we can't give you any general recommendations. The best thing to do is try out different types and see which application your headphones should suit the most. Often everyone has their own experiences and only finds the best headphones for themselves after a long trial and error.

Today we show you two new models that want to combine the most important positive properties of the previously mentioned variants. Namely the portability, the wearing comfort and the great sound. You can read here what these two Bluetooth headphones from Audio Technica can do:

Let's start with the smaller model first - the ATH-SR30BT.

 

ATH-SR30BT – The handy battery monster for long journeys

 

With a battery life of up to 70 hours, it is the perfect companion for long trips or car rides. So these Bluetooth headphones can last not only for several days, but even for several weeks with excessive music consumption. Its lightweight and foldable design is perfect for easy storage in a holdall or backpack.

In addition to its practical construction, it offers a comfortable fit, which is made possible by the memory foam padding used. Due to the shells lying over the ears, it has good noise isolation. In addition, the ATH-SR30BT Bluetooth headphones deliver good sound with both transparent mids and highs and a voluminous bass.

In addition to Bluetooth 5.0, the wireless over-ear headphones also support the codecs AAC and SBC.
The ATH-SR30BT will be available in stores from November 2018. It will be available in charcoal gray and natural gray. The RRP is €99 and a 30 cm USB charging cable is included.

 

 

ATH-SR50BT - For optimal wearing comfort with "Hear-Through" function

 

The ATH-SR50BT Bluetooth headphones are the big brother of the SR30BT. In addition to being extremely comfortable to wear, it offers a very good sound. The highs and mids are transparent and the lows are full. This natural and balanced sound image comes from the specially developed 45 mm driver.

As a special additional function, the ATH-SR50BT has the "Hear-Through" or the "Quick Hear-Through" mode. The "Quick-Hear-Through" mode can be activated with a simple push of a button on the headphones and allows ambient noise to pass through during this time. This is particularly useful when you are sitting at a train station, for example, and want to hear an announcement. In addition, the "Hear-Through" mode can also be activated permanently - either via the associated app or the touch function directly on the headphones - so the noise suppression is switched off permanently. When not in use, the Bluetooth headphones can be folded up and stowed away without any problems.

Control of the functions by built-in touch panel

Audio-Technica's ATH-SR50BT also has built-in touch sensors that can be controlled with simple touches or swipe gestures. For example, music functions or telephone calls can be operated intuitively.
The battery life is slightly lower than that of its smaller brother, the SR30BT, at around 28 hours. Nevertheless, this should be enough for a few days of continuous music consumption on the go or elsewhere. The Bluetooth headphones can also be operated without a battery using the supplied cable. The sound quality can even be improved by using the connection cable. The music formats aptX, AAC and SBC are also supported. Audio-Technica relies on Bluetooth 5.0, which is said to be even more energy-efficient than its predecessors.
The battery is charged using a normal USB cable (no type C). In addition to the 30cm long USB charging cable, a 1,2 meter long connection cable and a protective case are included in the scope of delivery.

The Audio-Technica ATH-SR50BT Bluetooth headphones will be available from November, just like its brother, with a suggested retail price of €199. Announced color variants are black and brown-grey for now.