Audio Technica ATH-SQ1TW Review: Great Looks Even Better Sound!

Looking for stylish and affordable true wireless earbuds? The Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW might just be what you’re looking for. These earbuds offer a combination of great sound quality, passive noise isolation, and a chic design, all at an incredibly accessible price. In this review, we’ll take an in-depth look at whether the Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW deserves a spot on your list of the best cheap TWS or if there are better options out there.

Audio-Technica is a household name in the world of audio equipment, with their high-end headphones consistently earning top spots in guides for the best wireless headphones. It’s refreshing to see the brand expand into more affordable true wireless earbuds, particularly for consumers who want great sound without the high price tag. Granted, the ATH-SQ1TW doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of premium models, but for the price, it gets the basics right. Let’s dive into the details.

Specification Overview

Before getting into the nitty-gritty of performance, let’s first take a look at the specifications of the Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW:

• Brand: Audio-Technica
• Model: ATH-SQ1TW
• Design: True Wireless Stereo (TWS) Earbuds
• Driver Diameter: 5.8 mm
• Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
• Sensitivity: 100dB
• Impedance:16 ohm
• Battery Life:
  • Headphones: Max 6.5 hours
  • Charging case: Max 13.5 hours
  • Total: 19.5 hours
• Charging Time:
  • Headphones: Approx 1.5 hours
  • Charging case: Approx 2 hours
• Bluetooth Version: 5.0
• Codec Support: SBC
• Additional Features: IPX4 water resistance, low latency mode, Google Fast Pair support

With these specifications, the ATH-SQ1TW offers decent battery life, a solid build, and some interesting features, such as IPX4 water resistance and Google Fast Pair for Android devices.

Price and Availability

The Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW costs around $44 in the US and ₹4,220 in India. It is often available at a discounted price of around €45 on the official Audio-Technica website. It can also be found on major platforms like Amazon and Audiomaxx.

Considering their price range, they’re an excellent option for budget-conscious consumers who still want a reliable pair of true wireless earbuds. However, does the price-to-performance ratio justify their spot as some of the best cheap wireless headphones? Let’s find out.

Design and Comfort

One of the first things you’ll notice about the Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW is its design. The earbuds are almost squircle-shaped, with a protruding corner. This gives them a distinct, modern look. Despite their small size, it’s impressive how they manage to house all the electronics and batteries inside such a compact frame. The earbuds are made of matte black plastic, which feels sturdy and resistant, with the protruding bit made of semi-transparent plastic. The channel letters are engraved into the protrusion and double as status LEDs that light up in white.

The ATH-SQ1TW earbuds excel in comfort. Their lightweight and compact design allows them to fit comfortably in most ears, including those with smaller ear canals. It’s important to remember that the fit depends on the ear tips you choose, so we recommend trying the provided options to find the best fit for you. They stay secure during daily activities and workouts without causing discomfort. In my experience, I was able to wear them for extended periods without any strain on my ears.

One of the standout features of these earbuds is their passive noise isolation. They block out external noise extremely well, even without active noise cancellation (ANC). For example, when using them in a noisy gym, I was able to stay focused on my workout and the music without being distracted by background noise. In fact, I once used them as makeshift earplugs during a concert and noticed a significant reduction in noise – they worked surprisingly well!

The charging case is equally compact but a little on the thick side. Still, it’s small enough to slip into a pocket without much hassle. It features a USB-C port for charging and a small LED indicator to show charging progress. However, one design flaw is the lack of an indicator showing the remaining battery charge in the case.

Features

The Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW earbuds offer some basic yet useful features that enhance the overall user experience:

• Touch Controls: The touch controls on the earbuds allow you to control playback, skip tracks, answer calls, and adjust volume. The controls are simple, but you can’t customize them to your liking since there’s no app support. This can make them feel unintuitive initially, but with time, you’ll get used to the default configuration.
• Low Latency Mode: Low-latency mode reduces the delay between the video and audio if you enjoy watching videos or playing games. This feature worked well in my tests, keeping audio and video in sync, which is especially useful for gaming or watching movies on your commute.
• Hear-Through Function: This feature allows ambient sounds to pass through the earbuds, which is useful when you need to be aware of your surroundings. Unfortunately, it’s not the best execution. When activated, there’s a soft static noise, and the external sounds picked up by the microphones sound artificial. It’s still a nice feature to have, but it could be improved.
• IPX4 Rating: The ATH-SQ1TW is sweat and water-resistant, making it a good option for workouts or outdoor use.
• Google Fast Pair: Thanks to Google Fast Pair, connecting the earbuds to an Android phone is seamless. This feature speeds up the pairing process, making the buds ready to use as soon as you take them out of the case.

What’s Missing?

For the price, you don’t get some of the features that are standard on many competitors in this range, like ANC, app support for customizable controls or sound profiles, wireless charging, and on-ear detection to pause music automatically when an earbud is removed. The lack of these features might be a dealbreaker for some.

Battery Life

The Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW delivers solid battery life for its price. The earbuds offer up to 6.5 hours of continuous playback, while the charging case adds another 13.5 hours, for a total of 19.5 hours. During my tests, I found the earbuds sometimes exceeded the stated battery life, clocking in at around 7 hours of use per charge.

Charging Time:

It takes about 1.5 hours to fully charge the earbuds and 2 hours to charge the case. Unfortunately, there’s no wireless charging option, which is a minor drawback but understandable given the price.

Fast Charging:

If you’re low on battery, charging the earbuds for just 15 minutes will give you an additional hour of playback, which is a great feature for those who need a quick boost during the day.

Sound Quality and Performance

When it comes to sound quality, the Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW delivers a balanced audio profile that will suit most users. Equipped with 5.8mm dynamic drivers, the sound is loud and clear with excellent detail. Vocals come through crisp and well-defined, and instruments are clear across various genres. Whether you’re listening to music, podcasts, or watching videos, the audio quality is more than sufficient for casual listeners.

However, while the bass on the Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW is punchy and present, it doesn’t overpower the rest of the sound profile. The earbuds maintain a balance where the upper mid-range and treble frequencies take slight precedence, ensuring clarity in vocals and instrumentals. While it may not deliver the deep, booming bass that bassheads might crave, the bass response is still satisfying and well-suited for most listeners, especially for genres that emphasize clarity over heavy bass. 

The Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW earbuds may not include advanced codecs like AAC and aptX, nor do they offer audio tuning through an app. However, they compensate for this with their exceptional sound quality. In fact, we can confidently say that these are among the best-sounding earbuds available for under ₹10,000..

Noise Isolation:

Despite not having ANC, the snug fit of the earbuds provides excellent passive noise isolation. I found that they work well enough to drown out background noise during commutes or in noisy environments, which is a big plus considering their price.

Low Latency Mode:

This feature worked as advertised, significantly reducing the audio delay during gaming and video streaming. It’s a handy feature, especially for gamers or those who watch a lot of content on their phones.

Verdict

In conclusion, the Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW is a fantastic option for those looking for a reliable, stylish, and affordable pair of true wireless earbuds. They excel in areas like comfort, sound quality, and passive noise isolation, making them an excellent choice for workouts or casual listening. Battery life is decent, and including features like Google Fast Pair and low latency mode enhances the overall user experience.

That said, they do fall short in a few areas. The lack of ANC, app support, and some advanced features might be a drawback for some users, particularly those used to more feature-packed earbuds at this price point.

Ultimately, if you’re on a budget and prioritize comfort and sound quality over advanced features, the Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW is a solid choice. These are worth considering for gym-goers or commuters who want reliable, no-frills wireless earbuds.

FAQs

Also, read about:

Mivi Superpods Dueto Review: Are They Worth the Hype?

A Step-By-Step Guide to Resetting Your TWS Earbuds