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Audio-Technica adds Alexa to its famed flagship headphones
- The Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 features an improved microphone system and integrated Amazon Alexa.
- The headset also supports Bluetooth multipoint, allowing listeners to connect the headset to two devices at once.
- The Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 are available to order today, and retail for $199.
Audio-Technica has updated its flagship Bluetooth headphones with improved vocal pickup, support for audio streaming over the high-quality LDAC and AAC Bluetooth codecs, and multipoint connectivity. The ATH-M50xBT2 retain the same overall design as the first-generation headset, but this time around, the company retired the micro-USB port for the more modern USB-C input.
Amazon Alexa is baked into the headset via the button on the left ear cup, and you can even opt for a different assistant like Google Assistant or Siri. If you’re a gamer, the headset supports a low-latency mode. Meanwhile, daily conference callers will appreciate the sidetone effect that allows the speaker to hear their own voice while on a call.
The controls located on the left ear cup make it easy to adjust the volume, answer or end calls, mute the microphone, and control music playback. The headset also supports “Fast Pair,” which lets listeners connect the headphones to Android OS devices with a tap.
Just like the classic wired ATH-M50x, these headphones house 45mm dynamic drivers. You can expect the same pleasant frequency response as the wired and original wireless headsets. Anyone with a penchant for tinkering can adjust the sound quality from the A-T Connect app’s equalizer, though most people will be perfectly happy with the default sound profile. The app also gives users the option to affect left/right channel balance, find the headphones, select a preferred Bluetooth codec, and more.
The M50xBT2 offer up to 50 hours of continuous playback, a 10-hour improvement from before, and they support fast charging. Just 10 minutes of charging provides 180 minutes of playtime, which is more than enough to get through most roundtrip commutes. Don’t forget these double as wired headphones too: should the battery deplete or you want to enjoy lag-free, lossless audio, you can plug the included cable into your device’s headphone jack.
The Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 come with a USB-C cable, 1.2-meter cable, and a carrying pouch. The headphones are available in black and retail for $199.
