Review: Audio-Technica CKM-50 Earphones Bring Music To My Ears

Posted by: weiganla on Oct 22 2008

My iPod gets some pretty intense use, so having earphones I like is critical. There are hundreds of options out there, and even if a lot of them are either very expensive or total junk, I’ve noticed enough moderately priced sets from quality manufacturers that I decided it was time to upgrade. Besides, the freebies that came in the box tend to slip out of my ears at really annoying times.

I’m not going to pretend to be an audiophile, but I know what sounds and feels good to me. Audio-Technica’s CKM-50s do both, and with USBfever.com offering them for $54.99 they won’t break the bank.

I’ve spent a little time painstakingly jamming rock-hard canal earphones into the side of my head, only to have them fall out two minutes later so I’d have to repeat the whole uncomfortable process. But they sounded so good! The CKM-50s are a hybrid canal/earbud-style, with a speaker that sits down in the ear canal for better sound and a round neck that perches in the outer ear for fit and comfort. Imagine the iPod earbuds growing a rubbery nubbin from the speaker, and you’ll get the idea. I was interested to see whether the new hybrid design would give me the best of both worlds.

Fit

Here’s a closer look at the design. My weird anatomical fact of the day is that your ear canals go forward into your head, so that’s the left earphone in the picture.

Earphones are like a good pair of shoes: if they don’t fit right, all of the snazzy features just make them more expensive junk. The CKM-50s sound best, especially in the bass ranges, when you get a good seal in the ear canal. They include 3 sets of rubbery earpieces — small, medium, and large — to help customize the fit. The visible bell-shaped part of the earpieces is actually fairly thin, so they have enough give for comfort but still seal well against the sides.

Sound

While the included iPod earbuds aren’t bad for freebies, the difference in the sound between them and the CKM-50s is huge. If Apple’s free set sounds like a denim blue, the Audio-Technicas are shimmery gold. They have a bright, clean sound with less bass emphasis. They’re amazing on Mozart, less so on Metallica, but I still found the bass adequate — and very possibly truer to life.

The sound was crisp and clear, and I could hear new shadings in almost every song. However, I was most impressed by the stage. For a relatively inexpensive pair of earphones, the CKM-50s do a remarkable job of creating the illusion that the music is coming from a large space, maybe three or four feet wide, instead of two tiny speakers.

Function

The Audio-Technica CKM-50s have a Y-shaped cord with equal lengths of wire between the split and the left and right speakers. Although J-shaped cords have become more popular, I definitely prefer the Y: I can wear my iPod on either side, and the more even weight balance helps keep both speakers in my ears. Overall, the cord is 0.6 m long, which is perfect for carrying the iPod in an armband or a shirt pocket. I’m tall, though, and it’s a few inches too short to reach to my pants pocket level. Audio-Technica includes an extension cable, but at 1 m it gives me way more length than I need.

As long as I wear an armband, the CKM-50s are terrific for working out. No extra cord swinging everywhere, and more importantly the design is great for keeping the earphones from falling out. These are not noise-canceling earphones, but thanks to the ear canal seal, they cut external sound better than regular earbuds and your music is well-contained instead of blaring at the guy three treadmills over.

The final accessory in the box is a little drawstring carrying pouch. It’s nothing to write home about, but it’s handy to have on the road. When you see these Audio-Technicas in person, you’ll understand why I like to keep mine shiny and safe. They’re a sharp-looking set of earphones, and if white isn’t your color USBfever also carries them in black and red.

  

Conclusion

Audio-Technica’s CKM-50 earphones are a huge step up from Apple’s included set in terms of sound, comfort, and usability in a mobile lifestyle. You could easily pay a lot more and not see much added improvement. If you’re looking for a first earphone upgrade, make the Audio-Technica CKM-50s your first stop.

What I Liked: Lovely clear sound, very comfortable, secure fit

What I Would Change: Slightly longer cord, a tiny bit more bass

Where To Get Them:

USBfever, Audio-Technica CKM-50 Earphones in white, black, or red, $54.99 + $2.99 USD shipping (per order, worldwide)

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