Audio-Technica has released its first ever pair of wireless open-backed headphones in the ATH-AL5NC.
This new launch builds on a line-up already established through the R-Series for music production and the recently expanded ADX Series for audiophile listening, with the ATH-AL5NC extending Audio-Technica’s open-back design into wireless territory for the first time.
Specially designed 53mm dynamic drivers produce the detailed soundstage associated with open-back listening, while the open housing improves airflow around the earcups compared with sealed, closed-back alternatives that trap more heat during long sessions.
That focus on comfort extends to the build itself, with the ATH-AL5NC weighing 240 grams, so listeners can wear these headphones for hours without a break.
Wireless use is backed by a battery life of up to a massive 75 hours, and a 15-minute charge restores up to 8 hours of playback when the battery does run flat.
A multipoint pairing function keeps the headphones linked to two Bluetooth devices at the same time, while support for LDAC enables 24-bit/96kHz high-resolution audio over a wireless connection.
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If you choose to use the headphones through a wired and not wireless connection, the Audio-Technica includes a 1.2 metre cable with a 3.5mm stereo mini-plug and its own in-line microphone, while the headphones’ built-in microphone covers calls made over Bluetooth.
Beyond the hardware, the A-T Connect mobile app extends the ATH-AL5NC with a low-latency mode for gaming and video, an EQ, and a soundscape function that layers ambient sounds over music for focus or relaxation.
A noise-reduction function sits on the right earcup and stays active even when listeners plug in the supplied cable. The app also unlocks a Sound Leakage Reduction mode aimed at open-back headphones used in shared spaces, though Audio-Technica notes that leakage cannot be eliminated entirely at higher volumes and that the mode does alter the sonic signature of the headphones.
The ATH-AL5NC is available now, priced at £219 / €249 / $279 / $499 AU dollars. We don’t see many wireless open-back headphones aside from the Grado GW100x, which still command a price of £249 / $279 despite launching several years ago, so these less headphones could give Grado more of a robust challenge.
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