Open-back headphones are usually wired, gloriously spacious, and completely uninterested in keeping your music private. Audio-Technica has decided to loosen that definition with the new ATH-AL5NC Open-Back Wireless Headphones, which add Bluetooth, noise reduction, and a feature intended to make your questionable playlist less public.
Specially designed 53 mm dynamic drivers deliver the wide, natural soundstage expected from open-back cans. Wireless audio supports LDAC at up to 24-bit/96 kHz, along with AAC and SBC, so you can enjoy high-resolution listening without being physically tethered to your equipment rack.
Since open-back headphones deliberately allow sound in and out, the ATH-AL5NC includes noise reduction for cutting down distractions such as traffic and air-conditioning hum. It works in wireless and wired modes. Sound Leakage Reduction mode, meanwhile, attempts to avoid disturbing nearby people, although Audio-Technica warns that higher volumes will still be audible. The laws of acoustics remain undefeated.
The headphones weigh 240 g (8.5 oz.) and offer up to 75 hours of playback, dropping to 50 hours with noise reduction enabled. Fifteen minutes of charging provides up to eight hours of listening, or five hours with noise reduction.
Multipoint pairing, a built-in microphone, low-latency mode, adjustable EQ, and relaxing Soundscape audio are also onboard. A 1.2 m (3.9-foot) cable and carrying pouch are included.
The Audio-Technica ATH-AL5NC is available now for US$279.
Images: Audio-Technica.