Audio-Technica ATH-CK2000Ti Review

750 bucks is a tricky price point. For this kind of cash, you’re expecting something spectacular. At the same time, you’re competing with brands like Shure, Sennheiser and Campfire Audio who have their slightly more expensive flagship models in the $1000 price range. Can the relatively affordable CK2000Ti compete with more established buds under $1000? Let’s find out in this Audio-Technica ATH-CK2000Ti Review.

IN the BOX

FIT

The CK2000Ti is great for folks who hate to fiddle with an around-the-ear memory wire. And you won’t lose any sound isolation going with this particular pop-in design. They’re on par with Shure and Westone in this respect, though they’re not as dainty, and I actually appreciate the solid feel of the metal.

DESIGN

The CK2000Ti employs dual dynamic drivers that are housed with pure titanium to reduce resonance. I actually think you could run over these things with your car, and the IEMs would be fine.

MMCX connectors can be a pain to swap. But because the connectors are thick, these buds lock and unlock quickly and easily. In the box, you’ll also find a balanced cable with a 4.4mm connection. Unfortunately, most DAPs and DACs only accept a 2.5mm balanced connection, so you might have to get an adapter.

Frequency range is from 5 - 45,000 Hz. So, in theory, you can expect extended lows and highs. These buds are also pretty easy to drive, with an impedance of 10 Ohms and a sensitivity of 100 dB.

SOUND

Overall Impressions: Powerful bass, extended highs.

Lows

We’ve got forward leaning lows here. Listening to pop, you’ll certainly get sufficient impact. And these buds also have some serious sub frequencies. So, the CK-2000Ti works great for hip-hop as well.  Listening to cellos in this range, the instrument was on the smoother side. So, it’s not a particularly tight sound, but rock tracks produced a lot of warmth in the low end.

Mids

The lower mids often seem overshadowed by the bass frequencies and upper mids. So, this isn’t a thoroughly even and present midrange. That being said, vocals don’t sit too far forward and you’ll still get some meat in your sandwich when listening to rock and pop-rock tracks. Strings have a good amount of detail. But it’s not an incredibly dry or textured sound, and instruments generally lean towards the smoother and lighter side of the spectrum. Listening to acoustic guitar strums, separation was good, even in the lower mids. And, in general, folk tracks work well with these buds.

Highs

Again, listening to strings in this range, clarity is good, but the instruments lack a little body. So, I was missing some of that nuance in timbre that I’d get from a slightly higher priced IEM like the Shure SE846 and Campfire Andromeda. Listening to pop tracks, percussion was quite bright, revealing some of the IEMs extended highs. In fact, it was a little too “sparkly” for me, but as long as you’re not sensitive to higher frequencies, you’re probably fine.

Soundstage

A decent soundstage for the price. The imaging is quite clean and there’s a good sense of width height and depth. Agains, perhaps it’s not as spacious or dimensional as slightly higher priced models, but that 3D feel is there.

SUMMARY

If you like big lows and glistening highs, this might be a sound signature for you. Pop, hip-hop and even folk works well on the CK2000Ti. That being said, people who listen to all genres might prefer something a little more evenly balanced, like the marginally more expensive Shure SE846 or Sennheiser IE800S. And certainly, if this is your first high-end IEM purchase, I'd consider getting something more versatile.

Get Audio Technica  ATH-CK2000Ti In-Ear Headphones at Audio46.

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