How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want open-ear comfort with LDAC high-resolution audio and marathon battery life, choose Amazon Renewed Soundcore; if you need active noise cancelling, a charging case and Star Wars flair, choose Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2DV.
• Amazon Renewed Soundcore — biggest strength: open-ear design with LDAC support, a 16.2mm titanium-coated diaphragm and up to 46 hours of playtime.
• Amazon Renewed Soundcore — biggest trade-off: no noise cancelling at all, and it's a renewed unit rather than a brand-new one.
• Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2DV — biggest strength: hybrid active noise cancelling with hear-through and talk-through modes, plus a charging case that extends total listening time.
• Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2DV — biggest trade-off: it uses Bluetooth 4 per the spec sheet, which sits well behind the Soundcore's Bluetooth 5.3.
• Who each pick is for: the Soundcore suits anyone who wants ears left open and long unplugged sessions; the Audio-Technica suits anyone who wants to shut the world out and likes the Darth Vader theme.
The AeroFit Pro is an open-ear headphone, which means the driver sits outside your ear canal rather than sealing it. In practice that changes everything about how you'd use it. You keep ambient awareness while you run, cycle or walk a busy street, and your ears don't get that plugged, sweaty feeling after an hour. The Soundcore's spec sheet backs this up with an ear-hook design in titanium, IPX5 water resistance, and a claimed 46 hours of playtime — with a 10-minute charge giving you roughly 11 hours back.
The audio side is where it earns its place in an LDAC conversation. LDAC is a Bluetooth codec that carries substantially more data than the standard SBC stream, and Soundcore pairs it with a 16.2mm titanium-coated dynamic driver covering 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz at 13.5 ohm impedance. Bluetooth 5.3 handles the wireless link, and app control lets you adjust the sound. There's also spatial audio and directional acoustics mentioned in the product materials, which is unusual for an open-ear shape.
Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2DV: Who It's For
This is a limited-edition Star Wars Darth Vader version of Audio-Technica's ATH-CKS50TW2 earbuds, and the theme runs deeper than a paint job. The earbuds play character-related audio alerts — breathing and lightsaber sounds — to signal power on and off, Bluetooth connection and disconnection, low battery and other states. If that sounds like a gimmick to you, it probably is a reason to look elsewhere. If you grew up on the films, it's a genuinely fun detail you'll hear several times a day.
Functionally, these are true in-ear earbuds with hybrid active noise cancelling that uses both feedforward and feedback processing. Audio-Technica says you get 25 hours of playback from the buds alone, or 40 additional hours from the charging case; with noise cancelling on, that drops to 15 hours from the buds plus 25 from the case. A 5-minute quick charge gives up to 90 minutes. The proprietary 9mm dynamic drivers cover 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz at 20 ohm impedance and 110 dB sensitivity, and the tuning emphasises enhanced bass.
Two features stand out for real-world use. First, Magnetic Switch technology: the earbuds have built-in magnets, and joining or separating them turns them off or on, so you can conserve power without the case when you're out. Second, multipoint pairing, which keeps you connected to two Bluetooth devices at once — laptop and phone, for example — without the usual disconnect-and-reconnect dance. There's also a customizable multifunction button for playback, volume, calls, voice assistant and ambience, Qi wireless charging support (charger sold separately), and IP5X dust plus IPX5 water resistance on the main body.
Who should buy it: commuters, flyers, and anyone who wants noise cancelling plus a case that tops up the battery in a pocket or bag. Also the collector who wants the Vader theme. Who should skip it: anyone who needs LDAC, anyone who dislikes in-ear tips, and anyone who wants the latest Bluetooth generation — the sheet lists Bluetooth 4 here, which is a real step back from the Soundcore's 5.3 for connection stability and efficiency.
• Best for LDAC high-resolution audio → Amazon Renewed Soundcore. LDAC is explicitly part of its feature set, paired with a 16.2mm titanium-coated diaphragm.
• Best for blocking out noise → Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2DV. Hybrid active noise cancelling with hear-through and talk-through modes, including during calls.
• Best for total battery life → Amazon Renewed Soundcore. Up to 46 hours claimed, and a 10-minute charge returns around 11 hours.
• Best for battery flexibility → Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2DV. A charging case, a 5-minute quick charge for up to 90 minutes, magnetic on/off to save power, and Qi wireless charging support.
• Best for staying aware of your surroundings → Amazon Renewed Soundcore. Open-ear, ear-hook design with nothing inserted in your canal.
• Best for switching between two devices → Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2DV. Multipoint pairing keeps two Bluetooth connections live at once.
• Best for newer wireless tech → Amazon Renewed Soundcore. Bluetooth 5.3 versus Bluetooth 4 on the Audio-Technica.
• Best for a themed, collectible set → Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2DV. Limited-edition Darth Vader styling with character audio alerts.
• Best for workout sweat → a toss-up, with a caveat. The Soundcore is rated IPX5; the Audio-Technica main body is IP5X for dust and IPX5 for water. Neither is rated for showers or baths.
In my opinion, the honest answer depends on one question: do you want your ears open or sealed? If you want LDAC, open-ear comfort and the longest runtime, I'd buy the Amazon Renewed Soundcore AeroFit Pro. Its LDAC support, titanium-coated 16.2mm driver and Bluetooth 5.3 make it the more forward-looking pick for high-resolution listening, and the renewed angle is a reasonable trade if you're comfortable with it.
If you want silence on a plane, a pocketable charging case and a bit of Star Wars personality, I'd buy the Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2DV instead. Just go in knowing it has no LDAC and runs Bluetooth 4. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding — both sit in very different places once you factor in what you're actually getting.
FAQ
LDAC is a Bluetooth audio codec that transmits roughly three times more data than the standard SBC codec, which allows higher-resolution audio to pass wirelessly from a compatible source to compatible headphones. In this comparison, the Amazon Renewed Soundcore AeroFit Pro explicitly supports LDAC; the Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2DV's spec sheet does not list it.
what is ldac support in headphones
"LDAC support" means the headphones can receive an LDAC stream from a phone or player that also supports it — both ends need it. When it's supported, you typically get richer detail from high-bitrate sources. If either device lacks it, playback falls back to a standard codec.
what is ldac codec in headphones
A codec is the method used to compress and send audio over Bluetooth. LDAC is one of the higher-data-rate options, and the Soundcore's feature list ties it directly to its 16.2mm titanium-coated diaphragm for what Soundcore describes as richer sound. Codec support is a spec, not a guarantee — the source device matters too.
what is ldac sony headphones
LDAC was developed by Sony and is most commonly associated with Sony's own headphones, but it isn't exclusive to them — other brands license it. That's why you'll see LDAC listed on non-Sony products like the Amazon Renewed Soundcore AeroFit Pro in this comparison.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.
See also: Reloop RH-2500 vs Amazon Renewed Audio-Technica ATH-M50x, Amazon Renewed TREBLAB C7 vs Sowmow Audio Glasses, Amazon Renewed Soundcore Q11i vs Hamwesh Clip