Open-back headphones have always come with a sort of unwritten contract. Of course, you get that airy, speaker-like soundstage, but in return, you have to stay tethered to your desk oryour amp, and the mercy of everyone within earshot.
Audio-Technica has spent years building out its wired open-back catalog, from the studio-focused R-Series to the audiophile-grade ADX line, but its wireless offerings stayed strictly closed-back. That changes today with the ATH-AL5NC, the brand’s first-ever wireless open-back headphones.
Cutting the Cord Without Closing the Back
Behind those honeycomb grilles sits a pair of specially designed 53mm dynamic drivers with a frequency response stretching from 20Hz all the way to 40kHz.
The AL5NC streams high-resolution 24-bit/96kHz audio over LDAC (with AAC and SBC on board too), while multipoint pairing keeps you connected to your laptop and phone simultaneously. There’s no re-pairing dance required.
Built for the Marathon, Not the Commute
Now, nobody should be wearing open-backs on the subway anyway, and Audio-Technica leaned into that reality. At just 240 grams, roughly half a pound, with earpads that rest on your head with essentially zero clamping force, these are engineered for the all-day listener working (or gaming) from home.
Then there’s the battery. A ridiculous 75 hours of continuous playback per charge, and a 15-minute top-up nets you another eight hours. You could realistically charge these twice a month.
Software Picking Up Where Physics Left Off
Open housings leak sound in both directions, so Audio-Technica addressed the design’s inherent tradeoffs digitally. A noise reduction mode (not full ANC, physics won’t allow it) tames ambient hum at the press of a button, while a Sound Leakage Reduction mode keeps your music from broadcasting to the whole household.
The CONNECT app rounds things out with EQ control, a low-latency gaming mode, and a wired fallback via the included 3.5mm cable with in-line mic.
Spec Sheet
Model: Audio-Technica ATH-AL5NC
Type: Open-back dynamic, wireless
Drivers: 53mm dynamic
Frequency Response: 20Hz to 40,000Hz
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3 (multipoint) & wired 3.5mm
Codecs: LDAC (24-bit/96kHz), AAC, SBC
Battery Life: Up to 75 hours (50 with noise reduction)
Quick Charge: 15 minutes for 8 hours
Weight: 240g (8.5oz)
Colors: Black
Pricing & Availability
The ATH-AL5NC is available now, priced at a surprisingly reasonable $279 and shipping with a 1.2m cable and carrying pouch.
Recap
Audio-Technica ATH-AL5NC
Audio-Technica finally cuts the cord on open-back listening with its first wireless open-back headphones, packing hi-res LDAC audio and an absurd 75-hour battery into a featherweight 240-gram package.
