Audio-Technica Makes a Big Push into the Game Streaming and Competitive Gaming Audio Segments

Known more for its audiophile-grade headphones, Audio-Technica this CES announced a big push into two distinct markets—the creator market led by game streamers; and the competitive gaming market. For creators and game streamers, the company announced variants of its popular headphones such as the ATH-M50x, with attached 10 mm condenser microphones, turning them into streaming-grade headsets, such as the ATH-M50xSTS (analog) and the ATH-M50xSTS-USB (USB). The company also revealed standalone microphones for streaming sets, in the form of the ATR-2100x-USB, the AT2020USB-X. For the podcasting and radio-show communities, the company launched the AT2040 and AT02020, a set of boom armature-suspended high-grade mics.

Gamers are in for a treat, as Audio-Technica is now firmly into the gaming headset territory, with the ATH-G1 (wired analog) and ATH-G1WL (wireless). Both feature 45 mm high-end drivers from the ATH-M40x, a sound-stage that’s tuned for a variety of gaming use-cases, weight reductions wherever possible, to improve extended use, and an in-line volume stock. The wireless version comes with buttons on the earcup, uses a proprietary 2.4 GHz RF wireless tech, and its battery offers 15 hours of use on a full charge. The ATH-G1 is priced at $169, and the ATH-G1WL at $249. The ATH-GDL3 is a wired analog headset for console gaming, with similar 45 mm drivers and a gaming soundstage, but is considerably lighter, and priced at $129.