Star Wars Headphone Review: Grogu, Mandalorian, R2-D2, and Darth Vader

Experience the galaxy with special edition headphones inspired by Star Wars characters. Dive into the details of Grogu, Mandalorian, R2-D2, and Darth Vader headphones!

Introduction: A Galaxy of Sound Awaits

What could be cooler than headphones that look like they’re straight from a galaxy far, far away? Obviously, headphones that capture the essence of Star Wars—from the crackling lightsaber to the iconic warble of a droid.

Ahead of the Star Wars Celebration starting on April 18, 2025, in Tokyo, Japan, the Star Wars brand has teamed up with Audio-Technica to launch four special headphones. TechRadar is here to give you an exclusive first look and an opportunity to try out all four designs.

The Headphones: A Special Collaboration

This collaboration has birthed four limited edition pairs of ATH-CKS50TW2 headphones, each uniquely styled. You can showcase your allegiance to the dark side or the rebels with models inspired by Darth Vader, R2-D2, Grogu, and the Mandalorian. And these aren’t just lookers: the Darth Vader headphones feature a glossy black finish reminiscent of the iconic helmet, while the R2-D2 headphones are painted in striking blue and white, equipped with special sound effects.

Unique Features and Pricing

TechRadar also notes that each box includes a special glossy sticker featuring the iconic character. The packaging itself is limited and special. You won’t have to break the bank to snag these limited-edition headphones—if you can get your hands on a pair of ATH-CKS50TW2 Star Wars-themed headphones, they’ll retail for $179.99, just $30 more than the standard version.

These headphones will be exclusively available at the Star Wars Celebration, so if you’re lucky enough to be in Tokyo, you’ll be among the first to get them. However, they will also be available in limited quantities directly from Audio-Technica starting April 21, 2025. They’re expected to ship no earlier than Star Wars Day on May 4.

Unboxing the Star Wars Headphones

We managed to unbox all four sets—R2-D2, Darth Vader, the Mandalorian, and Grogu. Keep scrolling to see a photo overview and unique details we uncovered while testing the headphones. If you’re already familiar with the ATH-CKS50TW2, these headphones boast the same feature set.

Character-Specific Designs

The individuality of each of the four characters shines through in their unique color schemes, starting with the body. The body primarily remains plastic, but the top cover is engraved with an iconic phrase associated with the character.

• Darth Vader: "It is your destiny."
• Mandalorian: "This is the way."
• R2-D2: "The droid you're looking for."
• Grogu: "Wherever I go, he goes."

The colors are also character-appropriate: Darth Vader sports a deep black, the Mandalorian is a lighter silver shade, R2-D2 is white with blue accents, and Grogu features two different shades of green. The design team truly took the time to pay homage to the characters.

Functionality and Design

The headphones come in a case and feature the same design as the standard ATH-CKS50TW2, including magnetic closure—a feature I definitely wish to see in more headphones.

For Grogu, the main body is green and light brown, while the ear tips are green. The package includes several ear tips, but the outside also has inscriptions in Aurebesh. Interestingly, the ear tips facing down bear another notable phrase: "The Child" on the left ear tip and "Little Bounty" on the right.

For the Mandalorian headphones, various shades of silver are used, with matte being the most popular color. The ear cups are dark gray, and the inscriptions are straightforward—"Mandalorian" on the left and "Bounty Hunter" on the right.

R2-D2's design is predominantly white with blue stripes on the sides and blue tips. The inscriptions on the body are equally concise, reading "R2-D2" on the left and "Astromech Droid" on the right.

However, it seems the Dark Side takes the crown in design. The Darth Vader headphones look quite impressive with their glossy black finish, and Audio-Technica has strategically added red accents. Most importantly, "The Force" is on the left, and "The Dark Side" is on the right—how cool is that? They simply look fantastic.

Special Sounds and Interactivity

While the companion app for Android or iOS is not yet updated for these headphones, it will feature a skin to match them. Now, beyond the design, you'll be delighted by special sounds that will add a little Star Wars flavor to your day.

However, there's an interesting point to note considering these are upgraded ATH-CKS50TW2s. The case does not include a speaker, so custom sounds are played only through the headphones, which might be a bit hard to hear at first.

Audio-Technica has tuned a signal that plays through the headphones when you take them out of the case or put them back in, as well as for other functions like noise cancellation or ambient mode.

With Darth Vader, you’ll hear the lightsaber ignite and the infamous deep breathing. Pressing the button on Vader’s headphones plays the lightsaber pulsing sound. While I couldn’t get it to work, a low battery triggers a red alert sound, which certainly raises the stakes.

For Grogu, you’ll hear a sound akin to a capsule opening or closing, alongside some of the signature sounds known from the Child. This sound, mimicking an opening or closing capsule or door, is the same as in *The Mandalorian* when you first take him out of the case, and pressing the button to activate the mode sounds like a credit chip being tossed on a table—or perhaps the sound of Beskar scraping.

However, my favorite has to be R2-D2. You’ll hear his famous beeps when you first put on these headphones and connect to them, but when you disconnect, we’re treated to his iconic wails. It’s simply delightful. Imagine when the app is fully functional and you can customize the sounds!

Conclusion: The Ultimate Collector's Item

Below, you can see a full photo gallery featuring Grogu, R2-D2, Darth Vader, and the Mandalorian ATH-CKS50TW2 headphones. If you’re lucky enough to attend the Star Wars Celebration, you can purchase them in person, and if you’re in the U.S. and want to try your luck, keep an eye out for them when they go on sale at Audio-Technica.

• What are the key features of the Star Wars headphones? They feature unique designs based on iconic characters, special sound effects, and a limited edition packaging.
• When will these headphones be available for purchase? The headphones will be available at Star Wars Celebration on April 18, 2025, and from Audio-Technica from April 21, 2025.
• How much do the Star Wars headphones cost? The limited edition headphones are priced at $179.99.
• Do they have any special sound effects? Yes, each pair features unique sound effects related to the character, enhancing the listening experience.
• What’s the difference between these and the standard ATH-CKS50TW2 headphones? The limited edition version has custom designs, special sound effects, and character-themed phrases.

Shop your favorite album cover poster at our store here!