Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
Audio Technica’s ATH-M50x
With over 50 years of history and experience in the audio industry, Audio-Technica has become a king in the audio world. They have earned their reputation by producing high-quality audio products that have gained particular success within the music production niche.
One set of products that have become a staple among music producers and audio enthusiasts, is their line of professional studio monitoring headphones, the M-Series. The most renowned product in this line has become the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x studio headphones which are frequently the top choice and highly recommended for many music producers.
At $149 (click here to see current price), the ATH-M50x headphones are at a sweet spot that makes them affordable enough for the average producer, and expensive enough to provide a standard of quality that meets the needs of most producers and audio enthusiasts. However, at this affordable price, the market for headphones is very competitive, competing with other major brands such as Sennheiser, Sony, Beyerdynamic, and AKG.
With all the competition at this price-point, we wondered what it was about Audio-Technica’s ATH-M50x that has made them rise above the competition in popularity and become one of the most highly recommended headphones and brands in the music production world. We spent some time with the ATH-M50x headphones and set out to see what the hype was all about.
Comfort and Build
After placing the ATH-M50x on your ears, you’ll note that they’re pretty comfortable. The top band is flexible and made with a soft material. The soft pads on the swiveling earcups fit nicely over your ears and will remain pretty comfortable for most listeners, although you shouldn’t expect to be getting the most comfortable studio headphones on the market.
If you have large ears or a larger head you might experience some discomfort as they can feel tight with downward pressure from the headband and inward pressure from the earcups. If you have a larger head and ears and are concerned about comfort, we encourage you to check out this article which may present you with some better options for comfort.
The main criticism of the ATH-M50x in terms of design is, although they’re decently comfortable for most listeners, they do feel a little fragile.
The fragility seemed to be due to heavy reliance on plastic. It’s important to stress that these headphones aren’t prone to damage as such, but it does indeed feel like it. However, considering their price, we didn’t really expect more than that. Although the design may seem slim and probably not the toughest, this another attribute which keeps these headphones lighter than average and serves to enhance the comfort of the ATH-50x.
Audio-Technica also maintains their highly appealing appearance with their slim and sleek design. This is opposite to one of their biggest competitors. Sennheiser’s HD280 Pro headphones, for example, primarily focus on toughness, durability, and utility in the studio rather than comfort and style as found with the ATH-M50x.
Crowd-Pleasing Design
The ATH-M50x is indeed pleasing to the eye. In our opinion, they’re the most attractive pair of studio headphones at their price point. The slim design, attention to detail, including the inside metal band and the aluminum highlights keeps these headphones looking very stylish both in and out of the studio.
They are also available in several colors including black, white, blue, and gun-metal. Audio-Technica’s design decisions make it clear that they wanted to produce headphones in their M-series that would appeal to both listeners inside and outside of music production.
Perfect For Travel
Another testament to Audio-Technica designing headphones with mainstream appeal is how portable the ATH-M50x are. The ATH-M50x have a collapsible design, allowing them to quickly fold and unfold. They will easily fit in most bags and demand very little space.
They also have a detachable 3.5mm jack, which can host the included cables: one coiled 1/8″ TRS-TRS which easily extends from under four feet to well over nine feet, and one 1/8″ TRS-TRS straight cable at 3’9″ long. These features make the ATH-M50x perfect for travel.
What about the sound?
Audio-Technica didn’t earn their reputation by just creating good-looking products. These headphones also deliver excellent sound quality at their price. The higher frequencies and treble are surprisingly neutral and smooth on the ATH-M50x with no obvious overly pronounced frequencies that are harsh or irritating on the ears. You’ll have no problem hearing a detailed sizzle on drums and the crisp grit of a guitar.
As you go continue down the frequency spectrum, the midrange on the ATH-M50x also remains pretty neutral. Instruments and vocals have excellent definition with minimal coloration. However, as you creep into the lower frequencies the ATH-M50x’s sound starts to lose its neutrality, and this is what ultimately makes the ATH-M50x a polarizing pair of headphones for better or worse.
Boosted Bass
We noticed that the bass on the ATH-M50x was more prominent than most studio headphones at this price point. The bass extends to 15Hz, which allows the ATH-M50x to serve as a valuable reference and tool for hearing the lowest of frequencies in the mix. However, if you’re looking to use the ATH-M50x as your primary mix tool, the bass boost present in these headphones will likely harm your mix judgment, and you’re bound to end up with tracks that lack bass if you choose to mix with the ATH-M50x.
The boosted bass with these headphones is another example of Audio-Technica’s attempt to appeal to casual listeners. Let’s be real; bass is overrated, but the question casual listeners often ask is “But, how’s the bass bro?”. People love their bass.
It’s interesting to know that the ATH-M50x has actually gained a popular reputation as an alternative to the bass-heavy Beats by Dre headphones. There are actually several similarities between the two which go beyond the boosted bass. They’re both stylish closed-back headphones available in multiple colors, great for casual listening and travel and offering great appeal to casual listeners.
What else should I know?
The ATH-M50x’s stereo imaging and soundstage isn’t as detailed and wide as it could be, but this should come as no surprise as these headphones are of a closed-back design. Nonetheless, they will still offer satisfying stereo imaging for most listeners.
Considering their closed-back design, when it comes to noise and isolation, the ATH-M50x could probably do a better job at keep sound in. The main reason is their shallow cup, which can unfortunately negatively affect the listening experience while commuting, for example. No, they’re not horrible in this direction. However, you should expect some noise invading the ear cups, especially low-end sound.
There is some leakage as well, but it isn’t excessive, by any means. They can be used in an office environment, but listening to them to a slightly high volume will make them reveal their higher frequencies. Because of this, they’re also far from the best headphones when it comes down to recording and tracking vocals.
Who should buy the ATH-M50x?
Audio-Technica’s ATH-M50x is often purchased by young in-experienced producers on a budget who want an affordable pair of studio headphones. The problem is, they often fall for the style of these headphones and neglect its sound attributes and how useful they would be during music production, especially when it comes to mixing and mastering.
The bottom line is, there are simply better options if you want headphones that are strictly for studio-use. Regarding neutral sound, it still appears that Sennheiser may be king. It’s not to say that having flat sound is everything, but it’s clear that the ATH-M50x were designed to ensure an enjoyable listening experience with casual listeners, rather than just for strict studio applications such as monitoring.
The ATH-M50x is a solid purchase if your priority is beyond the studio. One way to look at these headphones is as a middle ground between stylish hyped headphones designed for casual listening such as Beats by Dre, and neutral studio headphones such as the Sennheiser HD280 Pro. In other words, Beats by Dre + Sennheiser HD280 = ATH-M50x. This may be a bold statement, but if you’re familiar with these two headphones, you really are getting something in-between the two.
Final Thoughts
Regarding the “bang for the buck” – there are no regrets at all with these pair of headphones. Audio-Technica’s price to value ratio with the ATH-M50x is excellent. After our careful review of Audio-Technica’s ATH-M50x, we can clearly see why they are so popular. While they may not be the most balanced in terms of sound, we see them as a very balanced pair in overall terms, bridging the gap between studio headphones and stylish consumer headphones.
Having a pair of headphones that can appeal both to the studio producer and the casual listener has allowed Audio-Technica to soar into dominance. If you’re caught in this gap and want the best of both worlds, then we would definitely recommend these headphones for you.
What are your thoughts? Feel free to let us know in a comment below or reach us on our Twitter or our Instagram.
