Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Studio Headphones Review
The studio-standard wired headphones reviewers keep recommending a decade later.
Plug these in and you hear what's actually on the recording, not a flattering version of it. That honesty is why the ATH-M50x has outlasted a decade of trendier headphones.
What the ATH-M50x actually is
These are closed-back, wired studio monitor headphones that have been the unofficial entry point to serious audio since 2014. Audio-Technica aimed them at mixing engineers and people tracking in studios, which means the design goal was accuracy, not flattery. They come with three detachable cables: a coiled one, a long straight one, and a short straight one for portable use.
Price floats somewhere in the $130 to $170 range depending on color and sales. The classic black turns up cheapest. The white and limited colorways usually cost more, which is a strange tax for paint, but here we are.
How they sound day to day
The reputation is earned. The M50x leans toward a relatively flat, detailed signature with a firm low end that hits hard without drowning the mids. That makes them genuinely useful for editing audio, mixing a podcast, or just hearing the bass guitar that your earbuds buried. Owners consistently praise how much detail these pull out of decent recordings.
They are not warm and forgiving. Bright, harsh tracks can sound bright and harsh, because the headphones are doing their job. If you want a cozy, smoothed-over sound for casual listening, the Sony WH-1000XM5 or even the cheaper Audio-Technica M40x will please you more out of the box. The M50x rewards good source material and punishes bad MP3s.
Isolation is solid for a passive closed-back design. There's no active noise cancelling here, so a quiet office is fine but a loud train still leaks in. The flip side is no battery, no Bluetooth lag, and no firmware to update. They work the day you buy them and the day you sell them.
Comfort, build, and the annoying parts
Build quality is the reason these survive years of abuse. The headband and yokes feel sturdy, the earcups swivel and fold flat, and the detachable cable means a yanked cord doesn't kill the whole unit. Replacement earpads are cheap and easy to find, which extends the lifespan well past most wireless rivals.
The clamp is firm. New pairs grip your skull harder than some people like, and the stock pleather pads get warm during long sessions. Many owners swap in third-party velour or hybrid pads to fix both issues. The other complaint is dated: still no detachable USB-C or any wireless option on the standard M50x. Audio-Technica sells a separate M50xBT2 for that, and it's a worse value for pure sound.
Who should buy it, and who shouldn't
Buy the M50x if you record, mix, edit, or stream and need to trust what you hear. Buy it if you want one durable pair of wired headphones that will still work in five years. It's also a smart pick for anyone who hates charging things.
Skip it if you mostly want noise cancelling on flights, hate cables, or want a soft sound for relaxed listening. Frequent travelers are better served by wireless ANC models. And if budget is tight, the M40x gives you 80 percent of the experience for less money.
The verdict
The ATH-M50x remains the default recommendation for a reason. It sounds honest, it lasts, and it costs a fraction of pro reference cans while getting you most of the way there. The clamp and the lack of wireless are real gripes, not dealbreakers.
If you want accurate sound from a pair of headphones that won't be obsolete next year, this is still the one to beat under $200.
Frequently asked questions
- Are the ATH-M50x good for mixing and music production?
- Yes. Their relatively flat, detailed signature is why they're a long-running studio default for tracking, editing, and reference listening. Just remember they're closed-back, so for final mix decisions many engineers cross-check on open-back or monitor speakers too.
- Do the ATH-M50x have Bluetooth or noise cancelling?
- No. The standard M50x is wired with no active noise cancelling. If you need wireless, Audio-Technica sells the M50xBT2, but the wired version is the better value for pure sound quality.
- ATH-M50x vs M40x: which should I get?
- The M50x has more bass impact and slightly better detail and build, making it the choice for serious listening and production. The cheaper M40x is flatter and a great pick if you want studio accuracy on a tighter budget.
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