Audio-Technica has always been considered one of the favorite and dominant brands in the mid-range and this has possibly led to their ATH-M50x becoming one of the older bestsellers of the professional audio industry. We will show you the reasons for this success below.
The €100-€200 range in professional audio has a huge variety of devices competing for leadership. Brands such as Denon, Beyerdynamic, AKG, Sony, Sennheiser and even the monstrous Beats headphones They have always been putting all their efforts into trying to dominate this most in-demand price range.
But, curiously, after 6 years on the market, the Audio-Technica ATH-M50X took the crown, consolidating itself practically from the beginning in the top sales. We are looking at the headphones «all-rounder» perfect, since we could say that It doesn't stand out in any one aspect, but it shines in all of them at the same time..
Design and user experience
At first glance, it can be seen that it is not the ideal headset to teach other people, since Its aesthetics are possibly one of the poorest that exists among its competitors, and even some of the brand itself such as the Audio-Technica ATH-MSR7. Obviously this is a matter of taste, but It is strongly reminiscent of the classic and bland headphones used in the studio..
It should not be forgotten that these headphones are not intended for use on the street, as they are primarily intended for professionals or studios. This, in turn, is an advantage, since their construction makes them very comfortable. The Bluetooth version (ATH-M50xBT) is recommended for use on the street.
With a structure mainly in plastic, gives the impression of being relatively fragile and shock-sensitive headphones. The quality of the polymer gives a noticeably higher feeling of robustness to any mid-low range product.
Still, we would have preferred a much more thoughtful headset in this regard, given that the weight of these is not as critical compared to wireless versions more designed for those who use them on the move, with a tendency more towards lightweight plastic.
Sound quality
The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x are designed to cover the widest possible audience with sound that will fit perfectly into all styles of music and even other more domestic applications, such as video games. That is why we said that it was an "all-rounder" designed from the outset to dominate the market.
If we have to highlight a negative point, we will find it in the eminently vocal pieces, given that, being a headset so focused on generalizing the sound, it is not capable of capturing the variations with such precision, which results in a somewhat artificial acoustic aspect in the voices.
Any sound expert will easily notice that it does not stand out in anything, with a few very soft highs and some sounds not too intense bassFor some, this will be a weakness, but for the vast majority of users Buy this headset for its quality/price ratio It will be a success.
Noise isolation and comfort
As we have been saying, the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x are comfortable headphones, designed to be used professionally for long hours. They offer a Endless adjustments to the head and very comfortable pads that fit precisely and They isolate perfectly.
Another curious element that is not usually seen in this range is that its Sides can be folded, therefore, it will be easier to store them in their case than conventional headphones, and the space they occupy will be minimal for easy transport.
Connections and equipment
The ATH-M50x version does not have Bluetooth, so they released the ATH-M50xBT to use them wirelessly. These headphones offer the Possibility of exchanging cables, which is very positive, since it is usually the first thing that breaks and you have to re-solder the connections to continue enjoying them. In the box we can find three different cables:
- A rigid cable of one meter and 20 centimeters.
- Another one and a half metre corrugated cable, capable of stretching to reach twice its length.
- And finally, a three-meter rigid cable.
In addition, we can find a 6.3 mm jack adapter and both the corrugated cable and the three-meter cable have the necessary thread to be able to attach said adapter.
Who do we recommend the ATX-M50x to?
With a headset as versatile as the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x, we could say that we are looking at a Perfect device for all audiences without major exceptions. Obviously, if we have a particular interest in strong bass or a more balanced sound in the voices, this will be a poor choice.
As is often the case with this type of popular headphones, they have received a lot of criticism precisely because of these flaws. However, they have become an easy recommendation for those who have the budget and don't want to complicate their lives too much.
In general terms, we could conclude that if you are starting your own studio, or you want some Very high quality headphones for home use at a moderate price, the ATH-M50x are a great choice.
It is also true that, as we mentioned at the beginning, the Audio-Technica ATH-MSR7 are a viable alternative, aimed at being used in a wider range of commercial options and with a significantly superior aesthetic for a price that is practically equivalent at this time.
We also found the Audio-Technica ATH-M40X, which, despite being the inferior model, in most technical comparisons stands out as a viable, cheaper alternative and with very little noticeable differences.
Among other brands at a similar price, we find the Beyerdynamic DT770 (closed version of the DT990) that surpass the M50x in several aspects, at a similar price. Sony WH 1000XM3 They are highly recommended, but the price is higher.