Audio-Technica ATH-M50x

BY Cheap
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I own three types of the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x: the standard wired model, the ATH-M50xBT2 wireless bluetooth model, and the ATH-M50xSTS-USB model that has a boom mic and a USB connector. All three have my favorite sound profile. I bought the first (wired) pair for monitoring while recording location sound on film sets. However, they aren’t reference headphones, and in my opinion their sound profile isn’t quite flat enough to be ideal for that purpose. However, they now live at my desk, connected to my computer.

These are closed-back over-ear headphones, and they are extremely comfortable. The sound profile is perfect for music, and probably everything else. A subtle emphasis on the bass frequencies, yet detailed and accurate highs and mids. Not harsh, but also not particularly warm. Definitely not muddy.

I’ve had the standard wired headphones for more than 12 years. The ear pads and the headband are both made with some kind of faux leather, which eventually peels. I have replaced the ear pads once, and the second pair hasn’t started to peel. I hadn’t found a replacement for the headband, but when I went to the manufacturer’s web site to steal a photo, there’s a replacement right there (I’ll update after it comes in). The cable is easily removable, and I’ve never had any problems with it.

The BT2 model has the same sound profile. Plenty of battery life. They have a built-in microphone for taking phone/zoom calls, but I haven’t really tested it. If I have one complaint, it’s that the maximum volume isn’t as loud as it ought to be. It does come with a detachable cable, so it can be used wired.

I use the STS-USB model at work for zoom calls. The microphone is very good, supposedly the same capsule used in the AT2020 series medium-diaphragm microphones. Disappointingly, they put a mid-pass filter on it, which I suppose makes spoken speech more clear, but it’s a less accurate representation of the speaker’s voice. Still, it’s the best sounding boom mic I have found.

The ATH-M50x does not have Active Noise Cancellation (ANC).