Part of “Stories w/ Stu”
Greetings mate and Welcome aboard! Stuart Charles here, HomeStudioBasics.com helping YOU make sound decisions, so…
Before we get into the Audio Technica ATH M50x review, grab a snack, sit back and relax because…
You’ve come to the right place!
Video Discussion
Introduction
It’s hard to believe I first put these on my big head all the way back in 2013.
At that time, there was no M50x. It was simply the M50.
The difference is that the 50x improved upon the treble issue present in the original but also added a removable cable, a choice of different colors, and contoured ear cups that seal tighter for improved isolation.
I did get a chance to demo the 50x around 2014, but never owned one.
My friend Thomas had just bought a pair, and I got a chance to try them at his pad.
They were all the rage back then and in many ways still are.
I can confirm that the treble was handled much better, which only improved upon an already fantastic product.
I still feel that way today.
The 50x is just about the most polarizing headphone in the audiophile community.
Heck, it’s one of the most polarizing products, period – perhaps even more so than the Sennheiser HD600.
It’s the type of headphone you’ll either love or hate, but I’ve never understood the pushback it’s gotten over the years.
In this article, I’ll explain why.
Let’s take a gander at one of the most popular headphones ever made and find out if it’s still worth a purchase in today’s market. We’ll cover your most frequently asked questions, discuss the build, comfort, sound, amplification needs, genre pairing, and more.
By the time you’re finished reading this article, you’ll know if the M50x is right for you. If it isn’t, I’ll point you in the direction of something that is.
Deal?
Cool.
Let’s dive in…
Why Are The M50X Headphones So Popular?
In short, because they sound great. Their resolution is on par with many audiophile headphones, the bass is handled extremely well, they’re built like a tank, and the price is right like Bob Barker.
As of today, the 50x gets a 4.7 out of over 27,000 reviews on Amazon. This is not by accident, and we’ll discuss their sound more deeply in a bit.
For now, let’s hit build and comfort.
Build & Comfort
First, these are built deceptively well, and certainly better than their M40x counterpart.
The M40x had issues with the hinge because it didn’t fully rotate around.
In other words, it snapped under pressure like Henry Hill in Goodfellas.
The M50x’s hinges fully rotate, and I’m still impressed with how tough these things are.
They certainly went through a lot in the 5 years that I owned them from 2013 – 2018, and anything you can think of, I’ve probably experienced with them.
They’ve been dropped, tossed, stuffed in book bags, and the cord has been pulled and run over more times than I’m comfortable admitting, but they still somehow always asked for more like Mick Foley.
They were heavy enough that I didn’t worry about breaking them, but light enough to remain portable.
The build is mostly plastic, but it’s a rugged variety similar to an HD280 but not quite as bulky.
The headband adjustments are metal and make a satisfying clicking sound.
The earcups are made of faux leather, which brings me to my first complaint: They will crack, peel, and harden after a couple of years, so users beware.
Fortunately, they are replaceable, so it’s still a good investment, regardless, as most cups will break down in some form or fashion over time.
The headband padding will also come off, but there’s enough of it and doesn’t dig too hard into the top of your skull, though you will feel it from time to time.
The protective coil
The famous indestructible 3.5mm jack.
One of the most unique and impressive things about the M50x is the stainless steel coil that protects the cable from damage.
It appears on the end near the 3.5 mm jack and has likely prevented these from having to be replaced numerous times.
Over the years, many companies have copied Audio Technica’s design, and it’s easy to see why.
Comfort
Is The M50x Over-Ear?
Firstly, the M50x is indeed an Over-Ear Headphone and, all things considered, sits nicely on your head.
That said, overall comfort is a bit of a mixed bag. Like a lot of headphones, they feel great at first and clamp nicely, but you’ll start to feel them over extended listening/mixing sessions.
Back when I was younger and mixing into the wee hours of the morning, I kind of just accepted it. It’s like a “grin and bear it” type of thing.
The pads, while they do technically envelop your ears, kind of mimic a cross between a Supra-Aural (On-Ear) headphone and a Circumaural one (Around/On-Ear).
This means they tend to dig into your earlobes after a spell and cause your ears to get hot/sweaty over time.
Overall, the comfort is about average; maybe slightly below or slightly above, depending on the user’s ears, head shape, etc.
Sound
Does The M50X Have Good Bass?
If this is your first foray into the world of audio, and you’ve never experienced anything other than low-grade dog food, these will sound pretty remarkable.
Heck, they sound great regardless.
The 50x opts for a 5dB shelf across most of the low end, so let’s address the elephant in the room first: this is NOT a neutral-sounding headphone.
That said, both the weight and impact are on point like a Pilot Precise G2, and the bass response never sounds out of control or overdone like your mom’s meatloaf.
It’s deep, tight, and mostly accurate, avoiding the pitfalls that most other consumer headphones fall victim to.
In other words, the bloom, boom, bloat, mud, fuzz, artificiality, insert word salad here ___________ are thankfully absent. This is a huge reason why the M50X is so popular. It’s a consumer headphone that somehow manages to, for the most part, tune the bass correctly.
You may think to yourself that a 5dB shelf across most of the low end is likely problematic, and normally I would agree with you.
But the M50x is different.
As a producer, there’s a right way and a wrong way to tune/EQ bass.
- Required Reading: How To EQ Bass In FL Studio
The right way is to roll off most of the sub-bass (the stuff you can’t actually hear that resides below 40Hz) and then boost somewhere between 60-90, as this is where bass typically sounds the cleanest and hardest-hitting.
In other words, it’s where the bulk of the meaty, juicy, delicious bass (i.e. all of the relevant information) resides.
It’s important not to go overboard here, but a few dB boost in these areas, followed by a cut in the 200-300Hz bloat/mud region is ideal. This is because 200-300 is where companies typically overemphasize and it ends up sounding like dog shit squared.
And guess what? The M50x avoids that mistake by cutting/dipping this very region almost perfectly, something that 99% of companies fail to do.
This is why, over the years, I’ve been a staunch defender of the 50x despite all the unwarranted hate it’s gotten from people who have no idea what they’re talking about and have likely never mixed a track.
Speaking of,
Are The M50Xs Good For Mixing?
Yes and no.
When I first started making beats, I primarily used an MDR-7506. My second “good” headphone was the 50x and I used it for quite awhile.
The reason it works is because of the aformentioned bass. yes, there’s a shelf, but it’s even sounding and lacks the weird peaks and dips inherenet in other consumer headphones. Plus, the mud regions are cut so you’ll have a much easier time making decisions.
That said, be careful about over-/undercompensating on how much bass you put in your own mixes and keep in mnd that there’s already a shelf there.
Would a flat line response or a bit of roll off in the sub-regions work a bit better? Sure, but the 50x is NOT a bad headphone for evaluating your mix.
Another reason it works is because of what we’ll talk about next…
Mid-Range & Treble
Moving into the mid-range, we have a very good response with no glaring peaks or cuts, which helps vocals and instruments stand out naturally and organically. This will help tremendously in your mixdowns as well.
In addition, Audio Technica, similar to Audeze, opts for a cut in the 9-10kHz region followed by some air after 10kHz. This gives the treble some sparkle and presence without sounding essy or sibilant.
It’s important to note that, again, the 50x improved upon the original M50’s overly bright treble, which is just another reason to consider buying one.
You’ll start to hear things in your music/mix previously thought to be absent, and that’s most certainly one of the most exciting aspects.
Very subtle details will start to emerge, and the best way I can describe it is that the sound envelops and completely takes you away.
They aren’t noise-canceling but do isolate very well. This means that, like noise-canceling headphones, they’ll block out most of the sound, but not all of it.
M50x vs. M50x BT: What’s The Difference?
Aside from the BT version coming equipped with Bluetooth capability, there are some subtle discrepancies in the sound, but by and large, they have pretty similar tuning.
Still, the 50x BT has a more scooped out area around 300-600Hz. There’s also slightly more roll off below 30Hz. Additionally, there’s a small scooped area around 500-600Hz.
Overall, the 50x BT is a bit more jagged in its response (thus the lower ratings overall), but by and large, the sound profiles aren’t astronomically different. In real-world listening, they function very similarly.
Resolution
When I first put the M50x on my head, I was floored and can remember vividly how I felt throughout that specific day.
In fact, I remember the “ah-ha” moment in extreme detail.
I was in college at the time and had just received the M50x for Christmas.
It was January 2013, and the semester was fresh and new. It was one of those cold, sunny mornings with not a single cloud in the sky, and the sun was filtering through the window, almost majestically.
As a graphic designer, we were able to listen to music while working in the lab, and of course, I was bumping some Dilla beats with the M50x as a sort of test run.
Well, that test run turned out to be an instant hard-on, as I was completely blown away (no pun intended) at how marvelous the M50x sounded with hip-hop specifically.
No surprise there, given what we discussed earlier regarding the bass.
The way the drums hit, how crisp and clean they sounded, still amazes me to this day when I think back on it. Every kick and bass sound was rendered in the most perfect way you can imagine. The resolution was immaculate.
In fact, the entire sound was incredibly clear and fresh; almost mimicking the cool mountain air outside.
It was an eye-opening experience in every sense of the word and changed my life immeasurably.
As much as I liked the 7506 mentioned earlier, the way the 50x sounded is something that I remember like it was yesterday, down to the very seconds and minutes of listening.
Speaking of “Yesterday” listen to J Dilla’s Yesterday right now:
I remember exactly where I was: in the front row and closest to the window. I had on a grey hoodie and was listening on YouTube via one of those Mac computers that were all the rage.
In fact, I was jamming out so hard that some of my friends couldn’t help but ask what I was listening to.
*Napoleon Dynamite voice*
“J DILLA, ONLY THE GREATEST PRODUCER EVER DUH!”
Just kidding, I didn’t respond like that, but I was most certainly pumped up like some Air Max shoes and felt as though I could blast off into the stratosphere at any moment.
If you know, you know.
Hip-Hop music is truly like no other genre in the universe, and the 50x only magnifies the sentiment.
But it went deeper than that.
It was a moment that made me realize consumer products could indeed be revolutionary. Say what you want, but the M50x helped change the way your average person thinks about headphones. About what an expensive product can achieve.
Because let’s face it: most normal people, even today, still feel as though $150 for a set of headphones is a bit of overkill. And they’re not entirely wrong.
But one listen to the M50x and you’ll start to understand. These headphones have turned many a casual window shopper into full-blown, die-hard fiends, craving a deeper journey into the endless audiophile abyss – or, what I like to call, the Audiophile rabbit hole.
And once you’re in, you AIN’T comin’ back out. So if you’re new to audio reading this, be forewarned.
Soundstage
For a closed-back model, these deliver quite the experience.
In fact, one of the main reasons why I remember the moment in the graphic design lab so vividly is precisely because of the Soundstage.
If I remember correctly, it was the first time I experienced that “out of your head” feeling, which, at the time, caused me to rip the headphones off in a panic, thinking something was going on outside.
No, not outside, as in, just the lab. Outside meaning OUTSIDE. You know, that place where normal people sometimes go to get fresh air and, I don’t know, run errands?
I kid you not, it felt like a small apocalypse was happening, which was unnerving and made me feel like I was in the middle of a Twilight Zone episode.
For those that don’t know, Soundstage simply refers to how accurate the overall imaging and placement of sounds is, but it’s also a measure of how grand and open the entire space feels.
In other words, if you perceive the music to be outside of you rather than in your head.
- Recommended: What is Soundstage? [Detailed Explanation]
With open-back headphones, it’s more prominent because the sound has room to breathe (Some of it escapes through the backs of the headphones).
This is what made the closed-back M50x moment so special. Closed headphones typically don’t give you that feeling; at least not very often.
Have you ever thought you heard a noise while you were listening to music and subsequently paused the track to look around?
That’s what I mean.
Good headphones can sort of fool you into thinking that something else is going on in your immediate vicinity or even farther away.
But alas, it was the music + M50x providing that feeling, and what a glorious feeling it was. In fact, I don’t remember anything else I did that morning, and the entire rest of the day is a complete blank.
But the experience I had with these headphones will stay with me until the day that I die.
Does The M50X Need An Amp?
In short, no, but you can purchase something cheap if you want. Because of their 38 Ohm Impedance and 99dB Sensitivity, they don’t resist current and also don’t need a lot of it to achieve peak loudness.
Something like Fosi Audio’s DS2 is a great option for around $70, and I wouldn’t spend much more than that. You can use the DS2 at your desktop or on the go, and it also has a balanced 4.4mm headphone output if you want to listen that way.
Is the M40x Better Than The M50x?
No, not at all. The 40x has a metallic, tinny, boxed-in character with a very artificial sound, and its tuning is pretty poor. By contrast, the 50x is a much better headphone overall, with a noticeably improved sound and much better tuning.
Closing Thoughts
The Audio-Technica M50x is an exceptional pair of headphones that remains relevant even now as I type this and, like the 7506, changed my perception of what a headphone was capable of.
The clarity and overall resolution have no business being this good at this price point, and that’s something I will never back down from.
In some ways, it makes me a bit sad, as I can never experience that feeling for the first time again.
Sort of like heroin.
Yes, the 50x, and headphones similar to it, are a gateway drug of sorts. Once you’re in, there’s no turning back.
So proceed with caution…
Learn More:
Audio Technica ATH-M50x
Price: Check Amazon! | Check Sweetwater! | Check B&H! | Check eBay! | Standard replacement pads: Here!
In The Box
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Closed-Back Monitor Headphones (Black)
Coiled Cable (3.9 to 9.8′)
Straight Cable (9.8′)
Straight Cable (3.9′)
1/4″ Screw-On Adapter
Carrying Pouch
Limited 2-Year Warranty
Specifications
- Earpiece Swivel: Yes, 90°
- Foldable: Yes
- Type: Closed Back
- Driver: Dynamic
- Fit: Circumaural (Over-Ear)
- Impedance: 38 Ohm. What is Headphone Impedance?
- Sensitivity: 99dB
- Frequency response: 15 – 28,000 Hz
- Maximum Power Handling: 1600mW
- Material: Plastic, Faux Leather, Metal
- Color: Black
- Can be driven by a phone: Yes
Well, that’s about it for today my friend! Hope you enjoyed this Audio Technica ATH-M50x Review.
Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please let me know down below or Contact me!!
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Do you think the M50x is a good value? What are some of your favorite headphones? Let me know!! I would love to hear from you…
All the best and God Bless,
-Stu
Can’t decide which headphones to purchase? Interested in a complete buyers guide outlining over 40 of the best options on the market? Click on over to the best audiophile headphones to learn more!!
Be sure to also check out my Reviews and Resources page for more helpful and informative articles!
Audio Technica ATH M50
Pros
- Comfortable
- Crisp sound
- Solid and Durable
- Longevity
- Tight bass
Cons
- Ear pad crackage after 2 1/2 years
- Recessed mid-range
30 comments
Nice information and Products you are sharing on this Website.
Thanks Michael!!
what’s up Stu,
Fun review as usual. I might pick them up, do me a favor and try them with that song Fat Joe – Ballin feat Wiz Khalifa, Teyana Taylor. Wanna see ya face after hearing it with audio technica ath m50. Can you handle it?
Lol I still haven’t gotten around to it.. bout to go to bed now.. i will tmw brother. Hope you’re well. Thanks for the love
-Stu
Great review Stu. You certainly know your stuff. Keep it up
James
thanks bud!!
could you please tell me the combination between ath m50x and scarlett 2i2 ? im making electronic music (dubstep/big room house),and i need studio headphones and some sound card (in the future maybe i would buy krk 6 g3) for now,i have money only for m50x. I really need your thoughts. Is good all that combinations? thanks
Hey Man! Yeah actually right now I have my M50’s on (not listening to music because they are so comfy) hehe, and the headphone jack is plugged into my 2i2! It’s really just the perfect little interface.. I can’t recommend it enough!! The M50’s as well as the 50x’s come with a 1/4″ adapter that enables you to plug your headphones right into the front of the interface. In all honesty, these headphones are the best I’ve ever had (Sony MDR 7506 being a close second).. GET EM you won’t regret it
-Stu
Thank you for your answer, i really do appreciate it 🙂 So the M50x and 2i2 is great combination? Can I can just plug them into my computer without 2i2?
Yes you can! If you bought the 50x’s, you wouldn’t screw on the adapter.. instead you just plug your headphones into your laptop or CPU as normal. But yeah.. the M50x’s work great with my 2i2!! They are the best headphones you can buy for under $200. I’ve had mine for over 2 years now! If you give me your email I’ll send a couple of pics i just took.
-Stu
What i really need is sound quality for sure. I know how they look, its not necessary 🙂 That’s why I’m here! To seek your advice 🙂 I think I’m going to buy them; are you sure I don’t need 2i2? will they sound good on my old computer without 2i2?
Yeah they sound great in my laptop, in my 2i2, in my ipod.. pretty much anywhere… the sound will vary slightly from each device.. but it has nothing to do with the headphones.. You will be blown away when you’re breaking them in. You will start to hear stuff in your favorite songs that you’ve never heard before! 🙂 -Stu
I can imagine that 🙂 This will be my first experience listening on studio equipment. I do need these because like I said, I’m making music and would love to have them..
Greetings! 🙂
yeah man, let me know if you get them!! -Stu
The T70p is much better for natural classic music, while the more boosted bass and better head seal of the ATH-M50 make it better for popular music.
Thanks! I will have to check out the T70p for myself.
-Stu
Hey stu, I did it anyway, I bought the audio technica m50x. I am surprised. It sounds better then I thought. When you play for 24 hours the sound is awesome. I doubt now if the audio technica m50x is less then dt 770 pro. I know how the drivers of the dt 770 pro look like. I find the drivers in the audio technica m50x of better quality. It looks more robust, I did not open this headphone but I look at photos on google. The drivers of the dt 770 pro IMO look vulnerable. I also read opinions of other people with the same conclusion.
Hey Alex!
I had an original M50 for 5 years before I gave it away and loved my time with it. My friend had bought a 50x and I did a side by side back in 2014 or thereabouts. Couldn’t tell that much of a difference but I tested them a long time ago. I know that they fixed the treble issue that was apparent on the original 50 and tamed it down a bit. I do think the 770 is definitely a more comfortable headphone overall. Interesting findings about the driver though. I haven’t heard anything about that although I haven’t researched the 770 in awhile. Keep me posted on your impressions of the 50x!
Hey Stu!
The dt 770 pro is more comfortable yeah I find that too. The dt 770 pro is more noticed concerning the vulnerable driver then you expect.
I have a lot of experience now with the m50x, when you listen out of the box and leave it that way the dt 770 pro definitely sounds not better but nicer, when you eq the m50x the m50x is nicer.
I am afraid that the dt 770 pro is losing my attention. The m40x is definitely losing.
Hey man!
Yeah I definitely got a lot more use out of the M50 back in the day. 5 Years worth. Then again I was just a beginner and it was only my second “good” headphone. The first being the MDR 7506. The 40x purchase came at a time when I had a lot of cans lying around and it just never saw as much use as I thought it was going to. I ended up selling most of my headphones recently and sadly the 40x didn’t make the cut even though it’s still a pretty good headphone overall.
My 50x are my go to headphones for daily use:
Commuter traffic? ATH 50x has enough passive noise cancelling. In a hurry and need to quickly toss a headphone in your bag? 50x is built like a tank.
But one huge benefit I miss in your excellent reviews is the fact that they are awesome as DJ cans: the swivel cups are great, the separation between low/mid and high is great and the fact they can go loud (distortion free) in combination with good isolation means you can, even in a loud DJ booth with monitor speakers blaring in your ears, you can mix without any problems and have the option of pre-cueing using one earcup and still hear clearly. The detachable cables are icing on an already tasty cake. And you’ll only buy 1 pair as they are unbreakable. Did have to buy new leather pads but after 5 years that’s not an issue.
For a studio, movie, or game I’d rather use my dt990 (these are god-tier for directional audio cues with a huge soundstage so you can snipe enemies, eyes closed, just by using your ears, SB g6 ftw)
Hey man thanks for the comment! I will definitely add that into the article. Thanks for pointing it out! And yeah, I really want a pair of DT990s!
Love the G6! Glad someone else is talking about how great it is for gaming. It’s crazy how much clearer I can hear things going on with it and the K702 or SHP9500. The Scout Mode is just amazing.
MAN this was a good read i’be also been curious about the m50x even though most of the review I’ve read deem it as sub par or not great but they are not as detail as your review and reading it rlly show me the m50x in a new light I will probably be on a lookout for one of these to try
Hey man thanks for stopping by and for the comment! Yeah I happen to have a different opinion based on an actual understanding of frequency response lol.
The 50x is definitely not “sub par.” It’s an excellent sounding consumer product that teeters on audiophile-grade. It’s not a perfect headphone, but it’s way better than the trash 40x that everyone and their grandma parrots as being this incredible headphone when it’s actually objectively horrific sounding if you have any clue at all.
The problem you’ll find with people online is that they all tend to parrot the same things over and over. This is how lies get spread around. For instance, the Sennheiser HD280 is complete trash, but it has a reputation for being one of the best headphones you can use for mixing. This is just not true at all. It sounds like complete dog poop. So what happens is, a bunch of people make websites (for profit) copying what’s been said about them for years – likely without even trying them, and then the general consensus becomes that they’re fantastic when that couldn’t be further from the truth.
I mean, if your goal is to not hear ANY of the mid-range due to it being more scooped out than an ice cream shop, then yeah, it’s awesome. xD
Hi! First, I’m happy to share that a while ago I was looking for open headphones for mixing, and after reading your blog and asking you, I decided to go with the HD 6XX which I’m really happy with, so thank you!
So now I’m looking for closed headphones for vocal tracking + mixing (for times when it’s noisy around me, and also so that I have another perspective to the mix).
I’ve tried some closed headphones – DT770, HD280, K361, K371, M30X… of all of them, the M20X and M50X sounded the most ‘normal’ to me, and felt the most comfortable (K361 sounded also good, but had other issues).
I use EQ correction for the headphones when I mix, but still, I want the headphones to sound relatively natural/pleasant even without the correction.
I’m considering whether to go for one of them, or to look for something else:
* ATH m20x: They lack treble, and the vocals are a little distanced / pushed back, but overall they’re more balanced compared to many other headphones I tried.
* ATH m50x: Their tuning is good, but for some reason the last time I listened to them, the bass sounded occasionally kind of distorted (I listened to professional pop and hard rock recordings, so I can’t blame them) – is this typical of these headphones? I wonder if maybe the volume was too high and caused this? or maybe it’s the headphones driver?
* Another option: I wonder if I should try something else:
– The first time I listened to the m50x I felt “wow!”, but now that I got to listen to them again, I didn’t feel that they were particularly special or that they justified the price, just ‘normal’. I know ‘normal’ is rare, but still – I was hoping for more (- clarity/soundstage?).
– Also, I see that you didn’t put the m50x in the list of 12 recommended headphones for mixing and mastering.
I just need a pair that has a good isolation when tracking vocals + comfortable + sounds natural/clear… (weird FR or piercing trebles are not welcomed… 🙂
Somehow I feel any simple headphones should do it, and that I don’t need to look so far away… but I guess it’s not that simple.
I’d really like to know what you think. Thanks!!
Hey man!
Glad to have you back. So glad you’re enjoying the 6XX! Great headphones.
Yeah, closed back is a bit of a different animal and harder to recommend as a lot of (read: the majority) of closed headphones are awful. Glad you recognize that the 50x is tuned well. A huge pet peeve of mine is when people try and trash it not knowing what they’re talking about. Discussion for another time lol. Click here for an explanation.
That said, I’d consider the 50x more for enjoyment/bass head stuff rather than mixing, though I have used one way back in the day for mixing and my beats came out fine. It’s really a matter of compensating for the shelf (which by the way is done very well overall). But today? Nah, it’s not going to be a primary option in my list or anything.
It’s actually been awhile since I’ve listened to a 50x, but from my experience with it, what you mention shouldn’t be a regular occurrence. I always tell people that source quality is of the utmost importance, so it could have just been a matter of the track(s) in question. Yeah, volume plays a role too, but I’m mostly leaning toward source. It’s also a real possibility the driver was messed up, but that’s kind of a distant third imo.
Yeah, the 50x isn’t going to have the best SS or resolution, but for $150 it’s damn impressive and why I still recommend them in some instances nowadays. I first heard one in 2012/2013 and had the same reaction as you.
But yeah, in reality closed headphones aren’t simple at all, so thank you for asking.
TL;DR
“good isolation when tracking vocals + comfortable + sounds natural/clear… (weird FR or piercing trebles are not welcomed)”
This is actually tough, but I’d consider any of the options mentioned in the mixing article: CB-1, CD900ST, (admittedly hard to find but incredibly natural and has a more subdued treble), or K553 are my top choices for you right now. These are all predictable, natural, and very clear/open sounding headphones. Since you don’t want too much treble, 7506 is out though it’s still great. You’d just have to EQ it a bit. It is less neutral than the CD900ST, thus why it’s ranked lower now.
Hope that helps! Keep me posted with questions as I would really like to hone in on something perfect.
-Stu
Hi, I appreciate the help!!
I know what you mean – when I started my headphones search, after reading a lot of material online, I was shocked to find that what I read did not match what I heard in my ears…
When I read your articles I felt like someone finally heard correctly, so I kind of trust your ears 🙂
I was listening to the M50X with some well known professional tracks, so I’m still not sure why the bass felt weird. Where I live they are not cheap, if they were, I might have bought them just to have something…
Right now I record with some In-Ear cheap Sony headphones that I got many years ago – they are doing the job and the bleeding is minor to none, but I feel that with On/Over-Ear headphones, the singing will get a boost, as everything will sound wider and bigger, and also, I’ll be able to do some mixing with them.
Of all of your recommendations for Closed-Backs for mixing, I only have in my country the MDR7506 and SRH440A which I might be able to try, but the MDR7506 have a coiled cable which will be annoying for recording/singing, and the SRH440A (which are different from the SRH440) have a microphonic cable, which is a bummer…
My other options are:
– Either rely on your ear and order headphones from abroad, without trying them (but then I’m afraid they won’t be comfortable. For example, many say that the DT series is comfortable for them, but for me it was the most painful on the head…!)
– Or simply buy headphones that are comfortable for me + don’t leak while recording + have good drivers – and *ignore their frequency tuning* (I say this while covering my ears with my hands…!), and EQ them with a software…
Didn’t think it would be this challenging…!
Thank you again!
My pleasure man!
Haha yeah, that’s typically what happens when people read a bunch of audiophile bullshit instead of listening to the guy (me) who actually produces music and understands EQ/FR.
Something kind of strange happened the other day when I was mixing some vocals over a beat with the K702. I usually go back and forth between those headphones and my Yamaha HS7, but the 702 wasn’t really cutting it for this particular track so I switched to the FiiO FT1 and it was perfect. You may consider those. Are they available where you are? The DT990 is also an excellent choice (still has a shelf but more neutral). I’m shocked they weren’t comfortable for you! Sorry to hear that.
Yeah, the MDR-7506 was my first real pair of mixing cans. I used them day and night for a couple years straight and the coiled cable became a HUGE pain in the ass. The cup material also dislodged from the small slit that goes around the circumference of the plastic piece. They also peel and flake horribly haha. Aside from those things, they’re totally worth it but have a look at my review. I really wish Sony would update them and provide a detachable cable. There’s a mod you can do but I haven’t tried it yet. Also the 7506 isn’t very comfortable lol. Actually, now that I think about it and word vomited my thoughts, just forget about them xD. You’ll love the sound but everything else doesn’t line up with what you need.
I haven’t heard the 440A but thank you for alerting me as I definitely want to try it out at some point.
Anyway, let me know what you think about the FT1 and we can go from there. Also keep me posted on any other cans you may want to buy and I’ll tell you if they’re good or not.
-Stu
Hi Stuart!
Thanks for your take on reviews, I appreciate your them in both video and texts. Just as you described in an earlier post above the ATHM50 and M50x draw me down in the swamp. First it was this phone coupled with the ASUS Essence STX sound card, later the G6 for music and games and now aune S9c & S17 and “better” phones like Meze 109, HD 600/650, Edition XS but nothing fancy (above 800 USD).
Even though the sound is very clear on the ATHM50 at the time I found them clamping, hot and piercing at some frequencies. Dusted them of while reading this article and EQ:ed them to Oratory1990:s Harman curve and you are right, they are quite good. 20 years later, there are more economic room for this hobby and nowadays music are so easily available.
I think the M50:s coloured my perception about what I like in headphones. In older days when I EQ:ed on feeling it was extra base and highs, on M50 voices are clear, the base “pops” and music is engaging. Currently looking for a step up from M50 for these qualities. Do you have suggestions? I have been pondering Focals: Azurys, Haydenis and Clear but never had a chance to try them. I listen mostly to pop, rock, indie and mainstream music.
Kent,
Thank you for the kind words! Lol. There’s no going back now that you’re in the rabbit hole. xD Yeah, the OG M50 had a bitey treble but the 50x rectified that. I still want to buy another pair. Yeah, I never understood the push back. These are tuned better than nearly all consumer headphones and a decent chunk of “audiophile” headphones as well. The way you describe them is perfect and exactly my sentiments. Resolution as well is just so good for being a consumer type of product. Hmm. Step up? Do you want to keep it in the realm of more bass oriented sound or maybe branch off into neutral type territory? Haven’t heard the Azurys or Haydenis yet but the Clear is a good headphone. A bit overhyped and overpriced but yeah, it’s going to be an upgrade over the 50x. Is it worth roughly 5-6x the price? Well, that’s another huge can of worms and a discussion for next time.
Talk soon!
-Stu