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Before we get into the Bowers and Wilkins P7 vs. ATH M50 comparison, grab a snack, sit back and relax because..
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What I will bring you in this review
For this article, I will do a quick and dirty comparison, and then link to my official recommendation towards the end! 🙂
- Introduction
- ATH M50: Old Model vs. New Model
- Similarities & Differences
- Final Word
Now without further ado, let’s get rolling!!
Introduction
ATH M50: Old Model vs. New Model
There are only a few marked differences between the 50 and the 50x.
- Removable cable
- A choice of different colors. These are subject to change.
- contoured ear cups that seal tighter for improved isolation
- A tad more bass
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Similarities & Differences
Similarities
- Both are closed back headphones. Closed back vs. Open back headphones.
- Both have good sound isolation.
- Both have similar color schemes.
- Both have a nice build quality.
- Both are circumaural (Around the ear).
- Mid-range. Both of these headphones have sort of a lost mid-range. After hearing headphones like the Sennheiser HD25 and AKG K240 Studio, I kind of scoffed at the sound signature of the P7. It really threw me off at first, and I had to kind of get used to it. This is not a heaphone that you’re going to be really excited about.
- Treble. Both have a tendency to become bright/sibilant at times. What does Sibilant mean?
Differences
- Sound. The M50’s have a very crisp sound. By no means are they perfect headphones. Many people like to dump on them nowadays, but they’re still a great pair of cans and don’t deserve the hate they’ve been getting. The treble is bright of course, and the bass digs pretty deep, leaving a somewhat recessed mid-range. The P7’s by contrast are a little warmer, and although the bass is pretty deep, it kind of has this weird bloat that I strongly dislike. For as much as people complain about the M50’s weird mid bass hump, I still think it’s a crisp, hard hitting response that just rattles you to the core without sounding artificial. I will stand by that ’til the end of time. Lol. I really do think the P7’s are a bit overrated.
- Construction. The M50’s contort and fold in a myriad of ways, and have a vastly different look than the oh so elegant P7’s. The P7’s ear cups do fold in as well, but don’t rotate 180 degrees like the 50’s.
- Comfort. I had no problem with the M50’s. I would say that most headphones do need an adjustment after awhile, no matter how good they are. The exception to this rule are my Sennheiser HD600’s. Man what a comfortable headphone. I rarely ever adjust them once I put them on. With the P7’s, they start to irritate my head/ears after about 45 min. to 1 hr.
- Compact. I would say the P7’s are much better for on the go purposes, while the M50’s long chord kind of hinders them from being a great travel buddy. Now that never stopped me from lugging them around, but the chord is really the issue here. The P7’s chord is significantly shorter and better suited for portability.
- Cable. The P7’s have a detachable cable while the M50’s do not. Also, the M50’s come in either a coiled or straight cable, while the P7’s only come with straight.
- Impedance. A slight difference here. 22 Ohms for the P7 vs. 38 Ohms for the M50. Neither of these need a headphone amp. What is Headphone Impedance?
- Inline Controls. The P7’s have inline controls while the M50’s do not.
- Frequency Response. The M50’s have an FR of 15-28kHz, while the P7’s go from 10-20kHz. As mentioned above, this doesn’t necessarily mean the P7’s bass is better because it goes deeper.
Final Word
Because I would never actually purchase the P7’s, I cannot recommend them today. While I did enjoy them, they’re simply not good enough to fork over that kind of money. There are simply too many issues.
That said, I will make a couple of awesome recommendations for you today based on the type of headphones that the P7’s are. For a fun, closed back listen, I really enjoy the Sennheiser HD25’s. They have an incredibly lively sound, and are basically indestructible while also being very lightweight. They also don’t cost an arm and a leg either! ? Interested in learning all about them? Check out my in depth and informative:
SENNHEISER HD25 REVIEW!!
For an open back headphone with an exciting sound signature, I think the Beyerdynamic DT990 fits the bill quite nicely. It has a V-shaped frequency response, which basically means hard hitting bass, bright treble, and a recessed mid-range. The difference is that the bass doesn’t become bloated like on the P7. Interested in learning more? Check out my:
BEYERDYNAMIC DT990 PRO VS. PREMIUM COMPARISON!!
As for the M50’s, I do like them, but not as much as the HD25’s. I think the 25’s are much more resolving in the mid-range especially, and they are crystal clear in comparison to the 50’s. While the 50’s are super detailed, the HD25’s just take it to another level.
If you’re still curious and would like to read my official reviews:
AUDIO TECHNICA ATH M50 REVIEW!!
BOWERS AND WILKINS P7 REVIEW!!
Well that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve enjoyed this Bowers and Wilkins P7 vs. ATH M50 comparison.
Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please let me know down below or Contact me!!
Which of these tickles YOUR pickle? I would love to hear from you. Until next time..
All the best and God bless,
-Stu
