Audio-Technica ATH-M50X headphones would not have been born if Audio-Technica specialists had not released the ATH-M50 model in 2007.
It cannot be said that it stood out for its revolutionary design or some sophisticated interface. This model was positioned as a “workhorse” for sound engineers and workers in other professions related to sound monitoring. However, it turned out to be of surprisingly high quality and, as they say, “shot”, hitting the bull’s eye. Lovers of high-quality sound instantly drew attention to the ATH-M50. It turned out that this model is very comfortable to wear for a long time, and the sound picture it produces is balanced and not overloaded. The overwhelming majority of reviews about the new product were positive. This model has been recommended in almost every review and in every portable audio community, and the headphones have repeatedly won the “Best Choice” award in the price range up to two hundred dollars.
But no matter how good a product is, it needs to be updated from time to time. Audio-Technica has been closely monitoring feedback from users who have purchased the ATH-M50. Taking into account the wishes of those who used this model, the company slightly redesigned the headphones and announced a new line of monitor headphones (the letter M in the name means Monitor) with an X at the end. We got our hands on the Audio-Technica ATH-M50X model - perhaps the most interesting of the entire line.
When one of the authors of this article was seven years old, he, walking with his father in the city center, saw two large and very beautiful foreign cars next to the hotel - a Cadillac and a Lincoln. Since the young author had not yet seen any other foreign cars, he asked his father: “Are imported cars always so big?” He smiled and answered: “Yes, always: they like to see what they pay money for.”
He was definitely right. Moreover, nothing has changed since then. For example, when purchasing headphones that are not exactly budget, a lover of portable audio expects to immediately see what he is shelling out his earned money for. He wants to get something more than just a device for reproducing sound. He begins to make demands on the design, expressing a desire to receive a cover or case, an adapter (or better yet several), a detachable cable (and preferably an extension cord as a gift). And the headphones themselves, according to the demanding buyer, must prove by their appearance alone that they are worth the money!
How can one not recall the recent sensational revelation of Beats headphones by Avery Louis and his colleagues from the Bolt company, who examined the design of the popular model and found out that it contains “optional” parts that make up about a third of the weight of the headphones. Let's remember that in the same study the real cost of Beats headphones was calculated, which was about 17 dollars (ten times lower than the price at which they are sold!). The heaviness of the headband, a massive box with colorful printing and a powerful advertising campaign - all this, according to the manufacturer, should convince buyers of the advisability of the purchase. These are all very simple marketing techniques, but they work, and very well.
What about our “Audio equipment”? It comes with a case, its cable comes unfastened, and the set includes several of these same cables. And yet this is a product on a completely different level than Beats. The philosophy of the ATH-M50X headphones is fundamentally different from that used by popular brands. No pathos, no pop, no photo shoots with dubious celebrities from the world of pop music or e-sports. Sound, quality, reliability - these are the three pillars on which the products of the famous Japanese brand rest.
⇡#Technical characteristics of ATH-M50X headphones
| Frequency response | 15 Hz - 28 kHz |
| Type | Closed dynamic headphones with headband |
| Speaker | Diameter 45 mm |
| Voice coil | Copper Clad Aluminum Wire (CCAW) |
| Maximum power | 1600 mW |
| Resistance | 38 Ohm |
| Sensitivity | 99 dB |
| Straight cable with one-sided connection | 1.2 m |
| Straight cable with one-sided connection | 3m |
| Twisted cable with one-sided connection | 1.2 m |
| Plug | 3.5 mm |
| Weight | 284 grams (without cord) |
⇡#Packaging and accessories
The box in which the ATH-M50X is hidden is quite impressive in size. Its design is extremely strict, devoid of any decorative elements, transparent windows or even catchy advertising statements. By its appearance, the packaging seems to say: “These are just headphones, nothing extra.”
There was even a specially added careless, incomprehensible pattern on the box, looking at which you might think that someone had painted a pen on it. The packaging style is very similar to the Superlux HD669 box design [see. review “Superlux HD669 (Axelvox HD 272) headphones: exception to the rule”]. Well, this is the right approach - the money that you could spend on printing is used in Audio-Technica headphones for business, and not for waste paper. The only drawback of such ascetic packaging is that a person who is “not in the know” will not be impressed by the appearance of the gift.
Inside the box is a rough gray pressed cardboard with the headphones themselves on it.
Each cup is carefully packed in a separate bag. Having taken out the headphones, we spent a few seconds wondering where the cable had gone - had they really forgotten to put it in? Of course not, he was there. It turns out that the central round protrusion on the cardboard is another box hiding the ATH-M50X accessories.
And here is the cover: soft fabric inside and leatherette outside.
The bag has ties that can be pulled to hide the contents. The case is, in principle, suitable for transporting headphones, but it is better to find an alternative. Even if you fold the headphones in the most compact way, the bag begins not only to burst at the seams, but to stretch quite strongly in the area of the cups.
Rather, this accessory will be useful for storing cables, especially since there are three of them. There is also an adapter - a 6.35 mm plug.
⇡#Construction, design and comfort
The official website indicates that the Audio-Technica ATH-M50X model is available only in black or white. In fact, there are more color options; they just seem to be produced in limited editions under the Limited Edition brand and sell out very quickly. For example, we came across a limited edition of headphones in a dark green design. It was sold complete with a very interesting Yeti USB microphone (it’s a pity that its detailed review goes beyond the 3DNews format). The “condenser microphone plus over-ear headphones” set was chosen very symbolically, because the Yeti has an output for audio monitoring, and the Audio-Technica ATH-M50X are one of the best monitor headphones you can find.
After putting these headphones on for the first time, we took them off... after an hour and a half. There was a feeling as if we had been wearing them for a long time: the ear pads seemed to have already adapted to the shape of the ears, the headband was spread just enough so that the pressure was sufficient, but no extra pressure was felt. In general, the ATH-M50X did not take any getting used to. It’s like a suit that fits your cut: you put it on and realize that nothing will fit better.
Having read in the official description that the updated model contains some improvements in the ear pads, we peered for a long time, trying to understand what exactly the Japanese manufacturer changed. We did not find any radical differences from the previous model. Externally, the ear pads have not changed in any way, with the exception of the ventilation holes on the back side. In addition, the pads on the new model are somewhat softer, which, on the other hand, can be explained by the fact that the new model has been in use for less time.
It is difficult to judge the quality of the ear pads; time will tell how long they will last. If they are made identical to the ear pads on the ATH-M50, then after two or three years they will lose their beautiful appearance and you will need to look for a replacement set.
Let us remind you once again that the Audio-Technica ATH-M50X model replaced the ATH-M50, which, in turn, was created specifically for recording studio workers. Therefore, the headphones of the previous model were initially designed in such a way that long-term wearing did not cause discomfort to their owner. Since the design remains the same, the Audio-Technica ATH-M50X is no different from its predecessor in this sense. The position of the rotating mechanism of the cups instantly adapts to the anatomical features of any person. No matter what shape or size of your head, the headphones instantly guess the outline and are positioned so as not to cause any discomfort.
When you look at the Audio-Technica ATH-M50X headphones up close, you are confident that they are not heavy at all. However, in reality they are not that light - approximately 280 grams. In our opinion, this is close to the optimal value - they do not hang like a weight on the neck, like the almost four hundred gram JVC HA-MR77X, and have a more confident fit than, say, the KOSS UR40 (210 grams). And the design acquired such a “light” look thanks to the relatively shallow cups in which the proprietary speakers with a 45 mm diaphragm are hidden. If the engineers had made the cups more rounded and voluminous, the headphones would not have been mobile, and with this design it’s easy to imagine them on the head of a music lover walking down the street.
The hinge mechanism of the cups allows you to rotate the headphone speakers in two planes. In this case, the tilt of the cups is carried out with fixation in one of three positions. The selection of each of them is accompanied by a characteristic click. In each of the selected positions, the cup is adjusted by a spring mechanism and tends to take the middle position. Apparently, this self-adjusting mechanism ensures a perfect fit. The pressure to the head is quite tight, but not excessive. In addition, soft ear pads eliminate the feeling of tightness.
On the back of each earcup there is the Audio-Technica logo in a round metal frame. If you look closely, you can see tiny grooves on this shiny strip - almost the same as on vinyl records.
The headband is very pleasant, soft to the touch, with deep embossing - it looks like high-quality leatherette. The headband length reserve is significant, the headphones will suit anyone - both a child and a very large adult (to be honest, we didn’t pay attention to this until a certain point, until we got our hands on one of the models from popular manufacturers with an extremely small headband size reserve).
It is impossible to confuse the right and left channels - the cable is connected on the left side. However, the hinges of the folding structure are marked twice as right and left. The first time - in the form of an engraved letter on the metal hinge, the second time - using a raised dot on the plastic base of the hinge structure of the left channel.
Sport equipment
As mentioned earlier, Audio-Technica has released headphones of various types and categories, and there are also devices for special applications. It's time to look at the sports version. ATH-SPORT1 is completely aimed at this audience. It’s worth saying right away that the model has received moisture protection. You won't be able to swim in them, but you shouldn't be afraid of splashes of water and drops of sweat.
The kit includes several attachments that can improve sound quality and increase noise insulation. There are also corrugated nozzles, the purpose of which is not entirely clear. It is only obvious that the manufacturer is concerned about the safety of the athlete, since with this attachment all sounds can be heard.
The appearance is different from the so-called droplets. This model received a special mount that should be fixed behind the ear. But an interesting problem arose with it: it is not suitable for all buyers. Those with large ears feel discomfort; the headphones themselves are not inserted tightly into the ears, and as a result the sound is distorted. Before purchasing a headset, be sure to try it on. Although this advice applies to all models.
ATH-SPORT1 also have a special clip for attaching to clothing, and there is a buttonhole that adjusts the length of the wire. As tests of this model have shown, thanks to the fastening, the headphones stay in place even during the most active exercises, which, of course, is the main advantage.
The maximum power of the headset is 200 mW, sensitivity reaches 100 dB, impedance is only 16 Ohms, and the frequency range is 20-23000 Hz. In general, the model has practically no disadvantages, except for the comfort of use for some ear shapes. And the headphones are light, comfortable, stylish, and their sporty direction is immediately obvious. The sound is quite suitable for sports.
⇡#Cable
The Japanese manufacturer, like no other, loves to experiment with cables. Take, for example, the Audio-Technica ATH-WM55 model, where the wire is rolled up using a special cunning mechanism (see the review “Audio-Technica ATH-WM55 colored headphones that wind up the wire themselves”). And the ATH-M50X also comes with a cable-related surprise.
In total, the kit includes three cables - twisted (1.2 m), long straight (3 m) and short straight (1.2 m).
Taking a closer look at the molding on the cable plug, you can see that the outline is slightly different from the usual insulation on plugs from other manufacturers. The body has a small L-shaped groove.
This is done so that when you insert the plug into the headphones, you can turn it in the connector until it stops and lock it tightly. In this case, if you sharply pull the cable, it will remain firmly seated in the socket. To disconnect the wire, you need to do the opposite - turn the plug counterclockwise and only then remove it. To be honest, it’s a bit of a tricky cable connection system, and it’s of little use. It is at least unreasonable to travel with the ATH-M50X in transport, and in the workplace, if such a nuisance suddenly happens (say, the cable gets under a chair), then the protection against accidental pulling out of the wire can simply break the headphones. Probably this “feature” was made so that there was something to write in the press release. In fact, everything new is well forgotten old: Audio-Technica already made such a connector many years ago.
If you own an Audio-Technica ATH-M50, there is absolutely no point in upgrading to the Audio-Technica ATH-M50X. But if you really, really want to keep up with the times, you can save a lot of money by picking up a soldering iron and converting the ATH-M50 into an ATH-M50X. After all, all you need to do is disassemble the left cup and install a socket for a 3.5 mm plug. How to do this is shown in the video below.
You can also experiment with damping material. The only difference from the updated model will be that the connection mechanism on the redesigned model will not tightly fix the cable, as in the ATH-M50X, but this is a very minor thing, this option can be sacrificed.
The 6.35 mm adapter is attached to the proprietary cable using a thread. We found a funny English-language video review on the Internet, where the author talked at length and smartly about the merits of this model, but when he got to the adapter, he spent about ten seconds wondering why he couldn’t put the adapter on, muttering something like “what the hell?” under his breath. It turns out that there is also a small nuance here - in order to put on the adapter, you need to apply a little force before the first turn, since the spring tries to push it out.
The cable is connected to the left ear cup (in fact, as in the version with a permanent wire). The correct position of the plug relative to the socket for connecting the cable can be selected by focusing on the light oblong mark, which is located both on the plastic body of the cup and on the cable itself.
⇡#Sound quality
Some owners of the previous version of headphones who made an “upgrade” were surprised to find that the sound on the ATH-M50X is not the same as on the ATH-M50. How so? After all, the design is actually the same; the speakers, according to the manufacturer, have not been updated either. So what is the reason? Has the Japanese brand really decided to deceive music lovers with drivers by replacing them with cheaper ones? To understand this issue, our colleague, InnerFidelity lead specialist Thale Hertsens, carried out a whole series of measurements and even dismantled the cups to compare their contents. The conclusion that was made after these experiments: there are no changes. The speakers cost the same, their sound parameters are identical to the characteristics of similar elements in the ATH-M50.
If you call on all your imagination to help, you can still hear that the sound in the new model is very slightly different, and this is noticeable only in certain parts of the works. The reason for this lies in the fact that in the new model, Japanese acoustic engineers tried to minimize resonant vibrations inside the cup due to additional damping material. The playback quality only benefited from this - the headphones began to sound a little more confident. Where the previous model misfires, the updated version copes without problems. But this is all from the evil one: believe me, the difference, although for the better, is so insignificant that it can easily be overlooked.
Over the nine years of its existence, the ATH-M50 model has deservedly taken the lead in many reviews. We completely agree with this assessment, but we would like to remind you once again that the most objective assessment is your personal one, after you put the headphones on your ears and make your own conclusion about the quality of the headphones. But we'll still add our two cents.
Probably, if you select headphones of a similar class, the ATH-M50X can be compared with the Sennheiser 380 Pro - with the difference that the ATH-M50X has lower sensitivity, although the lower range is more pleasantly developed. The drawing of the drums is so expressive that, for example, in the compositions of Greg Joy, one can quite clearly determine the material from which the sticks are made - wooden tapping cannot be confused with anything else.
Closed headphones do not restrict the sound picture at all - it is very wide, so to speak. It simply covers you from all sides, however, for our subjective taste, it seems that it is shifted quite a bit back, towards the back. Perhaps this is explained by the special shape of the ear pads and the location of the drivers inside the cups. The positioning accuracy of sound sources is very high; on David Nevue's album you can catch the movement of the performer's hands on the keyboard deck - to the right or to the left.
To make it clearer to you, we present this fact. This review was written late in the evening, when in peace and quiet you can enjoy the sound quality, listen to the timbre of the ATH-M50X and carefully study the features of their work. When Emmanuel Moire's track “Un seul capitane” (album “Le Recontre” 2015) came to 2:31 and children's laughter was heard in the headphones, the author decided that it was the awakened children playing pranks, and involuntarily removed the headband.
One of the fans of the Audio-Technica brand is the popular composer and performer Michael W. Smith; his name was even mentioned in one of the official press releases of the Japanese company. All his compositions sound simply perfect in the ATH-M50X headphones, and All In The Serve is especially impressive - the kaleidoscope of nuances simply penetrates to the depths of the soul, each instrument sounds so expressive and natural in this work.
The latest Take That album was somewhat tiring with the assertive high-frequency drive of the Lovelife composition (apparently, the sound tuning during recording was done to suit a different acoustic timbre). But in Freeze the situation was different - it was precisely this drive that was missing. It’s strange, but, for example, even the in-ear TDK IE800 play this album more accurately (in terms of frequencies), although, of course, comparing them with the ATH-M50X is pointless - not only is the price range completely different, but also the type of headphones is not the same. All this is to say that there will probably be a lot of other inexpensive headphones where the sound of the same group will be more “weighted” than in the model under review. This situation is quite understandable, and we don’t see anything surprising in it - many performers set up their recordings in such a way that the tracks “sound” primarily on cheap equipment. After all, the vast majority of music lovers cannot afford to listen to their favorite works on expensive and high-quality acoustics.
From personal observations, we concluded that the ATH-M50X model is not always friendly with electronic pop music, but it copes easily with heavy or simply “live” music. The guitar sounds simply amazing, the string rings and pleases the ear. Any bards and folk singers reveal themselves to the fullest. Take, for example, the Czech legend Jan Nedvěd in the group Brontosauři with the forever young song Jarní tání - it seems that the composition can be listened to endlessly in a circle, enjoying the music and adopting its mood.
Sting's albums sounded very beautiful. If you have not previously listened to it on normal acoustics, we highly recommend listening to music on the ATH-M50X again. For example, after using the Pioneer SE-MJ751 headphones (see “Pioneer SE-MJ751 Bass Head review: headphones with four speakers”), all of his compositions appear in a completely new light - brighter, more detailed, fresher. The Living Sea and Dolphins soundtracks are simply mesmerizing. The album The Endless River by Pink Floyd is also a breeze to listen to - here the sound is balanced, unadorned and at the same time detailed throughout the entire frequency range.
Now a few words for lovers of graphs and measurements. Here is a comparative analysis of the frequency response of the old and new models.
As you can see, the curves are very similar (measurements from InnerFidelity), and the discrepancies can be explained by measurement error. Both headphones have a light bass color, which does not spoil the overall picture. Other frequencies are conditionally balanced, there are no critically deep dips or high “humps”, with the exception of a noticeable drop at 8 kHz, after which there is a rise again.
The ATH-M50X has minimal distortion. Measurements by Thale Hertsens showed that the coefficient of harmonic distortion, even at the edges of the audible range, does not exceed one. However, in our opinion, more accurate measurements were obtained by French colleagues from the publishing house Les Numeriques. The harmonic distortion coefficient determined by them is extremely small - even in the low frequency region it does not exceed 0.2%, and in the other range it even drops to 0.1% and below. Judging by the confident playback of any musical instrument, this seems to be true, and such numbers are an excellent result.
How do they sound?
This is a completely natural question after such a baggage of technologies used. To fully unleash the potential of the ATH-SR9, we decided to use a new product from Astell&Kern - the KANN portable audio player. The fact that both devices are the same age plays a role, which means they fully correspond to each other in terms of level.
Of course, besides FLAC, with such a couple you don’t want to listen to anything else. The tracks were pleasantly surprised by the detail and simply incredible high frequencies - it’s hard to say which headphones in the segment handle them better. Mids are balanced and clear. The bass is not overloaded: low frequencies sound without any accents, which may disappoint fans of hardcore hip-hop. The headphones are clearly aimed at versatility, and the engineers undoubtedly succeeded in this.
Despite the fact that Astell&Kern KANN has many opportunities to customize the sound using the equalizer, I did not have to resort to its “services”. ATH-SR9 already sounds at the same level - this is exactly the case when you can connect headphones to the source and not bother with the settings.
For example, we collected several compositions.
Theory of a Deadman - Say Goodbye. If Cham Kruger from Nikelback had a hand in the appearance of the first album of this group, then Alice Cooper himself helped them with the fifth. Yes, some of the band’s compositions can be safely sent to a country festival, but clearly not this one - such a bright combination of vocals, bass guitar and grunge makes goosebumps run down your spine.
Hozier - Take Me To Church. Passionate about church chorale, blues, jazz and soul, Andrew Hozier-Byrne recorded a sensual song that instantly won the hearts of millions of listeners. This composition allows you to clearly understand all the advantages of high frequencies in the ATH-SR9, but we must also give credit to the source.
Benjamin Clementine - Cornerstone. Why not test this pairing with one of the best compositions by a performer who draws inspiration from the best piano authors - Chopin, Ravel and Satie? Benjamin Clementine has not sung a cappella for a long time, but it is his vocals that make you listen to the tracks one after another. And I must admit, here our today’s hero surprised: the piano worked 5 out of 5, the vocals were even better. So their use with classical music has its place.
⇡#Conclusions
When the next headphone model is created, engineers have to solve a very difficult problem - how to please everyone who will use it. There are many nuances to consider. So, for example, headphones should look equally good on both a large head and a small one, and should sit confidently on protruding ears and on ears pressed to the head. They should not rub the skin or exert unnecessary pressure, but they should not fall off either. A person should feel the headphones as an extension of themselves.
This is incredibly difficult to do. And it’s even more difficult to please everyone in their musical preferences. This is, perhaps, generally from the realm of fantasy. Some people like “tops”, others “bottoms”, and the meaningless debate between them will never stop on the topic of exactly how music should sound in headphones. And yet, Japanese engineers with their model ATH-M50X managed to please, if not all, then most lovers of “personal” music. The sound of the updated model is rich and sonorous, we see an excellent, undistorted picture.
Despite its versatility, the ATH-M50X are, first and foremost, performance headphones. They are great for audio monitoring and studio work. They should not be worn outside, but for comfortable listening to music at home on a soft sofa, they are perfect. The price of these headphones is, perhaps, already biting, but if you still decide to give yourself such a gift, you will not be disappointed, rest assured.
And the release of Audio-Technica ATH-M50X can also be a cause for joy for those audio lovers who are not ready to shell out two hundred dollars for some headphones, even very high-quality ones. Such people have a chance to save money by choosing the old ATH-M50 model. Apart from the detachable cable, it is no different from the new product, but if desired, it can be found in online stores at a significant discount.
Ergonomics
At first glance, it seems that the company decided to copy the design from the Sony MDR line. There are some similarities, but this option looks better. Metal and leatherette were used for it. The headset does not have a large selection of colors. It comes in black with a blue tint. There are also silver inserts. This option is available to everyone. But specifically for Asians, there are bright accessories in red and gold.
In general, the design is reliable, all mechanisms are strong and work correctly even over time. Of course, the ear pads and cables will wear out, but they are easy to change. The cups themselves can rotate in two axes. The headband is made of eco-leather, but, as experience shows, over time it wears out, unfortunately, just like on the ear pads.
The developers decided to pay a lot of attention to sound insulation, so the pressure here is slightly exaggerated, so that owners of large heads will find the headphones uncomfortable. Of course, you can slightly bend the headband, which has a steel plate at its base. But the main thing is not to overdo it. As a result, the model received really good insulation. Not the best, but sufficient for indoors, streets and parks. But in the subway or on an airplane, external noise is still noticeable.
The frequency range is comfortable – 5-40000 Hz. Sensitivity - 100 dB, impedance - 35 Ohms. This model also has a condenser microphone, which is not of high quality; its frequency is 50-4000 Hz.
