Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Review - Everyone's Favorite Headphone?
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- Опубліковано 23 сер 2024
- Looking for a much better alternative? Buy the AKG K553/K550 MK II.
Sorry, AT, even the SRH440 just has a better soundstage and is closer to neutrality...after some EQ. Unfortunately, it's also uncomfortable, but not nearly as uncomfortable as the M50x. Still, as a folding portable with removable cables in this price range, it's hard to find something better.
Here's the EQ for the M50x that I came up with.
30 Hz, Q 1.41, +3 dB
200 Hz, Q 1.41, -3 dB
333 Hz, Q 1.41, +5 dB
4000 Hz, Q 2, -6 dB
10000 Hz, Q 1.41, -1.5 dB (brings down boost to 10k from "air" boost back to 0 dB)
14500 Hz, Q 1.41, +5 dB (threshold of hearing addition of "air", adjust to preference)
Follow me on Twitter to know when I'm uploading, what's coming next, and to just generally get in touch. / metal571
Hi everyone, thanks for watching. Yes this is an old review. Yes, I still completely agree with myself.
I was initially set on these, but after trying them at the store, quickly changed my mind. I tried the DAT770 and fell in love with the comfort and super clear sound. However, they didn't seem to be very mobile, taking them outside with the long cord can be an issue. I looked into the HD598 cs and they seem pretty good with more cable options. Can I ask you for your opinion between these two considering the things I pointed out? I'm casual listener, mostly at home, but would like to be able to take them with me when the need arises. Thanks a lot.
Forgot to mention: I don't intend on using an amp. I read you recommend using an amp even with the DT770 80. Any recommendations for suitable headphones would be appreciated. Thanks
I discovered your channel last year and came round. I was in the market for a new pair of headphones settled on the M50X after HARD DEBATE between the 598CS New at the time and the M50x I flipped a coin. Took time to really get used to them, I had a Steel series V2 headset "broken" it had a small treble filter in each cup I've been using that to add a bit extra treble reduction in the ear-cup along with the below mod I did.
I did a little mod for them. I havn't seen much as if anyone else doing it. If you're into modding or not you could try it. Under the driver housing there's a white ring that goes directly against the driver a wire goes through it I removed it. Keep the rings I've lost mine and can't really go back. It really opened them up and extended the soundstage improved the sound MANY TIMES. Leave in the flat piece of white dampening material against the back of the cup. I love how they sound. Using a extra treble filter with HM5 Hybrid
+I much more balanced sounding but still no soundstage
+I HD 200 Pro and Aurvana Live
You pretty much nailed the sound description, more than anyone else.
Man, your eq made my headphones sound good
Glad to see someone else actually be critical of the M50x (you and Z reviews). It's the first "real" headphone I ever bought and after 15 minutes I decided it was going back. Found it a bit harsh and unbalanced for lack of a better word. Shortly after I picked up a used pair of DT 770 80 ohms version and they where far superior despite also being a V-shaped headphone. The 770 80 ohms wasn't near as harsh, had a far superior mid range and vocals and sounded cleaner over all. I can't understand all the praise and recommendations the M50x gets by almost everyone. must be some kind of heard mentality.
I don't even know how these got popular in the first place.
You'll see my impressions are much the same as yours if you watch my 770 80 ohm review. I hate that I ended up selling them
+metal571 agreed, I regret selling mine also, but needed the cash at the time. I plan to pick up a pair in the future. Currently have a pair of DT 1770 which I like, but still miss the DT 770/80 for their fun factor.
would you be interested in reviewing the DT 1770?
I don't think they have a lot of notoriety but it would be fun to review them
+metal571 they only been out about 4 to 5 months and retail for 599.99. They use Beyerdynamic Tesla 2.0 drive. Gladly these don't have the harsh highs of the T1/T90. They are suppose to be a mastering & monitoring headphone, though I think the bass may be to much for mastering. I'll look at your UA-cam info and see if I can email you and let you and arrange for you to have a listen.
+metal571 because audiophiles hated beats by dre and they say the m50/m50x are better and half the price which is true, than average consumers wanted them because audiophiles liked them so they took their advice. The funny part is most of them never tried other headphones that were better than the m50/m50x headphones.
People love it for the bass. It depends what kind of sound you like. Most casuals choose bass over clarity.
Very true especially now that I've heard the earpods recently
It has very little bass compared to most other
actually I think that the M50 are quite punchy on bass. What I don't like is the position of the sound/voice and the clamping contact on the ears.
hmm Yes, they lack bass and have insane horrible highs.
Mad Dogs, T50RP, T20RP, Pioneer SE A1000, SHP9500 with HM5 angled pads are far superior
@@ilpatongi What open backed headphones would you recommend for metal and rock genres? I have a pair of M50x's but find them unexciting and their soundstage, restricted. I've been considering the Fidelio X2's.
I like your reviews, you are very honest, thanks for your information. You have a new subscriber
The reason m50x were so hyped up was because mkbhd recommended them....
m50 was hyped even before he recommend it
Head-fi sent me to them 3 or so years before that vid....
Everyone everywhere every site recommend it back in 2012
It gets best closed back Headphone for under 200 usd award from many websites for the years 2011 2012 2013 after that i bought it and it's sounds like shit
Btw i have got m50 not the X
@@davidmason8212 I've tried the m50x at the store it sounds very good to me. Nice clean treble, audible mids, and good amount of bass.
What would u buy for just listening to music from a phone, laptop, ipod etc?
thank you for all the detailed reviews. Sure helped a lot while going through the choosing process. Going to probably end up with the AKG K240's.
Just be aware of the enormously missing sub bass region. I never tried EQ on that can so can't tell if that would have helped unfortunately. Otherwise it's pretty interesting stuff
Thank you, thank you! Finally someone experienced who knows what he´s talking about. I actually had M50x for a while and was so disappointed by their sound (given that they are marketed as a studio monitor) and un-comfort (Circumaural? This? Kidding, right?) that I returned them. Too bad I found this review only after all these favorable top-lists. Their build quality is awesome though.
It's an old recommendation that needs to die out. This headphone is not competitive in the current marketplace anymore.
After years of seeing hype on these, I also tried them a year and some change ago. The most disappointing headphone I've listened to, I also returned them promptly.
Although I love my M50x more than any of my other headphones - including the HD600 - and I disagree with you at some points (particularly the 4k issues), I must say that your critical review on these headphones is excellent. It is by miles better than the mediocre one Z made. You definitely deserve way more subscribers.
It is also funny to hear everywhere how overrated the M50x is. I don't know where you live, but definitely not in Europe. You should come to see what we have here and cry. All you can find is Beats or cheap basshead Sonys.
That sucks. Amazon US has a very wide variety so acquiring a particular headphone isn't too difficult here. The whole 4k thing could have been my unit and some variation. I don't remember an original M50 I've also heard being so abrasive in the mids. Thankfully we have other choices here
Zeos doesn't seem to go into details about the good and bad things in his reviews
he kind of focuses in his review to new comers and beginners, rather than telling them very detailed information about why something is good or bad
That's kind of the problem with Zeos for some people and where I fill the knowledge gap. He may have more subs because he is less technical and produces way more videos than I do but I'm a more analytical person
yes, but I'm glad you guys are like that, you're getting the knowledgeable "for beginners" reviewer and the knowledgeable analytical reviewer, which is a good thing
Very well said. I've always thought that UA-cam is all about filling knowledge gaps. I've chosen this one as I was personally unsatisfied with just about all other reviewers in terms of sound description when I was new in this hobby. It made it really hard to find what I was looking for. So now I've taken it upon myself to give that information to the community.
I am seeing those everywhere.
It really does seem like brand appeal and 'DJ recognition' is what's keeping them so popular.
Hey man, thanks a lot for your videos. I bought the M50x because my 80 Ohm DT 770 pro are quite bulky for mobile use. But I wasn't happy about the sound and listening to your video it makes sense. Now I'm thinking about investing a bit more and getting the Neumann NDH 20 instead, do you have an opinion on them, or do you plan to review those in the near future? Alternatives are SP-5 or ultrasone signature pro. Thanks again for your effort!
Think you best described the M50/M50X - fun headphones, very forward sounding ( to me but I can tolerate it with HM5 pads ) but definitely not flat. I do own the old M50 which have HM5 hybrid pads ( mix of (p)leather and velour ) I do not recommend putting a full velour pad on them though., also placed cut-out foam pads on the headband, because these dig into my head like a brick. Great honest review there!
Finally someone other than z reviews will say the m50s are shit
Because they are...for the price point or lower you can do better. The hype days for the M50 are totally over.
Except that I've actually tried Audio-Technica's own cheaper M40x and it's simply an improvement. Still boggles my mind to this day. You make yourself sound like someone who's happy to spend 299 on Beats that are objectively horrible for the price
That's funny because sometimes I do contradict myself in that it is true that sound is extremely subjective. I still do often say there is no such thing as "the best." So that can be true.
verdammt23 look man
some people could enjoy a certain game while others wouldn't, but could a game critic or a game reviewer come on the show and say buy the game and you decide whether it's good or not?
without even reviewing the game?
just like how there is a standard for games, there is a standard for Audio quality
yes, you could like the M50x, but to someone who has tried many other headphones and has experience in audio quality, he could tell you and recommend something better, many people like you just disrgrad any person who says the M50s are bad and don't even try out other headphones to prove their point
you can't argue with someone who says a certain product is bad if you haven't owened or at least had a good time trying out another product within the same catagory, It's actually pathatic how I feel that I need to explain this
yes, sound is subjective, but just like games, just like food, just like movies, there has to be a certain standard for quality
and by that standard the M50x are bad headphones, for the price anyways
@verdammt23 piss off
Love watching your reviews, I hope there are more to come! I'm after a pair of studio headphones. Soundwise are the ATH-M40x better than the ATH-M50x? Or are the Sony MDR-7056 a better option? I'm asking about these because they are the only options in my budget that my local Hi-Fi shop offers. Thanks
SRH840 or MAudio Q40 in this realm of closed backs for around that price range
Finally! Someone gets it!
Man. Honest and truthful reviews. I feel like all da reviews on internet r fkin paid actors man. Esp with mdr 7506 and ath m50x.
Those are both obsolete because of K361 and K371
I've tried so many Audio Technicas because so many people and so many reviews gave good ratings and every time I read those I'd try one out but none, absolutely none of their huge arsenal of models ever convinced me. I've always felt they sound artificial and could never quite pinpoint what is wrong with them until watching this review.
Yee Karn Tan there's only one I liked and that was the A900X (the closed one not the AD900X)
@@metal571 I was gonna say that although I'm equivalently unimpressed with AT, I loved the AD1000X, though I haven't tried the 900X. The 1000X did some magic work for vocals with amazing mids and a good balance between the mids and treble.. I had a pair of HE500's and even when properly driven I would sometimes prefer the 1000X solely for vocally centric tracks
Dude fucking spot on sound analysis. I just listened to them for a good half hour and concur. There are so many better alternatives for the money.
+riseuplight thanks I still totally stand by this review. The M40x is more balanced but still annoys me in the comfort and soundstage departments, but it's more acceptable since it's cheaper
yep exactly. Z swapped the M40x earpads with the cowhide ZMF Oval Earpads, and apparently they result in a much better product. Did you ever try that out yourself?
Hearing this with m50x,bought it today! :D
do you like them?
rip money
they seems to be either loves or hated. they're a bit like my dt990, either you love them or hate them.
Same
Typical Samara The sound Is very Clear, not overly huge bass, very Well balanced. 100% Happy for My purchase wich i did year ago.
Nice job! This is a helpful review
Great review man! OK. So I'm guessing you have tried a lot of "bass head" headphones.. out of all you have tried so far, which one would you recommend buying? Is it still DT 770 Pro 80Ohms?
Yep still that one
+metal571 Ok Awesome.
get the dt 770 80ohk vadiant no questions asked, they are my fav headphones, and i have heard a few well received headphones like, hd 598,dt 990,m50x,at 900x.
and except for dt 990 which i loved but didnt buy due to its open design, nome enticed me.
i recently upgraded from ess sabre 9023 dac to cs 4398 and the sq has improved a lot on the dt 770s, better treble, forward mids and tighter bass.
in case you are wondering, i am using fiio x3 second gen as my dac as well as dap.
Yep got a review on those and I thought they were awesome. Though I hate the 880 and 990 and all other impedances of the 770 lol
I got Fiio A3, you think DT770s 80ohms would sound great with it?
Finally, I found a review with me about this pair of headphones I sold away two years ago. I couldn't wear it more than half an hour. I don't have hifi ears to a descriptive explanation, but still prefer tiny yuin pk2 over this one, also got k712 to replace it later.
I never found the ATH-M50x uncomfortable. But that might just be because I have a small-ish head.
JTCPingas the most comfortable for me too, lol, especially compared to AKG stuff.
Audio technica m50x is the most joyful headphone for music. Although not for long hours . But to elevate the mood and energy, M50x is champion.
You can try almost any headphone and get more joy from your music than the M50x…
Hi metal571 After listening to your review of M50x I've decided not to buy them. Would you recommend Audio Techinca ATH-MRS7 Headphones? I'm new to your channel and find your reviews very informative and honest.
Meh not the biggest fan of those either. I use an equalized K553 at the office
I had these for a good 5 years. Loved em very much, my only complain would be the comfort over long periods of time.
Thanks for the great review, would you recommend the m40x over the 50x for mixing? and what is a better alternative in the same price range?
+Amgad Makarem yes, but the K553 is even better for mixing as it has some soundstage to go with it and is less polite than the M40x while remaining quite neutral to slightly lean.
Also buy yourself a better set of earpads (brainwavz angled sheepskin) or the zmf cowhides
if you want more sound stage...tips from zreviews
No. See M40x review
Which headphone would you recommend for someone new to the better sounding cans. I've been researching and it seems dt770 80 or M40x keep getting thrown out as solid entry level cans. What's your thoughts? Really helpful reviews!
+cedrictheM M40x is a good starter but the comfort might be annoying. My go to recommendation around that price range is the K553
I ordered it and wanna review then , till then ur right .
I picked up a pair for $118 yesterday new from Amazon, would that change your review at all?
I couldn't not 🚫 understand what pads, you had suggested......
Model & Brand please 🙏🥺
Why does Audiotechnica print their ugly logo all over the headband? It looks like crap. I'm not paying a lot of money to run around like a living ad ...
I’ve been daily driving a pair of m50xs for about 5 years now, and I absolutely love them. Here’s the caveat though, it’s my first ever pair of real headphones. Before that, the closest that I came was a set of Corsair gaming headphones. The m50xs were a revelation, as they say, by comparison. I actually find it encouraging that you and so many other reviewers aren’t impressed with them. I just got my first dedicated headphone gear (Schiit Magni Heresy/Modi 3+) and am looking to get more headphones. If I loved the m50xs, there’s a great chance that I’ll love others even more!
Sundara will be mind blowing if you can swing the cash and live with an open back
@@metal571 Man, thank you so much for replying! The Sundara’s are on my list! I love the fact that they are open back because I’ve dying to try those. I also really want some planar magnetics, so that’s 2 birds with one stone as they say. Also on the list: HD 6xx, HD 58x, AKG K371 (based on your recommendation), HE4xx, Meze 99 Classic, DT 1990 Pro, Grado SR 325x, and M70x. I’m hooked. Also, probably you get tired of hearing this, but that’s too bad you don’t so the reviews any more. Yours seems so real and honest.
@@RdandTrk1 6xx flat out better than the 58x if you have an amp already, 4xx is really nothing next to Sundara in performance, 99 Classic is a mega bass cannon that I don't recommend at all, 1990 Pro has a treble spike of death, almost every Grado has an extreme peak at 2k, M70x I have actually not tried. Unfortunately from where I'm sitting we can only see flaws but that's my current reaction to all that. If you aren't already subbed, Resolve over at the Headphone Show is my full replacement, so no need for this channel.
@@metal571 Thanks a ton for the feedback. I've always liked great sound, but it's taken me a while to get more serious about it. My goal is to try out headphones that all sound good but very different, so I can ultimately have a curated variety in my collection. Your feedback is super helpful because surely my list has some redundancy. Based on your comments, it sounds like there is no need to get the 4xx or the Jubilee if I also plan to get the 6xx and Sundara. Again, thank you so much for taking the time to give feedback. I sincerely appreciate it. It's tricky to navigate because it's both complicated and so subjective, so it really helps a beginner. I hope my Heresy is strong enough to power those, then again, I already have designs on an Asgard, and who knows from there. I'll definitely check out resolve. Through this journey, I've mostly relied on Joshua Valour, DMS, you, Crinacle, and Currawong. It's exciting to be able to add Resolve to that list.
Thanks for the EQ settings, the m50xs were my very first "good" headphones but over the years I've found them to be fatiguing to listen to for extended listening sessions.
+Michael Tsui they're very difficult to equalize due to the weird bass character but at least I can cut the big and annoying midrange and treble peaks out
hi man. first of all thank you for your videos. i have a question, i have no chance to try the headphones that interest me, which of these are more realistic, immersive with a good sound-stage? :
-focal spirit pro
-akg k553
-dt770
..thanks!
Hi, Metal. First of all, nice video, although old. Really like your content!
I own these cans for years now. Original ATH-M50, not the X version, but they sound identical, so it's ok. I got them from a friend in 2015, which bought them in 2012, so they are 8 years at this point. Still rockin' solid. They are plugged into my Creative Sound Blaster Z card, and i really love the sound of this pair. Both in music and games i never found them unpleasant. They are also pretty comfy for me, i can wear them hours upon hours with little to no fatigue.
All that said, i am 100% agree with you on the sound. Especially after i used Beyer's DT 1990 Pro's for a week (had to return those due to the driver failure). There is no soundstage at all, they are just blasting everything into your ears. Still, everything they are blasting is detailed and i enjoy the music in these, even after DT 1990 Pro's. Maybe it's my sound card that makes them sound so nice, i don't know.
But yeah, i'm totally with you on this one - these are not that good overall, it's just that i'm lucky. Gonna upgrade to somethin' better in any case, because i really miss the sound of 1990 Pro's, which was just godly. Too bad the driver died after just a week and a half. Maybe i'll get another pair of those and gonna pray they won't die, but i'm also considering Sennheiser HD 660S and Audeze LCD 1.
I like the Sundara in this price range
@@metal571 i was considering Sundara, but there are just too many complaints about it's quality control and stuff. Just too many. And after my DT 1990 Pro's failed on me after just a week and a half of very gentle use, i am just too scared to buy Sundara. So i ordered 660S's a few hours ago.
Wow, finally someon whoo feels the same about the sound quality of this headphone. 100Hz too much, 400Hz nothing, from 1k boosted, then 5k some very disturbing ear killing peak. Without eq unusable. I actually think thast one could lost hearing to listening to them without eq for long time out lout. Really healthy dangerous headphones!!!
At the time these came out, frequency response measurements weren't as mainstream as they are now, and that goes especially for the original M50. They're still riding that wave of popularity but I'd never buy this over a K371 now
@@metal571 You mean AKG K371? To be sure.
@@maroskn3008 indeed and I reviewed them as well
@@metal571 Thank you.
Thanks for the great review. I have always been using cheap earbuds that come with smartphones. About six months ago I decided for the first time to try something that is better than those free earbuds. That's when I bought the M20x. I just wanted to see if I could actually tell the difference between cheap earbuds and relatively expensive headphones. Of course, I was happy with the M20x initially but my ears ache after 30 minutes of wearing them. I thought my ears were oversensitive at first, but now I know that other people find them unconformable.
So, I've been thinking of leveling up. I wanted to get the M50x, but I was worried about the ear comfort factor. Of course, I'm still an amateur when it comes to audio related things and I've been skeptical by the overwhelming reviews that are biased towards the M50x. So, say I have around 100$-150$. Would you recommend the NVX XPT100 over the M50x ? Or would you recommend something rather different ? I just want a decent pair of headphones that is well balanced but not too expensive. Thanks.
+medwatt HM5, not the XPT100, is the one you want
+metal571 Thanks for the swift reply. You know, I can't make up my mind between the XPT100 and the HM5. Some say they have exactly the same sound quality with the only differences being in packaging and hardware elements. I've watched your XPT100 review and you were not sold on the hype. Since you are recommending the HM5 over the XPT100, in your opinion, what makes the HM5 better than the XPT100. Thanks.
It's very simple, they're supposed to be the same headphone but they're not. The HM5 is much smoother and more refined and sounds much more natural and neutral. I've already compared my XPT100 and Zeos' XPT100 to Zeos' HM5 and it was beyond obvious.
+metal571 Thanks. Just one last question. I currently have the M20x (which you may not have tried as its just $50). I haven't been using high fidelity speakers/headphones all my life and so my ear is unrefined when it comes to detecting minute and nuanced changes as you can. For instance, when I first got my M20x, I wasn't initially sure whether they were way better than my free samsung earbuds. Now, I can tell that the sound from samsung earbuds is murky. Given that the M20x is definitely not a horrible headphone, do you think it’ll make sense to invest 120+$ on the HM5 when I already have the M20x ? Will the sound from the HM5 surprise me (if I can ask that question) ? I generally like listening to symphonies that are violin based. Thanks.
medwatt honestly if you want to be wowed, try the K550 which should be hovering around 150 last I checked. Yes there will be a massive difference
Spot on description of the flaws.
The most important in a good Hi-Fi gear sound for me, is what that gives you the excitement and fun,not that technical measurements and a dull flat linear neutral sound ;)
This is why I'm a fan of Harman and not diffuse field tuning
This was not specific aimed at your review of the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x,I dont own or had ever tried or hear them, but more as in general,i have listened to possibly over 100 headphones over my 50years,and it is all down to the fun factor an that you will hear more music,just forgetting what you have one your ear and head,but you must have good source also to convey to joy it ;)
@@kentxx12 indeed you have come to the right channel
thanks for the eq very helpful
For lack of another fully satisfying pair of headphones for my intended use, and also simply for comparison's sake, I gave those another try at the store today (after originally being sorely disappointed by them too the first time I picked them up, having read so many praising reviews, including by very serious and thorough reviewers...) And though, in terms of detail and clarity, I do find them embarrassingly lacking and overhyped compared to the DT 770s (to the point where it seems like either the ATs are overpriced, or the DTs are way underpriced,) after a few comparative listens, well I'm beginning to see part of the appeal of those.
Mind you, as far as listening to music, whether for pleasure or analytically goes, yeah, I probably wouldn't pick those any day. Not that the sound is agressive or anything (it's not, in fact, I technically quite like their lower-mid-range-oriented coloration, very non-fatiguing...) it's just not rich or detailed at all... Especially apparent when swapped back to back with the DTs. For instance, there were whole guitar parts and flourishes that struck me on the DTs that I had outright missed on the ATs (including in that seemingly more prominent lower-mid area, which is a problem !) Going back to the ATs and paying closer attention, it became clear why : although the volume is technically present in all in the right places, there's just a whole edge or sense of contour missing that makes the part easy to miss if it's coupled with other guitars chording at the same frequency range. And I don't believe it's a soundstage issue so much as sheer lack of definition.
What I do appreciate about these, ironically, is... the more compact, straightforward soundstage. I'm looking for something to track vocals with, and though I haven't gotten to try either headphone with vocal feedback yet (which might be an altogether different experience,) the Beyers just make me feel like I might get too distracted by each distant element of the mix to be properly focused on my performance, especially the more peripheral parts, it's almost like things are too artifically isolated to naturally replicate the spatial experience of being in a room with instruments. From an intellectual and sensorial perspective, it's a very cool and pleasurable way to listen to a track and identify all of its quirks, but when it comes to recording a performance, it makes me feel oddly central and remote from what's happening. Hope that makes sense ?
I dislike M50x as well. I think M40x is clearly the better sounding headphone. However, both are V-shaped and not quite natural sounding IMO. M40x is just less V-shaped than M50x. I recently sold an M40x. At first I was impressed with it, but eventually found the bass and upper treble excessive compared to my HD600, r70x and DT150. What I did find is that, for some reason, the M40x works exceptionally well with 1980s JPop, so those who are into that music should definitely try the M40x. ;)
Hi! I found m50 is very fun on some records, for example Tiamat "Amanetes" sounds godlike with this headphones, but I can't endure that thin sound with absolutely no body. Metal hits in industrial sounds like a foil, acoustic guitars sounds like a silver arphs - thats too artificial and awful for my taste.
But I need a sub bass for my dark ambient and some other music, so I can't choose K550 or Shure 440\840. And Dt770\80 is too expensive for me. What can you advice? Did you hear Custom One Pro? COP might be a good choice but some people found them too muddy and I don't know what to choose.
i have a pair of m50 and at first i found them to be an immediate improvement to the cheap sony earbuds i used to buy, but the sound of the m50x is just like you said and and im looking to upgrade to an hd600. and great review like always. im anxiously waiting for the he400s review.
Thanks I don't have them yet but they'll rotate into my hands soon hopefully
+metal571 thats cool, im not in a rush. i just want to hear more reviews for them. tyll from innerfidelity seems to like them a tad more than the hd600, so i just wanna see if they are that good.
+metal571 i have a question about your eq settings. are those adjusted to your prefered sound or eq'ed to sound neutral?
My preferred sound is neutral, at least my own definition of it. I create the preset using a combination of doing it by ear and comparing the InnerFidelity measurements to my personal preference "neutral" FR graph
+metal571 damn, that was the fastest reply i ever got. thanks, lol.
I noticed after using the ath-m50x for a few hours, the sound cleared up and the treble isn't too excited as how it was when I first opened them. I also noticed that the bass in the headphones has a little bit of a scratch to it on the right side when you raise the volume, however it "fixes" itself, unless my ears adapted to the sound. overall I would say for the price range, it is pretty much worth it. That's if you use most of the features it provides.
I agree they are most definitely not "neutral" but they are very "fun" and I enjoy their sound quite a bit I threw the shure pads and put some extra foam underneath them to attenuate the highs slightly. To my ears they sound nice, smooth, detailed, and warm with a definite bass boost. The stock pads suck for comfort.
I have a pair of m50x for home and some Bose QC25's at work. For the music I listen to the Bose sound like crap compared to the m50x's. The m50x's aren't very comfortable but they just sounds so good. I am looking at replacing my Bose at work because just because they sound like crap compared to my m50x's. I am a software developer, I sit at work for 8 hours every day listening to work writing code. I am not an audio guy, I just listen to a lot of music. I tried the Audio Technica MSR7s side by side with my m50x's and I MUCH prefered the m50x's. The MSR7s sounded flat, less isolated, it was like there was less contrast. I also tried the Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 and didn't like them compared to the m50x. I am really stuck as I was expecting these headphones to be a lot better than they were. Where I live there are basically no way for me to try any headphones before I buy them; I pretty much have to order them online and have them shipped. I am looking at spending up to $500 and I would have to hang myself if I didn't like my new headphones more than my m50x's. I tried my mates Beyerdynamic DT770 80ohm and I prefered my m50xs. I can't describe this.. it just suits my preferences better and the music I listen to. The only way I can describe it is the m50x's sound like you are in a very sound deadened room. The silence is very dark and the sounds are very colourful. It's just what I like I guess.
I donno what to do, I think I will have to wait until I go on holiday next so I can actually listen to headphones in a shop.
finnsk3 what did you end up with? I'm curious, also a Software developer with a ATH m50x. :) Love these cans, been using them for 3 years. Can't stand Bose q25 / q35, DT770 sound too similar only brighter highs, IMO. Thinking of Hd650 as an upgrade...
Before I got my HD600s, I bought some massive foam pads from Amazon for my MX50s, and they are still the most comfortable headphones I have ever used. Once you change the pads, you can legit wear them all day. I'm not sure if it's the material, or the distance but it also reduces the bass quite a bit. I don't know if I'd recommend them over other headphones though. I don't think I'd recommend the wired ones, but if you're looking for Bluetooth headphones the MX50s are a decent buy.
Hi man, was wondering if you could help me picking a pair for my needs?
I'm looking to buy my first pair of decent headphones, and listen to EDM, modern rap (Future), alternative rock (Muse), and the odd bit of pop (Bruno Mars etc). I'd also like to use this pair for gaming purposes too, as this setup WILL be used at home with an amp+dac.
I had a few shortlisted (below) from my research, and I was wondering if you could help select the pair that best suits my needs, or recommend a pair?
Thanks!
Audio-technica M40x
Status Audio CB-1
SoundMagic HP150
Audio-technica MSR7
Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro (250 Ohm)
Since you have a wide variety of uses, even though they don't absolutely require an amp I'd get the K553
I've been checking your old videos. You had much more hair in the past :) ! You said in one of your videos that you were studying Computer Architecture in graduate school. Does that mean you studied electrical or computer engineering ?
That was computer engineering, which I have a B.S. and M.S. in now. However I currently work full time as a programmer since I got fed up with hardware design and lost interest during grad school. I was supposed to be on the PhD track but "mastered out" instead
metal571 Very nice. I myself have a B.S. in electrical engineering. I was thinking about going for computer architecture but changed my mind to solid state electronics. What type of programming do you do ? Low Level stuff ?
Not that low level. I work with C++ mostly on custom embedded boxes that convert radar formats to other radar formats and do serial to LAN and vice versa, though we also have some tools that are written in visual C# and I worked a lot with scripts in bash as well
what do u mean when u say a headphone has "speed" or " fast" . i duno what that term means. you do great videos by the way! keep it up!
I'm working on a video that explains how to understand my reviews right now that I should have made a long time ago. Grain or speed or resolution is hard to explain but I will try to do it in that video
Ever taken a look at Somic/Status Audio headphones? I've tried a handful of headphones, and I'm trying CB-1's right now. Really curious what you would think about them... frequency curve looks very 'Beyerdynamic-esque'. There are an awful lot of positive reviews on youtube but... I want to see a nice brutal review from an objective reviewer.
+Vatnos funny I haven't even heard of those before
So yeah, they're obscure Chinese headphones that got a bunch of praise on head-fi, and some other youtube channels had positive reviews. I've been looking for better open and closed circumaural headphones since I've never had a good pair. I plan to get both.
I can't make up my mind how I feel about these Status CB-1's really. They're clearly more neutral and better extended in the highs and lows than my Klipsch X-10's or Koss Porta Pros, while having a more 'fun' sort of neutral sound than my anemic Senn HD280P's and ice cold Etymotic Hf5's. And they seem more detailed than all four of those headphones, I would say (for better and for worse on bad recordings). I should love them, they checked all the boxes I wanted checked, but I've been having fatigue issues with them, and I can't tell if it's the headphones, or if maybe I'm just not a closed headphone kinda guy. While the 280P's are also closed, they're not headphones per se... more like a medieval clamping torture chamber that plays sound. So... I don't know... maybe the search continues...
hi man.. tat was a really honest review.. like it very much.. I already ordered one of these, but I have a dilemma over sennheiser hd 380 pros.. what wud yu suggest for a music producer like me.. before these I used the can that came with the scarlett studio bundle.. I think I have less knowledge about the headphones in the market.. but I like the sacelett headphones.. pls tell me, shud I go to sennheiser or stick with m50x.. I really need an advice..
+sillyfello 380s no question about it, they're more balanced although still have some somewhat aggressive mids but much better soundstage
+metal571 ughh.....much relieved.. thanx man..
Do you prefer the m50x with sonarworks reference 3 plugin? it flattens the sound. I don't want to disturb neighbourgs at night with my monitors. Which do you recommend for mixing? dt770? m50x eq:ed? r70x? hd600? or any other recommendations for EDM? Thanks!
K553 for mixing or HD 600
So after all ,what is your your strong advice for mixing and monitoring close back headphones in the same price range (or cheaper) as m50x ...greetings from Serbia
K553
I think this is a dumb question but I don't know anything about headphone but I was curious about this headphone. If you got smaller ear would this headphone be more comfortable? Also, what is the most comfortable closed headphones (I just learnt about the term just now) where you can listen to music for longer than 2 hours?
K553 (K550 on my channel), DT770 (can be even more fatiguing than the M50x to listen to due to treble but very comfortable pads). Smaller ears may be just fine in the M50x but I wouldn't buy it. If you are dead set on Audio-Technica I would get the M40x instead
Absolutely correct. I had the same issue with these. I typically use open backs (by other brands) for monitoring/mixing, but I found cheaper closed backs to be better than these for tracking.
Go figure. 😂
Has anyone ever told you that you sound like K-Billy's radio station DJ Steven Wright from Reservoir Dogs? Thanks for another superb review pal.
+Bilko people have told me I sound like many people but not these people lol. Having a good XLR condenser mic helps
so apperantly everyone's bashing m50x but no one suggest an alternative to this with closed back, flexiable body and detachable cabled headphones other than the little brother m40x... that's weird if you ask me.
+Redar M40x is the better alternative but doesn't come with a short straight cable in the box. This is a little bit older of a review but pretty sure that I said if you need a do-all solution regardless of sound quality and comfort, this can be a good option... There aren't many foldable, detachable cable cans out there with really good sound quality to begin with that I know of. SRH440 and M40x though are interesting alternatives.
Thanks for your response... One thing I don't like about Shure SRH440 is build quality... For some reason I found Audio Technica's more robust.
I bought the M50x I tried it with Sonarworks profile and it def fix some issues and increase soundstage, do you think it's worth it buying the m40x or it won't feel like an upgrade?
+Amgad Makarem I still wouldn't prefer the M50x over the M40x
I use them pretty much exclusively for monitoring and tracking due to its solid sound isolation. I have HD 600s and DT770s to fulfill my other production needs
Have you tried the ATH-MSR7? If so, how do they compare?
What if detachable cable is important (let's say I've children that like to play with scissors)? Should I still get these instead of the DT 770?
Best headphones for symphony x and malmsteen ?
i was thinking buying this heaphones but i think i might just changed my mind. What heaphone do you recommend for under $200 that is comfortable and can be use for monitoring?
I use the SRH440 but the SRH840 is more comfy, or you can go with the high isolation and fairly even handed sounding HM5.
Changing the pads and it's perfect
this is the channel Z Reviews use to show his face CONFIRMED
+Omar St LOL no, Z is one of my friends in real life and you can trust me that we look different
@@metal571 well sheit, pat on my back to realise that subbing to you will be a good decision since I find you and zeo having similar taste (not sure if you are into anime) and you give your review on how it functions while zeo gives his opinions...great duo
@@LoneBeastYT good ol zeo
@@metal571 ayy I literally was watching your last video...I am truly grateful that you reply to comment of old videos...it really shows you still care but you are burnt in terms of creating more headphone reviews....
I have one request (maybe that I haven't seen a video already uploaded) but one last video where you Collab with zeo and review something highly bizzare (maybe the hd800 or something) to give you a really good "farewell for your great legacy on reviewing headphones"
We are actually extremely different reviewers who focus on totally different stuff. The headphone show, max settings, wheezy reviews, and bert reviews are much more similar
Download an equalizer program like Equalizer APO and it really helps these headphones
I bought the ATH-M50x because the technical measurements at rtings.com confirm it is a good sounding pair of headphones. And I think they sound great. Check out the technical measurements at that site and compare them with the much more expensive headphones like the Sennheiser HD-800's which are widely regarded as the reference standard. Soundstage is not the only criteria for a good sound. The reviewer is being very subjective and has a personal bias for a certain sound, which is OK by me, but most other people may not share his taste.
Rtings tries to boil down headphone reviews into numbers, which doesn't tell you the whole story. The M50x is uncomfortable for many, has grain near its annoying 4k peak that can't be measured, and has a very narrow soundstage. If those things don't bug you, that's fine, I can't tell people what to like. But until you try to say the HD 800 is actually a comparable headphon to those, you need to actually compare the two side by side for yourself. Also, it is easy to get better soundstage, comfort, and not spend much more with the K553. The M50x is outdated and outclassed, put simply. It's never been horrible, but the competition is fierce.
@@metal571 Bunk. I will repeat that soundstage is not the only criteria in determining sound quality. Would you buy a car based on people saying they love this or that about it without checking published quantifiable measurements. I wouldn't. The flatest and most consistent frequency response in bass, mid and treble, lowest distortion, imaging as well as soundstage are all important factors and rtings have given each a reasonable weighing based on users' preferences. How is that not telling the whole picture as you say? The ATH-M50X excels in and meets the HD 800S in all these measurements except for soundstage, and even then it is not quite as bad as you put it, since for a closed back headphone it gives a reasonably good score, especially at the critical 10KHZ notch. And that 4k peak problem you mention is not even a factor in any of the measurements, as is the the bass being colored and lumpy. Can you produce an ATH-M50x measurement graph to show what colored and lumpy means? You sound a bit like one of these wine conoisseurs who state the wine lacks fruitiness and nuttiness or "je ne sais quoi", when there is no quantifiable means to measure these. I think the measurement graphs at rtings tell the whole picture. And they can't be "subjectified" So please try not to forget that many people, professionals and amateurs have heard ATH-M50x's and don't necessarily agree with you. And I bought mine new for $120. Can you find me a better pair of headphones for that price?
cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/311277599643009024/536206902632382502/output.png and yes I can, AKG K553
I also used to be you, looking only at FR graphs and judging headphones based on them instead of personal experience. Go to a headphone meet and listen to the two headphones you're talking about and then tell me they sound the same. That's your challenge for 2019
@@metal571 Sound preference is a very personal thing, and you should know that side by side listening comparisons will always get different reactions. I might like what you don't and vice versa. That's life. Total unanimity is a pipe dream, so I will gladly stick with FR graphs and what the majority of other reviewers prefer.. I suppose rtings with their instruments and research crews are imbeciles, while you sitting at your computer having probably only sampled a few headphones in listening sessions, are an expert. And your graph does not properly define "colored and lumpy". You'll have to do better than that.
they are not natural sounding at all, they are fun aggressive headphones, sound stage is zero. They sound like headphones, not speakers. Vocals i found hollow. Detail was very good for price though.
i agree totally with this video. I just went to a dj shop in london and checked out many headphones and the audio technicas are a party on your head but they are not a monitoring headphone. They are fun. They are impressive but they are not accurate enough to produce on. they are loud, they are full of bass which personally i like but the grip was loose on my head and the isloation wasnt very good. im not an audiophile but i produce and live loop. For what most people want the M50x is really powerful sound for party heads but the isolation isnt so good and the ear cups are small. Too small for my big ears. I liked the big sound to be honest. Sooooo much more bass than the Sennheiser HD380 and a lot more than the Beyerdynamic DT700. and yes the treble isnt pushed even if people say it is. The bass is so loud that it makes it hard to hear detail in other freequencies. if you want bass and you have small ears and dont care about isolation I can see why people like the audio technicas. I agree with this video you need small ears. my ears would start burning from the pressure on the ear. they are sold as over ear but they are between on ear and over ear based on your ear size. I wouldnt say these are studio monitors. but they are big and fun sounding
I own M50X, the Status OB-1 are more comfortable but I can wear the M50X for hours. I can feel them on the bottom of my ears but never bother me. They are a good headphone but the treble is over emphasized, just turn it down a few dB. Can't wait to hear a recommendation over these because these are very nice sounding. You can find this much wrong with the sound, when you do like something they are going to be amazing I suppose. O.o?
Is there any possibility reviewing the Audio Technica R70x in the future?
+manos manoss it's coming up. I'll have a unit in my hands within a week or so if all goes well.
+metal571 Good stuff
I just ordered them from Amazon from their main source that sells them amazing deals online and would like to know if their legitimate please let me know if you also bought them from amazon ?
Finally someone who doesn't like these! I bought them based on all the praises but that was a huge mistake especially because of the boomy bass. I had to sell them and got HD-650 that I love! Unfortunately I still need closed-back headphones for the office since HD-650 leak and my teammates hate me. What closed-back headphones for classical music would you recommend under $600?
+CyberGene honestly K553, most accurate sounding closed back I know of, and it's under 200 bucks too. Classical demands accuracy and there are VERY few closed backs that are anywhere near as accurate as the 553. Very confident you'll enjoy them since you like the 650s. Enjoy
metal571 It seems like K553 is only sold in US and I live in Europe but there's a K550 mk2 which is probably the European equivalent? Thanks for the suggestion though. If I can't find the K553, what else would you suggest?
+CyberGene K550 mk2 is the same thing yes
I guess I'm really lucky that for my head and ears, the M50x actually fits nicely, just enough clamping force, my ears don't hurt after long use. Sound though, agree that it's too closed off, especially apparent in genres that require soundstage. I mainly used them to listen to Pop music though, and for that they sound really good for my taste, engaging and fun, with Bass that for me don't really disturbs other frequency too much. For the price though, maybe offerings from Shure will be better for some people.
These days the K371 is usually what I recommend
if you had 2 say who is better in the simple way between the akg k701 ( Austrian version) and the audio tecnica ath-m50x who would it be ?
Not really comparable because totally different tuning but the K701 is certainly more capable resolution and stage wise
How do you not have the m40x review in your channel yet? :)
It's the "M50x Killer", "Best headphone under 100$" people say.
The CAL is better, easily, even though I'd still rather listen to the M40x than the M50x. I finally have one in house, review is coming next week probably
I have one of these just stored away in case I needed to do some studio or field work. I gave them a listen the other day and I can only describe it as sounding a little bit veiled. Like listening to known clean recordings thru a layer of cloth in between. I thought about removing that piece which covers the drivers but I'm afraid of what it would do to the HFs.
Strictly speaking of sound quality, do you think the the M50 is better enough to justify the price difference to the Takstar Pro80?
Definitely not. The Takstar is much better for cheaper. Check out my review of them
Nice! I already have the Kingston HyperX Cloud - rebranded Pro80. Just recently I bough t a Samson SR950 and for 36$, I think it marginally sounds better than the Pro80: leaner bass, a bit more forward midrange, wider soundstage. You might want to check them out.
I heard the 950 briefly at a Sam Ash and was quite impressed actually. Definitely need some more time to give them a full review
what kind of headphone u use in this vid?
and for the same price as m40x what can u suggest ?
+Dhani Aristyawan SRH440. Well I can't just recommend something cause everyone has different use cases. What music are you listening to and where are you going to use it and from what sources are you plugging into
They do hurt your ears after a while but I like how sturdy and snug they are
I bought a pair of these 2nd hand, they lasted less than two hours on my head as they are so dreadful. Shockingly bad audio and how on earth they are classed as 'studio' is deaf, there is no way these can be used for any pro audio as the frequency response is so seriously bad.
what are some headphones that are better for the price?
Why did I find this review now?! I ordered them because all people praised them ... and they are uncomfortable as you said. My far cheaper HyperX Cloud Alpha is far more comfortable than whatever Audiotechnica did here. I sent it back and got a Custom One Pro instead. This one at least doesn't make me put it down after 15min.
The COP is not bad, much comfier for sure. My pick nowadays is the K371 generally. Lol you must be reading some old guides, these were very popular towards the beginning of the 10s and have been easily outclassed by now
@@metal571 Yes. If you come completely from the outside, they are still recommended to this day. And they are still one of the top picks at the online shop I buy my headphones from (which is basically the only shop where you can get anything at all here in my region because Amazon is completely sold out :D - and the headphones in the local electronics shops are all terrible ). I wrote a review there to _really_ warn people of how uncomfortable they are.
@@mrnotsoevil yep they've always kinda been a not-quite over ear headphone. Same thing with the M40x unfortunately
Cheers for telling the truth about the M50s. I still wonder what the hype is all about. Give me DT770 or HD25 and I'll be ok, not at all so with these shouty, boomy and shrill phones.
Would you share your EQ settings for the shure 440's as you did here for the m50's PLEEASE!! I suppose you were looking forward to neutralize any remaining coloration.
+noneban added it to the SRH440 review. You may also want to play with 30 Hz if you need more sub bass but just be sure to adjust the preamp accordingly so you dont compress the dynamic range or distort depending on what EQ software or hardware you use
+metal571 thank you very much sir!
@@metal571 what type of EQ ⁉️
WINDOW'S. .... THANKS 😊
These were my favorite headphones for like a year or so, but then I got my Sennheiser hd 558's and my senns blew these m50X's out of the water in every aspect. The 558's feel like pillows, warm sound signature that's non fatiguing(Sennheiser sound). Add an amp(Schiit Magni 2, Fiio e10k) and it gets even better. Definitely recommend the 558's and the sennheiser brand in general.
+GuNxLeg3nd Yep, my main headphones are the HD 600 and AD900X. After EQ they both get insanely good for the price. I'm a Slayer guy so I still like to listen to my metal as well
Yeah man I have a huge amount of respect for Slayer. They were my gateway to the more extreme sub genres of metal. What's your opinion on Audeze headphones? I hear they're pretty good for metal.
GuNxLeg3nd I haven't heard enough of them, but the LCD-X was pretty godly from first impressions. Audezes don't have overly aggressive upper mids so they would work well with metal. The HE500 is a really special headphone as well.
Now, it's been 2 years ago i bought mine. Yes, the pads were crap - i had to buy shure pads from eBay... But I like the flat sound on them...
But remember, many people are listening to Spotify and Apple Music. For that, these headphones are absolutely perfect. They liven up otherwise somewhat dull sounding compressed files. I think one has to factor in things like instead of just looking at ideal world situations. I loved these headphones until I started using them with Tidal and now Amazon Music HD. With higher resolution audio, these things are just too much. I might go deaf from the piercing highs. So I'm ditching them I think. But it really just depends on situation.
Oh, and you recommend the AKG 550's. Great. Except don't those have a very long non detachable cable? Not exactly ideal for the bus or the train or the plane. The M50x's have a nice slim removable cable. I believe the AKG's don't isolate sound as well either. So again....for many people's situations, the M50's will be a better choice. Audiophiles tend to see the world through a very narrow prism.
K371 solves every single one of those problems. There's no point in these headphones anymore now. It didn't exist at the time I shot this
Thank you for this review, I've heard so much praise for the headphones that it appears almost artificial. I wonder if the main difference between the cost of this and the M40x is the marketing, similar to the reason why people dislike a certain brand of more popular bass heavy headphones.
+FMicrowave well the larger drivers dig deeper in the 50x but the 40x has a more honest sound but doesn't reach as deep into the bass. Both have a poor soundstage and not so great comfort. But I'd still take the 40 over the 50.
+metal571 Would you say that the M40x have a better sound than M50x even with EQ taken into account? (ignoring the difference in price)
+Dayanto yeah mainly because the M50x has such a lumpy uneven response that it's already starting further from the ideal so EQ is trying to hide more issues there
The Shure 840 pads make a big difference on these, mostly in sound quality but also with comfort. That being said there are better options out there.
get the shure 840 instead of these
+KrishKrusher lol
+KrishKrusher true thou way way way better
The problem I have with these is comfort. I tried brainwaves earpads which were worse as it changed the way the headset sat on my head. If they were just bigger ear pads like 50mm size it would be comfy.
Metal you are spot on man.
I have been using M50 for last 2 years and now i want to buy new headphones. I want to go with beyerdynamics dt770 pro or dt 880 pro. I'm kind of confused with these two. Which headphone would you recommend for Mixing purpose??
Neither, both are colored. Check my K550 review, that's a pretty neutral headphone. If you can get an open back, go with the HD 600 or 650. The 600 with my EQ is extremely neutral.
Cool. Thanks for the info. How is the bass response in HD 600 and 650??
It needs some boosting to the sub bass but the mids and highs are very accurate
prathamesh gurav depends do you want open or closed, also the 880s are flat and the 770s are v shaped
thank you man
bought the original ath-m50 headphones last year for 50 bucks and i can wear them all day.
I'm really stuck between these and the AKG K371, I have a weird use case whereby I mostly listen to an absolute tonne of podcasts and audiobooks and this isn't really a metric covered by the audiophile community.
Hope you did'nt get the 371. The sound is good but the build is horrendous. I had 2 and both fell apart within 2 years of use
@@siddharthsharma8940I got K371 but one driver died on me, so now I have Sennheiser HD569 and a BTR7 and I'm loving them.