Audio Technica ATH-M50x Audio Technica ATH-M50x Closed-Back Monitoring Review

The ATH-M50x has the worst comfort score (1st percentile) in our database. It's a wired-only studio monitor in a wireless ANC world. Only buy it if you need a brutally durable tool for critical listening, and are willing to sacrifice every modern convenience (and your comfort) for it.

The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x lands in a weird spot. Its overall score of 23.3 out of 100 puts it in the bottom quarter of all headphones in our database, which is a tough place to start. That score is dragged down hard by a 13.4 for commuting, and a comfort ranking that sits at the absolute 1st percentile. That's not a typo. It's the least comfortable headphone we track.

But there's a reason these are legendary. They're built like a tank, with a social proof percentile of 69, meaning they're incredibly popular and trusted. The sound quality hits the exact middle at the 49th percentile, which for a wired, closed-back studio monitor at this price, is actually a solid, reliable baseline. You're not buying these for bells and whistles. You're buying them because they're the Honda Civic of headphones: they just work, and they last.

Performance is a story of extremes. Let's start with the bad news: that 1st percentile comfort score. At 907 grams (over two pounds), these are heavy. Combine that with a clamping force that multiple users describe as 'intense,' and you get a headphone you can't wear for long sessions. On the tech side, the wired-only connectivity lands in the 20th percentile, and the lack of any active noise cancellation (ANC at 31st percentile) means they're a non-starter for noisy commutes or flights.

The good news is in the fundamentals. The 38Ω drivers and 98dB sensitivity make them easy to drive from anything, and the sound signature is famously flat and accurate. The build quality, while scoring a modest 42nd percentile, has a legendary reputation for durability. The mic is decent at the 58th percentile, good enough for clear calls. This isn't a headphone that wows you with features. It's one that delivers consistent, uncolored audio for years.

At $179, the value proposition is entirely about what you need. If you want a wireless, comfortable, feature-packed headphone, this is terrible value. You can get the JBL Tune 770NC with ANC and Bluetooth for less. But if you need a reliable, studio-grade wired monitor that will survive a decade of abuse, the M50x is arguably underpriced. Its value isn't in specs per dollar, it's in reliability per decade. You're paying for a tool, not an entertainment device.

Stacked against the competition, the M50x is a dinosaur in a mammal world. The Sony WH-1000XM6 and Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus run circles around it for ANC, comfort, and wireless convenience. Even the more affordable JBL Tune 770NC offers ANC and Bluetooth, scoring higher for commute and general use. The Apple AirPods Max is in a different league of price and ecosystem integration. The M50x's only real competitive edge is in pure, unadulterated durability and its status as an industry standard for budget studio monitoring. If you're choosing between these and any modern wireless ANC model for daily use, you're making the wrong choice. But if you need a no-frills studio workhorse, the others don't even compete.

Skip these if you value comfort at all. That 1st percentile ranking is a deal-breaker for most. Also avoid them if you need wireless connectivity (20th percentile) or active noise cancellation for travel or office use. Gamers, commuters, and casual listeners will find much better, more comfortable, and feature-rich options for the same $179. This is a specialist tool, not a daily driver.

We can only recommend the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x with a giant, flashing asterisk. Its data is brutal: a 23.3 total score and the worst comfort ranking we have. For 99% of people looking for a $179 headphone in 2024, this is a bad buy. You should get a JBL, Sennheiser, or Sony with ANC and Bluetooth. However, for that 1%—the aspiring audio engineer, the podcaster on a tight budget, the person who needs a tank that delivers neutral sound—the M50x is still a valid, almost iconic choice. Just know you're signing up for a headache, literally.