Audio-Technica M-Series ATH-M50x

With a 4.7-star rating from 775 reviews, the ATH-M50x is one of the most popular studio headphones we've ever tracked. Its sound and build quality both hit the 77th percentile, making it a trusty workhorse for critical listening, but the mic (16th percentile) and lack of ANC are major pitfalls. At the real-world price of around $127, it's a stellar value for anyone who doesn't need wireless or noise cancelling.

The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x has a massive fanbase for good reason. We're talking a 4.7 out of 5 rating across 775 reviews, putting its social proof in the 94th percentile—that's best-in-class territory. The sound signature lands in the 77th percentile, which means it's well above average and tuned to reveal details you'd miss on lesser headphones. But it's not all sunshine: the mic is a real weak spot (16th percentile), and there's no active noise cancellation to speak of, so don't expect to take calls or block out the world with these.

Build quality is another strong suit at the 77th percentile. These are 285-gram over-ear cans with a closed-back design that keeps your music in and external noise moderately out. The trade-off is that they're wired only—no Bluetooth, no battery needed, but connectivity overall sits at a mediocre 37th percentile. If you need a workhorse for critical listening, mixing, or tracking in the studio, the M50x remains a go-to. Just don't expect them to replace your daily-carry travel headphones.

The heart of the ATH-M50x is a 45mm dynamic driver that delivers a frequency response from 15Hz all the way up to 28kHz. In our database, that translates to sound performance in the 77th percentile—solidly above average, but not quite the best you can get. The bass is tight and present, which is exactly what you want for monitoring electronic or bass-heavy music. However, comfort is only a 51th percentile showing; the extra deep leather earpads can start to feel a bit clampy during marathon sessions. For a wired, 38-ohm headphone with 99dB sensitivity, it's easy to drive from just about any headphone jack, and you won't need an amp to get good volume.

The build tells a better story: these things are tanks. The robust plastic and metal framing, combined with the ability to fold flat and swap between three detachable cables, gives it the kind of durability that earned a 77th percentile build score. It's not a lightweight at 285g, but it's manageable. The only real letdown is the mic—if you answer a call on these, you'll sound like you're speaking through a tin can. For pure music or studio use, though, the performance holds up nicely against newer, flashier competitors.

Price is a strange thing with the ATH-M50x. We've seen it listed anywhere from a sane $127 all the way up to an absurd $22,000 (yes, that's not a typo—someone is smoking something). At the low end, it's a steal for studio work and critical listening. That $127 price point gets you sound and build that hold their own against headphones costing twice as much. Just shop around; if you're paying more than $150, you're getting ripped off. The sweet spot is definitely the sub-$130 range, where it's a no-brainer for budding producers or anyone frustrated with boomy consumer cans.

Stacked against the Sony WH-1000XM6, Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4, or Bose QuietComfort Ultra, the ATH-M50x feels like a different species. Those wireless ANC heavyweights are all about travel and convenience, with battery life that crushes the dead-air here. But purely for flat, honest sound that you can trust in a mix? The M50x outclasses them in raw detail retrieval. The Sennheiser M4, for instance, has a consumer-friendly bass boost that's great for fun but terrible for critical work. The Technics EAH-A800 and JBL Live 770NC run into the same issue: they color the sound. For studio monitoring, the wired M50x is the more reliable tool, even though it lacks all the modern tricks. The trade-off is clear: convenience and noise cancelling, or accurate sound and durability.

If you take a lot of calls, forget it—the mic is a dealbreaker at the 16th percentile. Similarly, commuters and travelers looking for noise cancelling should look elsewhere because the ANC performance is among the worst we've seen (31st percentile). Anyone who expects all-day comfort may also be disappointed since the fit is strictly average. And if you're dead set on wireless freedom, these don't even have a battery to drain; go grab a pair of Sony WH-1000XM6s instead.

If you need a wired, closed-back pair of studio headphones that deliver clean, honest sound and can take a beating, the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x is still one of the smartest buys out there. The overwhelming social proof backs that up. However, the mic is terrible, there's no ANC, and the comfort won't wow you. We recommend these wholeheartedly for mixing, tracking, or desk-based listening—just not for calls, commutes, or gaming marathons. At around $127, it's a fantastic value; anything higher, and you're paying for hype.