Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
Reddit take
AI summary of the Reddit excerpts below — not a quote
The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x is a polarizing 'old standby' in the headphone community, frequently described as a durable workhorse for studio monitoring and DJing. While many long-term owners praise its reliability and utility for closed-back gaming, it faces significant pushback from audiophile circles where it is often criticized for having a 'wonky' V-shaped sound signature and being overhyped by tech influencers.
Pros
- Exceptional long-term durability with some users reporting 8+ years of use
- Highly serviceable design with easily replaceable ear pads
- Effective for studio monitoring, live DJing, and closed-back gaming
- Foldable and portable 'old standby' for professional environments
Cons
- Polarizing V-shaped sound signature that some find 'messy' or 'wonky'
- Stock ear pads are frequently criticized for being too thin or uncomfortable
- Bass-forward tuning may be too aggressive for those seeking a neutral response
- Perceived by some as outdated compared to newer closed-back competitors at the same price point
Caveats
- Commonly recommended to budget for third-party ear pad upgrades to improve comfort and sound
- Often requires EQ filtering to correct midrange and treble issues identified by enthusiasts
- Subject to 'hivemind' debate; opinions vary wildly between casual users and dedicated audiophiles
Best for
- Studio monitoring and audio production
- Live DJing
- Users needing a durable, closed-back headphone for high-noise environments
Avoid if
- You are looking for a flat, neutral frequency response
- You want a modern 'audiophile' experience without the need for pad mods or EQ
- You find V-shaped sound signatures fatiguing
This summary uses balanced time weighting with about a 6-month half-life. The evidence spans a wide range of dates with a median source age of approximately 219 days, reflecting the product's long-term presence in the market.
Sentiment
45 positive (44%) · 34 mixed (33%) · 24 negative (23%)
Trust + time weighted score: +19% · raw score 20%
What redditors said (10 of 103)
The thing I never understood about the m50x is that they're not really headphones made for casual listening/gaming, they're made specifically for monitoring audio (like for a singer for example). They're still good, but I always feel a little bad for people who never branch away from them because of the hype.
For me it's the ATH-M50x, which will probably send me to karma oblivion for merely mentioning. Believe it or not, there was a time when that was a commonly recommended and well-liked headphone for its price range.
The Audio-Technica ATH-M50X are the old standby closed backs.
They’re not that good. They got hyped by MKBHD and other techtubers but theyre kinda wonky.
For your first pair, I would suggest the Audio Technica ATH R50x. NOT the M50x.
But upgraded to better cans but I’m saving them for my kids to use once they get older
A lot of the 150-ish headphones I’ve tried at the recommendation of audiophiles are absolute trash, like the M50x.
not really, it's a V shaped mess, you can get way better closed back for the same price now.
M50x is closed-backed old lineup.
And finally today, I had the M40X, M50X and a Xiaomi earbuds. 😁
Compare
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