M50X? Watch this first!!

Resolve checks out the Audio Technica ATH-M50X to see how it stacks up in 2022. This review compares the well known M50x to the more recent AKG K371, that also comes in at around $170.

Measurement Index
Resolve's Headphone Ranking:

How to read headphone measurements

00:00 - Intro
00:37 - Build, Design & Comfort
03:52 - Sound: Objective
07:43 - Sound: Subjective & Comparison
10:53 - Conclusion

[rodelisidro]

My original M50 still going strong after something like 15 years and 3 pad swaps. Built like a tank.

[jackedkerouac]

I don’t why but I love watching reviews of stuff I already have

[sideways]

had these for almost 6 years now and ive been using them daily a lot, only swapped the pads once and they still work like brand new, literally built like the tank and they still sound absolutely amazing

[milesbarrineau]

My first "good" headphone was the m50x and I still have them more than 7 years later. While they have been retired as my travel headphone, in place of my Panda's, I strongly recommend them to friends and family who just want good enough, affordable and portable headphones. They can be beat up and somewhat abused and in my years of owning them I have never once regretted owning them.

[jodiac]

You know why these are great for mixing? Because it helps to know when consumer headphones will make the bass and lower-mids muddy. It’s a great benchmark for that and also helps to show the terrible shouty parts of songs, because you WILL notice with m50xs. It’s not flat, it’s not good because it’s flat. It’s good because it is fairly detailed, durable version of a typical cheap consumer headphone.

[metal]

This is gonna get a lot of views. But wait until you do the comparison review to DT 770 and MDR-7506 next

[carbon_wavelight]

Andrew you always find a way to get a laugh out of me when I least expect it

[ppheanix]

Clamping pressure - reduce by stretching the ear phones to straighten the over head band (do it several times little by little so the band does not become too weak).

[widowmemer]

They still serve me well after like 8 years. I no longer use them for music but for gaming when my house is a bit noisy. They isolate like a champ and sound pretty decent with some EQ. But yeah there's better options out there. Thanks for the revisit to these cans!

[loganpreshaw]

One major caveat of the K371 that isn't mentioned here: poor user-to-user consistency. I can't use the K371 because they simply won't seal properly over my ears, and this is a well-reported issue online. It also has poor consistency per session since the treble response will vary slightly per reseat.
The M50x has none of these problems: It's incredibly easy-wearing and consistent, with bass that is far less fussy to whether or not you achieve a perfect seal.

Totally agree on the sound-quality front. The K371 is simply better. However for those of us that can't wear the K371, the M50x at lower volume levels does nicely enough in the price range and responds well to EQ.

[microwave]

new resolve video, day couldnt get better

[vjekoslavburic]

Bought the M50x for about 85 USD used a few days ago - no traces of usage, came with original pads and Brainwavz HM5. Didn't notice much difference in bass with the HM5's.

Installed Wavelet on my Android, set AutoEQ which gave a MUCH better sound (AutoEQ project has thousands of headphones and earphones in the database and aims to give a neutral sound to any of them) and on top of that modified the sound. They sound AWESOME!

[MrFireseth]

Just copped the M50X from Goodwill for $29.99. It with a headband zipper cover, and seemingly pristine earmuffs which leads me to think they've been replaced and generally taken care of. Great sound!

[dperr]

Had my ATH-M50X for 7 years and swapped the pads once. They sound pretty decent and built well. I don’t regret my purchase for a second as they have lasted me this long and still look new. I actually enjoy the sound. I know others sound better but I feel Audio Technica struck a good balance between sound quality and build quality.

[Czxvkq]

2:55 if they're too tight, just extend each side of the headband and bend them a little. They're made of a metal strip and a plastic strip layered together, it only takes a little bending to loosen the fit.

[cmdalbem]

I had one for many many years, but ended up with the classic broken hinge that seems very common to this model. Nowadays I have much better sounding phones, such as the Hifiman Sundara, but I miss the sturdiness and portability of the M50x that I could take anywhere with me.
I love that you included an alternative on this video, but I'd like to know more about other alternatives that might have better sound but equivalent build.

[tifosi]

Andrew, I love that you reviewed this headphones. These are primarily DJ headphones, and I'm surprised that you did not say the term "DJ" in the entire review. Being an audiophile who also happens to be a DJ, I should mention that DJs primarily focus on mobile ruggedness, isolation (in loud rooms) and need a frequency response that emphasizes the lower and higher frequencies for beat matching. This is why these DJ headphones and most other highly regarded Dj headphones are tuned like this. I think a big reason most people buy these headphones is to look like DJs they see using them. With that said, I would buy a Sennheiser HD25 as they sound much better, are more rugged, and even more isolating than the M50x

[chefsteve]

My son got these years ago much to my disgust, last year he asked me to get new pads for them, i tryed some different pads i had kicking around, then i tried some Yaxi stpad2 i had on another headphone, i told my son a miracle just happened it made the M50X listenable...and comfortable, gotta try them Andrew...

[marhensa]

I bought M50x in 2014. Immediately changed the earpads along the way because I don't like the way original pad clamping my ears, I change it with Brainwavz and it much bigger and could contains my ear completely so it's more comfortable. Still using it today in 2023, modding it with small portable HiFi DAC bluetooth receiver (sticking that bluetooth DAC with strong double tape on it), and then on source I'm using AutoEQ to tune it more leaning to Harman Curve. This is the way.

[over]

I have used both the wired and BT versions for years. The only odd thing I find with them is, while they give you good sound isolation in general, they have a bizarre tendency to almost amplify far away noises. For example the other night I thought I could hear someone talking that sounded out of place on the youtube video I was watching. I first took the headphones off and... couldn't hear anyone talking. Put them back on and paused the video and I could hear... the neighbours out at the front door chatting to someone quietly. I played with it for ages, on, off, on, off and they did make distance chatter clearer. I wish I had thought to switch them off and on to confirm there is no noise cancellation trickery going on, even though they don't (?) have any.