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Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Closed-Back Monitor Headphones (Black) Bundle

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Closed-Back Monitor Headphones (Black) Bundle

By Audio-Technica · Noise-Cancelling Headphones · Audio & Electronics

  • 45 mm large-aperture dynamic drivers
  • Frequency response 15 - 28,000 Hz
  • Impedance 38 ohms
  • Sensitivity 99 dB
  • Maximum input power 1,600 mW at 1 kHz

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Used, refurbished, open-box

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Summary

A wired, closed-back over-ear studio monitor with 45 mm drivers, a detachable three-cable system and a balanced sound, in production since 2014. The one thing to check before buying: there is no active noise cancellation and no inline mic, and the faux-leather earpads are a wear item that will need replacing.

Strengths

  • Balanced, accurate sound that reviewers describe as right for both tracking and casual listening.
  • The frame and drivers hold up for years; one owner daily-drove a pair for 10+ years with only DIY fixes.
  • Three detachable cables cover desk, stage and phone use, and the twist-to-lock plugs stay put.
  • The 90° swiveling earcups allow one-ear monitoring, and the headphone folds flat for travel.
  • Replacement earpads, headband and pouch are sold directly by Audio-Technica, and third-party pads are widely available.
  • The US warranty runs two years.

Weaknesses

  • Faux-leather earpads and headband crack, peel or flake after roughly 1–3 years, and replacements are a recurring cost.
  • The clamping force is firm out of the box and causes pressure-point discomfort for larger heads and glasses wearers.
  • Closed-back earcups get warm and sweaty during long sessions.
  • There is no active noise cancellation: passive isolation is moderate and does nothing in the bass.
  • No inline microphone or remote, and no adapter exists to add one.
  • The earcup cable connection is proprietary (twist-to-lock 2.5 mm), which limits aftermarket cable options.

Verified specifications

ModelATH-M50x, part of Audio-Technica’s M-Series.
Typeclosed-back, circumaural (over-ear), dynamic.
Driver45 mm large-aperture with neodymium magnet and copper-clad aluminum wire (CCAW) voice coil.
Frequency response15–28,000 Hz.
Impedance38 ohms.
Sensitivity99 dB.
Maximum input power1,600 mW at 1 kHz.
Weight285 g without cable; SoundGuys measured 283 g.
Cablesthree detachable cables — 1.2 m–3.0 m coiled, 3.0 m straight, 1.2 m straight.
Connectorgold-plated stereo 3.5 mm with strain relief; screw-on 6.3 mm (1/4") adapter included.
Earcup swivel90° for one-ear monitoring.
Foldingyes, collapses for storage.
Active noise cancellationnone; passive isolation only.
Microphonenone on any included cable; Audio-Technica has confirmed no adapter adds one.
Water/sweat resistancenone, no IP rating.
Earpad openingapproximately 65 × 60 mm.
Warrantytwo-year limited in the US; certified refurbished units carry a 1-year warranty.
In the boxheadphones, vinyl drawstring pouch, 6.3 mm adapter, three cables.
Full research notes and sources

Sound quality

Reviewers describe a balanced signature with a slight bass emphasis and recessed treble. RTINGS measured “decent audio reproduction accuracy”: a mid-bass overemphasis that adds body, a flat mid-range that presents vocals clearly, and recessed treble that veils instruments and dulls sibilants. Their PRTF testing shows a deep notch at 10 kHz, which makes the soundstage less speaker-like. SoundGuys’ lab curve follows their house target closely, with a slight under-emphasis at 300–400 Hz, a 3 dB under-emphasis at 3 kHz, a notch at 6 kHz and a roll-off below 40 Hz. PCMag praised accurate bass depth and high-frequency clarity, with no distortion at top volume. The shape everyone agrees on: body up front, vocals clear, treble a step back.

Comfort and clamp

Out of the box the clamp is firm. Reviewers and owners report pressure-point discomfort during the break-in period, especially for larger heads and glasses wearers. The clamp relaxes with use, and stretching the headband over books is a common owner trick. Aftermarket earpads are a common upgrade because they change both clamp pressure and heat buildup. The closed-back earcups warm up during long sessions, and owners note sweaty ears in warm rooms.

Earpad and headband wear, parts and running costs

The pattern owners report is consistent: the faux-leather earpads and headband crack, peel, flake or harden after roughly 1–3 years of use. Audio-Technica’s own manual states “Earpads are consumable parts” that “deteriorate over time due to use or storage,” so treat this as a known wear item rather than a defect. Replacement earpads cost about $15–25 for third-party pads, and Audio-Technica sells replacement earpads, the HP-HBM50x headband and the pouch directly. A proprietary replacement cable runs about $20. Third-party makers such as Brainwavz sell pads that owners use as an upgrade. The manual recommends wiping pads and headband with a dry cloth; sweat or water drying on them may cause fading.

Frame durability is the flip side. One owner reported a cracked plastic hinge stop around year 8–9, fixed with zip ties. Nobody has published a failure rate for the hinges or swivels, so treat that single report as a caution, not a trend.

Is it worth it?

Audio-Technica’s US site lists the ATH-M50x at $159, and B&H Photo lists it at $159. SoundGuys listed $169 in August 2024, and PCMag saw a $159 sale price in November 2022. Comparable bundles with a hard case and extra cables are priced around $175–197 at B&H Photo and Sweetwater. The standard included pouch is a vinyl drawstring bag that protects against scrapes but not drops, so a bundle with a hard case solves a real gap. Above roughly $170, wireless alternatives with Bluetooth and active noise cancellation — including Audio-Technica’s own ATH-M50xBT2 — become more compelling unless wired simplicity is the point. If you want one wired headphone for tracking, mixing and casual listening and you budget for earpads, the math works.

Which model this is

This page covers the wired ATH-M50x studio monitor launched in 2014 as the successor to the ATH-M50, in continuous production with no documented mechanical revision. The 2025 ATH-M50xENSO is a cosmetic limited edition, not a revision. Do not confuse it with the ATH-M50xBT2 Bluetooth model or the step-down ATH-M40x. The Amazon listing for this black bundle is ASIN B0HJ6KPPY5. The bundle pairs the headphones with a hard case and possibly extra cables; the exact contents could not be confirmed from non-Amazon sources, so check what ships at purchase.

Sources

Manufacturer:

Independent reviews:

Owner reports:

Parts and stores:

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