Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
Is the ATH-M50x right for you?
The ATH-M50x is a closed-back, over-ear headphone that Audio-Technica sells as a studio monitor, and it connects by a detachable cable with a 3.5 mm plug.
Best for
- Listening with one ear free. Audio-Technica says the earcups swivel 90° for easy, one-ear monitoring.
- Choosing a cable to suit the setup. Audio-Technica includes three detachable cables: a 1.2 m – 3.0 m coiled one, a 3.0 m straight one and a 1.2 m straight one.
Skip if
- You want to go wireless. The connection Audio-Technica lists is a 3.5 mm plug on a detachable cable.
- Your phone or laptop has only USB-C ports. A 3.5 mm plug doesn't fit one without an adapter.
Want to see it next to a keyboard and a mouse? Try it on the QuickDesker board and build a whole desk setup around it.
What does it cost, and what should you check first?
- Seen at Audio-Technica.com for $159.00 (Black) on 8 Oct 2026
- Seen at Best Buy for $159.00 (Black) on 17 Sep 2026
- Seen at Walmart for $179.00 (White) on 8 Oct 2026
Prices change, so check the current one before you buy. The 3.5 mm plug is gold-plated, and a 6.3 mm (1/4") screw-on adapter in the box fits the larger headphone jack.
Audio-Technica says it's collapsible for space-saving portability, and a protective carrying pouch comes in the box. Its US warranty runs two years from date of purchase, for one bought in the U.S.A. from an authorized Audio-Technica dealer.
What do the ATH-M50x's drivers and reviews tell you about the sound?
Audio-Technica lists 45 mm dynamic drivers, the moving-coil kind, and an impedance of 38 ohms. Impedance is the electrical load a headphone puts on the jack it's plugged into, not a sound-quality score. What driver size, impedance and frequency response figures do and don't tell you is covered in our guide: What do headphone specs actually mean? Frequency response, impedance and driver size.
On the sound itself, one review found it balanced, with vocals and instruments clear and natural; another found it lively and vivid, with heaps of energy, but not neutral enough for reference use in a home studio.
Full specifications
| How it is worn | over-ear design |
|---|---|
| Connections | Gold-plated stereo 1/8” (3.5 mm) connector with strain relief |
| Active noise cancelling | Not listed on Audio-Technica's ATH-M50x product page |
| Weight | 285 g (10 oz), without cable and connector |
| Back design | Closed-back |
| Passive isolation claimed | Circumaural design contours around the ears for excellent sound isolation in loud environments |
| Driver diameter | 45 mm |
| Driver type | dynamic |
| Impedance | 38 ohms |
| Frequency response | 15 - 28,000 Hz |
| Folds | Yes |
| Detachable cable | Yes |
| Cable length | 1.2 m - 3.0 m (3.9' - 9.8') coiled cable, 3.0 m (9.8') straight cable and 1.2 m (3.9') straight cable |
| Sensitivity | 99 dB |
| Warranty | two years from date of purchase |
| In the box | Protective carrying pouch, 6.3 mm (1/4") screw-on adapter |
Audio-Technica's ATH-M50x product page doesn't list water resistance or dimensions.
Specifications from Audio-Technica's ATH-M50x product page and US limited warranty, read 17 Sep 2026.