Audio-Technica
ATH-R50x
- Open-back
- Reference tuning
- Wired
Price when we saw it
$169seen at Audio-Technica on 16 Aug 2026
No retailer rating is included in this comparison.
What we can tell you
An open-back headphone, which means the cups deliberately let sound through in both directions: people nearby hear what you are listening to, and you hear them. That is a design choice for a quiet room, and it also makes cancellation structurally impossible, which is why this is filed as having none. There is no such thing as an open-back pair that cancels.
What the specifications favour
- An open-back design, which many people prefer for long listening
- Wired, so there is nothing to charge or pair
- Reference tuning is the stated design goal
What to check before you buy
- Open-back leaks sound both ways: unusable in a shared room
- Cannot have noise cancellation, structurally
- Almost no specification is published
Published specifications
The table shows the specifications recorded in this comparison. “Not recorded” means a value is missing here, not that the product lacks the feature or that the manufacturer has never published it.
| How it is worn | Over-ear |
|---|---|
| Back design | Open-back |
| Active noise cancellingOnly recorded where a source describes cancellation the wearer hears. | Not recorded |
| Transparency / ambient modeLets outside sound in. The opposite of cancellation, not a form of it. | Not recorded |
| Microphone noise reductionCleans up what the far end hears on a call. Does nothing for the wearer. | Not recorded |
| Passive isolation claimedIsolation from the seal alone. Also not active cancellation. | Not recorded |
| Connections | 3.5 mm |
| Bluetooth version | Not recorded |
| Codecs | Not recorded |
| Two devices at once (multipoint) | Not recorded |
| Battery life | Not recorded |
| Battery life with case | Not recorded |
| Battery life, as quoted | Not recorded |
| Driver diameter | Not recorded |
| Driver type | Not recorded |
| Impedance | Not recorded |
| Frequency response | Not recorded |
| Microphone | Not recorded |
| Weight | Not recorded |
| Folds | Not recorded |
| Detachable cable | Not recorded |
| Cable length | Not recorded |
| Water resistanceAn absent rating means none was published, not that the product has none. | Not recorded |
| Companion app | Not recorded |
| Spatial audio | Not recorded |
Which setup filters match this product?
Use these categories to narrow your options in the setup builder. Check the specifications for the full list of supported features.
- Form factor
- Over-ear
- Connection
- Wired
- Noise cancelling
- No ANC
What this page is based on
We have not tested this product. This page summarizes published specifications and retailer information; the sources and price dates are shown below. A missing value means it is not recorded in this comparison.
What we are not sure about (1)
Check the following details before ordering, especially where variants differ or information is incomplete.
Whether this cancels noise
This is an open-back headphone, which deliberately lets sound through in both directions. That design and active cancellation work against each other, so it does not cancel noise.
Sources (1)
- Audio-Technica: Headphones (store listing) (Manufacturer, read 16 Aug 2026)Cited for: the model name, the price, how it connects, the specifications
Other headphones at a similar price
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- Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
$159 seen at Audio-Technica on 16 Aug 2026
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$114.99 seen at Best Buy on 16 Aug 2026
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- Audio-Technica ATH-GDL3
$99 seen at Audio-Technica on 16 Aug 2026