Audio-Technica ATH-R50x
Is the ATH-R50x right for you?
The ATH-R50x is what Audio-Technica calls a professional open-back reference headphone, and it connects by a detachable cable with a 3.5 mm plug.
Best for
- Long listening sessions. Reviewers found it comfortable for extended sessions.
- Picking a cable length to suit your setup. Audio-Technica includes two detachable cables, one 3.0 m long and one 1.2 m long.
Skip if
- You need to keep your audio to yourself in a shared room. Audio-Technica lists it as open-back, and an open-back design lets sound out of the cups as well as in.
- You want to go wireless. Audio-Technica's listed connector is a 3.5 mm stereo headphone jack.
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 $169.00 (Black) on 8 Oct 2026
Prices change, so check the current one before you buy. Both cables end in a gold-plated 3.5 mm (1/8") stereo mini-plug, and Audio-Technica says each has a 2.5 mm twist-lock connector at the left earcup. A 6.3 mm (1/4") stereo adapter in the box fits the larger headphone jack. A 3.5 mm plug doesn't fit a USB-C port without an adapter, so a phone or laptop with only USB-C ports needs one.
A pouch comes in the box too. Audio-Technica's product page lists a two-year limited end user warranty, and lists earpads, a headpad and the detachable cable under replacements and separately sold items.
What do the ATH-R50x's sound specs tell you?
Audio-Technica lists 45 mm drivers, an impedance of 50 ohms and a frequency response of 5 to 40,000 Hz. Impedance is the electrical load a headphone puts on the jack it's plugged into, not a sound-quality score. There's more on what those figures do and don't tell you in our guide: What do headphone specs actually mean? Frequency response, impedance and driver size.
Audio-Technica says the fully open-back design "allows unrestricted airflow to eliminate internal resonance and provide extremely quick transient response."
What do reviewers say?
One review found it comfortable for extended listening and gaming sessions, crediting the 207 g weight and padded headband; another found it comfortable for extended sessions, with minimal fatigue.
Full specifications
| Connections | 3.5 mm (1/8”) stereo headphone jack |
|---|---|
| Active noise cancelling | Not listed on Audio-Technica's ATH-R50x product page |
| Weight | Approx. 207 g (7.3 oz), without cable |
| Back design | Open-back reference |
| Driver diameter | 45 mm |
| Impedance | 50 ohms |
| Frequency response | 5 to 40,000 Hz |
| Cable length | 3.0 m (9.8’), 1.2 m (3.9’) |
| Sensitivity | 93.3 dB/mW |
| Warranty | TWO YEAR LIMITED END USER WARRANTY |
| In the box | Detachable cable (3.0 m (9.8’) / 3.5 mm (1/8”) gold-plated stereo mini-plug), Detachable cable (1.2 m (3.9’) / 3.5 mm (1/8”) gold-plated stereo mini-plug), 6.3 mm (1/4”) stereo adapter, Pouch |
Audio-Technica's ATH-R50x product page doesn't list the driver type, water resistance or dimensions.
Specifications from Audio-Technica's ATH-R50x product page, read 17 Sep 2026.