# Audio-Technica ATH-M50x

- Source: https://stierproducts.com/products/audio-technica-ath-m50x
- Category board: https://stierproducts.com/categories/headphones
- Placement: #25 of 28 in Headphones, F tier
- Brand: Audio-Technica
- LP on this board: 125
- Last researched: 2026-10-17T09:57:44.716Z
- Method: https://stierproducts.com/methodology
- Dataset: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22062813 - every board at once, one dated snapshot per release, same licence, prices and photographs left out
- Reuse: Text, rankings, tier assignments, LP values and verdicts are free to quote and reuse with attribution to stierproducts and a link to the source URL (CC BY 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Product photographs are not covered: they belong to their respective owners and are reproduced to illustrate the product being reviewed. Do not redistribute them under this licence.

## Verdict

Ranked the most overhyped headphone by Headphonesty's audiophile panel. It is not a bad headphone, it is a mediocre one wearing a legendary reputation. Buy the Sony MDR-7506 or Verum 2 instead.

## For

- A competent studio monitor
- The default 'first serious headphone' recommendation
- Durable build
- Consistent performance over years
- Good sound quality

## Against

- Mediocre tuning carried by a legendary studio reputation
- Better-tuned wired options exist for the money
- Its reputation as a default recommendation comes from hype rather than current testing
- Headband coating and pads degrade and flake with regular use
- Tuning has aged out of favor

## Flagged as one to avoid

This product entered 4 of 12 runs as one buyers cross-shop but should not buy, rather than as a pick. It is published here rather than dropped.

## Evidence

Consolidated from 43 cited sources across 40 outlets

| Outlet | Said by | Stance | Link | Link status |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Headphonesty | headphonesty.com | C | https://www.headphonesty.com/2026/02/most-overhyped-headphones-according-audiophiles/ | fetched and confirmed |
| Sound House | soundhouse.co.jp | B | https://www.soundhouse.co.jp/en/contents/column/index?post=4542&srsltid=AfmBOoqFHR_r1ilOhpuKMsqgYVbtMXAaSKgCE-TIFP992khmK3PmdPZl | fetched and confirmed |
| r/HeadphoneAdvice | u/No-Chapter6400 | D | https://www.reddit.com/r/HeadphoneAdvice/comments/1oimvrx/are_athm20x_or_athm50x_good_for_begginers_in/ | fetched and confirmed |
| Audiochronicle | audiochronicle.com | C | https://www.audiochronicle.com/articles/audio-technica-ath-m50x-review | fetched and confirmed |
| Gearspace | flat | D | https://gearspace.com/threads/ath-m50x-do-not-sound-the-same-as-the-older-ath-m50.1165355/ | fetched and confirmed |
| Dekoni Audio | Samuel Guilmore | C | https://dekoniaudio.com/blogs/blogs/audio-technica-ath-m50x-is-it-time-to-replace-the-stock-pads?srsltid=AfmBOopoK58PONzTOZ9ZiWN23EBD6oKQKy15ho6QLF68LmnXS-8PI8Nw | fetched and confirmed |
| SoundGuys | Lil Katz | B | https://www.soundguys.com/best-audio-technica-headphones-22314/ | fetched and confirmed |
| Quora | quora.com | B | https://www.quora.com/Is-the-Audio-Technica-ATH-M40x-a-good-choice-for-audiophile-level-detail | fetched and confirmed |
| Esquire | Bryn Gelbart | C | https://www.esquire.com/lifestyle/tech/g73229949/best-travel-headphones-and-earbuds/ | fetched and confirmed |
| Home DJ Studio | Patryk Biernacki | B | https://homedjstudio.com/audio-technica-ath-m40x-review/ | fetched and confirmed |
| Digital Photographer magazine | - | B | https://www.facebook.com/DigitalPhotographerUK/posts/the-audio-technica-ath-m50x-is-affordable-durable-and-delivers-great-quality-aud/1427643936062813/ | fetched and confirmed |
| Musiconstage | musiconstage.com.au | C | https://www.musiconstage.com.au/blog/audio-technica-ath-m70x-vs-m50x-which-monitor-headphones-win-in-2026/?srsltid=AfmBOooLWLEIqZcV3msi0QDmk2ElWh29pA1K9VKQbrdj6v6fIRcIYwj9 | fetched and confirmed |
| MakeUseOf | Brady Snyder | B | https://www.makeuseof.com/these-2014-headphones-are-better-value-than-anything-new/ | fetched and confirmed |
| Musiconstage | musiconstage.com.au | C | https://www.musiconstage.com.au/blog/audio-technica-ath-m70x-vs-m50x-which-monitor-headphones-win-in-2026/?srsltid | fetched and confirmed |
| Melodics | Melodics | B | https://melodics.com/blog/best-headphones-for-drummers | fetched and confirmed |
| MusicRadar | musicradar.com | B | https://www.musicradar.com/news/best-budget-studio-headphones | fetched and confirmed |
| Bhphotovideo | bhphotovideo.com | C | https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/pro-audio/buying-guide/top-5-headphones-for-mixing-and-mastering | fetched and confirmed |
| Marques Brownlee | Marques Brownlee | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5DyEYuvF3o | fetched and confirmed |
| Z Reviews | Z Reviews | D | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UrKy1EuO0k | fetched and confirmed |
| Luis Cameraman | Luis Cameraman | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fu2JGa9VxM | fetched and confirmed |
| Stefan Zanev | Stefan Zanev | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rURbkIoN-60 | fetched and confirmed |
| Adam Talks Tech | Adam Talks Tech | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tau7-9AHVwA | fetched and confirmed |
| RTINGS Home Theater | RTINGS Home Theater | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnvZ0QYvxqI | fetched and confirmed |
| Chris Tarroza Music | Chris Tarroza Music | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czF6pYQZLv8 | fetched and confirmed |
| Geekyranjit | Geekyranjit | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACtMgJ-HlSo | fetched and confirmed |
| TechSource | TechSource | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWZgdPZBTd4 | fetched and confirmed |
| TechReflex | TechReflex | D | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7s8VuRSj9I | fetched and confirmed |
| KevRev Finds | KevRev Finds | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCueeoirAu8 | fetched and confirmed |
| Jared Busch | Jared Busch | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ABC1VdDeSc | fetched and confirmed |
| Eneba | Eli Manikan | B | https://www.eneba.com/hub/gaming-gear/best-wired-headphones/?srsltid=AfmBOooguhs6iBnaKGPYVjxE6GFlq9K0sgHdrtgfh0KegOTwy7Cr_Nfw | fetched and confirmed |
| Slime Green Beats | Slime Green Beats | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvRACwFVngc | fetched and confirmed |
| PC HUB | PC HUB | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCybNshDe1M&vl=en-US | fetched and confirmed |
| BGR | Krishi Chowdhary | B | https://www.bgr.com/2109392/best-wired-headphones-for-audiophiles/ | fetched and confirmed |
| HiTechKing | HiTechKing | C | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GduCpv9URgA | fetched and confirmed |
| Minidisc | Minidisc | C | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1WztjCIz2E | fetched and confirmed |
| lachlanlikesathing | lachlanlikesathing | C | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbhOavGA2TQ | fetched and confirmed |
| Archie Beatz | Archie Beatz | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8GEb5chY_E | fetched and confirmed |
| PC HUB | PC HUB | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCybNshDe1M | fetched and confirmed |
| San Carlo Scoop | Lorenzo Bianchi | B | https://my.sancarlo.co.uk/sancarlo-news/amazons-best-wired-over-ear-headphones-a-deep-dive-1767648151 | fetched and confirmed |
| Dracomies | Dracomies | C | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyRhoRzcdAA | fetched and confirmed |
| Verified Reviews | Verified Reviews | C | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvHvsnLlb9Y | fetched and confirmed |
| Minidisc | Minidisc | C | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQ7PxuOYIQs | fetched and confirmed |
| Edward Smith | - | D | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rj4v-eDli0I#comments | fetched and confirmed |

## Nearest alternatives on this board

| Rank | Product | Tier | Page |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Sony WH-1000XM6 | S | https://stierproducts.com/products/sony-wh-1000xm6 |
| 2 | Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) | S | https://stierproducts.com/products/bose-quietcomfort-ultra-headphones-2nd-gen |
| 20 | JBL Tour One M2 | D | https://stierproducts.com/products/jbl-tour-one-m2 |
| 21 | Sony WH-CH720N | D | https://stierproducts.com/products/sony-wh-ch720n |
| 22 | Nothing Headphone (1) | D | https://stierproducts.com/products/nothing-headphone-1 |
| 23 | Anker Soundcore Life Q20 (2024) | D | https://stierproducts.com/products/anker-soundcore-life-q20-2024 |
| 24 | Dyson Zone | F | https://stierproducts.com/products/dyson-zone |
| 26 | Sonos Ace | F | https://stierproducts.com/products/sonos-ace |
| 27 | AirPods Max | F | https://stierproducts.com/products/apple-airpods-max |
| 28 | Beats Studio Pro | F | https://stierproducts.com/products/beats-studio-pro |

The full board is at https://stierproducts.com/categories/headphones.

## What this tier means

- F: Avoid. The evidence points you elsewhere.

## How to read this

- Each category is researched in four independent runs, one per lens (expert consensus, value, reliability, community pulse). Every run ranks a board of candidates that deliberately includes products buyers cross-shop but should avoid. Placements score on a ranked ladder (LP), and tiers are derived from LP, so no tier is ever assigned by hand.
- LP is this product's points on its own category ladder. It is comparable within a category and not across categories.
- Link status reports what our pre-publication link check found when it fetched the cited URL. It says nothing about the quality of the review.
- A citation with no usable link is listed rather than dropped, and is excluded from the counted total above.

## Image

https://stspimgdevmfyk46r5vwkay.blob.core.windows.net/images/products/audio-technica-ath-m50x.webp

Product photographs are not covered: they belong to their respective owners and are reproduced to illustrate the product being reviewed. Do not redistribute them under this licence.