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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 พ.ค. 2024
- In this video I'll talk about the Audio Technica ATH-M50x headphones and why they are a staple across the audio industry. Even if you don't know what they are, you've seen these headphones worn by some of the most famous people in the world! They are in so many studios, everyone has come across them at some point. I'll go into what makes these headphones so great and get a bit of help from my friend Nate.
Beat in the intro
Spotify: open.spotify.com/track/32xEG9...
Apple Music: music.apple.com/ca/album/sola...
TH-cam: • Solar Stroll
listen to Nate's Music: li.sten.to/nateflaksmusic - เพลง
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So many comments saying "actually X is better". That's not the point. The point is that theyre very good, theyre versatile, and not super expensive - all the while being easily the best looking ones in that range (if you care about that). Plenty of professional studios use them, and you've heard hundreds of hit songs that they have been produced with. Whether or not theres a "better" alternative isn't really what's on the table here.
Exactly! I never stated they were the best sounding. Just stating why you see them everywhere and why I still use them.
Thank you for taking the time to watch and comment and I am so glad you got what I was trying to say haha
@@Faz_Plays yeah, i dunno, this video is well edited, but it's full of conjecture and bad information. I was scratching my head when you were calling them neutral, but showed a graph that was all over the place. Even when you showed them compared to the Beats, neither graph was exactly "flat", just different accents in different areas... To each their own. Nicely edited video, tho.
@@andrewgiovannini6613 Thanks Andrew! I understand why that can be a bit confusing.
At this price point nothing is going to be that neutral, and there are so many factors that affect frequency response including your environment and even the exact pair you have will not match exactly. Even higher end stuff is not completely neutral.
The other 2 competitors for "neutral" sound profiles at this price range are the Sony MDR-7560 and the Beyer-Dynamic DT770 pros. They all have different hills and valleys in different places, so it really just comes down to preference.
In a broader sense...this is also super complicated because we all have different ears/brains and sound perception is very subjective. Nothing will ever be truly neutral. Try to remember that no matter what you are listening to through any kind of speaker, it is trying to mimic all of the frequencies that came from instruments, humans, and the environment around it all in the moment it was created. It's impossible to get that exactly right even with the greatest sound systems in existence.
I hope that helps explain the reason that it's not totally flat!
Thank you so much for watching and commenting. Truly appreciate it :)
He said for 150 dollars there is nothing better. That may be true for mixing but it’s not true for listening. The HD 599 comes to mind. It’s often much cheaper than 150 and it’s praised by many hifi enthusiasts.
Yes nothing better that meets all the criteria I'm talking about. For pure listening, I prefer DT770 Pros. But they are a bitch to go anywhere with, and they are quite ugly lol the wire is also not detachable and the cups don't fold down. Just more annoying to deal with it.
I think that low profile design plays another big role in why they're so popular among famous people who care a lot about their appearance.
Absolutely. One thing I don't like about some of the better sounding headphones is that they're kind of ugly... All a matter of preference but I think the M50s are much better looking than some others.
Agreed. And they're very uncomfortable, the worst I've ever had, and the sound is terrible too, the bass isn't natural but plastic like and imprecise. These are overrated. The m20x are much more comfortable but even worse sounding. I would stay away from Audiotechnica
The M50x is good but for studio use like you said. You got the audiophile thing wrong though. You can find great listening headphones at this price that are audiophile approved if such things exists. Beyer Dt770 and akg k371 might be the best of both worlds at this price point. Some cheap grados are great mainly for listening. Not to mention that you can grab the Sennheiser hd6XX, an audiophile staple, for about $50 more.
The dt770s are pretty good! I actually originally had a section about them in this video but I had to cut it because it was getting really long haha. I haven't tried the Sennheiser though, I'll have to look into them.
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment 🙏🏾
Exactly, M50 is useful in the studio because of its durability, but sound is way too V shaped for critical listening. I wouldn't suggest the K361/K371 as a direct replacement though, I own both and they do sound great, but their build isn't particularly durable.
also 560s very neutral and pretty much priced around $150 now all the time, although neither that or 6xx is closed back, have heard good things about the mackie 350's, but I've never heard them in person
In my opinion the best reason to get the m50x is because they're rugged and last for ages. but if you don't care about that, they're definitely not the best headphones to buy for the price - check out the AKG K371, Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro, or if you can go open-back, the Sennheiser 6XX.
People mainly buy the m50x nowadays because of the hype, but the bass is muddy and the clarity simply isn't there. I wouldn't recommend them for production or casual listening. Right now I'm cycling between the Focal Clear, Focal Radiance, and Sennheiser HD 800 S, but I spend more time listening and less time producing now.
I mostly agree with everything you say. They are definitely best for those that are going to use the shit out of them. I actually initially had a section recommending the DT770 pros if you didn't care about the portability/longevity. Video was just getting so long haha
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment! Very much appreciated
Loved the editing!
"They've become a staple" - They've become a fashion can.
Haha not as much as beats though...
@@Faz_Plays they are the beats of the audio world
I believe beats are the beats of the audio world.
Nah, Beats are old school, think Sony or Apple or Bose with ANC. Apple have f**ked up a bit with theirs though because they make peeps look like Martian robots.
Oof... Don't get me started on Bose... Never again lol
How do these compare to Sony MDR-7506's? I don't use over ear headphones very much, but when I do those are my personal "staple" headphones, and I remember them being reasonably priced as well.
We use the MDRs at work, and they are kind of similar. Fold up well and are good for the booth. I do find them to be a little less rugged though. They tend to flake pretty quickly and the wire connections aren't as tough.
For sound, I find them a bit less neutral. They are brighter than the M50s which I find is better for dialogue. but it's all about what you're used to, what you're listening to, and what sounds good to you. I know seasoned professionals that swear by them and some that can't stand them lol
How do they fare in independent distortion tests? That, response iregularities or a non-harman colored sound would be what doesnt qualify them as high end level.
nvm I see from comments that they are only relatively flat. Cheers!
Audio Technica makes some really good headphones, and the M50x is one of their worst, for over $150. One good thing is the upgrades available (cables, ear pads, headbands) if you like to tinker.
Only point Ill disagree is that the m50x bluetooth 2 are legit great bluetooth headphones for the price if you don't care about noise canceling.
towards the end of your video, you mentioned that in order to obtain "audiophile tier" sound, one would have to spend significantly more money over the ATH M50 price, showcasing the Meze Elite which roughly costs $5000 usd. I beg to differ.
There are numerous headphones under $500 usd that offer better sound over the M50.THere are quite a few headphones under $1000 usd that offer great sound.
Lol yes it's just an exaggeration/joke for effect to show how crazy things can really get in the audio world. Also, my point is that they have a ton of reasons to choose them outside of just the sound. I know of a few pairs that I would consider better at the price point purely for listening (DT770 Pro for example), but nothing that has everything the M50s offer. Also nothing that I would consider audiophile level. Dt770s are great... But still not audiophile-level in my books. You're looking at $300 before you get to pairs that I would consider incredible sound. That's already double the price and things just get crazier and crazier from there haha
And on top of all that... Some people just prefer different sound profiles. It's all subjective.
Thanks so much for watching, though! I truly appreciate your feedback. I'm still new to making videos and will try to be more clear when I'm making a joke haha
@@Faz_Plays perhaps I was a little harsh iny original comment. But there are actually headphone around the $200 usd mark that offer good sound and better sound VS the m50. I commented it somewhere else in the comment section: sennheiser HD 599, HD 560s, hifiman He 4XX
Yeah the way I always looked at it was that anything that audiophiles recommend as being good for the price is “audiophile tier” there’s no real official price point where that starts
That's fair. When I hear "audiophile" I tend to think of the god-tier stuff that blows your mind. Definitely better things for pure sound quality down in this category.
@SeanLiu4 why do you keep listing open back headphones?? They're a completely different category of headphones! Plus, they need an Amp, these you can drive off anything
My ATH 50X With Bluetooth just died today, after 5 years of service. I will miss them forever 😭
Awesome video faz! Keep up the great work!
I use them too but thought I was the only one who knew these were the best! I have quite a few other, more expensive, headphones and none are better than the M50's.
Thanks for bringing a bit of balance to the comments haha what people prefer in terms of sound is very subjective.
Thank you so much for watching and taking the time to comment ☺️
Thanks for posting - I swear I thought nobody was up on these! 🤣😃 I couldn’t believe they were so good considering the price. +1
AKG K371 and K361 are way better now~
I have heard they are not super durable, but I'll have to look into them. The only AKGs I've tried are the K240s (I think that's what they are called... they have the gold on them) and I wasn't a big fan. but that was probably a decade ago haha
@@Faz_PlaysI've had the k371 for years, toss them around, fold and unfold them, replace the ear pads and cables every couple weeks and not a dent has happened to them.
Very interesting! I actually bought a pair of these in 2014 on a recommendation from a coworker. They still sound great
I’ve got the m40x and my brother has the m50x which I have tried. To me the m50x sound a bit sharp and weirdly imbalanced. I think it’s worth mentioning that the compensated frequency response graph you showed is from rtings and their target has a lot more bass than most targets which is why the beats graph didn’t seem ridiculous and the m50’s bass seemed neutral when in truth, it is boosted a bit. The m40s sound quite warm and smooth to me. The m50x seem to have a weird boost in the lower midrange (this is weird because the bass isn’t very boosted by comparison) and they also have a weird treble tonality. They’re not bad, but I don’t find the other features of the m50x to make it better than the m40 for me. Im getting the Hifiman edition xs arriving tomorrow and I’ll see how it stacks up to the other 2 (obviously it should be miles better but I can’t know for sure yet)
Edit: so I’ve had the editon xs for a day and I absolutely love them. I was worried before that their almost dead neutral sound signature might sound too clinical for me but it actually sounds perfect. It really proves that the m50x have something more going on than being neutral to have the sharpness I get from them.
edition xs rules
for just listening to music? yeah get this. but for music production/listening to music i'd get dt770 pro.
dt770 pro sounds around ur ears and m50x sounds inside ur ears.
is wear and tear a problem?
They take a while to start flaking compared to other headphones I've had. But it's easy to replace things when they start to go. I think that's probably the best use-case for these... If you're always on the go and doing a lot of different things, these are good.
Hello, had them but stopped using them because my ears couldn't stand the highs and mids. Too harsh. I've bought m40x and waow they sound fantastic! I can use them for hours. First version of the m50x BT are amazing too. Not the BT2 because of the same mids+highs hurting problem for me. But m40x or m50x BT are among my favorites!
I know a lot of people that agree with you! I personally don't find them too harsh, but that's maybe cuz I'm used to even harsher cheap stuff from my past 😅
Thanks so much for watching and commenting! Means so much 🙏🏾
you should check out the bt2 versions! bluetooth version with ldac
People like it because they last long and dependable. It won't dow on you when u need it the most. Mine is 13 years old, changed pads like 6-7 times and still looks crazy good. This kind of longevity you can only expect from Senn hd 6xx series.
I used to have and like them too. But I'm glad I've moved on from them to more high end headphones, to the point I hated them when I tried them again. Even R70x from the same maker is miles ahead.
The R70s are incredible! but they are 3 times the price haha. First I need a better camera for my videos... then maybe I'll get to some higher end headphones.
Thank you so much for watching and commenting. It means a lot!
Beyerdynamic DT770 are much better headphones. Whole pro musicians use it
Love them for pure listening. Terrible if you want to go anywhere with them.
@@Faz_PlaysI got my dt770 cable detached moded by a guy on Etsy for like $90. But even though they're much better then the M50X, they still underwhelming compared to the sound of good IEMs
The pleather flaking is another criticism from many people. While the earpads are replaceable, the headband is not. Even in your video your M50x is showing this in the headband. Would be great if there's a solution to this other than covering the headband with something.
Very true they do flake. All pleather does unfortunately. I wish they did have an option for just a foam type headband instead, but a cover will have to do.
Having them for almost 10 years, the flaking is actually much better than some others, though. We use Sony MDRs at work and they are flaked raw within a year, and they get used less often than I use my pair of M50s.
Thanks so much for taking the time to watch and comment! It really means a lot :)
2:11 Not sure why you referred to semi-open headphones as "the worst of both worlds". It can equally be argued that they offer the BEST of both worlds. The AKG 240 headphones (as just one example) are semi-open and have been used for decades by countless artists and audio engineers all over the world. Closed-back headphones like the M50x are best for tracking, editing or working in a noisy environment but open or semi-open headphones are best for mixing and mastering. It's about using the right tool for the job.
Fair enough if you like them. I personally would rather have open or closed. I find the semi-open backs are not really good at either task. Maybe I've only tried shitty ones.
Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment!
0:10 was that Charlie Puth?
Yup! That's his personal setup in his house as well.
I don't have these, but I am looking to replace a pair of sony earbuds for when i'm out and about. stupid battery on one of them crapped out after 3 years lol. My preferred at home headphones are these Hi Fi man Planar headphones that were a ridiculous $100. They have an open design which I prefer in private settings. They're better than they have any right to be for what they cost. Movies,music, tv, gaming whatever you throw at them they sound great. But they're definitely NOT for outside the house lol. Might have to check the ATH's out cause i'm done with earbuds.
Sounds like you're talking about the HiFiMan HE400SE, which indeed are a _crazy_ good value. The M50 are not even close to the same level of quality.
Earbuds suck, and close-backed headphones (like these) usually suck. What you want are in-ear monitors, or IEMs. The Moondrop Aria 2 is $80 with a replaceable high-quality cable that supports balanced connections, great build quality with solid metal housings, and they sound _significantly_ better and more accurate than the M50.
Don't take audio advice from anyone who recommends the M50 in 2024, because they're _way_ behind the curve.
@@alondite215 Maybe our ears are used to very different things, but I personally find the Moondrop Aria 2s awful. I think the bass and mids are alright, but there is no clarity in the high-end. Also in-ears are not suitable to have in a studio environment where different people come in to use them. You can't share in-ears. I also personally don' t like any in-ears that aren't custom because they hurt after a short period of time.
HiFiMan HE400se are not durable or portable in the slightest. I know multiple people that have used them in professional settings and have had to replace them within about 2-3 years. Also, I personally find their bass awful and the sibilance part of it's range is extremely harsh. Horrible for dialogue editing.
Any open-ears are also not suitable for studio environment monitoring because they will bleed into mics. Closed-back is the only option in the booth unless the talent brings their own custom in-ears.
I even say at the end that the M50s are a swiss army work horse. They do everything well enough for the price and will last a long time. Tell me which closed-back headphones fill all the criteria and I will gladly review them.
Yeah I hate earbuds too. These are good for outside. I take mine everywhere and they're still going strong. For at home, there are some great open-backs for personal use around the same price (or less like the planars) that can be better than the M50s! I would only get the M50s if you plan to use them like crazy everywhere you go.
Thanks for watching :)
Thumbnail is 🔥 Full disclaimer tho...Came here from Twitter. You should really stick to outsourcing your thumbnails from now on coz it will probably blow up your channel.
Also spending slightly more effort on visuals rather than just audio will likely help your retention. Won't take much cos your storytelling is pretty decent. Anyway just saying. Wish you well bro 😎
Thanks bro! I am saving for a proper camera and stuff. All in due time. I'm glad you enjoyed the video :)
@@Faz_Plays I'm not meaning the camera necessarily. You can outsource someone to help with cheap graphics and add things like subtitles, transitions or animated elements that can add to the feel and pace of the video without being distracting. It just ups the visual quality and gives people another reason to stay. I'm an editor of 15 years btw (but I'm not doing edit work anymore lol)
@@Faz_Plays but yeah, budget is obvs deciding factor. Just sell a guitar or something to invest in your videos. Ha ha. Jk... (kinda)
Appreciate the advice! It will all develop over time and I hope you come back to see the improvements in the future 😊
I had a pair but they hurt my ears so sold them.
Totally fair. A few people I know find them very uncomfortable. Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment!
Hello, have you tried the m40x ? They sound fantastic, way less fatiguing than those m50x. For less than 100 usd. mids and highs are much more "balanced".
See that's the weird thing. the m50x sound awful. You don't need to spend 2000 to get a good sounding headphone. I've had sivga's for a 100 bucks for many years and they beat the snots out of the m50x regarding sound. Even in the audio technica world, you can get the m40's and they are a bump up in sound or the m60's if you have more money to spare. if you are a audio technica fan. Its always baffled me why these m50s are so popular because besides the durability i can agree with, the sound quality is not good at all. You can even get the Koss KPH40's for 65cad ;sound's better. I suppose sound is subjective after all. Good job on the video mind you, keep it up!
I really like the clarity in them. The m40s seem a bit mushy to me. I don't think I've tried any Koss headphones since I was a kid... I'll have to look into it.
And sound is definitely subjective haha I know people that prefer their Apple earbuds to anything 😬😬😬 I don't know how... But they exist.
Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment 🙏🏾
Interesting that headphones from a decade ago are still relevant! You'd expect that newer technology would dethrone them with ease in that time.
If you think that's crazy... In the world of microphones, the Shure SM58 has been going strong as a gold standard performance mic since the 1960s 😂
ATH M50X is overrated.
You mentioned complajnts suggest they are "tinny" meaning too much treble not enough bass. These headphones probably have too much of both.
I certainly wasnt a fan of their comfort either, I tried a coworkers pair for 5mins and the pads were way too shallow so my ears pressed on the driver
Because it was sponsored
Nah go with an HD 600. M50x sucks and is poorly built.
HD600 needs a DAC... Ends up being over double the price. And saying they are poorly built is objective wrong considering every single person I've ever known (including my own experience) and every article and review I've ever seen talks about how durable and long lasting they are.
They're absolute shit, get some IEMs or save for HD6xx & a DAC.
Lol you're kidding right? You can't put IEMs in a booth for a guest, and unless they are custom, many people (myself included) can't stand how they fit.
Getting an HD600 series with a Dac is over twice the price. "Save for this" when you're talking about literally double is absurd. They are not even in the same category.
Also, are you expecting me to carry my DAC around with me when I'm listening on my phone or on the road? Bring it on a plane with me too? Ridiculous advice
@@Faz_Plays for podcasts etc with multiple users you're right they're fine and there's a reason they're used (which isn't given here) but to me it sounds like he's recommending them for personal use music and they're just no god for that, some Moondrop Arias or Truthear hexas & a btr15 is a much better choice.
I'm not sure if you watched to the end, but I state clearly that the best use for these is they are a "swiss-army workhorse". The main point is about their versatility in all use cases and durability. If you need headphones for all sorts of stuff under a budget that's going to last a long time, there is nothing better that meets the checklist.
I never said anything about these being the best for personal listening. If pure listening is the only thing you care about, DT770 are my pick in this price range. Recommending something double the price is not relevant.
Also I personally find moondrops to be awful. I have not found a single in-ear that is comfortable for me or isolates sound properly unless it's custom fitted, which is astronomically expensive.
Good video. I will probably buy the m50x one day. Right now, I have my eyes on the DT700 Pro X. Which is a bit more expensive, but also has better sound and comfort apparently. Again not dissing the m50x, and I'll probably buy that too one day.
If price ain't a problem, I've heard the 700 pro x is really good. One tier below (same price range as the M50x) is the DT770 pro. I prefer them for straight listening but they are not as portable or durable.
Let me know how it all works out! And thanks for watching and commenting :)
The M50 hasn't been relevant in the world of headphones in at least a decade. Ignorance is why people use them, because there are way better options at this point.
Their bass is bloated and mushy, the mids barely exist, and the treble is ear-stabbing.
Recommend something else for the same price then.
@@SomeFrenchDudeakg k362 and k371
@@SomeFrenchDudeor beyerdynamic Dt 770 if you want something with better build quality than AKG’s offerings (I haven’t tried them but I have heard they are made mostly of metal and last a while)
@@SomeFrenchDudeThe Sennheiser HD560s (open-back reference cans)
@@dsanj4745 hate open-backs.
it's more of upselling behind the scenes, it's advertising for the headphones, the company gives the celebrities some kind of reward if they're seen wearing their headphones.
I don't know why they are weared everywhere. But they suck in terms of audio quality.