+FreshBagelz Saying they are designed to be studio monitors kind of goes against what you are trying to say, studio monitors generally don't have a lot of bass, and are usually flat.
Name And I think you misunderstood what he was saying. They're supposed to be flat but they're not, because they have elevated bass. And people say they lack bass are even more retarded than whoever tuned those drivers.
I'm a M50 owner and I really love these cans. These are my first set of serious headphones and so I can't compare them with other sub 200$ headphones. I totally agree with you as for the pads size (I changed my pads with Shure srh 840 ones, they fit perfectly) but I can't really say anything about the sound: I love dubstep and for this genre they are just amazing!
Realistic but dream-shattering review (to fanboys). I always said that M50 fanboys are worse than Beats fanboys, because beats fanboys at least admit they know jack shit about audio and don't care, but M50 fanboys think that once they get these headphones, they're audio gods and they know everything there is to know, and their headphones are the best in the world. That's because most of them never actually tried ANY other headphone, and they switched from some pieces of crap straight to M50's, so of course M50's were big improvement and sounded drastically better compared to what they had before...but that still doesn't change the fact that they sound mediocre at best, and are definitely nowhere near being the best at their price point. I never liked M50's, they are simply overpriced, uncomfortable, bulky, sound mediocre at best, have some serious flaws like hirroble soundstage and imaging, hollow mids, boomy bass, sharp highs, uncoherent sound that is completely opposite to what I'd consider musical and fun, all the pairs I've ever tried had problems with channel balance where one side was slightly louder than the other, they have poor dynamics and everything played trough them sounds like there's loudness turned on, which totally fucks up the separation and clarity, that's why they lack so much in soundstage and imaging, etc. For this sort of money, there are at least 20 headphones on the market right now that are a class above for the same or lower price.
I own a pair of M50x, i assume they sound pretty much the same. I loved them until i started comparing them to other headphones. When i read what you wrote i agree with you about the sound. If anything, owning them and comparing increases the rate at which i learned more about different sound terminology.
I'm gonna go ahead and say you're argument is a bit overstated. The M50 OEM. They're nothing but an experience to someone who's just getting into headphones. They aren't great stock. They NEED equalization. Otherwise, you've got a pair of Beats with more detail. They don't deserve pedestal positioning. It's almost stupid to say that. I can say, yes. I was an asshat who thought the M50 was the best until I tried a few more cans, gave crap opinions on them, and got laughed at (I'm 23) several times. I questioned it. Open Ear should be the first thing a new headphone listener, soon to be audiophile, or music geek should get into. Jumping to Closed Cans is pretty dangerous if you have the intentions of getting detail out of a full headset that's closed ear. You're risking a lot. Plenty of people have the issue of doing so, seeing the difference four to five years later, and having the experience taken away. Myself as well. I moved up from the ATH-WS55, which are basically a Beats competitor, more detail again though. But jumping to the M50, it's different. You don't feel a whole been world on your head. If you came from what I did, you hear detail, you hear too much treble, and lows that need to be tuned on. My ending, I got them for $70 from a Pawn Shop. I've had my experience for three years now. I've tried a bunch of Open Ear. I actually plan on retrying. Starting from the beginning of my headphone experiences. I plan on grabbing the NVX XPT100 to reset my experience. So we'll see.
derbigpr500 "one side was slightly louder than the other." This is one reason I don't wear them as often. I have to slide the audio balance +1 to the right.
masswhite thats interesting because i liked the sound character of the m50s straight away, and to this day have not found a headphone that i enjoy listening to after these, i went to a store and tested 25 different headphones, dt770, dt880 and dt990 for example didn't sound better to me.
Bought a pair based on the hype and you are spot on. I find them very useful for producing but they aren't that great for listening at all. The harsh, forward sound is pretty helpful in dissecting a mix at least.
The ATH-M50 is what you buy if you don't like doing research. Most people who buy them are jaded by the popularity. It's a status symbol for them. At least they work.
I'm buying a pair, I am an audio engineer and after an a/b test against my AKG K240mkii I found the sound to be quite good not because of the reviews. I like having a set of cans that represent what the consumer uses to listen to audio and I think the m50s are a good compromise between consumer audio systems and professional studio systems.
I bought the M50s because of the rave reviews, and yet my opinion of them mirrors Z-Review's. I can't stand wearing them for a long period of time, and the sound stage is not great. I ended up getting the Sennheiser hd558s for my computer use which were worlds ahead of the M50s to me.
+FifthDread I'm a 558 user myself and the M50, nyehhhh. I do use on-ear portable headphones, but they don't sound nearly as in-your-face and analytical.
As an M50/Brainwavz HM5 ownermy take on the review is that it's 75% true and 25% wining. The M50s are a very unique headphone that aren't for most people but they're not wretched like he makes them out to be.
i have these headphones as well as denon ah d2000s and sennheiser hd600s, after being used to the later 2 cans and going back to the m50 i agree with everything you say. There is no soundstage and everythings just blasted in your face
I have the M50x's and I think they're pretty great. My ears fit inside the cups perfectly plus the x revision comes with 3 cables. I've also fallen asleep wearing these before. I guess they just fit me well. I've had them for over a year and have been loving them.
The most thorough and honest review of the ATH-M50s. If you plug these into a windows PC, you might want to keep the volume around 10%-25% in the volume mixer.
Good review and I respect your opinion and your feeling on how the M50's are not for you. As you stated you're a speaker guy. The detail on these headphones is great and I enjoy that. Also when it comes to the low end responce of these you are correct they go from 0dB to +6dB on the lower Hz and +3 to +4dB on the 100Hz - 150Hz, however IMHO, it's not overpowering though. It's all balanced: the lows, mids and highs all blend harmoniously without cancelling out each other. My personal two favorite headphones of all time are the Sony MDR-7506 Professional Studio Monitor headphones and Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. I personally own and love them both. The MDR-7506's have a flat responce and also flat responce low-end, bass is there when it needs to be, but *I* prefer the slight +3dB to +6dB boost to bass that the ATH-M50x provides, as I said it's smooth and not overpowering and gives the perfect oomph, that IMHO, bass should have. BTW i've watched several of your videos and you listen to your cans at way too high of dB SPL, you're gonna go deaf pre-maturely, try and crank your can listening down to 70-80dB SPL. It'll take you awhile to get used to it, but in the end you'll find music overall sounds better at this safe dB than at damaging higher dB's. :)
I got these headphones with a huge hype and was very disapointed. He was right, my ears hurt using them, it was like hearing music on full treble and no bass. I took off the ear pads and realized there was no padding covering the speakers, which was why there was no filter. i superglued thin padding from older headphones and changed the ear pads to older but more plush and comfertable ones and they sound AMAZING now. the bass is right where it should be, nice and deep, almost vibrates my ears but its not muffled and inconherent, and the ear-hurting sounds are not as apparent without taking away the flat details the headphones originally gave.
I've owned the m50s for about 4 years and I agree. First of all, got mine off ebay for 80-90 bucks used, and they were my first pair of real headphones ever. The comfort factor was not good, I have big ears and I could feel the reddening irritation on the edge of my ears after using more than an hour. Get new ear pads! I know some people have an itchiness problem with velour, but it saved my life. Increased my comfort level so much that I could wear it everyday for 4 hours+ no problem. I still use them, but I definitely don't have FUN listening to music with them, I tend to use it for editing right now. My next plan in life is to get a pair of Sennheiser 600s and that will probably be my daily driver from then on.
This is one of those comments you probably won't see nor anyone will care but i'm gonna comment anyway. Been watching your new and old videos and the changes I can see are just amazing but the way you review is still amazing (and so damn funny). Keep it up!
I commend you on your honest personal opinion. Have a thumb up. However, being a fan of ATH-M50s, and seeing the points you presented; my ears disagree with how exaggerated your impressions are. First of all, bass is nothing like the Beats, I have listened to a pair of beats from a friend, and these have maybe less than half the quantity, but so much more details, and they extend quite a bit lower as well. I don't think I need to mention the audio details on these, as you've mentioned so vividly; aside from me describing it in a positive manner. You are right on the sound stage; then again, I didn't expect much of a sound stage from a pair of closed backs. These are definitely forward and on the bright side, but I haven't found them to be overly fatiguing; although most of my music is smooth jazz and a bit of classical, so perhaps other genre can be overly accentuated. Admittedly these are not the most comfortable headphones I own, but I have done hour long sessions with these without issue. I will say velvet pads improve the comfort a bit. I do appreciate both of what you described as the "headphone" sound and the "speaker" sound. When I feel like a more intimate listening session and excitement, ATH-M50s are my go to; and when I want that personal concert feeling with some airy relaxation, I jump to my SR80e's and HD600s. In conclusion, I respectfully disagree with some of your opinions as I feel the qualities you've mentioned are overly exaggerated. Of course, people have different preferences, but for me, I cannot recommend these enough. For a first pair of more serious headphones to upgrade to, you will hear sounds that you never knew existed in your music before, and I have yet to find anything that's able to present the details these are capable of producing in the sub $200 category.
Finally the review I wanted to see from the person I wanted to hear it from! Exactly how I feel, I'm sick of all this nonsense "buy M50's". NO! Get fucking HD 558's for less...I just picked up a pair of HD 518's for $80, even they are better than M50's...
Really? I don't think so. I heard that the HD 518's doesnt have much bass and emphasises the mids more. If this is so then I'd much rather prefer the m50's
PiggyMcCult I think the m50's are a widely accepted headphone because of its price. It offers great quality for it's price. So if you're looking for better headphones, you're probably looking at a higher price.
Chase McDonald You're delusional. There incredible overhyped for sure and possibly overpriced but they're still a solid set of headphones that serves a specific purpose.
I watched just because I had to. I knew how it would go after seeing your more recent reviews and audio style. ATH-M50's were my first what I considered a real headphone and I was so excited. They were amazing literally for my entire teens and 20's and still work like a champ to this day. They will always have a soft spot in my heart and have shiny new very comfy pads, 3rd set I think as after so many years they tend to crack and fall apart and after years of having sand paper on your head you eventually replace them and give a small memorial for those pads u spent so much of your life in-between. I was the guy with 2 10 inch subwoofers in my 1966 mustang. Those subs are now in my jeep tho, pretty atrocious as the mustang needs nothing more than its exhaust for beautiful sound. Even if my horizons have expanded the memories will never fade. Lmao! The chord is stil very much the original and coils as brand new.
It's 2021 now and I still think about this review. I had gotten the m50x's without seeing this about 5 years ago and tried for months to like em because I'd spent so much money on em and I wanted something to replace my Senn 380 Pro's (pads were going out and I didn't wanna keep replacing em). After a few months I gave the 50's away to a friend cus I hated em so much that I couldn't justify selling them. They're the only pair of headphones I actively hate and the experience has made me stay away from Audio Technica headphones entirely since then. Seeing this review later made me realize I wasn't crazy and that they really didn't deserve the hype. It also made me appreciate headphone and speaker reviewers as opposed to general tech reviewers.
Totally agree with you. Got my m50x's and meh. Forcing myself to wear them before I just pulled out my old set. They feel like little speakers are playing into you ear. That sounds obvious, but this is bad in my opinion. I want to forget I am wearing them. You can't with the m50's. not only do they poke into the top of your head, the music is totally in your head. Nothing I could do could push the sound out. Maybe I expected too much out of closed back. (The m50x helps with the ear clamping, but by poking into your head, if you didnt know).
I own the m50's and I half way agree with this guy. He's brutally honest. To me these cans are great but they are a little harsh for my taste, plus its unfortunate audio technica had to release a second version "m50x" just to make simple minor changes in terms of a detachable cable which that shouldn't have been a problem in the first place... Well done review dude. I'm thinking about getting the Sony mdr 1r cans which I think you should check it out if you adore a wider sweeter and warmer soundstage.
I owned a pair as well, truth is that they're not comfortable for long sessions and they do not block out a lot of sound. Sound is great, they're sturdy and definitely over-ear. Great pair of headphones if you're looking for something to use in the studio as well as on the go. You can't hate them at that price point and for a couple of bucks you could get other earcups that would solve both of those problems.
Lol @ all the M50 apologists disliking this video. TH-cam (and the rest of the world) seem to have a raging hard-on for these cans. Especially when they're coming from something like Monster or Skullcandy products. Nothing the guy said was wrong at all. Subjective, sure, but you'd better expect that out of a headphone review. The fact of the matter is these cans are not God-send. There are MANY headphones in the same price tag that compete VERY well with these. It's all a matter of what YOU like and this guy just didn't like them so he put that out there for people to hear and gave a constructive and accurate reason why which is the nature of a review. Get your heads out of your asses.
In all honesty, I love your reviews and bought the x2's based on your opinion. However, I love these headphones. I feel like perhaps it's more a problem with you not enjoying the particular sound signature, since these headphones are praised by so many. Even seasoned audiophiles. They are bloody uncomfortable after a while though. Anyway keep doing what you're doing, by far the best reviewer of audio cans imo. x
Thank you for your honest, non-sugar-coated opinions. There's plenty of "reviewers" who get samples from manufacturers and they feel the need (they're probably pressured directly or indirectly) to not say anything that sounds too negative (or at all).
I own ATH-M50X's, I love'em, but much of this holds true. The cable thing has been cured, but still ZERO soundstage, and agressive, tiring sound. Having said that, it tends to get better with time, like 70+ hours in. Mids improve after that and they become a lot less tiring. Also, confirmed, HM5 pads fit, I've already ordered them, they're on their way, they supposedly add a teensy bit of soundstage, along with a whole heep more comfort. I'd love to see you review the M50X with 100 hour burn in, and HM5 pads...
I have the M50X's too but i don't have to wait, i just tweak the equalizer and the harshness of this headphones disappear literally! That's why whe have equalizers!!
I own the M50 for more than a year now. And because this review and other sources say the M50 have "Zero" soundstage, I started looking for an open set of headphones. So I bought the HD598 for their "open wide - 3D sound" soundstage. But when I heard them I was totally shocked by how little gain in soundstage there was compared to the M50s. It made me think "M50 soundstage is not bad at all". I don't know if this just my subjective experience or it’s because of my soundcard (Asus Xonar U7)... but I’m starting to believe reviewers are just exaggerating allot.
+Silentsky I own M50X and have been thinking about getting exactly the HD 598 as my next. This is only because people say that there's SUCH A HUGE FRIKKIN difference in soundstage, I've found the soundstage in movies to be pretty great with M50X and I think the regular Top 40 stuff is supposed to sound 'in your head' (and open headphones just take away that inyourheadness so people think they are more comfortable to listen to), because listening to classical music on M50Xs will definitely give you feeling of a nice soundstage. It's rather surprising knowing you heard little difference in soundstage because all the reviews claim like they are equivalent to having a surround sound speaker system. So do you think that buying HD598 was worth it? because I've been thinking about having 1 set of closed (M50X) and one set of open (HD598) cans for different situations, only for that 'openness' and soundstage, but if it's really not much of a difference, then I won't mind keeping another ~$200 in my pocket. :P I've also heard that 598s don't have good bass, but of course they seem much more comfortable than M50X (which could be solved by changing pads).
+maximumsid comfort wise the hd598 are much better, because they don't press on any part of you ears. the cushions are a little stiff though but because they clamp gently its not really a problem. Now the bass is weak especially in the sub bass region, no amount of eq can give the deep bass that m50 can deliver. also the m50 are more articulate and reveal much more detail in the highs which is great with hq recordings but really tiring with allot of pop music. the hd598 seems to soften the sound up in the highs but their strength is in the smoothness of the midrange, vocals sound really good in and natural also because they're open sound never becomes congested, when singers scream for example it just sounds loud but not piercing. the instrument separation on hd598 is much better but the sound still feels its coming about 1inch behind the driver, not more. the effect mostly depends on the recording if something is supposed to sound out of your head it will on both headphones. Hope I've been helpful.
Yes, thank you for the detailed reply. So I am guessing I won't be buying an HD 598 then, I really enjoy the deep bass in movies, and I tweak the eq settings to increase the mids by 1, 2, 1dB at 125, 250, 500 range respectively, and I think it makes them sound much better and you can listen to the main singer at lower volume (not the case with stock settings where mids are a little recessed and singer goes in the background when things get busy so you have to turn the volume up to listen to the singer). So harshness issue gets a little resolved that way. And I'd take that deeper bass and 'hear every click' character over better Soundstage and 'smoothness', I listen to electronic music primarily anyways. Though ATH-AD500X and 700x have been catching my attention, could be a great pair of second headphone.
I strongly recommend buying these ATH M50 headphones, as a gift for someone you hate. The sound quality is not bad but it's not comfortable to listen too and the headphones will leave your ears hurting red and almost swollen after long sessions due to the strong clamp and small size cups that rub against your ears. You have to take the headphone in your hands and bend the cups apart with force until the whole headphone is a straight line, after that they still clamp but you don't get a headache at least. Every time you take these headphones off your head you will feel a sense of relief. I wish I had seen this review before I bought mine unlistened when my old headphones broke. ATH M50 is the worst headphones I have ever used.
M50's have about half the bass of beats and they are far from muddy relatively tight they have defined mids and present but not overpowering highs.... They are very warm in nature and sound better than the Bose that you try at best buy m50x's come with a short straight cord that makes them good to take out and about. When I get my He-400's or DT 990s I'll make a video on weather or not I am blown away by the difference.
Zeos You should look into reviewing some sennheiser headphones such as the 558's. I'd be very interested to hear your impressions and they are in the same price range as the M50s. Thanks for the review.
Another great review. You possess a great pair of ears and the ability of communicate your impressions clearly and in a very engaging manner. I have a pair of ATH M50x which I use mainly on the train and at work and you just nailed what I like about them but also why they are left at work and I hardly ever bring them back with me to use at home!Then again I do have the Sennheiser HD600, which I bought based on your excellent demonstration and review, to use at home... thanks.
ATH-M50X's lack in the lows. Not a bass headphone. Clean sound in the mids-highs. I'm not an audiophile, but that's what I picked up. You reviews are great, funny shit! Z Reviews
I do agree that these have no soundstage. But if you think these sound like a bunch of 12" subwoofers in a speaker system, you must have never heard a subwoofer. Compared to the V-Moda M100s, these have thin bass. Compared to my single SVS PB-1000, the ATH-M50s have thin bass. Either you're listening to bass boosted music or you have no tolerance for bass. Don't get me wrong, they still have bass and it is present when listening, but they're not super bassy headphones.
I agreed with how the m50s are a very forward sounding headphone. also about how detailed they can be but I agree with you about the low end. anorexic thin bass. I actually think m50s are very neutral or very ever so slightly on the brighter side of neutral.
Comfort was definitely accurate They fit ON your ear, NOT around or over your ears. The pads sit right on the outer rim of cartilage of your ear, and they press back against your head. Hurts like hell after 1-4 hours of mixing.
Because of this great review, I didn't make the biggest mistake in buying the Audio Technica headphones! I purchased the NVX's and I absolutely love them! Thank you so much Z!
Being a m50 owner for several years, I'm looking to grab a new pair of cans. How does the base from m50's fare compared to the philips X2 & or mono price 1060's?
Generally speaking, I've heard people criticizing headphone regarding soundstage. In this case, I'll never understand the expectation of soundstage from a set of sealed, isolating closed back studio monitors. In fact I don't even know how you judge that, because 'soundstage' in the natural world varies so widely depending on venue, from studio to club to theater to stadium and the listener's sonic vantage point. Of course manufacturers know consumers buy any headphone for anything, but that doesn't mean we completely ignore their classification. Would anyone take a stock sedan offroading?? I'd go even further - I don't expect headphones to sound like speakers at all - I expect them to sound like drivers right next to my ears - a unique and intimate sonic experience in itself, especially from any closed headphone, studio or otherwise.
Have to agree about the M50x which I own. they are technically brilliant but lack soul. They sound very powerful but I don't enjoy the music as much when I am using them.
Had these headphones for about 3 weeks and gifted them to my Nephew because the sound sucked and they were extremely painful and hot. replaced them with a pair of BD 990 premiums and never looked back. that was about 3 years ago. you can get the 990s for about the same price now days
I absolutely love my ATH-M50s, are they worth the money? No, are they good? Yes. Am I glad I bought them? Yes. Why? You may ask, it's what got me into nice headphones, I am planning on picking up quite a few pairs of nice headphones, about 10 pairs of headphones are what I am planning on adding to my setup, I absolutely love these cans, but they are not worth the money they ask for it.
I have the M50x and I actually felt it was great pair. Stock pad gotta change, slapped in the HM5s and got the best sounding and most comfortable headphones till date.... Till I bought my HD 558. Comfort got redefined instantly. And 558s are so open your ear will praise the amount of sound staging they give. And, I got them for cheaper than M50xs Bottomline, M50x is a wonderful pair of headphone and will probably be the best you have used till date.... Till you get something better. It praise and hype its getting is of those people who have come from earpods or sub 50$ headphones.
+Z Reviews i can tell lot of m50 fans got pissed, but I'm really glad that you gave an honest review, because Its better to have a good product than be a mindless slave to a brand. I was very close to getting the m50x this week, but i found your review of it today and i can tell right away that would have been a huge regret for me. I just found your mdr 7056 review and watched it lol, so yeah i think you got me sold on the nvx xD i've heard really good things about them from others too, but never really checked them out much.
+Z Reviews hey so are the nvx xpt100 the exact same headphones as the brainwavz hm5? or are there some differences besides the branding? would you recommend hm5 or nvx xp100?
+TheRoshan89 By implication then you believe that more positive reviews must be dishonest? Afaic this reviewer's opinion was set the moment he described himself as a 'speaker guy'. For him soundstage and comfort are everything, so no way in life is anything else relevant. And even then, the M50x is more comfortable than the older M50, and the pads are eassily swapped out anyway. It isn't 'Beat's hype' that makes these well regarded studio monitors you know - they had to actually work.
Also, as they age the leatherette on the headband starts peeling off and leaving crud in your hair (on the white ones at least), and my ears get all sweaty under them in the summer. All true. However, they are the cheapest way that I know of to get HiFi sound. Plug them into a Note 3, play FLAC and you will hear things nothing cheaper will be able to come near to. But you can't listen to them for long because they are so uncomfortable.
Liked because of humour. I respect your opinion, but are the headphones actually that "in your face"? And is the treble and the mids covered up by the bass?
I think he has some good points, but he is also being a bit of a hipster. The headphones have very good treble slightly lowered mids and nice bass, but not extreme bass. no soundstage but extremely clear sound.
+TriFire I think the regular Top 40 stuff is supposed to sound 'in your head' (and open headphones just take away that inyourheadness so people think they are more comfortable to listen to), because listening to classical music or watching movies on M50Xs will definitely give you feeling of a nice soundstage.
I have a pair, I know what you mean about a lot of things mentioned. Most of it is just the case of simple mods. Even changing over to different earcups will make a massive difference. They are, however, fairly subjective. Keep up the great vids, btw.
If they press against your ears just put some strips of foam inside the ear cups, this way they don't touch my ears AT ALL. Also it's no issue reducing the pressure by stretching it like you said, so I'm not sure why you wouldn't do that when reviewing them. Edit: saying the m50's pumps the sound more directly into the ears than in ear monitors is like....hello? Also here's some graphs showing the actual frequency response comparing to some other models: graphs.headphone.com/index.php?graphID%5B0%5D=2941&graphID%5B1%5D=3931&graphID%5B2%5D=3951&graphID%5B3%5D=2621&scale=30&graphType=0&buttonSelection=Update+Graph
I had these for years and yes they are uncomfortable and ON EAR, they come across as over ear but they do clamp on the top of your ear (actually I think the monitor protruding would pressure against my ear). Painful, but great sound and detail for $115. Not portable per se but they work for road trips and shit.
I had these for a couple of weeks for recording, mixing and mastring purposes. I didn't like them. They coloured the sound too much, not only on the lower frequencies but also higher up. The colouring was very fancy though, I can understand why they're so popular. They are also very detailed, yes, I can hear my neighbour fart, but in a producing context I also need to know if my neighbour is a virgin or not. Scandinavian joke: Some men in a sauna. One of them farts "BROOOHOOM" and another one farts "BROOOHOOHOULUUM" and a third one farts "pheeewiiiee" and one of them says "He's a virgin guys, go get him!". My point is that in these headphones even a virgin's fart sound like ancient deep doomsday fart. And also I need to know if it's the neighbour on my left or right that's farting, but without soundstaging it's impossible to say. I gave them to my nephew, he's four years old and doesn't care about soundstaging and think doomsday farts are always the preferable choice of farts. I bought the ATH M40's instead. These I will keep. They are much better for my purposes, though the soundstaging is still a bit vague it's much better, and the overall sound is clean in a wonderfully boring way. The ATH M50's were too glossy for me. Good for listening but not for producing.
I'm about to get a pair of HD 650s so I guess it doesn't really matter but I wonder if a bigger set of cups wouldn't go a long way to improving the M50s.
M50x. The cable problem is gone. Brainwavz hm5 velour pads. Comfort problem gone. I've never owned speakers or exceed experienced Soundstage. Too forward problem,gone. Z what are your thoughts.
Yes. Yes I can. But thankfully in the end I ended up buying a hifiman he-400i in the Black Friday sale lol. Now I'm on the hunt for a relatively cheap portable again. I think I'll get the V moda lp2. (do consider that lp2 is different for the lp that Zeos took a dump on, on his m100/lp review) Z's review of the m50x made me lose all hope of ever looking at the m50x's ever again...
If you want to know what tight feels like try a Sennheiser HD205. About 20 minutes is the MAX before I need to take a 20 second break. Awesome reviews. Keep it up!
Thank you for saying it! They ARE NOT COMFORTABLE! But wait... The earpads? We have different reasons: I think the top of the headband feels like pulling cheese wire into my scalp, and I have to check that I'm not bleeding out while listening to music. Literally lie down and expand them a bit so that they don't slice my skull open after 15 minutes, and I even have a full head of hair!
I was beginning to think I was the only person perceiving these this way. The m50's aren't terrible, but at the same time... they sort of are. I can't stand them for anything but rap and certain electronic music. They are just SO forward. I've owned mine for about 2 years, just because I am too lazy to ever sell anything.
No. They are not good for anything, I used them for 3 years because I didn't really have many options and didn't know better. I was told they were good, so I bought them and used them. I have since dived into the world of headphones and m50's are awful for everything.
Good for RAP, House, and POP. These sound like if Beats headsets had better detailed highs and slightly less bass. Mids are almost non existent on these.
I tried the ws1100is and have even less mid range. Now I use the V moda crossfade wireless and they are better (if you like bass). Better imaging and not fatiguing.
I love the M50s. But, yes, the headset is a pair of hammers to sensitive ears, which I have. And I, too, feel them screaming in my brain when it's just a little on the loud side. I also keep finding myself turning them down. But I do appreciate the bass and detailed highs.
I've owned a few cans in my life, and tried on a few others that were my brothers from hd 650 dt770's grado 325 akg550 and I honestly liked the sound of the ath m50s.. dont remember the too much cuz i parted away with them a few years back but the only flaws I remember was that they were way too heavy and clamp force was strong for a "portable headphone". I liked how they were detailed treble I recall werent as harsh as the grados 325's but it came down to the fact that after a few months I couldnt really enjoy them (especially when I was outsise) due to the fact that they were just to heavy for my liking which ultimately brings down a sense of comfort to enjoy music. Decent review though, youve definitely tried more headphones than me so yourimpressions could be more accurate.
LOL the Chord Mojo and the ATH M50s...two very popular audio products that fail the Zeos test. At least we know why, because it "Offends his soul". LOL awesome lines in this review.
they are a very good pair of inexpensive headphones. I love mine, but they are certainly not the best out there. If you have a limited budget, I would recommend them. P.S. Don't go with the HD449. For a few dollars less, you can get the HD518, and for a few dollars more, you can get the HD558. both of which are vastly superior headphones.
PEOPLE LOOKING TO BUY M50 or M50x. This is just my opinion. I guess its just preference. I personally don't think there is a lot of bass. You can not compare these to beats who have muddy bass. **(However i have to say beats are starting to step up their game. better build and sound on their newer headphones)** I actually laughed at that. But, the bass is there in the m50, and its a good crisp low end. though it is not too much or at all extremely harsh. I have to agree to you that there is almost no sound stage. It was just sad when I listened to them after all the hype. However I didn't mind it after all it was a closed set headphones. Audio Teachnica now have a version that has a removable cable, along with new pads that come installed.(ATH-M50x) they are a lot more comfortable. Fixing some of the issues stated in the video. I thought the m50 were pretty comfortable, but people with bigger ears will not fit these earcups. There are better earcups you could buy, but this shouldn't be something you have to do. In 2014, there started to be a lot of new headphones that were able to compete and destroy the ath m50 in the price range. I wouldn't say don't listen to this guy, he Does make accurate points but at the same time the review was very one sided towards hating it. Try to listen to these yourself and judge it with your own ears personal rating for the m50 would be : 6.5/10 for the m50x : 7.5/10 since it fixed some of the issues
Good review, I must have a small head/ears because I find mine fairly loose. I love my M-50's, but they're not for everyone, as I don't think there is any pair of headphones that is gonna work for everyone, but this is a good review for sure.
Also, I can't stand Beats, but I do appreciate a lot of low end, but only enough to complement the tracks that require it, aka hip-hop, and dance music. I find the low end to be perfect for these tracks, but it gently disappears when listening to tracks that don't need/want a lot of lows.
I have a like 12 year old pair of these... the response curve definitely sounds like the shape is this: \. Coming from the mSR7 it sounds like your listening to everything while drowning in a pool filled with honey, which also happens to be a giant subwoofer.
I was impressed by M50s, especially considering the price. But you're right. I'd call the way they deliver sound vulgar. Which is honestly what makes them fun, they have character. Although I hate the build. I had to mod mine add a 3.5mm jack and different pads to make them usable.
i don't understand the hype behind the m50s. i have a pair and they are make my ears so uncomfortably hot that i had to cover the pads with some satin cloth.
Sitting with my Audio-technica while hearing this review and the comfort is awful as you mention. I see that you have lots and lots of experience and great that you share. After under a year of making music my prime hobby, I still have a lot to learn and is very careful to not sound arrogant. So thanks for your channel it will be an inspiration for me inn the coming years as my budget raise, and splendid production quality on reviews your good at this keep it up! Waiting for my Philips SPH9500 after your recommendation as I`m on a low budget being a student ^-^/ And as I new Audiophile(ok can`t call myself that before I have some more years under my belt) do you have any great music recommendations that are lesser know for me(Age 23) love everything from 50s blues and jazz, classical Beethoven and Mozart to British rock and punk and any other music except low dynamic music as mostly Havy metal and screamo in-speared music, so short: I love all kinds of music and has and open mind. So any suggestions? Anyway thanks again from an happy subscriber from Norway ^-^/
+spookanide Thank you, the smily is gone. Looking for a great DAP for playing my Flac-16-24 bit collection(44.1khz to 192khz)my headphones any suggestions. X3 second gen and X5 second gen looks nice. Currently using my phone: Sony Xperia Z3 compact witch has decent sound cards but not near good enough. The walkman app works great and plays up to 24/192 Flac files.
Seems to really matter what these a being plugged into, even in the same price range and class of DAC/amp they can go from metallic treble that is just painful at the volume you really want and suppresses the rest of the range - to having tons of low end and the sub-bass physically vibrating your head.
Everything said about the pads on these headphones are the truest fucking statements ever.
As an owner of M50 myself, I find this review 100% accurate. Yes it's hard to swallow for those fanboys out there, but it's the truth.
People who think that they lack bass are retards. These are designed to be studio monitors, they aren't flat. At all.
+FreshBagelz Saying they are designed to be studio monitors kind of goes against what you are trying to say, studio monitors generally don't have a lot of bass, and are usually flat.
+Name But these do have too much bass to be considered flat.
Jack Hart And? I think you misunderstand what I was implying.
Name And I think you misunderstood what he was saying. They're supposed to be flat but they're not, because they have elevated bass. And people say they lack bass are even more retarded than whoever tuned those drivers.
"I'd hear if my dog farted in the other room."
Alright alright, take my thumbs up already.
in am not hit i am just dum no i am rillly hi dam pad
I'm a M50 owner and I really love these cans. These are my first set of serious headphones and so I can't compare them with other sub 200$ headphones. I totally agree with you as for the pads size (I changed my pads with Shure srh 840 ones, they fit perfectly) but I can't really say anything about the sound: I love dubstep and for this genre they are just amazing!
Realistic but dream-shattering review (to fanboys). I always said that M50 fanboys are worse than Beats fanboys, because beats fanboys at least admit they know jack shit about audio and don't care, but M50 fanboys think that once they get these headphones, they're audio gods and they know everything there is to know, and their headphones are the best in the world. That's because most of them never actually tried ANY other headphone, and they switched from some pieces of crap straight to M50's, so of course M50's were big improvement and sounded drastically better compared to what they had before...but that still doesn't change the fact that they sound mediocre at best, and are definitely nowhere near being the best at their price point.
I never liked M50's, they are simply overpriced, uncomfortable, bulky, sound mediocre at best, have some serious flaws like hirroble soundstage and imaging, hollow mids, boomy bass, sharp highs, uncoherent sound that is completely opposite to what I'd consider musical and fun, all the pairs I've ever tried had problems with channel balance where one side was slightly louder than the other, they have poor dynamics and everything played trough them sounds like there's loudness turned on, which totally fucks up the separation and clarity, that's why they lack so much in soundstage and imaging, etc. For this sort of money, there are at least 20 headphones on the market right now that are a class above for the same or lower price.
I own a pair of M50x, i assume they sound pretty much the same. I loved them until i started comparing them to other headphones. When i read what you wrote i agree with you about the sound. If anything, owning them and comparing increases the rate at which i learned more about different sound terminology.
I'm gonna go ahead and say you're argument is a bit overstated.
The M50 OEM.
They're nothing but an experience to someone who's just getting into headphones.
They aren't great stock. They NEED equalization. Otherwise, you've got a pair of Beats with more detail.
They don't deserve pedestal positioning. It's almost stupid to say that.
I can say, yes. I was an asshat who thought the M50 was the best until I tried a few more cans, gave crap opinions on them, and got laughed at (I'm 23) several times.
I questioned it.
Open Ear should be the first thing a new headphone listener, soon to be audiophile, or music geek should get into.
Jumping to Closed Cans is pretty dangerous if you have the intentions of getting detail out of a full headset that's closed ear.
You're risking a lot.
Plenty of people have the issue of doing so, seeing the difference four to five years later, and having the experience taken away.
Myself as well.
I moved up from the ATH-WS55, which are basically a Beats competitor, more detail again though.
But jumping to the M50, it's different. You don't feel a whole been world on your head.
If you came from what I did, you hear detail, you hear too much treble, and lows that need to be tuned on.
My ending, I got them for $70 from a Pawn Shop.
I've had my experience for three years now.
I've tried a bunch of Open Ear.
I actually plan on retrying. Starting from the beginning of my headphone experiences.
I plan on grabbing the NVX XPT100 to reset my experience.
So we'll see.
derbigpr500 "one side was slightly louder than the other." This is one reason I don't wear them as often. I have to slide the audio balance +1 to the right.
masswhite thats interesting because i liked the sound character of the m50s straight away, and to this day have not found a headphone that i enjoy listening to after these, i went to a store and tested 25 different headphones, dt770, dt880 and dt990 for example didn't sound better to me.
You may want to go back to retry the SoundMAGIC HP150, they're known as being the headphone that completely mastered the M50s' sound the proper eay.
This is a very good, solid review. Much better than all these 3 minutes shitty reviews all overt the yt.
YEAH like "reviews" from 15 years old "headphone" specialists. :D
Yeah reviews that are like "the highs are good, the mids are good, the lows are good, the treble is good"
@harz.exe Look who I find here :D hehe
Bought a pair based on the hype and you are spot on. I find them very useful for producing but they aren't that great for listening at all. The harsh, forward sound is pretty helpful in dissecting a mix at least.
+StewboaT try m40x (can drive any player) dont need an DAC tho
M40x are better for mixing and listening Z loves them
You are a very well spoken person, good explanations and review.
The ATH-M50 is what you buy if you don't like doing research. Most people who buy them are jaded by the popularity. It's a status symbol for them. At least they work.
I'm buying a pair, I am an audio engineer and after an a/b test against my AKG K240mkii I found the sound to be quite good not because of the reviews. I like having a set of cans that represent what the consumer uses to listen to audio and I think the m50s are a good compromise between consumer audio systems and professional studio systems.
I bought the M50s because of the rave reviews, and yet my opinion of them mirrors Z-Review's. I can't stand wearing them for a long period of time, and the sound stage is not great. I ended up getting the Sennheiser hd558s for my computer use which were worlds ahead of the M50s to me.
+FifthDread I'm a 558 user myself and the M50, nyehhhh. I do use on-ear portable headphones, but they don't sound nearly as in-your-face and analytical.
I really enjoy your reviews man, keep them coming :)
Martin Romero he did :)
As an M50/Brainwavz HM5 ownermy take on the review is that it's 75% true and 25% wining. The M50s are a very unique headphone that aren't for most people but they're not wretched like he makes them out to be.
I never called them wretched.
Not directly. "These offend my soul" comes pretty close.
He doesn't shit on it, he just gave his opinion.
I’ve been using the M50x for the past 4 years. I just ordered the HD600. I assume I’ll be happy with the change? 😄
i have these headphones as well as denon ah d2000s and sennheiser hd600s, after being used to the later 2 cans and going back to the m50 i agree with everything you say. There is no soundstage and everythings just blasted in your face
I have the M50x's and I think they're pretty great. My ears fit inside the cups perfectly plus the x revision comes with 3 cables. I've also fallen asleep wearing these before. I guess they just fit me well. I've had them for over a year and have been loving them.
The most thorough and honest review of the ATH-M50s.
If you plug these into a windows PC, you might want to keep the volume around 10%-25% in the volume mixer.
Good review and I respect your opinion and your feeling on how the M50's are not for you. As you stated you're a speaker guy. The detail on these headphones is great and I enjoy that. Also when it comes to the low end responce of these you are correct they go from 0dB to +6dB on the lower Hz and +3 to +4dB on the 100Hz - 150Hz, however IMHO, it's not overpowering though. It's all balanced: the lows, mids and highs all blend harmoniously without cancelling out each other.
My personal two favorite headphones of all time are the Sony MDR-7506 Professional Studio Monitor headphones and Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. I personally own and love them both. The MDR-7506's have a flat responce and also flat responce low-end, bass is there when it needs to be, but *I* prefer the slight +3dB to +6dB boost to bass that the ATH-M50x provides, as I said it's smooth and not overpowering and gives the perfect oomph, that IMHO, bass should have.
BTW i've watched several of your videos and you listen to your cans at way too high of dB SPL, you're gonna go deaf pre-maturely, try and crank your can listening down to 70-80dB SPL. It'll take you awhile to get used to it, but in the end you'll find music overall sounds better at this safe dB than at damaging higher dB's. :)
I got these headphones with a huge hype and was very disapointed. He was right, my ears hurt using them, it was like hearing music on full treble and no bass. I took off the ear pads and realized there was no padding covering the speakers, which was why there was no filter. i superglued thin padding from older headphones and changed the ear pads to older but more plush and comfertable ones and they sound AMAZING now. the bass is right where it should be, nice and deep, almost vibrates my ears but its not muffled and inconherent, and the ear-hurting sounds are not as apparent without taking away the flat details the headphones originally gave.
I've owned the m50s for about 4 years and I agree. First of all, got mine off ebay for 80-90 bucks used, and they were my first pair of real headphones ever. The comfort factor was not good, I have big ears and I could feel the reddening irritation on the edge of my ears after using more than an hour.
Get new ear pads! I know some people have an itchiness problem with velour, but it saved my life. Increased my comfort level so much that I could wear it everyday for 4 hours+ no problem. I still use them, but I definitely don't have FUN listening to music with them, I tend to use it for editing right now. My next plan in life is to get a pair of Sennheiser 600s and that will probably be my daily driver from then on.
This is one of those comments you probably won't see nor anyone will care but i'm gonna comment anyway. Been watching your new and old videos and the changes I can see are just amazing but the way you review is still amazing (and so damn funny). Keep it up!
I commend you on your honest personal opinion. Have a thumb up.
However, being a fan of ATH-M50s, and seeing the points you presented; my ears disagree with how exaggerated your impressions are. First of all, bass is nothing like the Beats, I have listened to a pair of beats from a friend, and these have maybe less than half the quantity, but so much more details, and they extend quite a bit lower as well. I don't think I need to mention the audio details on these, as you've mentioned so vividly; aside from me describing it in a positive manner. You are right on the sound stage; then again, I didn't expect much of a sound stage from a pair of closed backs. These are definitely forward and on the bright side, but I haven't found them to be overly fatiguing; although most of my music is smooth jazz and a bit of classical, so perhaps other genre can be overly accentuated. Admittedly these are not the most comfortable headphones I own, but I have done hour long sessions with these without issue. I will say velvet pads improve the comfort a bit. I do appreciate both of what you described as the "headphone" sound and the "speaker" sound. When I feel like a more intimate listening session and excitement, ATH-M50s are my go to; and when I want that personal concert feeling with some airy relaxation, I jump to my SR80e's and HD600s.
In conclusion, I respectfully disagree with some of your opinions as I feel the qualities you've mentioned are overly exaggerated. Of course, people have different preferences, but for me, I cannot recommend these enough. For a first pair of more serious headphones to upgrade to, you will hear sounds that you never knew existed in your music before, and I have yet to find anything that's able to present the details these are capable of producing in the sub $200 category.
Finally the review I wanted to see from the person I wanted to hear it from! Exactly how I feel, I'm sick of all this nonsense "buy M50's". NO! Get fucking HD 558's for less...I just picked up a pair of HD 518's for $80, even they are better than M50's...
Really? I don't think so. I heard that the HD 518's doesnt have much bass and emphasises the mids more. If this is so then I'd much rather prefer the m50's
Agreed, and if you need closed cans, there are much better choices.
PiggyMcCult I think the m50's are a widely accepted headphone because of its price. It offers great quality for it's price. So if you're looking for better headphones, you're probably looking at a higher price.
topsui the M50's are not worth $25
Chase McDonald You're delusional. There incredible overhyped for sure and possibly overpriced but they're still a solid set of headphones that serves a specific purpose.
I watched just because I had to. I knew how it would go after seeing your more recent reviews and audio style. ATH-M50's were my first what I considered a real headphone and I was so excited. They were amazing literally for my entire teens and 20's and still work like a champ to this day. They will always have a soft spot in my heart and have shiny new very comfy pads, 3rd set I think as after so many years they tend to crack and fall apart and after years of having sand paper on your head you eventually replace them and give a small memorial for those pads u spent so much of your life in-between. I was the guy with 2 10 inch subwoofers in my 1966 mustang. Those subs are now in my jeep tho, pretty atrocious as the mustang needs nothing more than its exhaust for beautiful sound. Even if my horizons have expanded the memories will never fade. Lmao! The chord is stil very much the original and coils as brand new.
It's 2021 now and I still think about this review. I had gotten the m50x's without seeing this about 5 years ago and tried for months to like em because I'd spent so much money on em and I wanted something to replace my Senn 380 Pro's (pads were going out and I didn't wanna keep replacing em). After a few months I gave the 50's away to a friend cus I hated em so much that I couldn't justify selling them. They're the only pair of headphones I actively hate and the experience has made me stay away from Audio Technica headphones entirely since then. Seeing this review later made me realize I wasn't crazy and that they really didn't deserve the hype. It also made me appreciate headphone and speaker reviewers as opposed to general tech reviewers.
Totally agree with you. Got my m50x's and meh. Forcing myself to wear them before I just pulled out my old set. They feel like little speakers are playing into you ear. That sounds obvious, but this is bad in my opinion. I want to forget I am wearing them. You can't with the m50's. not only do they poke into the top of your head, the music is totally in your head. Nothing I could do could push the sound out. Maybe I expected too much out of closed back.
(The m50x helps with the ear clamping, but by poking into your head, if you didnt know).
I own the m50's and I half way agree with this guy. He's brutally honest. To me these cans are great but they are a little harsh for my taste, plus its unfortunate audio technica had to release a second version "m50x" just to make simple minor changes in terms of a detachable cable which that shouldn't have been a problem in the first place... Well done review dude. I'm thinking about getting the Sony mdr 1r cans which I think you should check it out if you adore a wider sweeter and warmer soundstage.
I owned a pair as well, truth is that they're not comfortable for long sessions and they do not block out a lot of sound. Sound is great, they're sturdy and definitely over-ear. Great pair of headphones if you're looking for something to use in the studio as well as on the go. You can't hate them at that price point and for a couple of bucks you could get other earcups that would solve both of those problems.
Lol @ all the M50 apologists disliking this video. TH-cam (and the rest of the world) seem to have a raging hard-on for these cans. Especially when they're coming from something like Monster or Skullcandy products. Nothing the guy said was wrong at all. Subjective, sure, but you'd better expect that out of a headphone review. The fact of the matter is these cans are not God-send. There are MANY headphones in the same price tag that compete VERY well with these. It's all a matter of what YOU like and this guy just didn't like them so he put that out there for people to hear and gave a constructive and accurate reason why which is the nature of a review. Get your heads out of your asses.
What's a good pair around the that price range?
ducciboi I know this is three years old, but ATH M40X
In all honesty, I love your reviews and bought the x2's based on your opinion.
However, I love these headphones. I feel like perhaps it's more a problem with you not enjoying the particular sound signature, since these headphones are praised by so many.
Even seasoned audiophiles. They are bloody uncomfortable after a while though.
Anyway keep doing what you're doing, by far the best reviewer of audio cans imo. x
I think thats exactly what he was saying tho?
Thank you for your honest, non-sugar-coated opinions. There's plenty of "reviewers" who get samples from manufacturers and they feel the need (they're probably pressured directly or indirectly) to not say anything that sounds too negative (or at all).
I own ATH-M50X's, I love'em, but much of this holds true. The cable thing has been cured, but still ZERO soundstage, and agressive, tiring sound. Having said that, it tends to get better with time, like 70+ hours in. Mids improve after that and they become a lot less tiring. Also, confirmed, HM5 pads fit, I've already ordered them, they're on their way, they supposedly add a teensy bit of soundstage, along with a whole heep more comfort. I'd love to see you review the M50X with 100 hour burn in, and HM5 pads...
I have the M50X's too but i don't have to wait, i just tweak the equalizer and the harshness of this headphones disappear literally! That's why whe have equalizers!!
Agreed, since I wrote this, I have all my eq's set accordingly, and HM5 pads, these things are perfect.
I own the M50 for more than a year now. And because this review and other sources say the M50 have "Zero" soundstage, I started looking for an open set of headphones. So I bought the HD598 for their "open wide - 3D sound" soundstage. But when I heard them I was totally shocked by how little gain in soundstage there was compared to the M50s. It made me think "M50 soundstage is not bad at all". I don't know if this just my subjective experience or it’s because of my soundcard (Asus Xonar U7)... but I’m starting to believe reviewers are just exaggerating allot.
+Silentsky I own M50X and have been thinking about getting exactly the HD 598 as my next. This is only because people say that there's SUCH A HUGE FRIKKIN difference in soundstage, I've found the soundstage in movies to be pretty great with M50X and I think the regular Top 40 stuff is supposed to sound 'in your head' (and open headphones just take away that inyourheadness so people think they are more comfortable to listen to), because listening to classical music on M50Xs will definitely give you feeling of a nice soundstage. It's rather surprising knowing you heard little difference in soundstage because all the reviews claim like they are equivalent to having a surround sound speaker system.
So do you think that buying HD598 was worth it? because I've been thinking about having 1 set of closed (M50X) and one set of open (HD598) cans for different situations, only for that 'openness' and soundstage, but if it's really not much of a difference, then I won't mind keeping another ~$200 in my pocket. :P
I've also heard that 598s don't have good bass, but of course they seem much more comfortable than M50X (which could be solved by changing pads).
+maximumsid comfort wise the hd598 are much better, because they don't press on any part of you ears. the cushions are a little stiff though but because they clamp gently its not really a problem.
Now the bass is weak especially in the sub bass region, no amount of eq can give the deep bass that m50 can deliver. also the m50 are more articulate and reveal much more detail in the highs which is great with hq recordings but really tiring with allot of pop music. the hd598 seems to soften the sound up in the highs but their strength is in the smoothness of the midrange, vocals sound really good in and natural also because they're open sound never becomes congested, when singers scream for example it just sounds loud but not piercing.
the instrument separation on hd598 is much better but the sound still feels its coming about 1inch behind the driver, not more. the effect mostly depends on the recording if something is supposed to sound out of your head it will on both headphones. Hope I've been helpful.
Yes, thank you for the detailed reply.
So I am guessing I won't be buying an HD 598 then, I really enjoy the deep bass in movies, and I tweak the eq settings to increase the mids by 1, 2, 1dB at 125, 250, 500 range respectively, and I think it makes them sound much better and you can listen to the main singer at lower volume (not the case with stock settings where mids are a little recessed and singer goes in the background when things get busy so you have to turn the volume up to listen to the singer). So harshness issue gets a little resolved that way.
And I'd take that deeper bass and 'hear every click' character over better Soundstage and 'smoothness', I listen to electronic music primarily anyways.
Though ATH-AD500X and 700x have been catching my attention, could be a great pair of second headphone.
+maximumsid yup, you like base so hd598 is not for you. I think the reviewer is overly critical... the m50 are great cans .
+Silentsky I have the M50x in the shop. Over critical is how I would describe the M50's.
I own the m50s, and like 'em but not gonna dislike. These things feel like they're crushing my ears/skull if I wear them for too long.
I strongly recommend buying these ATH M50 headphones, as a gift for someone you hate.
The sound quality is not bad but it's not comfortable to listen too and the headphones will leave your ears hurting red and almost swollen after long sessions due to the strong clamp and small size cups that rub against your ears.
You have to take the headphone in your hands and bend the cups apart with force until the whole headphone is a straight line, after that they still clamp but you don't get a headache at least.
Every time you take these headphones off your head you will feel a sense of relief.
I wish I had seen this review before I bought mine unlistened when my old headphones broke.
ATH M50 is the worst headphones I have ever used.
M50's have about half the bass of beats and they are far from muddy relatively tight they have defined mids and present but not overpowering highs.... They are very warm in nature and sound better than the Bose that you try at best buy m50x's come with a short straight cord that makes them good to take out and about. When I get my He-400's or DT 990s I'll make a video on weather or not I am blown away by the difference.
seems it turns out my head is fucking massive because i had to return the m50 and the dt770 because they are too small for my head
You can bend the dt 770 without problems
Zeos You should look into reviewing some sennheiser headphones such as the 558's. I'd be very interested to hear your impressions and they are in the same price range as the M50s. Thanks for the review.
Another great review. You possess a great pair of ears and the ability of communicate your impressions clearly and in a very engaging manner. I have a pair of ATH M50x which I use mainly on the train and at work and you just nailed what I like about them but also why they are left at work and I hardly ever bring them back with me to use at home!Then again I do have the Sennheiser HD600, which I bought based on your excellent demonstration and review, to use at home... thanks.
Did you try to make the soundstage bigger by putting the nvx/brainwavz ear pads on them?
ATH-M50X's lack in the lows. Not a bass headphone. Clean sound in the mids-highs. I'm not an audiophile, but that's what I picked up.
You reviews are great, funny shit! Z Reviews
Tard
I do agree that these have no soundstage. But if you think these sound like a bunch of 12" subwoofers in a speaker system, you must have never heard a subwoofer. Compared to the V-Moda M100s, these have thin bass. Compared to my single SVS PB-1000, the ATH-M50s have thin bass. Either you're listening to bass boosted music or you have no tolerance for bass. Don't get me wrong, they still have bass and it is present when listening, but they're not super bassy headphones.
I agreed with how the m50s are a very forward sounding headphone. also about how detailed they can be but I agree with you about the low end. anorexic thin bass. I actually think m50s are very neutral or very ever so slightly on the brighter side of neutral.
Comfort was definitely accurate
They fit ON your ear, NOT around or over your ears. The pads sit right on the outer rim of cartilage of your ear, and they press back against your head. Hurts like hell after 1-4 hours of mixing.
My coil is all twisted up, what can i do? They just wont stay without twisting back
This review is so good and controversial, that I'm going to go out and buy an M50x. These seem to be just totally different than anything else.
How did that go lol
do you hear it? can you hear these hammers? Oh, I lol'd...
listening to this on my m50x.. sounds soooo good
Because of this great review, I didn't make the biggest mistake in buying the Audio Technica headphones! I purchased the NVX's and I absolutely love them! Thank you so much Z!
Being a m50 owner for several years, I'm looking to grab a new pair of cans. How does the base from m50's fare compared to the philips X2 & or mono price 1060's?
Get the 1060 so your whole brain cracks.
Generally speaking, I've heard people criticizing headphone regarding soundstage. In this case, I'll never understand the expectation of soundstage from a set of sealed, isolating closed back studio monitors. In fact I don't even know how you judge that, because 'soundstage' in the natural world varies so widely depending on venue, from studio to club to theater to stadium and the listener's sonic vantage point. Of course manufacturers know consumers buy any headphone for anything, but that doesn't mean we completely ignore their classification. Would anyone take a stock sedan offroading??
I'd go even further - I don't expect headphones to sound like speakers at all - I expect them to sound like drivers right next to my ears - a unique and intimate sonic experience in itself, especially from any closed headphone, studio or otherwise.
Have to agree about the M50x which I own. they are technically brilliant but lack soul. They sound very powerful but I don't enjoy the music as much when I am using them.
Had these headphones for about 3 weeks and gifted them to my Nephew because the sound sucked and they were extremely painful and hot. replaced them with a pair of BD 990 premiums and never looked back. that was about 3 years ago. you can get the 990s for about the same price now days
They offend my soul!!! LOL.. Great review, thanks for sharing!
I absolutely love my ATH-M50s, are they worth the money? No, are they good? Yes. Am I glad I bought them? Yes. Why? You may ask, it's what got me into nice headphones, I am planning on picking up quite a few pairs of nice headphones, about 10 pairs of headphones are what I am planning on adding to my setup, I absolutely love these cans, but they are not worth the money they ask for it.
I have the M50x and I actually felt it was great pair. Stock pad gotta change, slapped in the HM5s and got the best sounding and most comfortable headphones till date....
Till I bought my HD 558. Comfort got redefined instantly. And 558s are so open your ear will praise the amount of sound staging they give. And, I got them for cheaper than M50xs
Bottomline, M50x is a wonderful pair of headphone and will probably be the best you have used till date.... Till you get something better. It praise and hype its getting is of those people who have come from earpods or sub 50$ headphones.
so would you prefer sony mdr-7056 over the athm50? or what would you recommend instead?
+TheRoshan89 yes.
+Z Reviews i can tell lot of m50 fans got pissed, but I'm really glad that you gave an honest review, because Its better to have a good product than be a mindless slave to a brand. I was very close to getting the m50x this week, but i found your review of it today and i can tell right away that would have been a huge regret for me. I just found your mdr 7056 review and watched it lol, so yeah i think you got me sold on the nvx xD i've heard really good things about them from others too, but never really checked them out much.
+Z Reviews hey so are the nvx xpt100 the exact same headphones as the brainwavz hm5? or are there some differences besides the branding? would you recommend hm5 or nvx xp100?
+TheRoshan89 By implication then you believe that more positive reviews must be dishonest? Afaic this reviewer's opinion was set the moment he described himself as a 'speaker guy'. For him soundstage and comfort are everything, so no way in life is anything else relevant. And even then, the M50x is more comfortable than the older M50, and the pads are eassily swapped out anyway.
It isn't 'Beat's hype' that makes these well regarded studio monitors you know - they had to actually work.
+Z Reviews no bass on 7506 and frequency responds is uneven where m50 are balanced and accurate
Also, as they age the leatherette on the headband starts peeling off and leaving crud in your hair (on the white ones at least), and my ears get all sweaty under them in the summer. All true. However, they are the cheapest way that I know of to get HiFi sound. Plug them into a Note 3, play FLAC and you will hear things nothing cheaper will be able to come near to. But you can't listen to them for long because they are so uncomfortable.
I have these and mainly use them with my edrumkit. For that use i think they do fine. Cool channel btw.
Liked because of humour. I respect your opinion, but are the headphones actually that "in your face"? And is the treble and the mids covered up by the bass?
I think he has some good points, but he is also being a bit of a hipster. The headphones have very good treble slightly lowered mids and nice bass, but not extreme bass. no soundstage but extremely clear sound.
+TriFire I think the regular Top 40 stuff is supposed to sound 'in your head'
(and open headphones just take away that inyourheadness so people think
they are more comfortable to listen to), because listening to classical
music or watching movies on M50Xs will definitely give you feeling of a nice soundstage.
Have you tried the Beyerdynamic Custom One Pros? Apparently they are the alternative to these
+Cliff Reeser I have not. If anyone has them on offer PM me.
Have you ever tried the Skullcandy Crusher or the Skullcandy Crusher 360
Thank you for being honest! This was also hilarious ("These offend my soul!" X'D) and very informative! Loved it!
i love you man, because ure honest and saying nothing else but truth in your reviews. keep doing a good job. best wishes!!!
I have a pair, I know what you mean about a lot of things mentioned. Most of it is just the case of simple mods. Even changing over to different earcups will make a massive difference. They are, however, fairly subjective. Keep up the great vids, btw.
If they press against your ears just put some strips of foam inside the ear cups, this way they don't touch my ears AT ALL. Also it's no issue reducing the pressure by stretching it like you said, so I'm not sure why you wouldn't do that when reviewing them.
Edit: saying the m50's pumps the sound more directly into the ears than in ear monitors is like....hello?
Also here's some graphs showing the actual frequency response comparing to some other models: graphs.headphone.com/index.php?graphID%5B0%5D=2941&graphID%5B1%5D=3931&graphID%5B2%5D=3951&graphID%5B3%5D=2621&scale=30&graphType=0&buttonSelection=Update+Graph
I had these for years and yes they are uncomfortable and ON EAR, they come across as over ear but they do clamp on the top of your ear (actually I think the monitor protruding would pressure against my ear). Painful, but great sound and detail for $115. Not portable per se but they work for road trips and shit.
You should try the ATH-M40x, it's supposed to be flatter than the M50 and pretty much better in every way sonically.
I would like you to compare these with the BOSE SoundTrue IIs but haven't seen you reviewing any of the Bose Headphones yet?
+Alienated If someone sends me bose.. i will review bose.
I had these for a couple of weeks for recording, mixing and mastring purposes. I didn't like them. They coloured the sound too much, not only on the lower frequencies but also higher up. The colouring was very fancy though, I can understand why they're so popular. They are also very detailed, yes, I can hear my neighbour fart, but in a producing context I also need to know if my neighbour is a virgin or not. Scandinavian joke: Some men in a sauna. One of them farts "BROOOHOOM" and another one farts "BROOOHOOHOULUUM" and a third one farts "pheeewiiiee" and one of them says "He's a virgin guys, go get him!". My point is that in these headphones even a virgin's fart sound like ancient deep doomsday fart. And also I need to know if it's the neighbour on my left or right that's farting, but without soundstaging it's impossible to say.
I gave them to my nephew, he's four years old and doesn't care about soundstaging and
think doomsday farts are always the preferable choice of farts. I bought the ATH M40's instead. These I will keep. They are much better for my purposes, though the soundstaging is still a bit vague it's much better, and the overall sound is clean in a wonderfully boring way.
The ATH M50's were too glossy for me. Good for listening but not for producing.
I'm about to get a pair of HD 650s so I guess it doesn't really matter but I wonder if a bigger set of cups wouldn't go a long way to improving the M50s.
M50x. The cable problem is gone. Brainwavz hm5 velour pads. Comfort problem gone. I've never owned speakers or exceed experienced Soundstage. Too forward problem,gone. Z what are your thoughts.
+Marc :3 I own the m50x, they are still incredibly forward. And the sound stage is still incredibly narrow.
+Marc :3 Or you can just get the brainwavs hm5.
Yes. Yes I can. But thankfully in the end I ended up buying a hifiman he-400i in the Black Friday sale lol. Now I'm on the hunt for a relatively cheap portable again. I think I'll get the V moda lp2. (do consider that lp2 is different for the lp that Zeos took a dump on, on his m100/lp review)
Z's review of the m50x made me lose all hope of ever looking at the m50x's ever again...
glad to hear that m8
If you want to know what tight feels like try a Sennheiser HD205. About 20 minutes is the MAX before I need to take a 20 second break. Awesome reviews. Keep it up!
Thank you for saying it! They ARE NOT COMFORTABLE! But wait... The earpads? We have different reasons: I think the top of the headband feels like pulling cheese wire into my scalp, and I have to check that I'm not bleeding out while listening to music. Literally lie down and expand them a bit so that they don't slice my skull open after 15 minutes, and I even have a full head of hair!
I was beginning to think I was the only person perceiving these this way. The m50's aren't terrible, but at the same time... they sort of are. I can't stand them for anything but rap and certain electronic music. They are just SO forward. I've owned mine for about 2 years, just because I am too lazy to ever sell anything.
Bwah, when he said beats syndrome is going around, that had me laughing.
😂 I love this review. So is it safe to assume that the ATH M50x are good for Rap music?
No. They are not good for anything, I used them for 3 years because I didn't really have many options and didn't know better. I was told they were good, so I bought them and used them. I have since dived into the world of headphones and m50's are awful for everything.
Good for RAP, House, and POP. These sound like if Beats headsets had better detailed highs and slightly less bass.
Mids are almost non existent on these.
I tried the ws1100is and have even less mid range. Now I use the V moda crossfade wireless and they are better (if you like bass). Better imaging and not fatiguing.
Great review. I'm thinking of replacing mine very soon because the headband has started peeling.
I love the M50s. But, yes, the headset is a pair of hammers to sensitive ears, which I have. And I, too, feel them screaming in my brain when it's just a little on the loud side. I also keep finding myself turning them down.
But I do appreciate the bass and detailed highs.
I've owned a few cans in my life, and tried on a few others that were my brothers from hd 650 dt770's grado 325 akg550 and I honestly liked the sound of the ath m50s.. dont remember the too much cuz i parted away with them a few years back but the only flaws I remember was that they were way too heavy and clamp force was strong for a "portable headphone". I liked how they were detailed treble I recall werent as harsh as the grados 325's but it came down to the fact that after a few months I couldnt really enjoy them (especially when I was outsise) due to the fact that they were just to heavy for my liking which ultimately brings down a sense of comfort to enjoy music. Decent review though, youve definitely tried more headphones than me so yourimpressions could be more accurate.
What do you believe to be nice headphones under 300 dollars that do not require an external amp and have at least half-decent isolation?
+Nobody SoundMagic HP150's.. or the ATH-A900x.. or the MSR7's or anything from this review. th-cam.com/video/XYPp6Fh5174/w-d-xo.html
Z Reviews Oh Thanks!
what do i need to know about breaking in headphones? should i be worried about anything in particular?
+Ryan Gois Some need it. Some don't. Just try and if you don't immediately like give them a few days. Then try again.
The M50's are great, but only if you haven't tried anything better, plus, the pads oxidize easily, which is very frustrating.
Interisting review, nice to hear different opinions. I really like the m50's though.
LOL the Chord Mojo and the ATH M50s...two very popular audio products that fail the Zeos test. At least we know why, because it "Offends his soul". LOL awesome lines in this review.
What do you think of the Sennheiser HD 439? Do you think they are accurate?
+Eduardo Macedo Haven't heard so can't comment.
they are a very good pair of inexpensive headphones. I love mine, but they are certainly not the best out there. If you have a limited budget, I would recommend them.
P.S. Don't go with the HD449. For a few dollars less, you can get the HD518, and for a few dollars more, you can get the HD558. both of which are vastly superior headphones.
Mournforthelost96 Thanks!
Hi sir. I enjoy your reviews very much. I'm just wonder if you could do a review on KRK KNS 8400. Thanks so much!!
PEOPLE LOOKING TO BUY M50 or M50x. This is just my opinion.
I guess its just preference. I personally don't think there is a lot of bass. You can not compare these to beats who have muddy bass. **(However i have to say beats are starting to step up their game. better build and sound on their newer headphones)**
I actually laughed at that. But, the bass is there in the m50, and its a good crisp low end. though it is not too much or at all extremely harsh.
I have to agree to you that there is almost no sound stage. It was just sad when I listened to them after all the hype. However I didn't mind it after all it was a closed set headphones.
Audio Teachnica now have a version that has a removable cable, along with new pads that come installed.(ATH-M50x) they are a lot more comfortable. Fixing some of the issues stated in the video.
I thought the m50 were pretty comfortable, but people with bigger ears will not fit these earcups. There are better earcups you could buy, but this shouldn't be something you have to do. In 2014, there started to be a lot of new headphones that were able to compete and destroy the ath m50 in the price range. I wouldn't say don't listen to this guy, he Does make accurate points but at the same time the review was very one sided towards hating it. Try to listen to these yourself and judge it with your own ears
personal rating for the m50 would be : 6.5/10
for the m50x : 7.5/10 since it fixed some of the issues
What are they compared to Razer Carcharias?
How about the new version m50x? still suck or not?
+qwertyrewtywyterty It does. You can "fix" it a bit with some Hybrid HM5 pads and some thick foam.
Z Reviews im assuming the pads is for improving comfort and soundstage, whats the foam for?
+qwertyrewtywyterty When I changed the pads the treble went way up. You need the foam inserts to calm it back down.
Z Reviews thanks
+Z Reviews
Would these be worth it for around 80 USD?
I love my m50s. I've had them for 5 years. Love them to death. My first set and they are amazing.
Good review, I must have a small head/ears because I find mine fairly loose. I love my M-50's, but they're not for everyone, as I don't think there is any pair of headphones that is gonna work for everyone, but this is a good review for sure.
Also, I can't stand Beats, but I do appreciate a lot of low end, but only enough to complement the tracks that require it, aka hip-hop, and dance music. I find the low end to be perfect for these tracks, but it gently disappears when listening to tracks that don't need/want a lot of lows.
These or Marshall monitor headphones? Or Superlux hd681 evo?
+Electric Solutions havent heard the marshals so id say 681 or 2050.
I cant seem to find the takstars in my country, so I will stick with the evo's for now, thanks.
Would you prefer These, or the DT770's (250 ohm)?
+ivan mohrland 770 in a heartbeat.
+Z Reviews Thanks Man!
I have a like 12 year old pair of these... the response curve definitely sounds like the shape is this: \. Coming from the mSR7 it sounds like your listening to everything while drowning in a pool filled with honey, which also happens to be a giant subwoofer.
I was impressed by M50s, especially considering the price. But you're right. I'd call the way they deliver sound vulgar.
Which is honestly what makes them fun, they have character. Although I hate the build. I had to mod mine add a 3.5mm jack and different pads to make them usable.
i don't understand the hype behind the m50s. i have a pair and they are make my ears so uncomfortably hot that i had to cover the pads with some satin cloth.
Sitting with my Audio-technica while hearing this review and the comfort is awful as you mention.
I see that you have lots and lots of experience and great that you share.
After under a year of making music my prime hobby, I still have a lot to learn and is very careful to not sound arrogant.
So thanks for your channel it will be an inspiration for me inn the coming years as my budget raise, and splendid production quality on reviews your good at this keep it up!
Waiting for my Philips SPH9500 after your recommendation as I`m on a low budget being a student ^-^/
And as I new Audiophile(ok can`t call myself that before I have some more years under my belt) do you have any great music recommendations that are lesser know for me(Age 23) love everything from 50s blues and jazz, classical Beethoven and Mozart to British rock and punk and any other music except low dynamic music as mostly Havy metal and screamo in-speared music, so short: I love all kinds of music and has and open mind.
So any suggestions?
Anyway thanks again from an happy subscriber from Norway ^-^/
+pokemonemilja Go on bandcamp.com have a listen to the weekly show and knock yourself out. Please stop using those smilies though.
+spookanide
Thank you, the smily is gone.
Looking for a great DAP for playing my Flac-16-24 bit collection(44.1khz to 192khz)my headphones any suggestions.
X3 second gen and X5 second gen looks nice.
Currently using my phone: Sony Xperia Z3 compact witch has decent sound cards but not near good enough.
The walkman app works great and plays up to 24/192 Flac files.
you are supposed to burn them in as well. That may have contributed to the overall harshness of the sound
I gave them 96hours of pink noise. It helped but the overall sound signature stayed.
Seems to really matter what these a being plugged into, even in the same price range and class of DAC/amp they can go from metallic treble that is just painful at the volume you really want and suppresses the rest of the range - to having tons of low end and the sub-bass physically vibrating your head.
Not intended as gaming headphones. More for studio use
I have some razer adaro stereos and i just hear flaws in tracks that i dont with other headphones and it makes enjoying music impossible