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| | Features | Exceptional audio quality for professional monitoring and mixingCollapsible design ideal for easy portability and convenient storageProprietary 45 mm large-aperture drivers with neodymium magnet systems, Single-sided straight cable terminates to gold-plated mini-plug with screw-on ?" adapterClosed-back cushioned earcup design creates an outstanding seal for maximum isolationAdjustable padded headband for comfort during long mixing/recording sessions
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| | Description | Audio-Technica has introduced a straight-cable version, ATH-M50s, of its flagship ATH-M50 headphones. Designed to provide an exceptionally natural response for professional monitoring/mixing, the headphones feature a closed-back, collapsible design with 45 mm neodymium drivers, circumaural ear pieces (180? swivel) and luxuriously padded ear cushions. A straight cable at the left earpiece terminates to a gold-plated mini-plug with included screw-on ?" adapter.Audio-Technica?s sophisticated driver technology and superior components deliver exceptional power handling and very high SPL capabilities while maintaining clarity of sound throughout their extended range, with deep, accurate bass and outstanding high-frequency extension. The headphones feature proprietary large-aperture drivers with neodymium magnet systems for ultra-efficient signal transfer. | |
| | Product Details | | Product Length: | 11.0 inches | | Product Width: | 5.0 inches | | Product Height: | 9.0 inches | | Product Weight: | 0.63 pounds | | Package Length: | 10.8 inches | | Package Width: | 8.4 inches | | Package Height: | 5.0 inches | | Package Weight: | 1.45 pounds | | Average Customer Rating: |  based on 496 reviews |
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| $119.99Shipping Free | Refurbished | | | $159.00 This item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping. | New | |
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| $159.00 This item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping. | New | |
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| | Customer Reviews | Average Customer Review: ( 496 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
358 of 377 found the following review helpful:
 One of the finest headphones period. Apr 01, 2009
By Karlton D. Lynch
"UnstoppableKARL"
I'll say this first off: I don't record, DJ, or do any mixes with this headphone (no prosumer work). These Audio Technica M50's (straight cable) are used purely for listening to my music. One phrase comes to mind about these cans: O MiE GaWd!
I currently own these and the Beyerdynamic DT-770 pro (80 ohm), and have owned everything under the sun from Bose's headphone offerings; except their noise-canceling variants, although I've heard those as well. The M50's overall are the best sounding period that I've heard yet. They sound so ridiculously good that I can't even imagine if I need, let alone want to hear more expensive offerings.
Highs 5/5 - Imagine a dedicated tweeter per cup. The highs are PERFECT. Sirens, cymbals, piano notes, you name it comes in crystal clear with a pristine pitch. No harshness or fatigue comes with it. No roll-off or sibilance either, even if you crank it up to stratospheric levels.
Mids 5/5 - Like 2 miniaturized, mid-range drivers for your dome piece. When I heard Bose, I thought I HEARD everything, which was very nice. With the M50's, YOU WILL HEAR EVERYTHING. There were hidden voices and notes that even the Bose's missed in songs that I knew by heart. Voices came out clear and articulate. No recessed mid-range here. It's all up in your grill with pleasing authority and with the natural fullness that is to be expected with your tunes.
Lows 5/5 - I wish I could rate this higher. No other headphone (that I've heard) can touch this. Take two, high quality, sealed sub woofers. Shrink them, and somehow stuff them into the M50's. Then listen. Your brain will become grits. Your eyeballs will shake furiously. Your jawbone will uncontrollably vibrate. The bass in this headphone can resurrect the dead (and then some). The bass notes come in with such passion, that you instantly fall in love. It is highly textured, laser-accurate, and tightly controlled with ZERO distortion. There is no need to crank up the EQ on this. You can, but you've been warned. The bass is the best part about the M50. It is FLAWLESS.
Soundstage 4/5 - For a studio monitor, the soundstage is very good. There is a wide sense of space and depth to the sound. Nevertheless, they aren't as open-sounding as others such as the DT-770 pros, which have a closed design as well. This can sometimes take you out of the "scenario" when watching movies or playing games, which is why I use these primarily for music. I use the DT-770 pro's for movies and games, which those excel in this area.
Detail Retrieval 5/5 - Plain and simple, if it's in the audio track, you will hear it with no problem at all. Every nuance, sound, intricate detail, and mouse-fart will have a direct line to your eardrum for your listening pleasure. No complaints.
Value 5/5 - You need a pair (no, not those) of Audio Technica M50's. These are more than worthy to add to your headphone stable. Comfort is also quite excellent. Other studio monitor headphones pinch too tight for me (I also wear glasses), these are just right. Not too loose or constricted. The Beyers beat these in this area though (those are like Serta pillows :).
The cord is terminated into a slick-looking, metal housing, with a flexible end connected to a 1/8" plug, that also can be mated to a screw on 1/4" adapter. In other words, you can plug the M50's into whatever device you want; Ipod, home receiver, amp, etc., right out of the box. Durability is also the best I've seen yet. Can't see these breaking in any way, even if it's in the hands of a toddler.
Audio Technica M50's = A slice of musical heaven with whipped cream.
UPDATE: 4/8/09 - Burn in definitely changes the sound. Other owners have suggested 40 hours of cooking. The headphones sound more distinct, clear, and the instruments have better separation. Even the bass is more lively and the soundstage is more expanded. All said, don't judge yet until you've pumped tunes through them for many hours. Which then, the end result will surely be a smile on your face.
184 of 193 found the following review helpful:
Excellent Headphones [Video Review] Sep 13, 2011
By MKBHD
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2QH6LTZRSZJE2 This is a video review from the MKBHD YouTube Channel: [...]
This is my new all-time favorite pair of headphones. I've gone through my Beats by Dre phase. I've gone through my in-ear buds phase [high school]. I've been sent numerous pairs of headphones to review for my YouTube channel. Only 1 has received a 10/10 with an outstanding price/performance ratio. And that's the M50s.
Enjoy the video!
PS - You should totally subscribe to the MKBHD YouTube channel =]
99 of 102 found the following review helpful:
 One of the best headphones under $100 Feb 20, 2010
By triode fan
I own a pair of Grado SR80 for years using a Grado headphone amplifier in my office. The Grado serves me well except it is not the most comfortable pair of headphones. The other problem is the open design which leaks out sound which may disturb my officemates.
I have been searching for a replacement on and off for a while. Finally, I read enough reviews and jumped on eBay and scored a pair of Audio Technica ATH-M50 for under $100 shipped.
Without burn-in, I would say these compare really well (at par) with Grado SR80. Although I think the sound stage presented by SR80 is wider may be due to the open design. M50 with the closed back design seems a tad closed in. But, nevertheless, the sound right out of the box is really good.
I can say a good pair of headphones can certainly beat loudspeakers that cost 10x even 20x. My Dunlavy SCII with Velodyne DD15 will shy away in comparison with M50. Very neutral and detailed sound stage. The fitting is a bit tight. I plan to stretch it out using my desktop PC while doing some burn-in.
Initial comparison with Grado back to back, I noticed the following:
1. At same volume level, M50 plays louder than SR80
2. Sound isolation of M50 is pretty good, plan to use it on airplane
3. The sound stage of SR80 is wider
4. M50 has better bass than SR80
5. Highs and mids are very close with slight preference for M50
6. Fit and comfort of M50 is better but I hope it will loosen up a bit after use
7. Build quality is much better for M50 - obviously SR80 foam cushion is deteriorating after a few years of use
I'll update this review when the burn-in is complete.
--------------------------------------------------------
Update after 100-hour burn-in
Sound updates:
I compared to my office-mate who owns a pair of Sennheiser HD 280 Pro. Right off the bet, we both noticed how much more open the ATH-M50 sounded. This is before the burn-in.
I am even more impressed after the burn-in. The close-in that I commented before comparing to my Grado SR80 is now gone. The bass also improves quite a bit.
Off course, my home system with Velodyne DD15 packed a better punch but this is not a fair comparison.
Comfort:
Stretching for 100 hours also loosened up the fit so it is very comfortable. My only gripe is the top of the headband still has a pressure point. I might just bend to provide a better fit.
All in all, if you are shopping for a sub $100 headphone, you cannot go wrong with this one. Highly recommended!
100 of 107 found the following review helpful:
Best Closed-Back Headphones under $100 Oct 13, 2009
By Audio_Aficionado
First of all, under $100? Yes, I found more than a few vendor stores selling these phones (both straight and coiled cord) on eBay for under $100. These are permanent stores with fixed prices, not auctions, so hopefully you could find them for a similar price. But anyways...
I spent almost a month looking for the "right" pair of headphones for my home mixing. A month is probably a long time to spend when you aren't planning on spending more than $100 anyways, maybe $150 tops, but it gives me a warm fuzzy feeling inside to know that my money has been well spent. And it certainly has been!
I must have read a thousand user reviews of different headphones, and those from audio sites like Headroom, [...] and pro-oriented sites like MusiciansFriend. I tried out most of the more well-known headphones in this range, including Sony MDR-V6 and MDR-7506, V700DJ, Sennheiser HD280, HD485, HD515, HD595, Bose Quietcomfort 3, "over-ear" headphones, AKG K240, Grado SR80i and SR125, as well as the Audio-Technica AD700, A700 and m40fs. It took a pretty damn long time.
Okay, I'll willingly say that between so many different headphones it's hard to say what "best" really means. Some headphones definitely have a "flavor" that people prefer but which might be annoying or distracting to others. Since I was looking for monitor headphones, I wanted a very flat response and I personally prefer a little passive isolation (i.e. closed-back phones). Also, my head is somewhat larger than average, and the Sennheisers and Grados were uncomfortably tight. Even the M50s were snug at first, but of the ones I tested they have one of the nicest, sturdiest-looking bands so I wasn't afraid to stretch it over my computer case overnight. I'd heard that the Audiophile phones of the AT line (the AD700s and A700s) were a little big, and true to that statement they fit beautifully and the "wings" floated nearly weightlessly on my head. However, they were a little more "flavored" than a truly flat response (they are, after all, marketed as audiophile headphones, not monitor) and I couldn't find them for under $100 so that ruled them out. Ironically, at the time of this writing Amazon apparently has them on sale for $87 with free shipping. Huh.
To say a few brief things about the other pairs I tried, the Sony's and the AKG's were disappointing considering all the good things I'd heard about them - it leads me to suspect that some of their acclaim is due to the respected status of their "classic" predecessors, rather than wholly based on the product itself. That's just my impression. The m40fs was very good, the m50s were just slightly better and in my budget. The Sennheiser 485's were honestly terrific, they were the only Sennheisers that didn't hurt my head and they had a very impressive sound, which I in some ways preferred to the venerable HD280s. Still, they were open-backed and still just not quite as great as the M50s. Bose comfort was great but after listening to all of the above their sound quality was a joke. Then again they're not exactly marketed to the professional audio crowd, that I've seen.
In either case, I was VERY impressed with the sound quality of the M50s, especially the bass. As other reviewers have said, the bass is exceptionally clear and "punchy", present without being overemphasized. This is extremely ideal for monitoring, NONE of the other headphones I listened to were as faithful. The ranges maybe ~2 octaves above middle C and higher (I'm a piano player so that's what I think in terms of) are just a very miniscule touch bright, but then again I only have ~5 hours of burn-in as of this writing and I've heard that changes.
There are a couple of significant differences between closed and open-back headphones, which is why I called this review "best closed-back headphones under $100". But that's exactly what they are. Sound clarity and separation, stage and retrieval are *at least* equal to headphones two or three times this price. A friend of mine who runs sound tech and owns a pair of A900s visited me the other day and was so impressed by the quality of these phones vs. the price he went out to buy a pair himself. I'd recommend that anyone looking for a great pair of phones go and do the same!
29 of 29 found the following review helpful:
Review from an "ordinary" music lover Mar 11, 2011
By Yen
My review is aimed for those that have no prior experience with headphones, are inexperienced in the world of audio electronics or those without trained ears who would like to use these phones for music listening. Just the average consumer.
I want to start off by telling you who I am: I am a 20 year old college student who knows jack-squat about audio. I was looking for the best bang for the buck.
Mids? Highs? Lows? Uh... what? :P I am inexperienced, but I love to listen to music every day. In fact, I can't go a day without my iPod or music from my laptop. I am using these headphones only for music and media from my iPod or laptop.
I have previously owned only earphones (all under $20) and 1 set of actual headphones. I have never been able to get my hands on higher end models from Sony, Audio-technica, Grado, Sennheiser, etc. Therefore, I can only speak from what I have experienced hands on.
That being said, let's get started!
The story:
My headphone hunt started when my first pair of headphones - my Philips SHN9500 - stopped working in one ear cup after 2 years of use. At the time, they were a great bargain ($50 from an auction site, but now for some strange reason, they're $200 on Amazon), so I wasn't too upset about them and decided to move on to something a little more expensive.
Being a college student with no knowledge in audio electronics, I succumbed, or rather, was "brain washed", into seeing only what was commercially presented: Bose and Beats by Dr. Dre (on a lesser level, Skullcandy).
My past experience with Skullcandy earphones was not pleasant. My $17 earphones broke after 3 months of daily usage. From then on, I purchased only $10 earphones and Apple earphones and lived with them. This being the case, when I tried on the Bose AE headphones, I thought they were the best things to happen to my ears. I was previously debating between the Bose AE2 ($150), the Solos by Dr. Dre ($180), and the Studios by Dr. Dre ($300). I tried all three at a store and thought they were amazing. The Beats had the bass the Bose lacked but were too expensive, so I settled for the AE2's.
After purchasing the AE2's and feeling completely jipped on the poor bass, I decided to do more headphone research. That lead me here. I decided to give these a try since they were $30 cheaper than the Bose. I ordered them (the M50S - straight cabled, but was sent the coiled cable, which I realize is more convenient), burned them in for about 40hrs, then compared them to the Bose AE2.
The headphones:
The Bose was returned to the store a week later.
These things are GREAT. The bass that I was missing from the Bose was prominent in these. You can hear it, and sometimes your ears can feel it, but these will most likely not satisfy the extreme bass heads. But the bass is there, it is present. Others were correct in characterizing the bass as "punchy". I can tell if the bass is muddy (bass in Beats, to me, are considered overpowering and muddy), and these headphones do not have that muddiness.
This whole thing with mid's and high's... I can't really distinguish the two, but I did read from an audiophile that these are lacking in the mid's, whatever that means. All I can say is that if there are lyrics to the music, you will notice they are clear. The instruments in the background are also clear and it's easier to pick them up (one thing I'd like to add to this is that these headphones present very clear cut sounds. I never realized how detailed the background was to my music. With these, I can actually pick out and follow a set of instruments (like the piano or strings) with ease. With my Apple earphones, sure, I can hear the background if I focus and try to find it, but trying to find a specific sound is a lot more difficult). If you are like me, you will definitely find no problem with the clarity of the speaking/singing. If your ears are used to the typical earbuds (from Apple or otherwise), these things will blow those out of the water.
These things aren't considered to be "noise canceling", but if you turn the volume up just enough, you won't hear a thing outside of them. My roommate had to tap my shoulder to get my attention and she was only 4 ft away from me. (Of course, if you're on a plane or riding in a car, it would be impossible to get rid of the background noises without active noise cancellation).
There are three cons to these phones, however. 1: comfort. Others have complained that the top headband causes pressure after a few hours of wear. I can see where they're coming from... and straight out of the box, I regretted getting these because they were so darn uncomfortable. But I used the tissue box method during the burn in period to loosen them up. Now, after 1.5 weeks of owning them, the headphones have loosened up and are more comfortable. The pleather is OK... and the padding isn't as nice as the Bose AE2 (the only thing I miss about the Bose AE2: they were amazingly comfortable) but I can wear them for several hours with no problem (other than sweaty ears).
2: Portability. These things are HUGE. I wasn't expecting them to be this large. The case Audio-technica provides is a soft pleather bag case. Being a student, I'm going to be stuffing these in my backpack often so I wanted a hard case. I have my hard case from my Philips and was able to fit the Bose AE2's in them but was unable to fit these behemoths. The M50's ear cups do fold inward towards the headband, so it's a bit compact, but is by no means considered "portable". (I recommend getting the coiled cable. As others have said, the straight cable is VERY long, decreasing the portability). They are also considerably heavier than the Bose.
3: Sound leakage. This can be a problem for me if I want to study in a library. The sound leakage isn't that bad... but if you turn the volume past the 40%-50% mark, others will hear it. However, the Bose and Beats also have major sound leakage that was worse than the M50's.
But the price for the value? Apparently these can be compared to $300 headphones in sound quality. I can't comment on that, but I will say that these are a ton better than the Bose AE2. The sound quality is a lot more crisp and clear. Bass is better, no question. You don't realize how crappy the Bose sound until you get your hands on these. Depending on where you purchase your headphones, you can save $30.
As for the Beats by Dr. Dre, you don't realize just how crappy *those* sound until you get your hands on these. Before trying these, I thought the Beats were awesome. After trying these, I tried the Beats at their demo stand and realized how muddy the spoken/sung words were. The bass was overpowering and the overall sound quality from both the solo's and studio's just didn't compare. You can save a potential $60 (solo's) or a whopping $180 (studio's).
You can't go wrong with investing ~$120 for these headphones. They are definitely worth the money, especially in comparison to the Bose and Beats line. Don't fall into the trap of their advertisements or endorsements. You'll only be wasting your money for a name, not for quality. (It's no wonder Beats and Bose are considered to be jokes in the audiophile community: they're way overpriced).
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