Member Reviews: Audio-Technica ATH-M50S

the m50 was released a few years ago by audio technica as the flagship of their "m" studio monitor line.  and, like all audio technicas, it is colored in one way or another. this particular headphone definitely has more bass than a strictly neutral set of cans should.  but, the bass is quite impressive for a phone of this caliber and price range.  using the "heartbeat" test track from the "Open Your Ears" headphone test album, the m50 produces more low frequency rumble than any headhpones i own or have heard.  (bear in mind i have not heard denons or ultrasones).   the general sound is warm.  the headphones are colored forward in the mids such that the bass does not step on them...

I love the sound quality, one of my first good pairs of headphones for music. Soundstage is very lacking, don't even try to play a game with it (Could pinpoint enemy footsteps better with a mono speaker haha)   The folding is sort of nice, but annoying at the same time.  I let my friends try them on and they always manage to flip the earcups the wrong way and get confused.   Sometimes the highs are overbearing.  My ears tend to be hurt by some youtube videos and some music.

The M50's have developed a reputation as "the starter headphone" for aspiring audiophiles and they deliver for their price. Design: These headphones are built like a tank. Solid construction is always a plus. They do have the famous AT clamp and without some stretching, can be a bit too much. The cable is not detachable, and there is a small spring near the jack that without special care, becomes dislodged and eventually comes off. Aesthetically, and cosmetically, these cans are gorgeous IMO. Sound Quality: For their price, these headphones are amazing, there are definitely others out there that can compete at the price range though. Highs: I am torn by the highs on these headphones....

A friend picked up the ATH-M50s as his first decent headphone, and we spent a couple of days swapping back and forth between them and my DT770 Pro 80ohm.   - Build   I found the M50s to be quite well built considering how much plastic was on them. They felt solid, and the folding mechanisms were smooth and felt quite good.   The pads were very soft, and the pleather felt rather nice and sealed very well. The headband, however, was not padded very well, and along with the high clamping force of the M50s, lead to comfort issues.   - Sound   I would describe the M50s as having a very V-shaped sound signature.   The bass extension,...

The age-old flagship "bang-for-buck" all rounder closed back ATH M50s are a good, but not great headphone. If this was years ago, it would be great. But today it struggles to compete with less expensive alternatives.   Build Quality, Design, Comfort Heavy plastics make up a sturdy, well-built, and heavy duty headphone with a solid feel. Albeit chunky, it somehow looks both professional and fun with the "dj style" factor mixed in.  The leather pads are very soft be designed for smaller ears considering how shallow they are. Great for using em for two hours at a time, not much more than that. The included cable is quite excellent for a stock cable. Thicker than average....

Well hey, let me keep this short and sweet, after owning these i certainly don't have the passion to write a lovely long complimentary review because these are not worth the effort. They are way overhyped - simply put...no refinement, sort of like a V8 Nascar taking on a Formula 1, get my drift, these are the V8, not the worst, but certainly not the best. They are a tad boxy sounding, and not as detailed as some other better ones, they will stand up and fight, but they will lose, simple as that. The midrange detail slightly lacks, plus the bass is prominent only in a certain frequency range and not conducive to an open airy sound-stage; actually they sort of have a similar sound to...