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Question about ATH-M50

post #1 of 13
12/30/08 at 10:28pm
Thread Starter 
Hi!

I'm new here (although I started reading the forum A LOT a week ago), but not only new in the forum but in the field, too. I have a question about Audio Technica ATH-M50. I have been reading multiple posts, I started looking for information about Sennheiser HD201 because they were on sale and I ended deciding this (sorry for my wallet, I already know :-p). I just want to enjoy them and make my small investment more durable.

Opinions about them are usually very good, I read that they isolate well (for what I understood, in-ear is always better, but I wanted a closed full headphone), and I like how they look, and hope they are comfortable enough.

My question goes here: I have read in a lot of places that these are monitoring headphones, better for studio, but will they be good for me if I use them unamped with a laptop and a Sansa Clip mp3 player (just for personal enjoyment -- music like alt. rock)?

I am NOT looking for better-and-more-expensive headphones or recommendations (I am new but I have seen a lot of these posts, and this is why I am going from $20 HD201 to the ATH-M50, and is a big upgrade for my budget), but if you have a really convincing argument against them or very good for a different headphones (really close to sub $100), post it here.

THANK YOU very much in advance! Nice community


PS: I have a thread with this topic in the Headphone Amps (full-size) by mistake, I did not see "Amps". If anyone can delete the post, it would be great. I am really sorry... Thread to remove if possible: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f5/que...th-m50-396129/
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post #2 of 13
12/31/08 at 8:39am
Thread Starter 
Anyone?

I was planning to buy them today, hope somebody can help me...

Thanks!!!
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post #3 of 13
12/31/08 at 9:31am
I have read that the Q40 might be a better option than the M50 if unamped. Some headphones do quite well unamped and others noticeably improve with an amp. Some are satisfied with unamped results, and others are not. I think there's a better chance of you being satisfied with the Q40. Any reason why you're not considering any other headphones in this price range, open or closed?
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post #4 of 13
12/31/08 at 10:48am
Thread Starter 
Thanks for your comments!!!

Quote:
Originally Posted by 1Time View Post
Any reason why you're not considering any other headphones in this price range, open or closed?
Not really, I just drew a line that I don't want to cross (price range). I have gone up my initial budget too much, but wanted to spend well my money. I'm just not going up (for what I checked, Q40 is almost equivalent in price, I'm not saying that it doesn't fit my reqs).

I liked the reviews on ATH-M50 and I was considering to buy a cheap amp later, but I wasn't sure if they work good enough without amping. I haven't considered Q40 before because I didn't know about them... I'll take a look, although if the ATH-M50 are going to work for me, I like them better.

Thanks!
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post #5 of 13
12/31/08 at 12:47pm
Equation rp-21 is another strong contender in the sub $100 price range. I like 'em better than my sony mdr-v6's or my k240's for rock...and I use them all the time on my 2G Sansa clip. Lot's of good reviews if you do a forum search. I haven't heard the m-50's, so I can't comment on them.
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post #6 of 13
12/31/08 at 1:27pm
the M50 isn't really a sub $100 phone - it is at least $150 from any retailer with a decent return policy.
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post #7 of 13
12/31/08 at 1:39pm
Personally, I think it's a fine headphone. The fit is OK, if you have small ears. My ears are about average and it does pinch it a bit and it does hurt after a few hours. The Q40 has shallow cups but bigger openings. I actually find the Q40 more comfortable.

Some people find monitors boring. I don't really. I find the M50 and Q40 more "fun" than something like the K271 or the K701.

Between the 201 and M50 as the only choices in the world, I would take the M50 in a heartbeat. I also like the M50 construction very much.
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post #8 of 13
1/18/09 at 3:46pm
Sorry to interrupt, but where can you buy ATH-M50 in EU with STRAIGHT CABLE???

I really hate the coiled cables. All the shops I have found are selling the coiled versions, but I know Audio Technica has made a straight cable version.
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post #9 of 13
1/20/09 at 5:31pm
I use the M50 with a sansa clip - you need to enable volume boost in the clips settings to pump out music at a decent volume (although not mandatory)....the combination sounds great - you will not be disappointed.
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post #10 of 13
1/20/09 at 6:11pm
I own ATH-M50 as well as M-Audio Q40. For unamped use, I would recommend the Q40 over M50 - the Q40s delivery nice, deep, tight bass response and sweet, detailed mids and decent highs straight out of even very weak sources, like cheap portable players, and really doesn't improve very much when amped. ATH-M50 on the other hand, REALLY needs an amp to get it's act together IMO. Without an amp, M50 often sounds flat and lifeless with a sloppy, uncontrolled bass and recessed mids that lack texture and presence. However, once amped, these cans transform into some really great performers for the price, easily surpassing the M-Audio Q40s in most aspects and offering deep, rich bass presence, natural mids and detailed, sparkly highs with very good extension.
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post #11 of 13
1/20/09 at 6:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by encrypted_trance View Post
I use the M50 with a sansa clip - you need to enable volume boost in the clips settings to pump out music at a decent volume (although not mandatory)....the combination sounds great - you will not be disappointed.
I disagree - the bass sounds quite sloppy and the mids are muffled with this combo. ATH-M50 really needs a powerful source and/or a dedicated amp to sound the way it was meant to sound IMO.
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post #12 of 13
1/20/09 at 6:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by holland View Post
Personally, I think it's a fine headphone. The fit is OK, if you have small ears. My ears are about average and it does pinch it a bit and it does hurt after a few hours. The Q40 has shallow cups but bigger openings. I actually find the Q40 more comfortable.

Some people find monitors boring. I don't really. I find the M50 and Q40 more "fun" than something like the K271 or the K701.

Between the 201 and M50 as the only choices in the world, I would take the M50 in a heartbeat. I also like the M50 construction very much.
I used to have AKG K271 and found it to be more linear than ATH-M50. They were really, really boring when unamped.

Quote:
Originally Posted by lejaz View Post
Equation rp-21 is another strong contender in the sub $100 price range. I like 'em better than my sony mdr-v6's or my k240's for rock...and I use them all the time on my 2G Sansa clip. Lot's of good reviews if you do a forum search. I haven't heard the m-50's, so I can't comment on them.
Yeah, I heard they are pretty good, but I would rather get M-Audio Q40s - they seem more durable and more comfortable and based on some reviews that I read, they sound better than RP21 as well.
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post #13 of 13
1/20/09 at 6:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pianist View Post
I used to have AKG K271 and found it to be more linear than ATH-M50. They were really, really boring when unamped.
Mine are amped quite well. The K271 is still a very boring headphone.
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