Audio-Technica ATH-M50 Studio Monitor Headphones

tszhang217

New Head-Fier
Pros: Good sound
Cons: uncomfortable, unremovable cable
the sound was really good, but i cannot still anymore for a headphone that's not comfortable and hurt my head, the headband and ear pads was not soft enough and make my ear hot and sweat, and i also don't like the heavy and unremovable cable.

Shogunner

Head-Fier
Pros: Very pretty, does some new genres like indie rock well.
Cons: Fatiguing, Uncomfortable, Terrible bang for your buck
[size=small]These cans were decent, back when they were just above 100 bucks. They've inflated to 160 and that's just ridiculous. There is better in this price range. The SRH840's for example on eBay for 120~ bucks new, does everything better than these cans. The M50's have really punchy bass, and extremely stringent highs, they're very loose in the low end, and their mids are recessed. That combination makes for a fatally tiring listening experience. The pads are pleather and terribly uncomfortable, whilst having an almost starchy texture to them. The headband clamps onto larger heads and lacks decent padding underneath. These phones are also terrible in regards to any soundstage at all, which means for gaming, these will be pretty terrible. They do some... SOME... new genres alright, but their extremely aggressive presentation makes these phones just hard to listen to. They also can't do lighter genres like Jazz and Classical due to their poor positoning. There are much much better monitors in this price range than these, the Shure SRH840 as I've said before totally outclass these headphones in all areas.[/size][size=small][/size]
[size=small][/size]
[size=small]The Head-Fi vets are right, stay away, don't fall victim to the hype.[/size]
Shogunner
Shogunner
If anything, when I used an amp with these, it just brought out the qualities I didn't really like even more. It's all a matter of taste I guess. I just returned them due to Amazon's awesome policy, after hearing the SRH840's which were 20 bucks less, I just didn't see a point in keeping the ATH-M50's besides their portability, but then I think I'd rather just get some good canalphones.
But yea, burn them in a bit more, and just test the waters really.
XxDobermanxX
XxDobermanxX
Good review
Haha i thought i was the only one that say these were overhyped , what i realise too is that people always say its perfect and so on and no one mentions the flaws/cons( comfort etc). but when they review other stuff they say "this headphone has no bass blah blah "
Custom1
Custom1
Are you sure the SRH840s have more bass... I tried them both at the local store and the M50s seem to own them.

defrenchguy

New Head-Fier
Pros: Decent "punch" for certain music/awesome DJ set/VERY COMFY
Cons: Muffled sound/ not very "musical"
First things first...I was expecting WAY better sound than this after having read over 30 reviews from all over on these phones....I would say the "warm" sound people speak of is the most prominent "feature" the M50's have.
 
Taking the M50's off and then putting on my Shure 440's made is seem like a curtain was lifted off of the music and can finally clearly hear the details the music has to offer. I find myself searching and looking for details while I wear the M50's, and can simply listen and hear all the music when I wear the 440's. Using bass testing FLAC files on my Xonar sound card (192k/24bit & amped), the M50's do have some nice qualities in the mid-lowish bass range and the amount of bass is decent too. I suspect the thick padding on the inside of phones to comfort the ear could be a culprit to some of the muffled qualities.
 
Games movies with the M50's carried with it these same "muffled" qualities, like people are eating bread while performing their music 
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.
 
I play SC2 and Mass Effect 2, mostly. Sounds such as opening doors, background voices, weapon sound details, etc didn't sound nearly as clear as the 440's did. With the 440's I feel like I'm in the spaceship and fully immersed in the action because all the details are clearly heard. The M50's give me no such feelings, mostly meh. Sort of like watching a play from the upper comfy expensive seats in theaters that are quiet enough to have a conversation. To be fair, some the bass and some of the mids do sound quite nice and mostly with effects that have punch or rumble.
 
Overall, I find them an okay can at best. They'll be a great replacement for someone who has $100-$180 to spend and enjoys terms like "punchy bass" and "warm sound" maybe somewhat "neutral".
 
I had actually bought these because I thought they were going to be replacing the 440's but.....NOT. A. CHANCE. I basically never use the M50's, even after 15+hrs working them in. If I was a DJ, I'd likely keep these but will be selling them instead of becoming one.
 
Wearing them on my head is another story. It's like I have a playboy bunny hugging each of my ears while another is draped over my head. Mmmmmm. Mark these up @ 6/5 stars for comfort. Keep this in mind, travelers, they are also comparatively light.
 
The 440's let you hear everything very clearly throughout the entire frequency. The bass is very detailed, but there isn't quite as much as the M50's. Sometimes, with the 440's, the highs do get tiring with music at higher listening volumes because Shure probably put more juice into the higher frequencies, anybody know 4 Shure? This is most present with music that involves alot of cymbals, or alot other very high-pitched sounds. So super hard rock and metal might not be ideal for the 440's & better suited to the M50's. Also the quality of the recording would be more important to the 440's because of their detail.
 
I tried the Shure 840's at a store and quite liked those as well, they sound just a little better than the 440's. Price was a little high though.
 
I am by no means a pro audiophile, I just have a naturally discerning ear & I'm very picky and critical of stuff I buy. I thought I'd share my 10 cents (inflation has risen since the 2cents days.)
 
Thank you for reading, head-fi's.
 
edit: After 80+hrs burn in, nothing new to note for M50. Although the 440's continue to tickle the area below my stomach. Looking forward to changing the ear pads.
 
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bcasey25raptor
bcasey25raptor
Defrenche i disagree. These are not terrible i consider them average for their price. But much better can be had for the $159 they go for now. They are not mediocre. But they are not amazing either. These are very unrevealing so i listen to them a lot. People working in a studio need to hear all the details in their recordings and they won't with the m50s while they will with the shure srh840. The shure srh840 is brutal to badly recorded music. The m50 plays everything well and badly recorded music is presented in a way that allows you to still enjoy it. That is why i enjoy these cans. I haven't heard the shure srh440 so i can't make much of a comparison but from what i understand they are a bass light srh840. Overall the m50 is an overhyped headphone that is a lot of fun and hides things you don't want to hear. They are not high fidelity but they are not mediocre either. I would have a hard time paying more then $110 for these though. Ray actually your comment on the alessandro ms1 is uncalled for because that is why i like them. Their coloration is great for metal. Overall though i own the srh840, hd 25 1 ii, and ath m50. Of those 3 the hd 25 1 ii is the funnest and most energetic, While the srh840 is is the most accurate and balanced. I find the m50s to be odd in that they sound nearly identical to beats pros.
defrenchguy
defrenchguy
You certainly must not be serious if you don't follow my point. Yes, thank you again for re-reiterating that the sound engineers at AT moved their freqs a certain way...this means you can read a graph. Good job. The point is this: M50=overpriced & under-performing.

But hey folks, if you truly enjoy unclear, muddy, blanketed sound, you will die in love with the M50's. You won't hear all your music, but hey, at least you know you paid more money for some M50's and that just feels great! And guess what else? They're good for recording a particular kind of music! Now isn't that another great reason to pay more for these? I never at any point said people bought a certain item over another, I said all people are pretty much actively avoiding the M50's due to their high price and comparatively low 'all-round' enjoyability factor. And yes, many people who love graphs and "sound engineering" come into the store; they never even look at phones in that price range, they know better than to do something like that. These are not, by any means a "natural" sounding phone. Over-done bass and dumb highs? Doesn't sound very natural to me.

ChronicLiar

New Head-Fier
Pros: Build Quality, Long Cable, Clean balanced sound, Very Warm
Cons: Bass (In my opinion) is a bit loose, Recessed mid- section, VERY Flat (But you might like it)
I don't like this headphone, I can't tell you otherwise.
 
I like open back cans because it's generally less-fatiguing for me and spacious. But for the price range, and for being closed-back these REALLY are hard to beat.
 
It is one the most detailed/aggressive cans I have ever tried on, but I admire it's detail ( this is why it got 3 stars.)
MrTechAgent
MrTechAgent
The most forward , harsh , grainy and un-balanced headphone for the price 
There's nothing commendable about this ubiquitous headphone 
Valhallatier
Valhallatier
the only thing good about this headphone is the frequency responce...
other than that, others are better

bcasey25raptor

Aka: Brycon Casey
aka mental patient
aka Enter Darkness
aka Shurefan
aka reaperofaudio
aka everyone knows
aka very funny
Pros: Build quality, non-revealing, fun, bass, highs
Cons: mids, comfort, Price
(disclaimer: My rating scale is based off of what i paid for the headphones not msrp, Review is based off of what i think of them compared to their respective $150 price point)
 
 
     Ah the all mighty hyped best under $150 giant killers the m50s. Every noobs first step into audiophilia, and to many their last. Why is this such a popular headphone amongst noobs and the most recommended headphone on head-fi? I honestly don't know. There is nothing special about these headphones and they are far from giant killers beating out headphones 2x their price. I would be hesitant to pay the $150 they go for nowadays but for $96 dollars i feel they are great.
 
     Let's look at it's competition.
We have the shure srh440, 840, and 750dj, We have the sennheiser hd 25 1 ii. Of these i owned all but the 440s so i will leave them out of this review. The srh840 from shure can be had for a really cheap price of $130 which imo is a steal for what you get. While the sennheiser hd 25 1 ii is a lot more expensive but i still believe their $199 price point is justified. Of these 3 headphones i felt the sennheiser hd 25 1 ii were the funnest to listen to, the shure srh840 were the most detailed and accurate, so where does this leave the m50s? While they don't even compare. Some would call them an entirely different can altogether, i beg to differ. The m50s are relatively neutral but have a slight recession in the mid range. The highs though relatively extended are quite harsh and the louder you listen to them the more harsh they get. They also sound slightly muddy to me. Not hugely but ever so slightly. I don't understand their praise unless everyone bought them for $100. Even then i think they are decent until you reach their $150 price point. At that price the competition far surpasses the m50s leaving the m50s in the dust.
 
     I think the true value in these cans has to be their versatility in being able to handle any genre you throw at it. They sound impressive with electronic, Rock sounds fun and aggressive, Acoustic sounds lively (though a little fake to me), and classical has enough instrument separation to still be enjoyable. Sound stage on these cans however is quite closed in.
 
      Comfort on these is average, Shallow pads with little space to circumaurally cover your ears can be a little cramped and partly leads to this closed in sound stage. I ran with this data and applied the shure srh840 pads to these cans. Soundstage was definitely improved but at the expense of the aggression. Highs are tamed which is to me a good thing but some people would hate this. Also the bass is drastically reduced. The 840 pads improves the comfort exponentially however.
 
     Now the question is do i recommend these headphones? If you can get them under $130 then go for it. They are versatile and easy to drive, but at $130 better competition shows up. We get the shure srh840, and soon the sennheiser hd 25 1 ii. The srh440 for $80 may still beat out the m50s but i am yet to hear those.
 
     I draw my conclusion that like anything on the internet things are blown out of proportion. One person recommends someone to a noobie, noobie buys it and recommends it, then everyone recommends it and it spreads like a virus. The m50s are that virus but they aren't a bad one. In the last few months the m50 hype has died down exponentially based off of a more expensive price point. It's for the best even if the m50s have brought fun and enjoyment to thousands who have had the opportunity to purchase or audition a pair. I only hope we can grow to understand that like many things, just because it's popular doesn't mean it's the best.
 
 
Have a nice day and thank you for reading my review.
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Zubaru
Zubaru
thanks loved how you compared known headsets at same pricetag, good for a noob like me who just bought his first audiophile headset(SRH840).
Beef Anus
Beef Anus
840 and sennheiser hd 2 ii are over 200 in canada the m50 is 125 
KMSROX
KMSROX
I have used just about every type of cans on the market from very expensive to cheap throw away junk. They all have their place on your ears depending on not only the genre but also what one expects to get out of the music they are listening to as well as the mood one is in while listening. So many variables do come into play when listening and should be remembered when writing a review or recommendation about cans.
 
I think one of the most important things to remember is there are just about as many different types of cans as there are genre's these days. If you listen to one particular genre most of the time then finding a set of cans is pretty easy to weed out, however if you are eclectic like myself you have two choices, spending a lot of money for several different cans to fit your mood and the music you are listening to or buy a very versatile set of cans which the ATH M50's are.
 
I originally purchased the ATH M50's because my brand new Pioneer HDJ-1000's went kaput and I needed something right away and the place I get my cans were out of the Pioneer HDJ-1000's. After much research on the net I decided to get the ATH M50's and I am so glad I did.
 
I do a lot of studio work and if you look at the specs on the ATH M50's they are Professional Studio Monitors and not typical cans.  They have little to no wear in time. They are very well balanced as they should be for monitors so mixing is much more accurate. Most music studios have a few pairs of ATH M50's hanging near a mixing board, even in the recording room due to the clarity, comfort and accuracy.
 
When my replacement Pioneer HJD-1000's came I never once used them they laid in a box for 5 years and I gave them to my mom a couple of months ago. I did however purchase 3 pair of ATH M50's including the 50th anniversary limited edition in 2012 given it was also my 50th birthday and no I did not keep them in the box for a collectors thing, hell I am 50 I am using them, they are my main pair and look cool! I do have a non anniversary pair in the box that hasn't been opened yet as well as a couple more at each station. I do of course use studio monitors in the studio as well but I still prefer the studio monitor headphones for everything.
 
Listening loud, which by the way is not good for your ears believe me my hearing is not what it once was after 25 years as a professional drummer and all the studio time and now all the studio time mixing, mastering, reviewing and general listening to music.
 
The Pioneer HDJ-1000's were what I was using when I began working with Miljenko Matijevic the vocalist for Steelheart I listened to him hit those high notes and I, like most avid listeners of music, believe music just isn't good unless its loud. Well after 16 straight hours of listening to "I'll Never Let You Go" my right ear began to bleed. I had to refrain from wearing my cans for 3 days. The ATH M50's has it built in so they will not get loud enough to do that kind of damage to your ears. If you...

Redcarmoose

Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: See Review
Cons: See Review
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The M50 Professional Studio Monitor Headphones by Audio-Technica

Specifications
Type: Closed-back dynamic
Driver Diameter: 45 mm
Magnet: Neodymium
Voice Coil: CCAW (Copper-clad aluminum wire)
Frequency Response: 15 - 28,000 Hz
Maximum Input Power: 1,600 mW at 1 kHz
Sensitivity: 99 dB
Impedance: 38 ohms
Input impedance: 47kOhm
Weight: 284 g (10 oz) without cable and connector
Cable: 1.2 - 3.0 m (3.9' - 9.8') Coiled, OFC litz wire
Connector: Gold-plated stereo 1/8" (3.5 mm) connector with strain relief and professional screw-on 1/4" (6.3 mm) adapter
Accessory Included: Protective pouch



Features:
Exceptional audio quality for professional monitoring and mixing
Collapsible design ideal for easy portability and convenient storage
Proprietary 45 mm large-aperture drivers with neodymium magnet systems
Closed-back cushioned earcup design creates an outstanding seal for maximum isolation
Adjustable padded headband for comfort during long mixing/recording sessions
Single-sided coiled cable terminates to gold-plated mini-plug with screw-on ¼" adapter
Available in white color with coiled cable (ATH-M50WH), black color with straight cable (ATH-M50s), and silver color with straight cable (Limited Edition ATH-M50s/LE)

I have waited a while to write this review. After over a two years of use I have come to understand just what the ATH-M50 is, and dramatically what it is not. As with many things on Head-Fi, it is not that simple to just write a short review. Hopefully I can shed some light on what the M50 is for headphone enthusiasts in 2016.

Around 2011 life was a little more simple for the M50s, they were $70 and filled a hole in the market. The hype soon followed and a headphone legend was born. At that point in history it was easy to see the trend, as we were experiencing a wave of new members and in 2011 it seemed, headphones were now going mainstream. The M50s in those days offered an entry level walk into the world of quasi-audiophile land. Gazillions were sold and many jumped on the sonic soap-box to tell the world of their new find. The model became an affordable headphone for the masses. It was and is a good all-around-er of sorts and is basically everywhere! It plays all genres at an "OK" level, never excelling or ever truly failing.

In 2012 many seasoned members also started to get curious as to why the M50s had become the most recommended headphone on Head-Fi. Not only were they recommended but also ridiculed and put down. We also found a group to be wildly defensive explaining how the M-50s were the best headphone under $400, anywhere. Some maniacs offered them to be more flat than most headphones on the market offering a trueness untouched by only a few flagship headphones. Still good or bad, press is press and the more threads were written the more advertisement the headphones achieved.


The new headphone phenomena:
Many times there is a wave of interest called the headphone of the month, or the flavor of the month. At times it may not be a headphone but could be an amp. People in the hobby are searching. There is always a product that gets traction in the marketplace. Much of the time this newness, can be a form of hype, where products become the next hot thing, regardless of lasting sound qualities. Whole audiophile groups can gravitate towards a sound because it is new and different, but not always better. At times whole sonic pitfalls can get masked on a group level. There can even be times when the naysayers are afraid to speak-out due to peer-pressure. Later when the dust settles products then actually appear true in reality as to what they really are and what they are not. Whole groups can get caught up in this research frenzy only to flood the used market a year or two later when the next THING comes along.
Musical perception is funny like that, much of the time an incomplete character can actually attribute to a new product sounding fresh, when in reality it is not adding anything but taking away a response trait. At times you have to wonder if the popularity of the M50 was not that it was revolutionary but in-fact left-out many of the qualities searched for in a sound signature?

I have other headphones but just out of curiosity I succumbed to the peer pressure in the end. I didn't get the new M50x which has detachable cables, but the original M50 with the coiled cable. On a side note the original M50 is still offered with a straight cable today. The M50x offers both coiled and straight cables.

I had heard it a couple times and knew what I was getting into. What I hoped was to slowly become enamored with the headphones and gave myself time before making a full assumption as to sound-quality or character. Upon first holding them you realize they are well made. They have a rugged plastic, metal and aluminum build. Usage is easy due to simple right and left markings and multiple movements allow a simple and complete ease of use. They only weight 10oz so they are easy to wear and get ear placement with. The plug is solid steel and exits with a gold plated mini-plug making use with a phone on the go easy.

There is a generic low-flash style to them, most of all nothing to get scratched or scuffed. You could see these in a studio environment where they could be thrown around without consequence. The 180 degree rotation of the cups allows you to wear them around your neck with the cups laying flat. In many ways the M50s contain a special magic in construction due to the fact that they are low weight, non squeaky and have well engineered strain relief in all the best places. They move in every possible direction allowing there to be a level of confidence (nothing to bend, ever) sometimes missing with more straight and strict designs or ideas. All these crazy angled joints don't fail and become loose or creaky. The cord though long and heavy, still ends up being strong and unchanging over time. The standard black color resists scuffs or discoloration skidding just under the radar in X-fashion style. Everyone's head and ears are a different size and headphone placement and fit are critical with most headphones allowing the user to gain both comfort and placement for the best possible sound. The M50s fit well and stay in place, they work around glasses and are generally a nice experience. I did find the leather style ear pads to be a little hard and rugged feeling. Of course, just like the perception of sound quality, most ideas are in relationship to what your past experience is. Many have made a choice to change out the ear pads for aftermarket cloth style pads, which are noticeably softer. Even DJs put them to use due to being closed back and showing a strong beat could be used to beat-match in live DJ sessions.

As of 2016, Amazon.com sells the old M50 for $133 and the new M50x for $152. Amazingly there are 5180 original model reviews, with 80% being marked as 4.7 stars out of a possible full five star score. The newer M50x gets 2819 reviews also averaging 4.7 stars. So judging by Amazon.com folks are pretty happy. Again reading reviews there you find it's the first entry level Hi/Fi headphone many have ever owned.

So the question that comes to mind for many is if I don't buy a pair what would I get? Another good question is how and why do these seem to excel for their target consumer and why do folks like them so much?

I will attempt to answer these questions as well as do some other comparisons to put the Audio Technica ATH-M50 in a realistic view. I'm also going to go into maybe why we read so many positive reviews and why owners defend them with such emotion.


The sound:
If you have read this review so far then you may also have read the unbelievable reviews by the Head-Fi M50 lovers around. Like most stuff you read, it's just one persons opinion, and better to be viewed as just that, a single experience. Amazingly I still have the exact same thoughts about the sound signature as I did when I first heard them. My mental ideas as to the accuracy and color, the fun and individual character of the headphones have not wavered ever since I first demoed them with a friend years ago. My original idea is that they had a moderate sound-stage, a non-layered or complex treble and slightly over-pushed lower bass signature. The moment I heard them the lower mid detail was fun and slightly dramatic in character.

After years of ownership I thought I would find the treble maybe a little more interesting? There is a theory here that if you live with a headphone that over time you learn to almost hear into a sound signature and come to a higher level understanding of sorts. After years of trying, I have to admit, emotionally I'm still confirming my initial ideas, and have become even more confident in what I feel the M50s are.

The negatives and positives of the sound signature.
First off we always have to remember these are well-built $133 headphones that play just as well from a phone and scale up to a point with a nice home system. I have come to realize that the boring part of what they do has to do with the mid and treble sound-stage. The fact that the mids are actually recessed don't help matters but contribute to this sterility at hand. Combine that character with the fact that much of the musical information is all coming from exactly the same point source. If you place your finger on the symbol on the outside of the cup, that is the exact place 80% of the sound-stage is coming from. Such a signature has an exciting aspect when the lower mid-bass or room echo gets placed outside of this central cone. The only positive thing is that all audio signals become easy to understand due to all the information being emitted from one place. Imagine a group surrounding you and all talking at the same time, then listen to the group being place shoulder to shoulder across from your ear. The visual example is having you keep looking all over the room, but the second example has all the information coming from a point area of interest.

In daily use if you just didn't have any other choices much of these sound-stage issues could be overlooked. Also I do realize my opinions are from listening to the M50s side-by-side with much more expensive headphones with better sound-stage and side-by-side headphones with better treble detail and sound-stage which cost less. Many members have made the jump from the Audio Technica M50s to the Fostex TH-X00 from Massdrop.com. In many ways the two headphones are similar in that they are closed back and contain a dramatic lower bass apposed to treble centric headphones like the AKG-k701 open back headphones. The Fostex line ends up being a nice place to climb to after the M50s as the sound signatures both have some parallel aspects. In so many ways the Fostex line gets an improvement due to the increased detail in the sound-stage and treble area, which we find missing so much of the time.

Listening to the 1978 Van Halen self titled Japan Import first pressing "You Really Got Me" the hi-hat has a nice sparkle and 3D placement in the sound-stage head-space. Such sonic artifacts are actually entertaining because so very little musical placement comes out of that small congested mix 2.5 inches out side of your ears. When a nice treble sparkle makes it out into the air outside your head, it does add excitement. Still when the bass starts in the song it seems at a level inconsistent to how the song REALLY is? The lower bass level is of such non auditory impact, I actually had to switch over to my reference headphones the Denon AH-D 7000 closed backed headphones to listen if the problem was in the recording or another area in my playback system? As guessed the Denons are slightly less responsive to signal and needed extra volume to replicate the playback volume level. Also as guessed, the lower mid and lower bass detail was there but somehow drowned out in the mix by the M50s. So I may come off as hypercritical of these $133 headphones? I'm going to get to what they do well at, but still, even after a lot of trial and error, I just don't find these headphones to be as special or as magic as some find them to be. They perform a job in the most simple and basic of ways. They do offer a no nonsense sound which does have clarity of sorts? It's maybe this generic all around performer at a great price which has made the legend what it is?

Still, we must come to the realization, there are no perfect headphones made. What we are left with is musical instruments which are either loved or tolerated for their minor imperfections. After using headphones for years and years, the one best thing is the M50s are easy to drive, they don't distort even at high volume levels and have a warm bass response even from a phone. If that sounds like a simple thing, be forewarned it is almost never achieved by a single headphone model. In practice the M50s do contain a nice complex smooth lower mid which is entertaining fast and fun. Such a signature seems to scale up with a better source and coincides with a wider sound-stage offered by the lower mid and bass response.

If I was to design a perfect fix for the signature I would ask for a more complex and spread out upper mid and treble sound-stage. There is also a super low bass response set of tones which have no detail at all, a place in the response where all definition seems to fall into a blurry smear of muck? At first I actually thought this area could be with the recording or upstream playback equipment? Still after further testing I came to realize this area in the response is just a character of the headphones. The bass is detailed in the lower mids and lower bass but the sub-bass has a definition area of total loss.

So what is fun?
Listening to The Beatles 1962/1966 Compilation CD Japan First Pressing song "Help!" showed a dynamic musicality. When those lower guitar strums arrive they have a rock and roll time and movement. Still the recessed mids just don't do the vocals any justice? This ends up being a perfect song to demonstrate why these are not vocal headphones, they just are not.

Again music from a band like the Beatles needs vocals that are complex and upfront, not buried in the murk and muck of our M50 receded mid-range. Some headphones are vocal centric, some just replay what the track contains, and some just pull everything in the mid back. So to sum up our sound signature we have a pronounced bass response detailed to a point, but not lower. We have a pulled mid range which does not excel at vocals and a sparkly treble which again does not hold a very complex personality. I make this sound drastic but in reality the M50 does all this in a slightly reserved manner. It does all the above in a polite and modestly simple fashion. All this in such a smooth way, many members EQ the headphones back to a place they figure overcomes many of the issues I suggest here. I myself do not use EQ but know it's a tool used daily to try and address the issues at hand here.

In the end we have an entry level headphone which is sturdy and can be driven out of anything with a power switch. It does a number of things wrong but in an almost non-noticeable way. Such a polite response and at such a mass produced price and volume they have become pseudo-audiophile for the masses. They offer an easy to read sound signature with just enough color and warmth to endear people. They have just enough clarity to get an improvement for most buyers. They are built well enough to last for most and still seem to fit a certain area of the headphone markets needs. The ATH-M50 is almost a stepping stone on the road to better things, a Head-Fi right of passage of sorts. Still in all it's genericness it does a combination of things well and exists as a jack of all trades but master of none. There is a musicality that can have you forget the AM-radio vocals, a bass that can distract you from your sound-stage, and finally a construction that could make you forget it was 90% plastic. They are a first-timers favorite which like many firsts in life are romantically blind and near-sighted. My motto for their stance is "naïvety is bliss".

Listening to "Nothing Else Matters" Metallica-Metallica 1991 turned out to be my favorite song ever with the headphones. I like to think the recording overcomes much of the inherently wrong attributes of the signature. Remember too that there is music out there which can make many a headphone shine and sparkle. The song has an abnormally lush and expansive sound-stage. Such dynamics seem to energize the headphones to another level. When the bass drums kick-in they are married to the frequency response, also remember they do put compression on rock vocals 100% of the time, something the M50s continue to accentuate with vocals. And in all this your treble is not strident or sharp, there is a slight high-end smoothness which never gets too much, even on loud rock music. Still if the treble was better it would make a world of difference with the sound of the orchestra in classical genres here. Maybe nowhere is our boredom more noticeable than in classical playback? Still remember that as a rule our older Head-Fi members are going to be frequency lacking in treble as it is the first and major loss in the hearing spectrum for old timers here. Luckily those same old timers have often mixed our CD remasters and added that treble range right back into the digital remaster. Most likely our target purchaser here is the under 40 crowd with all their treble hearing correctly in place. If anything that treble hearing accuracy is going to help with our M50 sucked out mid-range. Added the bass energy for genres like Rap and it's no wonder the M50 is the Coke Cola of the headphone world.

So in ending I'm listing my sources and playback equipment and due to prior testing know my hardware and software are showing me the reality of our headphones at hand. In ending I still feel there is a place in the world for the M50s, they still fill a gap, though that gap gets smaller every day. They may not be the original value they were at $70, but do a job that few headphones can do, when you factor in SQ, build quality and daily ease of use. I may have sounded critical here, still my goal is to try and explain why these headphones are realistically not always as great as recommended. I'm not selling mine as I find them entertaining despite their flaws and shortcomings . I have not heard all the headphones in the world but the M50s are unique in a world filled with $133 headphones to buy.


Equipment used:
JDS Labs c421 Headphone Amp
PC Foobar 2000 with 16 bit 44.1 kHz FLAC files
Schiit Audio Asgard One Solid State Headphone Amp
Cambridge Audio DAC Magic Plus (line out mode)
Audio Technica ATH-M50 Headphones
AKG k701 Headphones
Denon AH-D7000 Headphones
Sennheiser HD-439 Headphones (cost less and have better treble and sound-stage, though only better for Classical and New Age genres in the end)
AKG k512 MK2 Headphones (cost less and have better treble detail and sound-stage) (lacking bass)
Woo Audio 3 Headphone Amp


:thumbsup: Well built and easy to use
:thumbsup: Easy to drive and does most genres well
:thumbsup: Easy to find, both on the used market and in new market
:thumbsup: Even at 2016 pricing ends up being a value
:thumbsup: Offers the masses a fun and warm modern sound signature
:thumbsup: $133 free shipping
:thumbsup: Headphones can provide a fun experience for new members
:thumbsup: Easy resell mode


:thumbsdown: Has a tight congested sound-stage
:thumbsdown: Has receded mid-range playback not befitting vocals
:thumbsdown: Maybe many more choices of "keeper" headphones to choose instead
:thumbsdown: Bass response is both heavy and at a point not detailed
:thumbsdown: V shaped signature can be fun at first but covers important sonic details in the long run
:thumbsdown: Leather style ear pads can feel rough in comparison to some choices out there
:thumbsdown: Could have purchased Sennheiser HD598s instead? (Better headphone which costs less)

Final thoughts :
Much of sound and musical perception is a personal experience. As with much of what you read, this is just my humble opinion. YMMV

If I was going to recommend headphones it maybe would be the Sennheiser HD600 at $110 more for strictly home use. Of course the price is almost double the cost of the M50s. Still for first full-size headphones someone could buy both then sell which ever he or she didn't like as both have a fairly simple and fast resale.

If the member needed portable a direct comparison would be get the Sennheiser HD598. Still it would be interesting to read about folks preferring the M50s over the HD598. With the sale price of the HD598s and their ability to be both home audiophile headphones and portable headphones, I don't see why anyone would buy the M50s?

I truly believe in using a wide range of gear and wide range of music to get a feel for a pair of headphones. Another factor is time used to test equipment. Combining product of the month hype with the new toy hype has never arrived at reality but further added to the deluded opinions at hand.

Music Used:

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Disclaimer:
No headphones were harmed in the making of this review, though many cans of beer were sacrificed to the Gods of Audio.
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peter123
peter123
What a great read, thanks a lot for the entertainment!
Redcarmoose
Redcarmoose
Thank-you. Fun to write it. Hope I didn't come off as an audio elite, attempting to belittle the headphone reviewed.

VioIet

New Head-Fier
Pros: Audio Quality is amazing for this price.
Cons: NOT COMFORT AT ALL, fatiguing , undetachable cable
not comfortable
TomNC
TomNC
You can bend or stretch the headband of the M50. I did this with my Grado and Sennheiser cans as well to the level that the clamping pressure is about right on my ears. Give a try and you may be surprised how big a difference this can make.

ssrock64

Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: Durable, Not-Too-Steep V-curve
Cons: Price Hikes, Clamping Force, Not Great For Production
These, thanks to Head-Fi, were my first audiophile-grade cans. After getting more and more into the world of headphones and getting perspective, I can go back and view these without being a first-time user.
 
While not exceptional at the $150 I paid for it, it's still a fun V-shaped sound-sig can that I enjoyed keeping around for awhile even after upgrading.
SanjiWatsuki
SanjiWatsuki
I have to agree here. I was a monster M50 fan before I joined Head-Fi, but it was tempered after I heard more and more headphones. I still think they're a solid buy at $120, but definitely not the $150-160 price they've reached after the price hikes.

firev1

500+ Head-Fier
Pros: Nice Treble extension, good bass,Clamping Force, portable, nice looking, no amping needed
Cons: Clamping force which needs breaking in, slightly recessed mids, slightly bloated bass, shallow pads, closed sounstage
So finally I gave them up for an upgrade. Now to write what I think of them.
 
Build and Design: 
I think these are some of MOST solidly built cans I seen comparing to the ATH-SQ5 which was my previous cans and other cans like DT 235, Shure 440 which would be important to say DJs. Its very portable to store away too with its swivel cups. There are days which I would just chuck it in my bag and safe to say when I sold it away, it was still in very good condition considering my heavy usage pattern(mobile warrior).
 
Sound:
I did not do a review back when I got it because I did not have a high up there reference but now that I have an idea of how these cans are.
 
High.
Good treble detail but slightly forgiving. The now similarly priced Shure 840s will give you better highs though.
 
Mids
Despite having the white box ones, I still find myself pushing the volume up to hear those vocals, so the mids are still kind of recessed. Guitar tracks sound a little flat on some songs but otherwise it is pretty minor.
 
Bass
Oh man, this has all the bass I need, sometimes I think a little too much but maybe that is because of bass bloat? 
 
Overall: 
Sound quality wise I compared these to the DT770PRO  and I'm pretty sure its just a sidestep, with the 770 needing an amp to drive it. Vocals sound a little distant compared to the DT880 and ER-4S both which are somewhat a reference to me. Soundstage is very closed though. Switching from my monitors (R2000T) or my NAD speaker system to the M50 would give me headaches. I recommend using crossfeeding like Isone Pro or Redline Monitor with them.  
 
I absolutely recommend looking into the second hand market as these can go pretty cheap and in great condition. 
 
 
So in the end do I recommend these? Yes, but mostly for DJs, people entering from consumer-fi and road warriors. I think the alternative, Shure 840s, DT770s are better cans then the M50. 
 
 
 
hipster2010
hipster2010
I picked up the DT770 Pro back in the fall. These were my first real headphone purchase. I was basically deciding whether I wanted to get the 770s or the M50. Based on your review I'm glad I chose the ones I did. Thanks for the helpful review

ytisawfulnow

100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Excellent sound, hardly any leakage, don't require to be amped, coiled cable, low price
Cons: Uncomfortable, require a lot of burn in for best sound
It seemed these were the perfect headphones which met my expectations perfectly when i first got them, great sound, not too muddy, decent bass response without being too boomy or out of control, don't require to be amped (not even on my $30 logitech computer speakers)  hardly any sound leakage, some passive noise cancelling... they seemed perfect! too good to be true. After i wore them for about a minute i already started to notice excessive discomfort these are without a doubt the most uncomfortable headphones i've ever worn, whoever has said something positive about the comfort for these probably hasn't worn them for more than 5 minutes, where do i begin? oh yeah they have a REALLY tight clamp, especially at the bottom of the ear cups under my ears i've had these for a week and have been stretching them over a box for about 34 to 43 hours but they still feel horrible, the speakers inside the headphones sticks out and rubs against my ears and it's really annoying, i tried stuffing cotton balls under the ear cups to seperate them but the sound quality got really tinny and horrible. then there's the headband, there's almost no padding on the headband and when i take them off my head hurts where the headband was, i've tried adjusting them and it just makes it worse. The sound quality of these headphones are great and probably the best i have/will hear in any closed headphone for such a good price, and that's why it's so hard for me to return them due to such discomfort, guess i'll never find the right headphones.
mad.gif

 
Now there are some mixed opinions for the comfort on these as there always will be as different people have different shaped heads and are more/less sensitive to comfort so i would reccomend trying these on in a store for around 10 minutes and make an honest judgement about the comfort, some people will be okay with them but for me they're torture to my head.
 
Also could you guys please reccomend me a pair of closed headphones the most similar to the M50s around the same price range that are actually comfortable, and next to no sound leakage, i'm really picky about sound leakage.
- Thanks.
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ytisawfulnow
ytisawfulnow
Okay, well it's been a couple of weeks now and i've gotten used to these headphones a bit, I may replace them with the SRH 840 pads in the future but for now i'd probably change the .5 rating for comfort to 2.5 or 3
ytisawfulnow
ytisawfulnow
And overall to 4.5
luleining
luleining
I completely agree with you. I just got my Audio-Technica ATH-M50 from B&H for $121. I was very much impressed by the sound quality and build quality. But I found them very uncomfortable for the reasons you stated. I am coming from Sennheiser HD 598 which has velour earpads and almost no clamping force. I was debating whether I wanted to return them. But I figured I may get used to it eventually. I bought Audio Technica ATH-A900x about the same time. I found them much more comfortable. All the comfort issues with M50 do not exist in A900x.

Im2spec1al

New Head-Fier
Pros: - Very deep and semi-tight bass - Sparkly and detailed treble - Clarity - Isolation compared to competing phones - Comfort - Sleek looks - Price
Cons: - Lack of mids - Bass can be loose - Pads can get sweaty - Coiled wire not all that practical - Can cause spot-pressure pains
Like many others on this site, these phones are my stepping stone into the realm of "hi-fi"-headphones. These are indeed a good pair of phones for beginners and old-timers alike, because of their price/value ratio and ability to play all kind of music well. These phones can be the only ones you need if you aren`t planning on spending hundreds or thousands of dollars/euros on headphones. There are more than enough competent reviews of these headphones on this site, so I will keep this short. Buy these! Good entry-level headphone for beginners. Veteran headphone-enthusiasts should have these in their collection just because of their value and sound isolation compared to same level phones. For example, my next headphone will probably be the Sennheiser hd 650, but they are open so I will save the m50 for portable use and when ever I need isolation, but don`t want to settle for my in-ear phone`s (shure se215) inferior sound quality.

jto168

100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Great All Arounder!
Cons: Minor Setbecks. Keyword: Minor
Impressions/Mini-review after 1 Month of usage
 
Sources: PC, Laptop, A/V Receiver, iPod Video 5.5G (30GB)
Amps: Fiio E7, A/V Receiver
Other headphones: Sennhesier HD 555
Files: FLAC, MP3 320 CBR, CD
 
After about one month with the M50, I can say I am satisifed and impressed with its sound.
 
Like others have stated, these are not the be all and end all of headphones. You could even say they are FOTM, much like the Sennheiser HD 555 were back in its heyday, but the M50 is a very solid headphone considering its price point and sound output.
 
Here are some positivies:
 
- Good bass response: the bass extends pretty low, and hits hard. The bass is not as tight as other headphones, but can decently output enough bass to satisfy most ears.
- Clear treble: initially the treble is pretty bright, but after some burn in it definitely relaxes and isn't as harsh on the ears. Vocals sound very good for a closed can!
- Mids: slightly recessed, but after some burn in and the foam mod, they have improved. Further improvement can be made by adjusting EQ as needed. Not a dealbreaker considering you can address the mids with a variety of options.
- Comfort: Very comfortable considering its clamp force (slightly strong initially) and the pleather pads are decent. I come from the comfort of HD 555 with its velour ear pads, so it does take getting used to pleather. That said, the pleather pads are very comfortable and are necessary to provide a good seal for this closed can.
- Overall: I don't think you can find a significantly better headphone at this price point. The M50 certainly does not put other headphones to shame, but I feel that the M50 is good all around choice. Other headphones will address other needs for specific listeners - I'll explain below.
 
Some negatives:
 
- Mids: slightly recessed, but I emphasize that this can be addressed by the foam mod and adjusting EQ as needed.
- Bass: good response, goes very low but is slightly muddy and confused. I like all kinds of bass and the M50 is no slouch in this matter, but I want a different style of bass ouput which prompted me to look at other cans. Think of the bass response as a subwoofer; ported, closed, passive, active, front firing, down firing. These all have different characteristics and present bass differently. Unfortunately the M50 can't satisify all bass styles, so I went looking for another pair of cans.
 
So after a month of listening and burn in, I find myself quite happy with the M50.
 
I listen to many genres: trance, techno, house, EDM/electronica in general, J-Pop, J-Rock, J-Metal, Visual Kei, pop, hiphop, rap, and sometimes acoustic/classical music. I love the M50 - it's a fun headphone that made me rediscover my music collection. My musical mood changes frequently so there are time when I listen to trance exclusively for weeks/months at a time, and then I go onto to J-Metal.
 
During my listening sessions with the M50, I was listening to a lot of Tokyo Nights (deep house), deadmau5 (electronica), Dir en Grey (J-metal), Luna Sea (J-Rock), and various pop artists.
 
I discovered I am a basshead at heart, as I yearned for more bass. The M50 have a decent bass response, but I wanted something tighter and more accurate. After some research and help from head-fi users, I decided on the Ultrasone HFI-580 as a sort of horizontal upgrade.
 
Still waiting on the 580s to arrive, but I intend to give another follow up review/post after spending quality time with both headpones.
 
Cheers!

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Valhallatier

Head-Fier
Pros: Uncolored sound, highly detailed at an affordable price point.
Cons: Not musical, very congested, Soundstage below average compared to others. Sibilance.
This is my first headphone when i was wanting to hear what a 'true' headphone sound like, and this is my review. I'm not that much of an audiophile but i know a thing or two about audio.

HEADPHONES
 
The actual headphones look pretty nice, not too heavy or too light. The clamping force is juuuust right(note: i have a big head, i need to stretch the headband to full length).
but there's one problem, the earcups, the interior is just too small to fit in my ears, and i can feel the pressure on my ears. The earpads itself doesn't do justice because it makes my ears sweaty and after a long time of usage, it can turn rock solid.
A little issue i have is when i plug the headphone into the jack, the spring on the cable shocked me. I manage to plug it in though using rubber gloves, but later duct taping the whole conductive metal shielding of the plug

SOUND

i plugged the headphone to my PC onboard audio ( Realtek ALC887) just an average consumer...
The actual sound itself... i was BLOWN away when i heard it, like it was SO real. I watched a few movies and some animes and i was like can't stop feeling it... the actual voice actors is like inside my head.
Also i heard it fresh out of the box, without burn in.
 
LOWS: Just about right, not too boomy or thin, it hits hard without any distortion. But lacks control and precision of what an actual drum 'thump' sounds like.
MIDRANGE(vocals): WOW...just WOW, i'm suprised of how detailed it is at this type of price point. The actual sound is really 'lifeless' and sounded what it sounds like. You could even feel the breaths... BUT not without this silly issue,... why is it so MUTED! Like i barely hear it, turning volume up makes other frequency go wild. The midrange is what i call 'waldo'.
HIGHS: Quite bright, cymbals can sizzle alot. sibilance can be an issue for some. For me, it sounded too 'crunchy', like some tones can get harsh on my ears. i think its... overdriven?
SOUNDSTAGE/IMAGING: I think this is my biggest gripe of this headphone, the soundstage... its so small. maybe TOO small for what you pay for. VERY very hard to pinpoint. Even my cheapo headsets have bigger soundstage...
MUSIC (mostly cons):
Playing music in this thing feels muffled and almost all things wanders free, and leaks to all frequency. Everything feels in your head. Bass bleeds and feels flabby, vocals too hard to hear, highs can be dominant.
 
GAMING EXPERIENCE: I played some battlefield games 3 and 4 mostly... and wow this thing is BAD at games. The sound itself feels too stereo(left/right). If i hear something upfront, it feels hollow and small, but if i hear it near my left/right sides, it feels too loud... just can't get it right. I also can't hear the difference in sound from 3m and so on. I think this has something to do with its soundstage.
Also another con is when i tried the attack boat in BF4, that thing totally rape my ears apart. It screeches so hard and harsh.

BURN IN


It does change the sound, but not by much. I fully gained the peak burn in after around 2 weeks of daily use (music and gaming).
 
CONCLUSION

Do i recommend this?... well
NO

Unless you're monitoring one instrument source at a time, i can't recommend this to anyone. Bad for games and music, but accurate representation of what sound should sound like.
There are lots of headphones out there that can be an alternative to about everything this headphone does.

------------


Thanks for reading, as this is my first review on Head-fi :)
feel free to comment if you want.

 

Triquatra

New Head-Fier
Pros: Great sound, longevity and comfort
Cons: Not the best looking
I use my M-50s for both studio work and DJing. In the studio they do a fantastic job at giving crystal clear highs, mids and bass - though the more I think about it the more I think the bass may be little too loud - clearly it isn't loud enough to mess with the other frequencys but it's something to look out for in the mixdown. I've only just started using them for DJing since I was unhappy with a pair of Pioneer HDJ500s and then a Sony MDR ZX600 (both returned, sold on), I'm using my M-50s whilst I wait for a pair of sennheiser's to arrive. For DJing the clarity of the the highs and mids helps no-end whilst mixing (highs and mids are very important to me whilst DJing) the M-50s cut right through the mix and with their wonderfully clear cut sound easily helps you distinguish the pure basic which song is which and you can hear if a beat is even slightly off. Fantastic stuff - well, at least it would be if they weren't so ugly. Seriously, the packaging and pictures on the net make them look much much nicer than they are - the cans look like they're right out of the 70s. Not at all attractive in my eyes.

pileman

New Head-Fier
Pros: Good isolation, good midrange, quite nice soundstage for a closed back headphone, price/performance, sturdy, rotating cups, great looks? , portable
Cons: Heavy non detachable cable, horrible earpads, high clamping pressure, muffled and overemphasised bass, metallic treble
The ATH-M50 headphones are one of the most recommended headphones on the Internet. Sure they do sound quite good as for a 200$ headphone, but there are far better sounding headphones in the same price range. In my opinion coiled cable headphone version is more bulky than the straight cable version and adds an unnecessary weight. I have both versions of these headphones and I can say that the straight cable version is much much nicer.
 
Sound:
Bass: bass is overemphasised, muffled, loose I would rate it 6/10 and use EQ to bring it down a bit.
Midrange: the midrange is very nice when bass is EQ'd down, I would rate midrange 9.5/10.
Treble: treble has poor detail, quite harsh sounding, after 100 hour burn in it does improve. Overall I would rate it 6/10
 
comfortability:
 
Clamping pressure really makes it, impossible to listen to these headphones for long periods. Also the earpads warm ears up. I would rate comfortability 7/10
 
Conclusion:
Even though these headphones have problems with comfortability, bass, treble and non detachable cable I would really recommend these headphones for portable use and getting straight cable version, instead of coil cable, as it adds unnecessary weight. Overall I would rate these headphones 8/10
Kunlun
Kunlun
Hi, could you outline in a few sentences the qualities of some of the other headphones in the $115 range that you feel clearly outperform the ath-50?
Thanks!
autoteleology
autoteleology
I really hope you didn't actually pay $200 for these. They can be had new for about $110, and used for less than a hundred dollars. They might not be the most competitive in the two Benjamin range, but for a hundred bucks you'd be hard pressed to find a lot of legitimate competition.

peck1234

100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Great Frequency Response, Bass is just perfect, highs are crisp.
Cons: I feel like they have slightly reccesed mids, wish ear cups were even bigger.
a

Runefox

New Head-Fier
Pros: Good audio quality, good isolation, heavy duty cable and connector, very accurate, collapsible for storage
Cons: Uncomfortable over long sessions, leatherette cracks over time
Ah, the Audio Technica ATH-M50's. These guys have been reviewed to death and praised to high heaven. They were also my first foray into the audiophile category, and overall, I'd say I've been very satisfied with them.
 
The audio quality is amazing for the price, though it excels at nothing in particular; In fact, that seems to be their main goal as monitors. They provide an accurate, relatively 'flat' sound stage and frequency response, and in doing so aren't actually very 'fun' to listen to for extended periods of time. There isn't really much that can be said about them that hasn't already in this respect, and by no means am I knocking them for prioritizing accuracy over fun factor; Quite the opposite, I was delighted when I first received them and was able to identify for the first time many things I'd previously missed in much of the music I listen to. As monitors, they do a superb job, and I've used them for that purpose in the past.
 
There are some issues with build quality and comfort, however. The leatherette ear pads seem to crack over time, and these cracks are very sharp to the touch, which seriously impacts my ability to wear them for extended periods, especially combined with the well-known issue of excessive clamping force. That having been said, the cable is incredibly thick and the gold-plated connector is heavy enough that there's no doubt that it will survive a substantial amount of punishment, with a nice matching spring stress reliever in place of a standard plastic or rubber one.
 
Overall a great value, and a great entry into the audiophile market. They got me hooked for sure.

JGrignon

New Head-Fier
Pros: Sound quality, Price
Cons: Long cord, Can get uncomfortable
Bought these because they were cheap and because everyone says such great things about them. Didn't expect much but was pleasantly surprised with their sound. I don't know much about good sound quality but these certainly sound a lot better than your average pair of cans. I did not realize the cord would be so long, I probably should have better researched them. Obviously these headphones were;t designed for walking around with, but that is what I use them for. The cord is really long and just gets caught on everything so perhaps not the best choice for a pair of walk-around-cans. Build quality is superb, no issues. They tend to get uncomfortable after a couple hours but, what else is new. 
 
Overall, for an average consumer, they are great headphones. I am very happy with them. 
 
* March 2013 *​
 ​
I sold them. Not because I didn't like them, but because they weren't getting used. I wanted something that was easily portable, which these were to some degree, but they were not fun to walk around with with such a long cord. Plus, I got the coiled cord which, sometimes can be great, was a pain in the ass since it kept getting caught on my pockets, etc. If the cord was shorter then I would have kept them. I am not complaining though, I should have known how long the cord was, they are for DJs after all and not leisurely listening. Some may not have a problem with it of course.
OPR8R
OPR8R
Hi, JGringon. I'm new here too, and only recently started getting into this hobby in earnest. Glad to hear you're enjoying your M50's. I had a similar experience. I still very much enjoy mine.
I originally got mine to replace some AKG 81's I lost on a business trip (along w/my PA2V2 amp) and was floored as soon as I put them on my head. I know this will sound crazy to some, but I preferred their sound to my HD580's, especially out of my Headroom Micro Stack. Unfortunately, this led me to Denon D5000's, which led me to where I am now, LCD-2v2's. For your sake, I hope the M50's don't have the same "gateway" effect that they had for me.
ayaflo
ayaflo
if everyone buys an m50 and starts to consider themselves as audiophiles . .what really left of the 'real' audio addicts?
sonicx2218
sonicx2218
I didn't really like these headphones myself. I found them great for tracking, but they weren't very fun to listen to music with. I'd prefer the grado 225i's in this particular cost range...though everyone has their own preferred sound signature and you have to listen around to find what works for you.

satoukaito

New Head-Fier
Pros: They can handle any genre thrown at them acceptably well. Also amazing for recording voice acting.
Cons: They are not the best at anything. They lack specialisation.
I originally bought these exclusively to catch more finite details with my voice acting and they did not disappoint at all. They handled the studio scene extremely well. They were very unforgiving to even the slightest falter in my voice. After I finished recording, I decided to try them out as just a regular fashion accessory pair of headphones. I got many comments from people. The design matches nearly every outfit I own very well. Also, the thick padding makes incredible ear warmers! :D But enough about useless blurbs. The audio is excellent for casual listening of random things on my phone. It handles the electronic pop sounds of Caramel Pop incredibly! However, the headphones make the more acoustic sounding bands, such as Tokyo Karan Koron, sound fabricated. I don't know how to exactly define it, but its like if the the music was a pencil drawing, someone grabbed a soft eraser and blurred it to the point of being Picasso. Other than its failure to convey the full acoustic experience, the M50 are excellent headphones. They aren't quite audiophile material, but for the general music listening community, they're one of the best all around 'phones one can get.

revgrectifier

New Head-Fier
Pros: Bass, detail, portability
Cons: Comfort, soundstage
I've bought these because I needed a bass-pronounced headphone since all I had back then was an AKG K242HD that pretty much doesn't have any bass at all.
These headphones are absolutely spectacular if you listen to trance, drum n bass, dubstep and even metal. I just listened to SBTRKT's last album and I really enjoyed it. The bass is tight, precise and detailed (sometimes even a bit too punchy for me, i get headaches, ahah), something you may like or not. The mids are present and you can hear everything without any problem. The highs are sparkling and really pleasant. By the way, these headphones can get a little too harsh for me if you turn the volume up a little bit, so you might need to eq to your taste. If you listen to classical, jazz, ambient don't get them. The soundstage is really small compared to my AKGs and they sound unnatural on these genres. 
 
This is my first review and I'm not english so please don't be too hard
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iDriveFerraris
iDriveFerraris
good job
A1945
A1945
Good job on the review, well written.
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