A Concise View of Why The ATH-M50 is No Longer King

[WhiteCrow]

Quote:

Have you guys ever considered some people like recessed mids?

Yea, but people were talking them up as not having recessed mids.

 

[Magick Man]

Re the comments on "Enter Darkness" possibly trolling - this could provide a possible explanation (I'm guessing - but it seems too close)
http://www.head-fi.org/t/591135/metalhead-who-just-bought-grado-sr225i-What/45#post_8073075

Repeat troll, like a bad burrito, they just keep coming back up.

 

[Melvins]

this seems common knowledge here

 

[Evarin]

I'd love to hear of how the M50 measures up against the Fischer Audio FA-003 and its more readily available clones in a straight comparison. I've never listened to the M50's, but I am extremely pleased with the sound quality of the HM5 for the price. At around $120 I would hope they are always at least mentioned in a conversation for the best closed headphones in the sub 150 range.
 

 

[Nepenthe]

Yea, but people were talking them up as not having recessed mids.

Some people listen at very low volumes. I don't enjoy loud or moderate volume music, doesn't matter if it's live music amplified or unamplified, coming out of $100K speakers or stock LCD TV speakers, $1000 headphones or $30 headphones. I like the sound to be "barely there" when I listen. I like my ears and mind to have to reach out and try to embrace the sound, instead of my ears and mind putting up defenses against it or having it crammed down my ear canals.
 
This is also why I value isolation greatly.
 
At the same time I like it to be balanced. I don't like the treble and the bass to completely run away never to be heard from. Ever studied human hearing / loudness contours?
 
I did not enjoy the midrange-boosted HE-500s for this reason. Once I turned the volume down to where the midrange should be, highs and lows were just gone.

 

[Southy013]

Quote:

Why are we comparing the M50s to HD600s? Or any open headphone for that matter? Apples and oranges.
 
 

Well, considering you can get what is essentially a closed-can HD600 for cheaper than what the M50s go for, wouldn't it be apples, and well, cheaper, tastier apples?
 

 

[Melvins]

and what can are those? The 600's are three times the price of the 50s....

 

[ssrock64]

Quote:

and what can are those? The 600's are three times the price of the 50s....

I believe they're referring to the FA-003, which is very commonly compared to the HD600.

 

[ssrock64]

Quote:

I'd love to hear of how the M50 measures up against the Fischer Audio FA-003 and its more readily available clones in a straight comparison. I've never listened to the M50's, but I am extremely pleased with the sound quality of the HM5 for the price. At around $120 I would hope they are always at least mentioned in a conversation for the best closed headphones in the sub 150 range.
 

I own both the M50 and FA-003, and I've given a listen to the HM5 and confirmed with 99% certitude that they're the same as the FA-003. The M50 is much more close with its sound, and accentuates the bass more while still being relatively neutral. The FA-003/HM5 has a smoother response, reaches a little deeper in the bass department than the M50, but doesn't have the same bass volume, being more neutral. The FA-003/HM5 is more comfortable (at least to me) than the M50, but the M50 has it beat for portability. The FA-003/HM5 is a great neutral can that sounds quite open, while the M50 is an in-your-face headphone that tries to do well with the first-time audiophile crowd.

 

[129207]

Quote:

I'd love to hear of how the M50 measures up against the Fischer Audio FA-003 and its more readily available clones in a straight comparison. I've never listened to the M50's, but I am extremely pleased with the sound quality of the HM5 for the price. At around $120 I would hope they are always at least mentioned in a conversation for the best closed headphones in the sub 150 range.
 

The FA-003 doesn't have "clones". The actual headphone itself is a Yoga CD-880 OEM headphone, rebranded by companies like Fischer Audio, Brainwavz (Mp4nation) and lately more budget oriented electronica stores in the US. 
 
Guys, FA-003 = HM5 = CD-880. End of mystery. The thing sounds damn good though. Listening to my HM5 right now. 

 

[Melvins]

completely off topic, but Negaku how do you like your e10? have you used it with your grad yet?

 

[129207]

Quote:

completely off topic, but Negaku how do you like your e10? have you used it with your grad yet?

E10's great for the money I paid. Nice and clean sound with a pretty decent bassboost. It's hardly a night and day difference from my laptop's onboard but it does sound better through WASAPI. I like it, would recommend it to everyone on a budget.
 
 

 

[Melvins]

what's WASAPI? well awesome because I just ordered it. what's your online card? I don't think my mac's online card is that great although it certainly isn't terrible

 

[G.Trenchev]

Dear HeadFi-ers,
I don't know if Audio-Technica pays you,but at least 300 pieces of the M50 are sold thanks to you.That's about 40000$ of worth.And that's only headphones registered on Head-Fi.If a regular product consultant sells that much of any product with just talk,he will(he'll ask to) be raised to a much higher position.Audio-Technica love you for sure.
Is it proper to do that?
 

 

[tribestros]

I think the HD280Pros eliminate the ATH-M50 in every sense of the word unless you want a lot of bass.