Audio-Technica ATH-R50x and ATH-R30x Impressions Thread

[kman1211]

Making this thread as there doesn't seem to be a thread on R50x, a new budget ($159 USD) reference open-backs from AT yet and also for the upcoming R30x ($99 USD).

Just got my hands on the R50x. In a lot of ways they sound similar to the original R70x but with a little more bass and treble emphasis. I'll do some comparisons with the R70xa and others when I have more time with them.

Audio-Technica ATH-R50x

Specs:
Open-Back Reference
Dynamic 45mm driver
Frequency Response: 5 to 40,000 Hz
Maximum Input Power: 1600 mW
Sensitivity: 93.3 dB/mW
Impedance: 50 Ohms
Weight: 207g w/o cable

https://www.audio-technica.com/en-us/ath-r50x

Audio-Technica ATH-R30x

Specs:
Open-Back Reference
Dynamic 40mm driver
Frequency Response: 15 to 25,000 Hz
Maximum Input Power: 1000 mW
Sensitivity: 92 dB
Impedance: 36 Ohms
Weight: 210g

https://www.audio-technica.com/en-us/ath-r30x

 

[llysender]

Comment here to bookmark the thread.

But still personally I donno why I keep having fomo with getting the R50X. Something about bass heavy but still precise/dryish and crazy wide stage just resonates with me even at the expense of finer microdetails that I'm getting with the R70X/SRH1840.

Sure it's a coloured V shape but the fact that you can crank it without entering sibilance is really nice.

 

[dweaver]

Picked up the R50X and I am very happy with the sound of these! They have enough bass to meet most my needs, awesome mids, and airy treble.

One of my first forays into full size headphones was the AD700 and then AD900. I loved both but sold them due different issues with ergonomics and niggles with the sound signature.

I then drifted away from AT and would occasionally try something like one of their TWS models and my son uses the M50BT/1/2 but I was never really happy with any of them.

The R50X impresses the hell out me!

For this price point these really sound good! I am sure the R70X / AX are better in many ways. But I have no desire to start chasing bigger amps and going down that path again. Plus from what I am reading I might not enjoy their refined sound...

Only issue is they are ever so slightly to confined for my ear, so not as comfy as I would like. But good enough.

Now just have to pry them away from son every once in a while since he is gonna be gaming the crap out of these...

 

[kman1211]

Picked up the R50X and I am very happy with the sound of these! They have enough bass to meet most my needs, awesome mids, and airy treble.

One of my first forays into full size headphones was the AD700 and then AD900. I loved both but sold them due different issues with ergonomics and niggles with the sound signature.

I then drifted away from AT and would occasionally try something like one of their TWS models and my son uses the M50BT/1/2 but I was never really happy with any of them.

The R50X impresses the hell out me!

For this price point these really sound good! I am sure the R70X / AX are better in many ways. But I have no desire to start chasing bigger amps and going down that path again. Plus from what I am reading I might not enjoy their refined sound...

Only issue is they are ever so slightly to confined for my ear, so not as comfy as I would like. But good enough.

Now just have to pry them away from son every once in a while since he is gonna be gaming the crap out of these...

The R70xa, R70x, and the R50x are all quite different from each other. Both the R70x and R70xa excel at imaging and staging and have quite neutral sound signatures but the R70x and R70xa have a different take on neutral from each other. With the R70xa more clean and snappy sounding and the R70x warmer and softer sounding.

The R50x’s speciality is honestly its excellently tuned mids and honestly the euphonic character the mids have. They do have a nice bass and are a bit more trebly than the R70x/xa. I personally like the midrange tuning more on the R50x than both the R70xa and the R70x. But it doesn’t have the depth and nuance to its overall sound like the R70xa and R70x does.

 

[dweaver]

I made a review for the R70xa and R50x a few weeks ago if anyone is interested. My R30x review is in the works, just waiting on some measurements before finalizing.

But super quick summary:
1. R70xa is a pure musical enjoyment headphone than a reference one. It's not that it's super colored, but it is colored enough. If your ears are like mine, it's downright magical on some female vocals and treble notes.
2. R50x is more straightforward - it's a mild V-shaped headphone so arguably (?) a bit thin in the mids. Surprising amount of bass, might be the bassiest open back headphone under $500. Treble is very bright though, so be warned. It's broadband elevation so it's not peaky painful, just bright.
3. R30x is worth the $100, but I wouldn't pay much more than that. No complaints on the tuning, though it is light in the bass.

Your review and comment along with @kman1211 comments that helped me try the R50X after many years away from the AT fold. I am like Kman1211 in that I don't find these thin sounding which given some of my open ear and semi open ear I own (HE 400I, Nighthawk, MDR-Z7) is surprising.

I am really glad I took the plunge on these. Have to admit the price point made it easier to jump. Just could not bring myself to pay north of $600CAD to try the R70AX when these were only $250CAD.

Well done Audio Technica! You have brought back an old time AT fan into the fold.

 

[Ufasas]

So r50x arrived in 2 days, in love with them in 60mins or less, so comfortable like ma900, but sits on head without getting loose, so many details, and so clear sounding, i am not even mad that bass is there, but not slamming, separation of instruments is great, in love with the cymbals sound again, saxophone in jazzy bands is very delicate and giving goosebumps, vocals does not get overwhelmed by anything and are prominent, Emma Ruth Rundle - Run Forever, female vox sound ultra intimate, seems as if she is in my room with microphone, lol, goosebumps are real. Progressive metal, sludge metal, gothic metal sounds like i love them to sound. I still don't know if it's r50x > hd560s > ma900, or hd560s > r50x , but starting to think of them as top 2 or top 3 open backs i ever had. Connecting with Fiio K7, high gain, and volume knob sits between 55% to 70% for moderate sounding and enjoyment, surprised how high i need to raise the knob. Last thing will be to check them in gaming

 

[DekoniAudio]

I have to say the R50X was one of the most pleasantly surprising headphones of recent. I only had them for a short time, but for the entirety of their stay I did not want to take them off. They were comfy, lightweight and just sounded really good. It was the best recommendation I got at CanJam in NYC, its definitely worth a try.

 

[kman1211]

I have to say the R50X was one of the most pleasantly surprising headphones of recent. I only had them for a short time, but for the entirety of their stay I did not want to take them off. They were comfy, lightweight and just sounded really good. It was the best recommendation I got at CanJam in NYC, its definitely worth a try.

Honestly the R50x and the R70xa have been some of my favorite new releases. Love both of the headphones for different reasons. The R50x is a real value champ though and just has a lovely sound signature that I find addicting. I use them both on my desktop system and my transportable and portable systems. I use them for portable as I have no need for isolation on the go as I like taking them out when I go on walks or jogs.

 

[Ufasas]

I have to say the R50X was one of the most pleasantly surprising headphones of recent. I only had them for a short time, but for the entirety of their stay I did not want to take them off. They were comfy, lightweight and just sounded really good. It was the best recommendation I got at CanJam in NYC, its definitely worth a try.

I almost got late to work today, because of r50x haha

I use them for portable as I have no need for isolation on the go as I like taking them out when I go on walks or jogs.

I hear ya, they not as leaky leaky, they leak of course, but i have impression if you run through people while jogging, it just not gonna annoy anyone at all

 

[dweaver]

So r50x arrived in 2 days, in love with them in 60mins or less, so comfortable like ma900, but sits on head without getting loose, so many details, and so clear sounding, i am not even mad that bass is there, but not slamming, separation of instruments is great, in love with the cymbals sound again, saxophone in jazzy bands is very delicate and giving goosebumps, vocals does not get overwhelmed by anything and are prominent, Emma Ruth Rundle - Run Forever, female vox sound ultra intimate, seems as if she is in my room with microphone, lol, goosebumps are real. Progressive metal, sludge metal, gothic metal sounds like i love them to sound. I still don't know if it's r50x > hd560s > ma900, or hd560s > r50x , but starting to think of them as top 2 or top 3 open backs i ever had. Connecting with Fiio K7, high gain, and volume knob sits between 55% to 70% for moderate sounding and enjoyment, surprised how high i need to raise the knob. Last thing will be to check them in gaming

I have this little cheap USB dac cable I use on my phone and I can barely go above may 15% volume for some reason it's crazy loud.

I really do love the sound and hear them very much the same as you.

I have to say the R50X was one of the most pleasantly surprising headphones of recent. I only had them for a short time, but for the entirety of their stay I did not want to take them off. They were comfy, lightweight and just sounded really good. It was the best recommendation I got at CanJam in NYC, its definitely worth a try.

100% this is the first time in a few years that AT really impressed me. This is one of their best value headphones I have heard.

 

[Ufasas]

I have this little cheap USB dac cable I use on my phone and I can barely go above may 15% volume for some reason it's crazy loud.

I really do love the sound and hear them very much the same as you.

100% this is the first time in a few years that AT really impressed me. This is one of their best value headphones I have heard.

Good to hear, another happy user! Strangely, with Fiio K5 Pro ESS knob sits at 25-30% vol + medium gain for a similar enjoyment like Fiio K7 o.O . Tested with LG v60 android on uAPP with quad DAC, sony xperia 1 III, and Fiio BTR5 BT DAC. This is how i liked them from top to bottom: Fiio K7 + Fiio K5 Pro ESS unleashes r50x fully > BTR5 BT (with LDAC codec) > LG v60 (quad: on) > Xperia 1 III. After listening via smartphones, i wanted to go back to desktop DACs asap, haha. Opened Mastodon - Crack The Skye album on r50x + k5 pro combo - something spectacular, clear, smooth, full bodied rocking sound.

Edit: Tested with Quake Live online game as of now, happy at predicting opponents and whole map awareness, though QL sound engine on the older side.. hehe; need to test Hunt:Showdown and some Battlefield games next

 

[dweaver]

The more I listen to the R50X the more I like them. It's like someone went into my head and figured out the perfect signature for me. I have heard and owned more technically capable products but nothing that is this right to my ears.

 

[donunus]

Has anyone experienced any distortion when playing these loud? The Apos R70x Refine had that issue

 

[Ufasas]

Has anyone experienced any distortion when playing these loud? The Apos R70x Refine had that issue

not when bit format is aligned, and 44.1khz or 48khz is aligned in media player, and not even with less powerful audio sources, maybe just don't have a need to listen loud too, but with favourite songs i want to raise volume louder and louder, because 50x sound is very good, only A/B'ing them with 1more h1707 on-ears, once i get tired of bass, i put 50x on and finish listening the album. Are you using EQ in DAC settings or in player settings? i forgot once that i had EQ enabled in btr7 dac, and still used another EQ on top from media player maybe that could cause problem?

 

[donunus]

With the apos it would distort without any eq. I used a magni unity amp from a modi dac. I don't have these yet. I am asking in advance before getting them.