[Ric1live]

I recently got my hands on some nee audio technical ath m50's and they sound absolutely nothing like what any reviews said. To me they sound kind of empty and lacking. I don't know if I got a defefective or fake or anything, but right now they just sound like "bleh". Do they need burn in or something? Or am I just not used to them (I switched to them from Koss portapro which I enjoy a lot)?

 

[Ric1live]

New*
Audio-Technica*

 

[FunkDrummer]

What aspect did you dislike about the M50's? Are they the M50x's or the M50s'? 

 

[Ric1live]

What aspect did you dislike about the M50's? Are they the M50x's or the M50s'? 

They sound cheap and lackluster like they're missing something and they kind of distort mids in thick music. And shallow bass. I have the regular M50s with coiled cable.

 

[DJDREEM]

The M50s soubd pretty bad. Sadly the hype makes them seem amazing.

 

[german103]

Wait, wait, wait. I'm about to get those? 
Upgrading from Siberia V2

 

[Ric1live]

Is it possible that I received a defective set? Or are they a downgrade from the portapros?

 

[Roers]

I remember listening to a pair and thinking the same thing. Have you listened to other headphones before?

*edit

My bad. But I remember the portas having a much better sound versus the M50's. When I put the M50's on I immediately thought it was very plastic and cold sounding.

 

[Ric1live]

Is it something that you get used to? Or should I try to return them and get something else?

 

[Boochie]

  Is it possible that I received a defective set? Or are they a downgrade from the portapros?

I think your set is defective.  I purchased a used pair a few months ago from a seller on Amazon and had a similar experience.  It was if the midrange was totally missing.  I returned them as defective.  Got another set and all is good now. 
 
Can you return them?

 

[Wheezy]

I got a pair new from amazon.  They are pretty clear but sounded cold/empty/lacking/thin/bleh to me as well.  I thought they would improve being amped but sounded worse with schiit modi/magni to me.  Didn't have them long enough to see if I'd get used to the sound because they really hurt my ears to wear.
 
I replaced them with Grado SR225is, much happier with the sound.

 

[Roers]

Is it something that you get used to? Or should I try to return them and get something else?

If I were you I would return them and save for something else. Unless you genuinely think you got a defective pair.

 

[ToddTheMetalGod]

I haven't heard the M50s in a long time, but I remember them exactly that way. Cold mid-range that isn't anything spectacular, punchy bass that sounded kind of shallow in the sub bass, and highs that were fairly bright and lacked detail. I thought they had decent imaging and soundstage for closed portable headphones though.

The reason they are so hyped is because nobody really hates them, they're a jack of all trades but a master of none. They don't do anything wrong and don't do anything spectacularly right either. It's an easy suggestion to beginners in the hobby. When I was new to audio I loved them. I'm not sure I would feel the same way now, as I have better equipment and would take them for granted.

 

[KlarkKentThe3rd]

I suggest just getting M40x instead. It is their best out of the M series that were ever created. Flat, and very detailed for 100$.

 

[MindsMirror]

I got an M50x a few weeks ago and I wasn't happy with them either. I wouldn't say they sounded empty, but It seemed like they had some strange buzzing or crackling distortion with drums and low frequencies. I don't know if they were defective or if they were just accentuating/revealing some detail of my music that I didn't like. I gave them a few days to burn in but it didn't change. I sent them back and bought a Grado SR125i instead, which I am much happier with.
 
Does anyone else with an M50x hear this? In the new Dream Theater album (HD Tracks version), the snare drum sounded really buzzy. I knows that's part of what snare drums sound like, but it was far less pleasant than in my Grados. And in The Eleventh Hour by Fates Warning there was a lot of crackling noise in the first minute of the song with the bass notes. I can hear it faintly in my Grados, but when I heard it in the M50x I thought something was wrong with them.