The Audio Technica M50 studio monitor thread

[codeninja]

 
My m50s unamped sound really unbalanced
You have to turn up the volume to catch a mere glimpse of well defined mids,
In acoustic guitar tracks the bass overpoweres every other frequence.
I have to get a better source though.

This is the very reason why I just returned m50. Not enough mid, and raising volume overpowered bass. Probably LDI+ should help, but didn't want to take chance as my return period is ending before the amp arrives.

Still, pretty sweat hp that made many different kinds of music very enjoyable.

 

[matto]

I honestly love the M50's now, I got the MD's about a week ago now and was hoping it would sound like the M50 but better, but to my surprise, the M50's sound better, now MD lovers don't flame me this is just my OPINION, but I believe there is much better seperation and when listening to heavy metal it doesn't sound congested compared to the MD's which make it sound congested,
 
A little off topic, but does anyone know a "Portable M50"? I was looking at the ESW-9

 

[Anaxilus]

Quote:

I honestly love the M50's now, I got the MD's about a week ago now and was hoping it would sound like the M50 but better, but to my surprise, the M50's sound better, now MD lovers don't flame me this is just my OPINION, but I believe there is much better seperation and when listening to heavy metal it doesn't sound congested compared to the MD's which make it sound congested,

I agree, I said the same thing awhile back when I used to have my M50.  They are really two different animals though w/ different purposes.  The MD is basically the opposite of a studio monitor.  It was actually designed to color older jazz recordings that were poorly mastered and had bass and mid recession.  Now you'll see how difficult it is to find an IEM in the same price range ($100) that matches the M50.  The M50 has physics on it's side.  Some liked the HJE900 when it was $80 but I hated the recessed mids and thought the bass sucked and was much too fast.

 

[Nordwestlicht]

Two days ago I had the chance to listen to a recent M50 and I luckily was able to compare it to my HFI-580. I have to say that I like the HFI-580 better by far, because it sounds more natural cause the mids are less recessed and the bass is a tad better implemented in the overall sound image.

 

[Cykull]

Does anyone actually use these as portables? I mean, they are really huge and the cable is everywhere.

 

[Anaxilus]

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Two days ago I had the chance to listen to a recent M50 and I luckily was able to compare it to my HFI-580. I have to say that I like the HFI-580 better by far, because it sounds more natural cause the mids are less recessed and the bass is a tad better implemented in the overall sound image.

You mean more accurate in FR and the bass is better detailed as a monitor.  However, the M50 has more natural timbre w/ the exception of the 3khz dip.  to my ears the 580 has a slighlty unnatural timbre which was its only real flaw I found but it's great for electronic stuff.  
 

 

[noggleboggle]

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Does anyone actually use these as portables? I mean, they are really huge and the cable is everywhere.

 
There's a coiled version.
 
 

 

[torifile]

Does anyone actually use these as portables? I mean, they are really huge and the cable is everywhere.

I do. I shortened the cable by about 4 feet and they're perfect.

 

[faileas]

 
I've been using the coiled version - the cable length is just about right for popping a player in the pocket, and the coils mean it almost never snags. Its also tough enough to throw into a backpack (as long as its on top).
 
The only major issue i have is my classmates keep borrowing the darn thing ;p

 

[Cykull]

 
Quote:

Quote:

Does anyone actually use these as portables? I mean, they are really huge and the cable is everywhere.

I do. I shortened the cable by about 4 feet and they're perfect.

 How did you shorten the cable?


Quote:

 
I've been using the coiled version - the cable length is just about right for popping a player in the pocket, and the coils mean it almost never snags. Its also tough enough to throw into a backpack (as long as its on top).
 
The only major issue i have is my classmates keep borrowing the darn thing ;p

 Guess I'll actually have to try taking it out.


Quote:

 
There's a coiled version.
 
 

 I have the coiled version, but I still think the cable is too long.I've tried putting it into my pocket and it's fine, but shorter would be nice.

 

[Borgbox]

I use the coiled cable as portables.
 
Quote:

Does anyone actually use these as portables? I mean, they are really huge and the cable is everywhere.

 

 

[Cykull]

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I use the coiled cable as portables.
 


 

 
 Hmm, I really want take them out now since everyone is using them fine(only used them inside so far). Anyways, thanks guys.

 

[meyameya]

OMG!!!
 
have you guys seen the OPEN ATH M50 MOD? ->http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/542218/ath-m50-open-mod#post_7311393

 

[leechi]

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OMG!!!
 
have you guys seen the OPEN ATH M50 MOD? ->http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/542218/ath-m50-open-mod#post_7311393

Sounds interesting! I'll have to follow the thread to see what others think when they try the mod. I'm too scared to do anything that's irreversible on mine since these are my only headphones.
 

 

[reivaj]

got my new headphones yesterday. glad to be a new member of the ath m50 family. unfortunately im a little sad that i have the straight cable and not the coiled. its gonna be a pain when i want to travel