Audio-Technica ATH-M50 Professional Studio Monitor Headphones

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

With the ATH-M50 professional studio monitor headphones, Audio-Technica has achieved an exceptionally accurate response and long-wearing listening comfort. Designed especially for professional monitoring and mixing, these studiophones feature an efficient collapsible design for space-saving portability and storage. Circumaural ear pieces swivel 180° for easy one-ear monitoring for studio or DJ applications, and the luxuriously padded ear cushions create a superior seal for maximum isolation so you can concentrate on the music. The adjustable headband is generously padded for ultimate comfort during long mixing sessions. A coiled cable at the left earpiece terminates to a gold-plated mini-plug with included screw-on 1/4" adapter.

High Performance for Studio Applications

Designed especially for professional monitoring and mixing, the Audio Technica ATHM50 Studio Monitor Headphones feature an efficient collapsible design for space-saving portability and storage. Circumaural ear pieces swivel 180 degrees for easy one-ear monitoring and luxuriously padded ear cushions create an outstanding seal for maximum isolation. The adjustable headband is generously padded for wearable comfort during long days and nights of studio mixing sessions.

Audio-Technica's sophisticated driver technology and superior components deliver exceptional power handling and very high SPL capabilities while maintaining clarity of sound throughout their extended range, with deep, accurate bass and outstanding high-frequency extension. The headphones feature proprietary large-aperture drivers with neodymium magnet systems for ultra-efficient signal transfer.

About Audio-Technica

Established in 1962, Audio-Technica is a worldwide group of companies devoted to the design, manufacture, marketing and distribution of problem-solving audio equipment. Initially known for state-of-the-art phonograph cartridges, Audio-Technica now creates high-performance microphones, headphones, wireless systems, mixers and electronic products for home and professional use.

Winner of numerous industry awards, Audio-Technica manufactures products that set quality, durability and price/performance standards for live sound tours, broadcast and recording studios, corporate and government facilities, house-of-worship venues, and more. Audio-Technica products are chosen for critical government installations such as the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. Audio-Technica microphones and wireless systems are also selected for major broadcast music events, including the GRAMMY Awards and the Rock ; Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.

What's in the Box?

Audio-Technica ATH-M50 Professional Studio Monitor Headphones, protective pouch, 1/4" screw-on stereo plug adapter, warranty.

Technical Specifications

• Headphone Type: Closed-back dynamic
• Driver Diameter: 45 Mm
• Magnet: Neodymium
• Voice Coil: Copper-Clad Aluminum Wire
• Frequency Response: 15 - 28,000 Hz
• Maximum Input Power: 1,600 mW 1 Khz
• Sensitivity: 99 dB
• Impedance: 38 Ohms
• Weight: 284g (10 oz)

Designed especially for professional monitoring and mixing, the Audio Technica ATHM50 Studio Monitor Headphones feature an efficient collapsible design for space-saving portability and storage. Circumaural ear pieces swivel 180 degrees for easy one-ear monitoring and luxuriously padded ear cushions create an outstanding seal for maximum isolation. The adjustable headband is generously padded for ultimate comfort during long mixing sessions.

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 11 x 5 x 9 inches ; 10.1 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000ULAP4U
• Item model number: ATHM50
  

Price : $120.00

Technical Details

• 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

Costumer Reviews

I'll say this first off: I don't record, DJ, or do any mixes with this headphone (no prosumer work). These Audio Technica M50's (straight cable) are used purely for listening to my music. One phrase comes to mind about these cans: O MiE GaWd!

I currently own these and the Beyerdynamic DT-770 pro (80 ohm), and have owned everything under the sun from Bose's headphone offerings; except their noise-canceling variants, although I've heard those as well. The M50's overall are the best sounding period that I've heard yet. They sound so ridiculously good that I can't even imagine if I need, let alone want to hear more expensive offerings.

Highs 5/5 - Imagine a dedicated tweeter per cup. The highs are PERFECT. Sirens, cymbals, piano notes, you name it comes in crystal clear with a pristine pitch. No harshness or fatigue comes with it. No roll-off or sibilance either, even if you crank it up to stratospheric levels.

Mids 5/5 - Like 2 miniaturized, mid-range drivers for your dome piece. When I heard Bose, I thought I HEARD everything, which was very nice. With the M50's, YOU WILL HEAR EVERYTHING. There were hidden voices and notes that even the Bose's missed in songs that I knew by heart. Voices came out clear and articulate. No recessed mid-range here. It's all up in your grill with pleasing authority and with the natural fullness that is to be expected with your tunes.

Lows 5/5 - I wish I could rate this higher. No other headphone (that I've heard) can touch this. Take two, high quality, sealed sub woofers. Shrink them, and somehow stuff them into the M50's. Then listen. Your brain will become grits. Your eyeballs will shake furiously. Your jawbone will uncontrollably vibrate. The bass in this headphone can resurrect the dead (and then some). The bass notes come in with such passion, that you instantly fall in love. It is highly textured, laser-accurate, and tightly controlled with ZERO distortion. There is no need to crank up the EQ on this. You can, but you've been warned. The bass is the best part about the M50. It is FLAWLESS.

Soundstage 4/5 - For a studio monitor, the soundstage is very good. There is a wide sense of space and depth to the sound. Nevertheless, they aren't as open-sounding as others such as the DT-770 pros, which have a closed design as well. This can sometimes take you out of the "scenario" when watching movies or playing games, which is why I use these primarily for music. I use the DT-770 pro's for movies and games, which those excel in this area.

Detail Retrieval 5/5 - Plain and simple, if it's in the audio track, you will hear it with no problem at all. Every nuance, sound, intricate detail, and mouse-fart will have a direct line to your eardrum for your listening pleasure. No complaints.

Value 5/5 - You need a pair (no, not those) of Audio Technica M50's. These are more than worthy to add to your headphone stable. Comfort is also quite excellent. Other studio monitor headphones pinch too tight for me (I also wear glasses), these are just right. Not too loose or constricted. The Beyers beat these in this area though (those are like Serta pillows :).

The cord is terminated into a slick-looking, metal housing, with a flexible end connected to a 1/8" plug, that also can be mated to a screw on 1/4" adapter. In other words, you can plug the M50's into whatever device you want; Ipod, home receiver, amp, etc., right out of the box. Durability is also the best I've seen yet. Can't see these breaking in any way, even if it's in the hands of a toddler.

Audio Technica M50's = A slice of musical heaven with whipped cream.

UPDATE: 4/8/09 - Burn in definitely changes the sound. Other owners have suggested 40 hours of cooking. The headphones sound more distinct, clear, and the instruments have better separation. Even the bass is more lively and the soundstage is more expanded. All said, don't judge yet until you've pumped tunes through them for many hours. Which then, the end result will surely be a smile on your face.

First of all, under $100? Yes, I found more than a few vendor stores selling these phones (both straight and coiled cord) on eBay for under $100. These are permanent stores with fixed prices, not auctions, so hopefully you could find them for a similar price. But anyways...

I spent almost a month looking for the "right" pair of headphones for my home mixing. A month is probably a long time to spend when you aren't planning on spending more than $100 anyways, maybe $150 tops, but it gives me a warm fuzzy feeling inside to know that my money has been well spent. And it certainly has been!

I must have read a thousand user reviews of different headphones, and those from audio sites like Headroom, [...] and pro-oriented sites like MusiciansFriend. I tried out most of the more well-known headphones in this range, including Sony MDR-V6 and MDR-7506, V700DJ, Sennheiser HD280, HD485, HD515, HD595, Bose Quietcomfort 3, "over-ear" headphones, AKG K240, Grado SR80i and SR125, as well as the Audio-Technica AD700, A700 and m40fs. It took a pretty damn long time.

Okay, I'll willingly say that between so many different headphones it's hard to say what "best" really means. Some headphones definitely have a "flavor" that people prefer but which might be annoying or distracting to others. Since I was looking for monitor headphones, I wanted a very flat response and I personally prefer a little passive isolation (i.e. closed-back phones). Also, my head is somewhat larger than average, and the Sennheisers and Grados were uncomfortably tight. Even the M50s were snug at first, but of the ones I tested they have one of the nicest, sturdiest-looking bands so I wasn't afraid to stretch it over my computer case overnight. I'd heard that the Audiophile phones of the AT line (the AD700s and A700s) were a little big, and true to that statement they fit beautifully and the "wings" floated nearly weightlessly on my head. However, they were a little more "flavored" than a truly flat response (they are, after all, marketed as audiophile headphones, not monitor) and I couldn't find them for under $100 so that ruled them out. Ironically, at the time of this writing Amazon apparently has them on sale for $87 with free shipping. Huh.

To say a few brief things about the other pairs I tried, the Sony's and the AKG's were disappointing considering all the good things I'd heard about them - it leads me to suspect that some of their acclaim is due to the respected status of their "classic" predecessors, rather than wholly based on the product itself. That's just my impression. The m40fs was very good, the m50s were just slightly better and in my budget. The Sennheiser 485's were honestly terrific, they were the only Sennheisers that didn't hurt my head and they had a very impressive sound, which I in some ways preferred to the venerable HD280s. Still, they were open-backed and still just not quite as great as the M50s. Bose comfort was great but after listening to all of the above their sound quality was a joke. Then again they're not exactly marketed to the professional audio crowd, that I've seen.

In either case, I was VERY impressed with the sound quality of the M50s, especially the bass. As other reviewers have said, the bass is exceptionally clear and "punchy", present without being overemphasized. This is extremely ideal for monitoring, NONE of the other headphones I listened to were as faithful. The ranges maybe ~2 octaves above middle C and higher (I'm a piano player so that's what I think in terms of) are just a very miniscule touch bright, but then again I only have ~5 hours of burn-in as of this writing and I've heard that changes.

There are a couple of significant differences between closed and open-back headphones, which is why I called this review "best closed-back headphones under $100". But that's exactly what they are. Sound clarity and separation, stage and retrieval are at least equal to headphones two or three times this price. A friend of mine who runs sound tech and owns a pair of A900s visited me the other day and was so impressed by the quality of these phones vs. the price he went out to buy a pair himself. I'd recommend that anyone looking for a great pair of phones go and do the same!