Audio Technica ATH-M50 Headphones are AWESOME

[Soggyphi]

I just picked up a pair of the AT M50 today. I was so blown away that I joined gearslutz just to post about them. I've been a visitor to gearslutz many times before but never had any reason to post.

I had a pair of Bose I wasn't really impressed with that frayed at the right cuff so, I've been on a mission to find a pair of no-joke replacements that I could use in the studio and listen to my tunes with.

I listened to a lot of different pairs. Here was the competition:

Sony MDR7506
AKG240S
Senn HD280
Ultrasone DJ1
Ultrasone HFI450
Ultrasone PRO650

I was really excited to listen to the Ultrasones. I've read reviews praising them, and others ripping apart the S-Logic technology.

I actually listened to the HD280's first as a reference. I tried the M50's next and immeadiately they felt comfortable. When I started playing music I didnt want to take them off. I got juiced to try out the Ultrasones. I worked my way up the chain in price. I was expecting something amazing but was pretty let down. They sounded pretty flat all across the spectrum which some people desire for referencing, but I was missing the warmth of the AT's in the low end and mids. The ultrasones sounded very thin in comparison, and seemed to amplify the harsher high frequencies at loud volumes. With the Pro650's running nearly double the M50's in price and sounding half as good it was easy to eliminate them. The AKG's lacked the low end I was looking for and werent as comfortable. The Sony's are closest in comparison, but they also get a little harsh at loud volumes and dont have quite the warmth in the low end.

The M50 has everything I was looking for. Dynamics, bass, comfort, a cable that will hold up to everyday use (compared to the dispicable bose) and for the price range I'd argue theyre the best theing out there. My two pennies.

[Sugarnutz]

I got the ATH-M50 with the straight cord, new on EBay for $90 + $12 s/h. Very happy with them. Still mix on my KEF Corelli/Crown D150 setup though.

[climber]

I've had a pair for about a year & really do like 'em. comfortable for sure as well.

[Beyersound]

Originally Posted by PheelTheMusic

I just received my second pair of Audio Technica ATH-M50 headphones the other day and these cans continue to blow me away. Before I was hip to these I was using Sony MDR-7506s and there is absolutely no comparison between the two. The M50s destroy the 7506s. Night and day difference. Bass a mile deeper and more firm without sounding artificially hyped. Crystal clear highs. Amazing representation of spatial info.

Anyone else have these headphones and loving them?

If you haven't yet heard them give them a try! For ~$150 new and less than $100 used here on the classifieds these things are almost too good to be true.
thumbsupthumbsupthumbsupthumbsupthumbsup

The 7506 truly defines the sound of a**! dfegad They make a bad mix sound good and a good mix sound bad. Now that's an achievement! More audio people are deluded by these cans than any other! I am sure the M50s are much better.

[francois]

Are the M50 built with the same housing material than the M40's ?

The reason I ask is that I have 3 pairs of the M40 and D40 with the outside plastic lining (bonnet and headband) totally falling apart.
The plastic cover material is leaving a bunch of crapy black flakes all over the talents hair and face .

I think I narrowed the cause to the hair product that a lot of my rappers clients are using on their dreads.
It got so bad on this batch of headphones that I have to keep my newer HD280 away from some rap groups.
Anyone is experiencing the same thing ?

[dft3670]

The Sony MDR series (especially the 06's) are very big in the video industry for ENG work as they pack up really tight, take a beating and are very light. We have used them with all our cameras for years, beat the living crap out of them and they held up nicely. For run and gun camera work, they are gold. I only use them for tracking instruments in the studio. They are very thin sounding and bright in the top end. A feature that makes them great in the video world when you need to cut through all the background noise and listen for RF hits.

I just picked up the ATH-M50's after all the raves on GS and it's taken me a bit of time to get adjusted to them, but I'm really starting to like them. I mix on A7's, which to my ear have very flat bottom, so at first all the warmth in the 50's sounded very muddy to my ear. Now that I'm accostomed to them, they are a great reference against the A7's as they let me hear the warm bottom end I don't get for the Adams.

The ear cups are comfortable, but they do get a bit tight around the head after an hour or so.

+1

I'll be picking up a few more pair.

[markus enochson]

i really love the sennheiser m50. my fav headphones at the moment!!!

[Sounds Great]

Originally Posted by francois

Are the M50 built with the same housing material than the M40's ?

The reason I ask is that I have 3 pairs of the M40 and D40 with the outside plastic lining (bonnet and headband) totally falling apart.
The plastic cover material is leaving a bunch of crapy black flakes all over the talents hair and face .

I think I narrowed the cause to the hair product that a lot of my rappers clients are using on their dreads.
It got so bad on this batch of headphones that I have to keep my newer HD280 away from some rap groups.
Anyone is experiencing the same thing ?

Yes I have the flaking bits falling around me with one of my old pairs of M40's. But they are probably 15 or 20 years old, and well used.

[nbarts]

I've sold my Grado 325is after I got my first M50. I hope that tells you enough.

What I'm really curious about is if anyone compared them with AD700s?

[nbarts]

Originally Posted by elambo

All cans may embellish a little, but a Sennheiser HD600 with a really good preamp comes damn close. Very likely closer than most people's control rooms, given the fact that most of us have inferior room treatment.

I just bought the AT M50 and I'm really impressed. I think they'll be great tracking phones.

Hi there,

Can you draw a comparison between the 2?

[nbarts]

Originally Posted by peeder

Some of my thoughts on these and others:

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/1722784-post11.html

I too thought they sounded close to Dyns. That said, a mix on my Dyns translates 100 times better.

[JMWS]

Does anyone know a good shop where to buy the ATH-M50 with STRAIGHT cable inside EU?

I really hate the coiled cables. And all the shops I have found just have the coiled ones.

[Sounds Great]

Originally Posted by nbarts

What I'm really curious about is if anyone compared them with AD700s?

Yes, I had the AD700. Wonderful, clear sounding phones, but I like the bass better on the M50, more solid and lower reaching.

Originally Posted by JMWS

Does anyone know a good shop where to buy the ATH-M50 with STRAIGHT cable inside EU?

I really hate the coiled cables. And all the shops I have found just have the coiled ones.

How about Ebay? Where I sold my used pair with coiled cable for more than I bought my new pair with straight cable.

[hywyn]

Originally Posted by dft3670

The Sony MDR series (especially the 06's) are very big in the video industry for ENG work as they pack up really tight, take a beating and are very light. We have used them with all our cameras for years, beat the living crap out of them and they held up nicely. For run and gun camera work, they are gold. I only use them for tracking instruments in the studio. They are very thin sounding and bright in the top end. A feature that makes them great in the video world when you need to cut through all the background noise and listen for RF hits.

I just picked up the ATH-M50's after all the raves on GS and it's taken me a bit of time to get adjusted to them, but I'm really starting to like them. I mix on A7's, which to my ear have very flat bottom, so at first all the warmth in the 50's sounded very muddy to my ear. Now that I'm accostomed to them, they are a great reference against the A7's as they let me hear the warm bottom end I don't get for the Adams.

The ear cups are comfortable, but they do get a bit tight around the head after an hour or so.

+1

I'll be picking up a few more pair.

Hi there!
I work as a location sound recordist and have the Sony MDR 7509's. I agree that the 7506's are generally used more in the industry and that their sound is thin and bright, - too bright for me having become accustomed to using 7509's which arefar more rounded.

You didn't mention the build of the ATH-M50s. Do you think they'll hack it on the road? My 7509's can take a beating but are plastic and I have had to replace the headband assembly twice. They ain't DT-100's!

Also. their sound, - anywhere near the 7509's? Could they be a cheaper version of these cans?

Chees,
Steve

[mcollinge]

Interestingly I just compared the 7505s, senn hd280s and the m40s. My thoughts were that the 7505s were scooped, and the m40s were even more scooped. There was is big low-mid "bass boost" in both, which drives me crazy.

I much preferred the hd-280s to both. (They're gonna be mostly for listening and a little tracking).

I sure miss my old Senn hd-28-1 pros, however. THOSE were nice.

[Robert George]

Just bought 6 pair of the 50s. Nuf said. Anyone want 6 pair of HD-280s like new at a great price?

[Sounds Great]

Originally Posted by Robert George

Just bought 6 pair of the 50s. Nuf said. Anyone want 6 pair of HD-280s like new at a great price?

Robert, 9 posts in 6 years? Stop talking so much.

I have lately been using the M50's a lot as I watch movies on my computer. The bass is so great!

[dft3670]

HI work as a location sound recordist and have the Sony MDR 7509's. I agree that the 7506's are generally used more in the industry and that their sound is thin and bright, - too bright for me having become accustomed to using 7509's which arefar more rounded.

You didn't mention the build of the ATH-M50s. Do you think they'll hack it on the road? My 7509's can take a beating but are plastic and I have had to replace the headband assembly twice. They ain't DT-100's!

Yep. We use a bunch of 09's also. Much better sounding cans than the 06's. Our editors use the 09's for quick monitoring when cutting video and for VO work. But for our smaller HD camera kits the 09's are a bit to big for the bags.

The ATH-M50's should be ok for the field. They are a bit more bulky than the 09's. If you have room in a bag I think they would be fine. I love the 06's not for their sound as for the ability to pack them up as tight as a grapefruit. This is key for me when working overseas and having to carry a light kit. I really love the ATH-50's in the studio but they are a little to warm for run and gun ENG camera work where I'm worried more about drop outs and RF hits than audio quality

[ddp]

I've got two pairs of M50s and I love them. Both of mine have curly cords and I wish I had straight. But still for the money they are killer!!

[jPod]

These are my first monitor headphones and I have to say that I really like them. I finally understand what it means to hear details in a song that you've never heard before.

I want to get the Sennheiser HD280 to make a comparison, though. And, after that, I'll be thinking about getting 'phones at higher price point.

[Tha Wiizard]

thumbsupThese headphones are the freaking bomb! These cans are better than a lot of studio monitors, you don't have to take my word for it.

[Robert Sands]

Just bought the AT ATH-M50's and I love them also. Have the Sony 7506's and the 7509's. Always thought they were real good. Before I bought the AT's I bought the Sennheiser HD280's. No bass and high end too hyped. Sounded real lovely on top but just not real. Bottom had no punch to the kick drum. Returned them pronto and bought the AT ATH-M50's. Really, really great cans. Very flat, nice bass - just so accurate. I have them on at times and I forget that they are on. That's the truth and I've heard others say the very same thing. My main monitors are Dynaudio BM12 Passives powered by a Bryston 4BST and I also use a powered sub with them. So it's a pretty potent setup. These headphones are very similar and I truly forget that they are on my head sometimes. Wonderful headphones. No BS.

[Ermz]

They are great monitoring cans. I've had my set since January and am growing to like them more by the day. Initially it was hard for me to adjust due to how neutral they are, and my ear naturally wanted to hear something a bit more hyped and lively on the top end. These really give you the midrange in all its glory and just present the mix, no BS. Great bass extension too, as mentioned. Very even bass for closed cans. If only my room would allow my monitors to match that!

On another note, what would be a good headphone amp to match to these things?

[DONNX]

They are the best. Own two pairs. Love em Sold the two "sones" and the "shens"

[Jonboy79]

I bought 6 pair of the M50's a couple years ago I guess it was. Absolutely the best sounding headphones I've ever heard, even better than my Sennheisers I love so much. Only problem is out of the 6 pair of headphones, not one single pair is still working properly. Just after the warranty they started going out, it was freaky because it'd be one pair a month almost like clockwork. I was so very disappointed.

[Fleaman]

Originally Posted by mcollinge

Interestingly I just compared the 7505s, senn hd280s and the m40s. My thoughts were that the 7505s were scooped, and the m40s were even more scooped. There was is big low-mid "bass boost" in both, which drives me crazy.

I much preferred the hd-280s to both. (They're gonna be mostly for listening and a little tracking).

I sure miss my old Senn hd-28-1 pros, however. THOSE were nice.

You do realize this thread is about the M50's, not the M40's?

Also, I don't think there is a 7505??.....

[mcollinge]

Originally Posted by Fleaman

You do realize this thread is about the M50's, not the M40's?

Also, I don't think there is a 7505??.....

My mistake: 7506.

[TankT34]

I've bought my ATH-M50 last february and I'm very happy with them, glad other people love them too

[Sounds Great]

Originally Posted by ddp

I've got two pairs of M50s and I love them. Both of mine have curly cords and I wish I had straight. But still for the money they are killer!!

I had the coiled cord and wanted straight. I bought a new pair on ebay and sold my used coil pair for more than the new ones. Go figure.

[Matt Hepworth]

Another big fan of the ATHM50's here. Yep, the new straight cord fixed the only thing that wanged on the original version.