Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
The ubiquitous closed-back studio workhorse — punchy, isolating, and built to abuse. More fun than flat, and honest about it.
Our take
The M50x is a closed, isolating monitor with boosted bass and an energetic upper treble — a V-shape that reads as exciting more than neutral. Great for tracking and noisy rooms; if you want it flatter, a little EQ pulls the bass and treble back in line.
Measured on a Head Acoustics HMS II.3 artificial head — raw response, left/right averaged, normalized to 0 dB at 1 kHz. From the Sonic Temple Archive(2008–2014, one unit per model). Honest limits: seating variance runs ±0.4 dB in the mids to ±3.9 dB above 12 kHz, and open headphones read bass-light on this fixture — don’t read fine treble detail as settled. How we measure →
Common questions
Straight answers — the same ones our measurements support.
Does the ATH-M50x need an amp?
No. 38 Ω and sensitive, it is happy off a phone or an interface headphone output.
Is the M50x good for mixing?
For tracking and reference in loud spaces, yes. For final mix decisions its V-shape means you will want a flatter check or some EQ.
Is the M50x closed or open?
Closed-back — it isolates well, which is why it is everywhere in studios and on commutes.
If you like the ATH-M50x
Close on the graph, or a deliberate step in one direction.