Audio-Technica ATH-R50X Open-Back Headphones

I’ve been using the Audio-Technica ATH‑M50x for a while now, and they’ve impressed me so much that I felt compelled to write a review. These headphones strike a really nice balance between fun and accurate. The bass is tight and punchy without being boomy, the mids are clear so vocals and instruments sound natural, and the highs have good detail without getting harsh or piercing. I can switch from music to podcasts to movies and never feel like I’m missing anything. Comfort is excellent for longer sessions. The ear pads seal well without clamping too hard, and the headband feels solid but not heavy. I can wear them for a couple of hours at a time without hot spots or fatigue. The build quality is also reassuring: lots of plastic, but it feels sturdy, and the folding design makes them easy to toss in a bag. One thing I really like is the removable cable system. Being able to swap cables (or replace one if it ever fails) is a big plus, and the included cables cover most situations—at home, on the go, or at a desk. Overall, these are easy to recommend if you want a step up from basic consumer headphones. They’re reliable, comfortable, and genuinely enjoyable to listen to, whether you’re casually listening or doing more focused work like light mixing or content creation.

Joshua · 2026-02-05 · via amazon

Comfort wise they are very light with relatively light clamp force. The yokes have a decent range of adjustment and click into place. The cups swivel up down, side to side to apply even pressure, but they apply more pressure to the back of your ear because there is a spring that pushes it. They create a great seal and the earcups are big and deep enough for my ears to not touch anything. The build quality is great as it/s mostly metal. The cups are made of plastic but the grill and headband is metal. I replaced the stock cable with a Youkamoo HD598 cable. You can use most 2.5mm rotation lock cables afaik. The stock cable is fine as its flexible and come in two length as well as having a 1/4" adapter, but they hold memory. Even after a couple days of use, they still are wavy because they were wrapped tightly in the box. I'm using them on PC with a CX31993 dongle, I only need about 20% windows volume to get loud volume out of these. They take EQ great too, because of the 1.6w maximum power and low distortion. They sound relatively bright which I love. They have a nice lower treble energy and presents vocals amazingly. The soundstage is decently wide and imaging is fine. The sub-bass rolls off which is a nice touch personally, because I am quite bass sensitive. You could easily EQ the bass to your liking. Overall, I think these are great headphones for the price. The soundstage and comfort is leagues ahead of a lot of headphones in this price range.

trkppy · 2025-02-24 · via amazon

I bought these headphones mostly for gaming. Specifically, gaming on the Nintendo switch 2. I wanted a pair of headphones to listen to the Nintendo music and get lost in the atmosphere of games like Octopath Traveler, and Zelda. Let me tell you, these are the best headphones, especially for the money, that I have ever purchased. I am comparing these to Turtle Beach and Astro headphones specifically. The sound is very clear the music and vocals pop out far more than the other headphones I have used in the past. These headphones do not have noise cancellation which I actually have grown to prefer for gaming so I still have awareness of what is going on around me (kids, dogs and wife). If you were like me and looking for a more immersive casual gaming experience than you will not be displeased with these. They are light weight, extremely comfortable for longer gaming sessions, and come in at a good price point for the product you are getting. I would definitly buy this again. The only negative is it does not come with a mic but there are aftermarket mic attachments made for these headphones on Amazon so it was an easy work around.

Isabell · 2025-12-31 · via amazon

I’ve owned these for a week or so, so far they’re great. I used to daily drive Astro A40s everyday for about at least 6 years. The cables on those always gave out after a year or so. After the 3rd replacement I got fed up and invested in these. And honestly these have been great. I think they need some adjustment in the EQ but I came off of some decent IEMs that were a bit bass heavy so these are phenomenal. The open sound gives a nice feel of clarity when listening to music. I use them for gaming or YouTube but they’re still great. I’m a casual audiophile so imo they’re lacking a bit of bass but then again, I did come off of IEMs and it’s nothing a bit of adjustment can’t handle. I think they’re like 10% quieter compared to other headphones. I got these on sale and they do leave a dent in the wallet but they’re still goated. I think the one complaint I have isn’t about the headphones, it’s about the description of the ear pads. A lot of people or review sites claim they’re too shallow but honestly I have big ears and they barely touch the headphone, plus if you look up R70x replacement ear pads, they’ll fit these since they’re the same size. For comfort I think they’re more comfortable than I thought, even with the minimal swivel and ear pads. Honestly they’re pretty sturdy too, the cable is nice. I wish it came with a braided one but it’s still a good cable nonetheless.

Cameron R. · 2025-10-21 · via amazon

Best Buy

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MSI

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Newegg

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Newegg (Open Box)

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