Get insider access
Preferred store
Notice: Your browser is not supported or outdated so some features of the site might not be available.
  1. Table of Contents
  2. Top
  3. Main Differences
  4. Design
    1. Style
    2. Comfort
    3. Controls
    4. Breathability
    5. Portability
    6. Case
    7. Build Quality
    8. Stability
    9. Headshots 1
    10. Headshots 2
    11. Top
    12. In The Box
  5. Sound
    1. Sound Profile
    2. Frequency Response Consistency
    3. Raw Frequency Response
    4. Bass Profile: Target Compliance
    5. Mid-Range Profile: Target Compliance
    6. Treble Profile: Target Compliance
    7. Peaks/Dips
    8. Imaging
    9. Passive Soundstage
    10. Virtual Soundstage
    11. Weighted Harmonic Distortion
    12. Test Settings
  6. Isolation
    1. Noise Isolation - Full Range
    2. Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios
    3. Noise Isolation - Voice Handling
    4. ANC Wind Handling
    5. Leakage
  7. Microphone
    1. Microphone Style
    2. Recording Quality
    3. Noise Handling
  8. Active Features
    1. Battery
    2. App Support
  9. Connectivity
    1. Wired Connection
    2. Bluetooth Connection
    3. Wireless Connection (Dongle)
    4. PC Compatibility
    5. PlayStation Compatibility
    6. Xbox Compatibility
    7. Base/Dock
  10. Comments

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x vs Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 Wireless

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 Wireless

Tested using Methodology v1.8

Updated Jan 31, 2025 01:39 PM

Searching
Finding store

Tested using Methodology v1.5

Updated Dec 18, 2024 11:36 PM

Searching
Finding store
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Picture
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 Wireless Picture
  1. Recommended in 3 articles:
  2. Studio
  3. Brands
  4. Audio-Technica
  1. Recommended in 2 articles:
  2. Under $200
  3. Audio-Technica

Variants

  • ATH-M50x (Black)
  • ATH-M50x (Gray)
  • ATH-M50x (Metallic Orange)
  • ATH-M50x (White)
  • ATH-M50xBT2 (Black)
  • ATH-M50xBT2DS (Deep Sea Blue)
  • ATH-M50xBT2IB (Ice Blue)
  • ATH-M50xBT2MO (Lantern Glow Metallic Orange)

Our Verdict

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x

Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 Wireless

Depending on your needs, you may prefer either the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x or the Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2. The ATH-M50x are wired-only headphones designed for monitoring and recording audio. However, the ATH-M50xBT2 are more versatile Bluetooth and wired headphones with long continuous battery life. Unlike the wired version, they have an integrated microphone and a great companion app with sound customization features.

0 

Check Price

Deep Sea Blue
ATH-M50xBT2DS
Searching
Finding store
Metallic Orange
ATH-M50x
Searching
Finding store
Ice Blue
ATH-M50xBT2IB
Searching
Finding store
Lantern Glow Metallic Orange
ATH-M50xBT2MO
Searching
Finding store
Read more

Main Differences for
Neutral Sound

Threshold 

0.10

Neutral Sound 

7.9
7.7

Treble Profile: Target Compliance 
 

8.1
7.2

Full Comparison

Design

Style  

Design Picture 2  

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Design Picture 2
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 Wireless Design Picture 2

Type  

Over-ear
Over-ear

Enclosure  

Closed-Back
Closed-Back

Wireless  

No
Yes

Transducer  

Dynamic
Dynamic
Show Text 

Comfort 
 

7.5
7.5

Comfort Picture  

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Comfort Picture
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 Wireless Comfort Picture

Weight  

0.65 lbs
0.68 lbs

Clamping Force 
 

1 lbs
0.9 lbs
Show Text 

Controls 
 

0.0
6.9

Controls Picture  

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Controls Picture
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 Wireless Controls Picture

OS Compatibility 
 

No Controls
Not OS specific

Ease Of Use  

No Controls
Okay

Feedback  

No Controls
Good

Call/Music Control  

No
Yes

Volume Control  

No
Yes

Microphone Control  

No
Mute/Unmute

Channel Mixing 
 

No
No

Noise Cancelling Control  

No
No

Talk-Through 
 

No
No

Additional Controls  

No
Voice Assistant
Show Text 

Breathability 
 

6.1
6.4

Breathability After Picture  

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Breathability After Picture
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 Wireless Breathability After Picture

Avg.Temp.Difference  

6.7 °C
5.9 °C
Show Text 

Portability 
 

5.8
5.9

Portability Picture  

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Portability Picture
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 Wireless Portability Picture

 

5.1" (13.0 cm)
4.9" (12.5 cm)

 

6.9" (17.5 cm)
7.2" (18.2 cm)

 

3.5" (9.0 cm)
3.3" (8.5 cm)

Volume  

124.93 in³ (2,047.23 cm³)
117.34 in³ (1,922.80 cm³)

Transmitter Required  

No
No
Show Text 

Case 
 

6.5
6.5

Case Picture  

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Case Picture
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 Wireless Case Picture

Type  

Pouch
Pouch

 

N/A
N/A

 

N/A
N/A

 

N/A
N/A

Volume  

N/A
N/A
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

8.0
7.5

Build Quality Picture  

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Build Quality Picture
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 Wireless Build Quality Picture
Show Text 

Stability 
 

6.5
6.5

Stability Picture  

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Stability Picture
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 Wireless Stability Picture
Show Text 

Headshots 1  

Angled Picture  

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Angled Picture
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 Wireless Angled Picture

Side Picture  

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Side Picture
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 Wireless Side Picture

Headshots 2  

Front Picture  

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Front Picture
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 Wireless Front Picture

Rear Picture  

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Rear Picture
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 Wireless Rear Picture

Top  

Top Picture  

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Top Picture
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 Wireless Top Picture

In The Box  

In The Box Picture  

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x In The Box Picture
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 Wireless In The Box Picture
Show Text 
Sound

Sound Profile 
 

Sound Profile  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Normalization Frequency 
 

550 Hz

Bass Amount 
 

-0.9 dB
-0.73 dB

Treble Amount 
 

0.1 dB
-0.31 dB
Show Text 

Frequency Response Consistency 
 

7.3
7.2

Consistency L  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Consistency R  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Avg. Std. Deviation 
 

0.54 dB
0.56 dB
Show Text 

Raw Frequency Response 
 

Raw FR L  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Raw FR R  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Bass Profile: Target Compliance 
 

8.7
8.7

Bass Profile: Target Compliance  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

RMS Deviation From Target 
 

3.3 dB
1.87 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

22.45 Hz
24.48 Hz

Low Bass 
 

-3.66 dB
-1.49 dB

Mid Bass 
 

0.45 dB
1.68 dB

High Bass 
 

1.95 dB
1.58 dB
Show Text 

Mid-Range Profile: Target Compliance 
 

8.3
8.4

Mid-Range Profile: Target Compliance  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

RMS Deviation From Target 
 

1.69 dB
2.19 dB

Low Mid 
 

-2.43 dB
-2.73 dB

Mid-Mid 
 

0.01 dB
0.78 dB

High Mid 
 

1.06 dB
1.49 dB
Show Text 

Treble Profile: Target Compliance 
 

8.1
7.2

Treble Profile: Target Compliance  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

RMS Deviation From Target 
 

2.43 dB
4.21 dB

Low Treble 
 

1.16 dB
-1.63 dB

Mid Treble 
 

-1.33 dB
-0.25 dB

High Treble 
 

-1.19 dB
-0.56 dB
Show Text 

Peaks/Dips 
 

7.5
6.9

Peaks/Dips Graph 
 

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Peaks 
 

1.33 dB
1.82 dB

Dips 
 

2.18 dB
2.16 dB
Show Text 

Imaging 
 

8.7
8.7

Group Delay  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Phase Response Mismatch  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Weighted Group Delay 
 

0.3
0.37

Weighted Phase Mismatch 
 

4.93
3.5

Weighted Amplitude Mismatch 
 

0.55
0.78

Weighted Frequency Mismatch 
 

1.54
1.2
Show Text 

Passive Soundstage 
 

5.5
5.1

PRTF  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.) 
 

2.43 dB
1.78 dB

PRTF Size (Avg.) 
 

2.73 dB
3.11 dB

PRTF Distance 
 

13.24 dB
6.23 dB

Openness 
 

5.6
5.5

Acoustic Space Excitation 
 

3.2
3.3
Show Text 

Virtual Soundstage 
 

0.0
0.0

Virtual Soundstage  

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Virtual Soundstage
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 Wireless Virtual Soundstage

Head Modeling 
 

No
No

Speaker Modeling 
 

No
No

Room Ambience 
 

No
No

Head Tracking 
 

No
No

Virtual Surround 
 

No App
No

Weighted Harmonic Distortion 
 

8.7
7.7

Weighted Harmonic Distortion  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

WHD @ 90 
 

0.113
0.354

WHD @ 100 
 

0.067
0.120
Show Text 

Test Settings 
 

Firmware 
 

No Firmware
1004

Power 
 

Passive
On

Connection 
 

Wired
Bluetooth 5.0

Codec 
 

PCM, 24-bit, 48kHz
SBC, 16-bit, 48kHz

Test Instrument  

THX AAA 789

EQ 
 

No EQ
Off

ANC 
 

No ANC
No ANC

Tip/Pad 
 

Default
Default

Microphone 
 

No Microphone
Integrated
Show Text 
Isolation

Noise Isolation - Full Range 
 

4.3
4.4

Noise Isolation - Full Range Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Noise Cancelling  

No
No

Overall Attenuation 
 

-10.18 dB
-11.93 dB

Isolation Audio 
 

Bass 
 

2.24 dB
0.29 dB

Mid 
 

-8.56 dB
-9.54 dB

Treble 
 

-27.01 dB
-27.39 dB
Show Text 

Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios 
 

4.1

Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios Graph  

See details on graph tool

Airplane Noise Attenuation 
 

-9.11 dB

Airplane Noise Isolation Audio 
 

Office Noise Attenuation 
 

-9.54 dB

Office Noise Isolation Audio 
 

Street Noise Attenuation 
 

-8.80 dB

Street Noise Isolation Audio 
 

Noise Isolation - Voice Handling 
 

Female Voice 1 
 

Male Voice 1 
 

Female Voice 2 
 

Male Voice 2 
 

ANC Wind Handling 
 

ANC Wind Handling Graph  

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x ANC Wind Handling Graph

ANC Wind Noise 
 

N/A

Leakage 
 

7.2
7.1

Leakage  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Leakage Audio 
 

Overall Leakage @ 1ft 
 

38.32 dB
38.94 dB
Show Text 
Microphone

Microphone Style 
 

Integrated 
 

No
Yes

In-Line 
 

No
No

Boom 
 

No
No

Detachable Boom 
 

No
No

Mic  

No
Yes

Recording Quality 
 

0.0
7.2

Microphone Frequency Response  

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Microphone Frequency Response
See details on graph tool

Recorded Speech 
 

N/A

LFE 
 

N/A
257.68 Hz

FR Std. Dev. 
 

N/A
2.23 dB

HFE 
 

N/A
7,034.64 Hz

Weighted THD 
 

N/A
0.942

Gain 
 

N/A
0.23 dB
Show Text 

Noise Handling 
 

0.0
7.1

SpNR  

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x SpNR
See details on graph tool

SpNR 
 

N/A
12.77 dB

Noise Gate 
 

N/A
No

Speech + Pink Noise Handling 
 

N/A
7.5

Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample  

N/A

Speech + Subway Noise Handling 
 

N/A
6.5

Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample  

N/A
Show Text 
Active Features

Battery 
 

0.0
8.4

Battery Type 
 

No Battery
Rechargable

Continuous Battery Life 
 

N/A
61.6 hrs

Additional Charges 
 

N/A
0.0

Total Battery Life 
 

N/A
61.6 hrs

Charge Time 
 

N/A
3.3 hrs

Power-Saving Feature 
 

No
No

Audio While Charging 
 

No
Yes

Passive Playback 
 

Passive Headphone
Yes

Charging Port  

None
USB-C
Show Text 

App Support 
 

0.0
8.0

App Picture  

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x App Picture
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 Wireless App Picture

App Name  

No App
Audio-Technica Connect

iOS  

No
Yes

Android  

No
Yes

macOS  

No
No

Windows  

No
No

Equalizer 
 

No
Graphic + Presets

ANC Control 
 

No
No

Mic Control  

No
Adjustable Level

Room Effects 
 

No
No

Playback Control 
 

No
Yes

Button Mapping  

No
No

Surround Support 
 

No
No
Show Text 
Connectivity

Wired Connection 
 

9.9
9.5

Cable Picture  

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Cable Picture
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 Wireless Cable Picture

Analog Audio 
 

Yes
Yes

USB Audio 
 

No
No

Detachable 
 

Yes
Yes

Length 
 

10.00 ft (3.05 m)
4.10 ft (1.25 m)

Connector 
 

1/8" TRS
1/8" TRS

Latency - Analog 
 

0.2 ms

Latency - USB 
 

N/A
0 ms

Recorded Latency 
 

Recorded Latency Connection  

Analog
Show Text 

Bluetooth Connection 
 

0.0
8.7

Bluetooth Version 
 

No Bluetooth
5.0

Multi-Device Pairing 
 

No
2 Devices

NFC Pairing 
 

No

Quick Pair (Android) 
 

No

Quick Pair (iOS) 
 

No

Line Of Sight Range 
 

N/A
334.65 ft (102.00 m)

Latency - SBC 
 

N/A
212 ms

Latency - aptX 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency - aptX Adaptive (High Quality) 
 

N/A

Latency - aptX Adaptive (Low Latency) 
 

N/A

Latency - LDAC 
 

N/A

Recorded Latency 
 

N/A

Recorded Latency Codec  

No Bluetooth Audio

AAC Support 
 

No

PC Latency (aptX HD) 
 

N/A

PC Latency (aptX-LL) 
 

N/A

iOS Latency 
 

3 ms

Android Latency 
 

33 ms
Show Text 

Wireless Connection (Dongle) 
 

0.0
0.0

Line Of Sight Range 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency - Dongle 
 

N/A
N/A

Recorded Latency 
 

N/A

PC Compatibility 
 

Analog 
 

Audio Only
Audio Only

Wired USB 
 

No
No

Non-BT Wireless 
 

No
No
Show Text 

PlayStation Compatibility 
 

PS4 Analog 
 

Audio Only
Audio Only

PS4 Wired USB 
 

No
No

PS4 Non-BT Wireless 
 

No
No

PS5 Analog 
 

Audio Only
Audio Only

PS5 Wired USB 
 

No
No

PS5 Non-BT Wireless 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Xbox Compatibility 
 

Xbox One Analog 
 

Audio Only
Audio Only

Xbox One Wired USB 
 

No
No

Xbox One Non-BT Wireless 
 

No
No

Xbox Series X|S Analog 
 

Audio Only
Audio Only

Xbox Series X|S Wired USB 
 

No
No

Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Base/Dock 
 

0.0
0.0

Type 
 

No Base/Dock
No Base/Dock

USB Input 
 

No
No

Line In 
 

No
No

Line Out 
 

No
No

Optical Input 
 

No
No

RCA Input 
 

No
No

Dock Charging 
 

No
No

Power Supply 
 

No Base/Dock
No Base/Dock
Show Text 

Check Price

Deep Sea Blue
ATH-M50xBT2DS
Searching
Finding store
Metallic Orange
ATH-M50x
Searching
Finding store
Ice Blue
ATH-M50xBT2IB
Searching
Finding store
Lantern Glow Metallic Orange
ATH-M50xBT2MO
Searching
Finding store

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x

Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 Wireless

Comments

  1. Comparison

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x vs Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 Wireless: Main Discussion

What do you think of these products? Let us know below.


Looking for a personalized buying advice from the RTINGS.com experts? Insiders have direct access to buying advice on our insider forum.

PreviewBack to editorFormat guide
No comments yet, refresh to see new ones