Sony WH-1000XM4 (2020) vs Audio-Technica ATH-M50x (2014)

The Audio-Technica ATH M50x (2014) is an exemplary product and one of the very best Over-Ear Headphones at the $85 budget.

The Sony WH-1000XM4 (2020), however, doesn't seem to have enough data available for us to be able to draw any meaningful conclusions. If you're considering Over-Ear Headphones in the $320 range, you might want to check out some other options.

The Audio-Technica ATH M50x (2014) has managed to do great in various roundups conducted by reviewers from highly trusted sources that perform objective in-depth testing, like SoundGuys, TechGearLab, and Rtings - it was dubbed "Best Style" by SoundGuys, "Best Wired Model" by TechGearLab, and "Best Closed-Back Audiophile Headphones" by Rtings. Any product that's held in such high regard by some of the most reliable sources should be considered by everyone who's looking for a Over-Ear Headphone at this price.

As for the Sony WH-1000XM4 (2020) - it impressed reviewers from a large number of sources that perform high-quality in-depth testing, including TechGearLab, Wirecutter (NYTimes), PCmag, Tom's Guide, CNET, SoundGuys, Laptop Mag, and Rtings. It did great in their Over-Ear Headphone roundups - it got named "Top Pick" by TechGearLab, "Top Pick" by Wirecutter (NYTimes), and "Best Noise Cancellation for Audiophiles" by PCmag. That alone points toward it being an excellent product.

We conducted an analysis of all of the review data that we could find on these two products. First, we focused on sources that tested and rated both of them, like TrustedReviews, TechGearLab, Expert Reviews, What Hi-Fi?, Techradar, hardwarezone.com.sg, and Lifewire, and learned that they all showed a preference for the Sony WH-1000XM4 (2020).

Then we took a look at the highest review scores that these two Over-Ear Headphones received. We found that the Audio-Technica ATH M50x (2014) managed to earn a rating of 9.2 from GamingScan, whereas the Sony WH-1000XM4 (2020) got its highest, 10, score from reviewers at TrustedReviews.

Lastly, we averaged out all of the reviews scores that we could find on these two products and compared them to other Over-Ear Headphones on the market. We learned that both of them performed far better than most of their competitors - the overall review average earned by Over-Ear Headphones being 7.5 out of 10, whereas the Audio-Technica ATH M50x (2014) and Sony WH-1000XM4 (2020) managed averages of 8.4 and 9.3 points, respectively.

Due to the difference in their prices, however, it's important to keep in mind that a direct Audio-Technica ATH M50x (2014) vs. Sony WH-1000XM4 (2020) comparison might not be entirely fair - some sources don't take value for money into account when assigning their scores and therefore have a tendency to rate more premium products better.