The ear cups and pads are able to keep the sound in and block outside noise. These are suitable for a noisy office as even low volume music is enough to drown out those noisy office mates.
Audio-Technica finally updated the M50's built in cable to a detachable cable. The M50x even comes with three cables, a 1.2 m - 3.0 m coiled cable, a 3.0 m straight cable, and a 1.2 m straight cable. None of the cables have in-line controls though.
The ATH-M50x are great sounding headphones with a sound that may fall in the neutral category, but with very slight boosts to the bass and highs; a slightly V-shaped sound. The bass is full and has a lot of power. The sub bass has a hint of elevation though, which can make the bass sound a bit loose on hip-hop or EDM tracks. The mids are fairly neutral with no elevation. The highs are also slightly elevated, which does not add harshness but instead gives the sound a shimmery and detailed feel.
This sound signature of the M50x makes it versatile. It is neutral enough for monitoring use, yet also has just the right qualities to make it a great choice for enjoying music.
The ear cups on the M50x are smaller than those on something like the 380HD or the DT 770 Pro. Your ears could end up touching the the inside of the headphones which can be uncomfortable for some.
The overall sound quality of these headphones is great, but what stands out the most are the bass sounds it produces. They are strong, yet clear: perfect for listening to music like Rock, RnB, Hip-hop, and Jazz.
Made of metal and Kevlar, this headphone is made to last several years. Strategic areas where headphones usually break are reinforced with more metal, making it even more resistant.
This feature helps provide comfort even with long hours of use, and since memory foams does not shrink overtime, you would be able to experience the same comfort for years.
The clamping force produced by the headband is just enough to keep the headphones in place,
gently pressing the soft memory foam ear cushion against your ear providing maximum comfort even when used all day.
The Sennheiser HD 600 series of headphones (which these are a member of, despite their naming) feature tool-less disassembly. There's also enough availability of replacement parts that it's financially worth considering if anything ever goes wrong. Compare this to something like the Sony MDR 7506 where replacement drivers for the headphones cost $120 while the headphones themselves cost $80.
All day comfort is going to be different for different people. The pads are really comfortable, but depending on how sensitive your jaw is, it's possible you'll find these too tight. If you can find a store or a friend that has a set of HD 600 series headphones (think HD 600, HD 650, HD 660, HD 660s, HD 6xx, and these) see if you can put them on your head and listen to them for a while to make sure that they will be comfortable for listening sessions longer than an hour.
Ultimately, a reason that a person might consider saving up a little longer and getting the HD 6xx (based on (literally exactly the same as) the HD 650) is that the HD 650 can offer up more different sounds depending on what amplifiers it's paired with. This is one of the things that makes that headphone such a good value. It acts as a conduit to a bunch of different sound signatures. That headphone also offers more clarity once properly amplified than these do. ALL OF THAT SAID: if you're not a supreme clarity nerd constantly looking for the next thing to bring you more of that sweet sweet detail, these will make you completely happy and you can just spend $160 on a pair of headphones that sound amazing from your phone and your laptop and never worry about spending even more to get the most of them. From that vantage, these are a great value.
This makes the headphones quite easy to store, and the cable easy to replace. Also, the attachment mechanism is a twist to lock system which minimizes the chances of the cable getting disconnected while in use.
Even for open back headphones, the soundstage that the HD 598 produces is amazing. It is quite wide yet natural at the same time, which makes it feel like you're listening to the artist perform in front of you live. This wide sound stage and great imaging also make these ideal for games and movies, as these can enhance audio immersion.
The large ear pads feature a velour surface and a soft foam material underneath. The comfort of the headband is also notable. It features a synthetic leather material with a thick foam inside. In combination, these cushioned parts feel like pillows on the head.
The bass takes a bit of a back seat compared to the other frequencies, yet is still enough to give fullness and punch to the sound. The mids are the star of these headphones' sound signature. They are clear and a little bit forward, which give a lot of extra detail and presence to guitars and vocals. The highs are pretty crisp and clean, and complement the other frequencies really well.