Audio-Technica ATH-M50x vs Audio-Technica ATH-ANC23

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 bass of these headphones sound full with a slight boost. This makes the bass quite punchy without drowning the mids or highs.

You get a lot from what you pay for with these headphones. Aside from the great sound, they are also well built and come with a lot of accessories.

The ATH M50x is made from high quality matte plastics which are quite resistant to damage without being too heavy. The hinges move smoothly and do not have unnecessary creaks.

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 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.

The ear cups can be folded into the headband, reducing its footprint. Combined with the carrying pouch and detachable cables, you can easily chuck these headphones into your bag when going out.

These headphones will sound great with a practically all genres of music. The highs are slightly rolled-off, but still present a good level of detail, so these headphones are not harsh. The mids are warm, while the bass is controlled instead of boomy.

The ATH-ANC23 offers good value for money due to the extras that you get. The accessory pack includes a carrying pouch, the active noise cancelling in-line control hub, an alkaline battery, an airplane adapter and a number of eartips, including foam ones, which provide a better seal and noise isolation than the standard silicone tips.

The active noise canceling feature blocks out high and mid frequency noise quite well. Voices and environmental noise aren’t likely to interfere with your music. Loud, low-frequency noises like jet engines may still seep through though, so these are not the best for long flights.