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Add to SafariWhen comparing Audio Technica ATH M50X vs Sennheiser HD 58x, the Slant community recommends Audio Technica ATH M50X for most people. In the question“What are the best ~$150 over-ear headphones with a removable cord that are comfortable to wear all day?” Audio Technica ATH M50X is ranked 1st while Sennheiser HD 58x is ranked 4th. The most important reason people chose Audio Technica ATH M50X is:
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.
Question Ranking
Pros
Pro Good passive isolation
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.
Pro Detachable cables
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.
Pro Generally neutral sounding but with an added kick to the low end
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.
Pro Contoured ear-cups and comfortable headband
Pro Great value
The HD 58x compares favorably to much more expensive headphones.
Pro Efficient
An amplifier is not required for these headphones to be enjoyable.
Pro Easily replaceable componentry
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.
Cons
Con Ear cups may be too small
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.
Con Clamp force might be a bit much for some
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.
Con Doesn't scale with amplification
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.
