#7 overall · closed-back wired
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
A tough, portable closed headphone for people who want bass and will use it on the move.
Closed-backPortableBassUnder $200
- Owners on record
- 12
- Threads
- 6
- Say they own it
- 3
Check price on Amazon · $159
Own these? Vote
Typical price, checked Sep 2026.
Why people like it
- Very durable; several owners report five-plus years of daily use
- Punchy bass and clarity; good for casual listening as well as recording
- Folds, detachable cable, easy to drive from a phone
What owners complain about
- Narrow, cramped soundstage compared with open-backs
- Some find it bass-heavy or overpriced for what it is
- Ear pads and the small hinge tab wear out and need replacing
Where opinions split: It was so over-recommended for years that there is now a backlash; owners still like it, purists say spend the money on an open-back.
The 7 sources
Owner = the person says they use it. Recommendation = passed on without saying so. Dates are when the thread started.
- Favorite headphones?Steve Hoffman Music Forums · Apr 2024 · owner
- Favorite headphones?Steve Hoffman Music Forums · Apr 2024 · recommendation
- Ask HN: Which headphones are you using?Hacker News · Jun 2019 · owner
- Suggestions under $200Head-Fi · Dec 2024 · recommendation
- Looking for headphones under $200?Head-Fi · Nov 2025 · recommendation
- Best Headphones for Under or Around $100Tom's Guide Forums · Oct 2017 · owner
- Best Headphones Under $300Tom's Guide Forums · Jun 2018 · recommendation