Head to head · for music listening
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x vs ATH-M40x
More people recommend the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x overall (99 vs 74). Among the 6 comments that explicitly choose one, 5 pick the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x and 1 the other.
- Comments naming both
- 140
- Say they own both
- 16
- Choose the ATH-M50x
- 1
- Choose the ATH-M40x
- 5
Counted across 24 review videos, harvested Sep 2026. A comment counts as a choice only when it says so in plain words (prefer X over Y, upgraded from Y to X); questions never count. Quotes are whole sentences of 12 words or fewer, linked to where they were said. How we count.
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical price | $159 | $109cheaper |
| Overall rank | #5higher | #9 |
| People who recommend it | 99more | 74 |
| Say they own it | 172more | 92 |
| Mentions | 922more | 646 |
| Type | closed-back wired | closed-back wired |
| Known for | Closed-backPortableBass | Closed-backBudgetFlat |
| Best for | A tough, portable closed headphone for people who want bass and will use it on the move. | The cheapest closed-back that owners keep recommending for a first proper pair. |
| Buy | Amazon · $159 | Amazon · $109Direct |
People who mention both, in their own words
“I prefer the sound of the M40x over the M50x”
Picks the ATH-M40xA commenter under Don't buy a gaming headset. Get these instead! - Audio Technica ATH M50xSTS (ShortCircuit) · Apr 2023
“Status Audio CB-1> M40X > M50X”
Picks the ATH-M40xA commenter under Audio Technica ATH-M50X Review! (Marques Brownlee) · Feb 2014
“M40xs are better than m50xs”
Picks the ATH-M40xA commenter under Which Studio Headphones Should You Buy? - Audio Technica ATH-M20X, M30X, M40X & M50X Review (Edward Smith) · May 2021
“After years with the m40x I got the m50x”
Owns bothA commenter under Audio Technica ATH M20X, M30X, M40X, M50X M-Series Group Review & Comparison (Consumer Research Studios) · May 2014
#5 overall
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
19 of the 140 comments naming both come from people who say they own this one.
What owners love
- 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
The complaints
- 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
In their words
“I got the M50x’s and love the sound, but they’re uncomfortable af”
A commenter under Audio-Technica ATH-M50x vs Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro | Why I Decided To Switch... (Audio University) · Dec 2021
“I've been using the M50x for awhile, and I really love them”
A commenter under Best Headphones for Music Production, Mixing, Tracking (Sanjay C) · Oct 2023
“I use the ATH-M50x headphones and simply LOVE them”
A commenter under Audio-Technica ATH-M50x vs Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro | Why I Decided To Switch... (Audio University) · Dec 2021
#9 overall
Audio-Technica ATH-M40x
22 of the 140 comments naming both come from people who say they own this one.
What owners love
- Flatter and less bassy than the M50x; several owners prefer it for the price
- Detachable cable, folds, easy to drive from anything
- A common first serious headphone that people keep for years
The complaints
- Stock pads crack and crumble; most owners swap them for velour or sheepskin
- Older units cracked at the hinge (Audio-Technica redesigned it)
- Can sound a little sharp and boring for music; better with pad swaps
In their words
“ATH m40x: love them, daily driver for almost a decade”
A commenter under Don't buy a gaming headset. Get these instead! - Audio Technica ATH M50xSTS (ShortCircuit) · Apr 2023
“Audio tech m40x is still my go to headphones”
A commenter under FIDELIO X2HR Review | For you B A S S heads out there 🤯 (Joshua Valour) · Oct 2019
“There amazing I Love The Audio Technica M40X headphones”
A commenter under 🟥Audio-Technica ATH-M40x (aka FU©K M50's even harder) (Z Reviews) · Aug 2016
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