Best Headphones
Browse by budget and use

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

Preference evidence:Limited6 explicit choices among 140 comments naming both.What the levels mean

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.

At a glance the better number on each row is highlighted
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xAudio-Technica ATH-M40x
Typical price$159$109cheaper
Overall rank#5higher#9
People who recommend it99more74
Say they own it172more92
Mentions927more646
Typeclosed-back wiredclosed-back wired
Known forClosed-backPortableBassClosed-backBudgetFlat
Best forRecommended as 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.
BuyAmazon · $159Amazon · $109Direct

People who mention both, in their own words

#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

#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

Questions people ask about this pair

Every answer is built from the counts on this page, not from our own listening.

Is the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x better than the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x?
Among the 6 public comments that choose one outright, 5 pick the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x and 1 the other. Evidence is limited: 6 explicit choices among 140 comments naming both That is a count of opinions, not a measurement of sound.
Which is cheaper, the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x or the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x?
The Audio-Technica ATH-M40x is cheaper: $109 against $159 when we last checked. Prices move, so the buy buttons show the live price.
Which do more people recommend, the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x or the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x?
The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x: 99 people recommend it against 74. On the site-wide leaderboard the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x is #5 and the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x is #9.
Do people own both the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x and the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x?
Yes. 16 of the 140 comments that name both come from people who say they own both pairs. 19 say they own the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x and 22 the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x.
What do owners complain about on the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x and the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x?
The most repeated complaint about the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x: narrow, cramped soundstage compared with open-backs. About the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x: stock pads crack and crumble; most owners swap them for velour or sheepskin. The full lists are on each side below.

More comparisons

Back to the leaderboard