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Head to head · for music listening

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x vs HIFIMAN Sundara

More people recommend the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x overall (99 vs 79). None of the 13 comments that name both says outright which one to buy, so read the loves and complaints and decide by taste.

Comments naming both
13
Say they own both
0
Choose the ATH-M50x
0
Choose the Sundara
0

Preference evidence:Limited0 explicit choices among 13 comments naming both.What the levels mean

Counted across 10 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-M50xHIFIMAN Sundara
Typical price$159cheaper$179
Overall rank#5higher#7
People who recommend it99more79
Say they own it172more109
Mentions927more806
Typeclosed-back wiredopen-back planar wired
Known forClosed-backPortableBassPlanar detailHomeAmp helps
Best forRecommended as a tough, portable closed headphone for people who want bass and will use it on the move.The planar most often recommended under $200, by people who already have, or will buy, a small desktop amp.
BuyAmazon · $159Amazon · $179

#5 overall

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x

2 of the 13 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

#7 overall

HIFIMAN Sundara

1 of the 13 comments naming both come from people who say they own this one.

What owners love

  • Planar speed and detail that people say is unmatched at the price
  • Good soundstage and imaging; responds well to EQ
  • Frequently on sale or open-box direct from HIFIMAN, which is how many owners bought it
  • Comfortable and clean; several owners say they stopped shopping after buying it

The complaints

  • Needs a proper amp or DAC/amp; weak from a phone
  • Older units had driver failures and some people call HIFIMAN build and quality control poor
  • Tuning takes getting used to; a couple of listeners simply do not like planars

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 HIFIMAN Sundara?
None of the 13 comments naming both says outright which one to buy. Overall, 99 people recommend the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x and 79 the HIFIMAN Sundara. Read what owners love and complain about below and decide by taste.
Which is cheaper, the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x or the HIFIMAN Sundara?
The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x is cheaper: $159 against $179 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 HIFIMAN Sundara?
The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x: 99 people recommend it against 79. On the site-wide leaderboard the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x is #5 and the HIFIMAN Sundara is #7.
Do people own both the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x and the HIFIMAN Sundara?
Not that we found. Of the 13 comments naming both, 2 come from owners of the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x and 1 from owners of the HIFIMAN Sundara, and none says they own both.
What do owners complain about on the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x and the HIFIMAN Sundara?
The most repeated complaint about the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x: narrow, cramped soundstage compared with open-backs. About the HIFIMAN Sundara: needs a proper amp or DAC/amp; weak from a phone. The full lists are on each side below.

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