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Audio-Technica ATH-M50x vs Sony MDR-7506

More people recommend the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x overall (99 vs 23). None of the 22 comments that name both says outright which one to buy, so read the loves and complaints and decide by taste.

Comments naming both
22
Say they own both
2
Choose the ATH-M50x
0
Choose the MDR-7506
0

Preference evidence:Limited0 explicit choices among 22 comments naming both.What the levels mean

Counted across 18 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-M50xSony MDR-7506
Typical price$159$115cheaper
Overall rank#5higher#23
People who recommend it99more23
Say they own it172more46
Mentions927more287
Typeclosed-back wiredclosed-back wired
Known forClosed-backPortableBassStudio classicClosed-backBargain
Best forRecommended as a tough, portable closed headphone for people who want bass and will use it on the move.The under-$100 closed-back with thirty years of studio owners behind it.
BuyAmazon · $159Amazon · $115Direct

#5 overall

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x

3 of the 22 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

#23 overall

Sony MDR-7506

2 of the 22 comments naming both come from people who say they own this one.

What owners love

  • The studio standard since 1991; owners keep pairs for 9-30 years
  • Cheap, loud from anything, and repairable with third-party pads
  • Clear, forward mids that owners use as a reference for vocals

The complaints

  • Bass is thin; the most repeated complaint
  • Bright, sometimes harsh upper mids
  • Stock pads flake; the coiled cable is not detachable
  • Plastic feel

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 Sony MDR-7506?
None of the 22 comments naming both says outright which one to buy. Overall, 99 people recommend the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x and 23 the Sony MDR-7506. Read what owners love and complain about below and decide by taste.
Which is cheaper, the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x or the Sony MDR-7506?
The Sony MDR-7506 is cheaper: $115 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 Sony MDR-7506?
The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x: 99 people recommend it against 23. On the site-wide leaderboard the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x is #5 and the Sony MDR-7506 is #23.
Do people own both the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x and the Sony MDR-7506?
Yes. 2 of the 22 comments that name both come from people who say they own both pairs. 3 say they own the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x and 2 the Sony MDR-7506.
What do owners complain about on the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x and the Sony MDR-7506?
The most repeated complaint about the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x: narrow, cramped soundstage compared with open-backs. About the Sony MDR-7506: bass is thin; the most repeated complaint. The full lists are on each side below.

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