Browse by budget and use
Head to head · for music listening
Sennheiser HD 600 vs Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
More people recommend the Sennheiser HD 600 overall (117 vs 99). None of the 19 comments that name both says outright which one to buy, so read the loves and complaints and decide by taste.
- Comments naming both
- 19
- Say they own both
- 4
- Choose the HD 600
- 0
- Choose the ATH-M50x
- 0
Preference evidence:Limited0 explicit choices among 19 comments naming both.What the levels mean
Counted across 17 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 | $300 | $159cheaper |
| Overall rank | #4higher | #5 |
| People who recommend it | 117more | 99 |
| Say they own it | 149 | 172more |
| Mentions | 1,279more | 927 |
| Type | open-back wired | closed-back wired |
| Known for | NeutralVocalsLong sessions | Closed-backPortableBass |
| Best for | Recommended as the reference headphone by people who care about accurate, fatigue-free music listening. | Recommended as a tough, portable closed headphone for people who want bass and will use it on the move. |
| Buy | Amazon · $300 | Amazon · $159 |
#4 overall
Sennheiser HD 600
4 of the 19 comments naming both come from people who say they own this one.
What owners love
- The most natural, neutral mid-range people can name; a 25-year reference
- Super comfortable for long sessions
- Timbre and tone that owners call perfect for acoustic, classical and vocals
- Owners who tried many others keep coming back to it
The complaints
- Needs a decent amp to open up; weak from phones and laptops
- Small, intimate soundstage; some call it boring
- Bass does not go deep
In their words
“My favorite headphones are my painted hd600s with a custom matching cable”
A commenter under Crinacle's ULTIMATE Guide to Headphones (crinacle) · Dec 2024
“After trying all other options, we highly recommend the HD 600”
A commenter under Why You SHOULDN'T Buy HD 600... & What To Get Instead (The Headphone Show) · Sep 2025
“I love my HD600 but have to compensate for the weak bass”
A commenter under Almost all headphones are inaccurate. Only these are good. (AP Mastering) · Dec 2024
#5 overall
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
4 of the 19 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
Questions people ask about this pair
Every answer is built from the counts on this page, not from our own listening.
- Is the Sennheiser HD 600 better than the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x?
- None of the 19 comments naming both says outright which one to buy. Overall, 117 people recommend the Sennheiser HD 600 and 99 the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. Read what owners love and complain about below and decide by taste.
- Which is cheaper, the Sennheiser HD 600 or the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x?
- The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x is cheaper: $159 against $300 when we last checked. Prices move, so the buy buttons show the live price.
- Which do more people recommend, the Sennheiser HD 600 or the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x?
- The Sennheiser HD 600: 117 people recommend it against 99. On the site-wide leaderboard the Sennheiser HD 600 is #4 and the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x is #5.
- Do people own both the Sennheiser HD 600 and the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x?
- Yes. 4 of the 19 comments that name both come from people who say they own both pairs. 4 say they own the Sennheiser HD 600 and 4 the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x.
- What do owners complain about on the Sennheiser HD 600 and the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x?
- The most repeated complaint about the Sennheiser HD 600: needs a decent amp to open up; weak from phones and laptops. About the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x: narrow, cramped soundstage compared with open-backs. The full lists are on each side below.