If you want wired in-ear monitoring and isolation for focused listening, choose Audio-Technica ATH-E50; if you need a speaker-and-headphone monitoring controller with USB audio, choose Behringer MONITOR2USB. For swimming, neither is a purpose-built choice: the ATH-E50 is wired, while the MONITOR2USB is a desktop-style audio component rather than a wearable headphone. My recommendation is about matching their documented roles, not stretching either product into a use it was not designed to claim.
If you want wired in-ear monitoring and isolation for focused listening, choose Audio-Technica ATH-E50; if you need a speaker-and-headphone monitoring controller with USB audio, choose Behringer MONITOR2USB. For swimming, neither is a purpose-built choice: the ATH-E50 is wired, while the MONITOR2USB is an audio component, not a wearable headphone. My recommendation is about matching their documented roles, not stretching either product into a use it was not designed to claim.
• Audio-Technica ATH-E50’s strength: in-ear monitoring with a balanced-armature driver, an over-ear memory cable, and sound-isolating housings. Trade-off: it is wired and intended for monitoring or mixing, not a swimming headphone.
• Behringer MONITOR2USB’s strength: combines speaker and headphone monitoring with VCA control and a USB audio interface. Trade-off: it is a monitoring controller, not a pair of headphones; its stated USB sample-rate ceiling is 48 kHz.
• Choose the ATH-E50 if you need personal, wired in-ear monitoring for studio work, stage use, or listening on the move.
• Choose the MONITOR2USB if you need a central speaker-and-headphone monitoring device for an audio setup that uses USB.
The ATH-E50 is the direct choice here for someone who wants to put on headphones and hear a personal monitor feed. Its single balanced-armature driver is specified for an accurate full-range response, with a stated frequency range of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. Audio-Technica positions it for monitoring and mixing, including work on stage and in the studio. That makes its appeal practical: it is designed to help a listener focus on the signal and make judgments about a mix, rather than to act as a speaker controller.
Its in-ear fit and specially designed housings provide sound isolation. The flexible memory cable loops over the ears, and the included silicone tips come in XS, S, M, and L. The set also includes a medium Comply foam tip, a carrying case, and a 6.3 mm adapter. That range of fit accessories gives buyers options for securing the earpieces and connecting to equipment with the appropriate jack. The 1.6 m detachable cable uses A2DC connectors at the headphones, so the cable can be removed rather than being permanently fixed to the earpieces.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-19 · 9 min read · Independent comparison
Who should skip it: Skip the ATH-E50 if you need a speaker-monitoring controller, Bluetooth playback, or headphones specifically described for swimming.
The MONITOR2USB serves a different job. It is described as a speaker and headphone monitoring controller with VCA control and a USB audio interface. In other words, it belongs in an audio setup where a listener needs a central monitoring component, rather than on someone’s ears as a standalone headphone. Its USB input and generic DAW software compatibility for Windows make it relevant to a computer-based audio workflow. The listed maximum sample rate is 48 kHz, a concrete limit to consider when checking whether it suits the rest of a particular setup.
Its product information lists 12 channels and a USB connection. Those details may matter to a buyer comparing it with other equipment in a monitoring chain, but they do not turn it into headphones or establish that it has any particular headphone sound signature. The supplied description identifies it as a speaker-and-headphone monitoring center; it does not specify a headphone driver, frequency response, wireless connection, or wearable fit. It is best understood as a component for routing or managing monitoring in an audio workspace, not as a direct alternative to in-ear monitors.
If your main goal is to bring speaker and headphone monitoring together in a USB-connected setup, the MONITOR2USB is the more relevant of these two products. Its listed dimensions are 5.47 inches deep, 9.57 inches wide, and 5.47 inches high, with an item weight of 3.3 pounds. Those measurements suggest something meant to occupy a spot in a work area, not to travel in a pocket or be worn. The trade-off is precisely that specialization: anyone shopping for earbuds, a portable listening device, or swimming audio should look elsewhere.
Who should skip it: Skip the MONITOR2USB if you need headphones to wear, an in-ear monitor, or a product described for use in water.
• Best for personal in-ear monitoring → Audio-Technica ATH-E50. It is the only product here that is itself a pair of headphones.
• Best for a speaker-and-headphone monitoring center → Behringer MONITOR2USB. Its stated role is controlling monitoring across speakers and headphones, with USB audio.
• Best for a wired stage or studio monitor → Audio-Technica ATH-E50. It is designed for monitoring and mixing, and its housings provide sound isolation.
• Best fit for a USB-connected computer audio workflow → Behringer MONITOR2USB. Its listed input is USB, with Windows compatibility for generic DAW software.
• Best for an over-ear cable route and replaceable cable connection → Audio-Technica ATH-E50. The memory cable loops around the ears, and the 1.6 m cable detaches at the A2DC connectors.
• Best for a setup where a 48 kHz maximum sample rate is suitable → Behringer MONITOR2USB. That is the stated ceiling; check that it aligns with your intended workflow.
• Best for shoppers considering swimming audio → Neither. The ATH-E50 is a wired in-ear monitor, and the MONITOR2USB is a monitoring component. Neither sheet identifies swimming or water use as a supported purpose.
• Best for portable listening accessories included in the box → Audio-Technica ATH-E50. It includes a carrying case, several silicone tip sizes, a foam tip, and a 6.3 mm adapter.
Buying Considerations
Start by deciding whether you need headphones or a piece of audio equipment. That is the central difference, and it is more important than comparing a single specification. The ATH-E50 goes on your ears and provides an isolated listening experience. The MONITOR2USB is a controller and USB audio interface for a monitoring setup. They do not compete as two versions of the same kind of product.
Fit and isolation also point toward the ATH-E50. It includes four silicone tip sizes and one medium foam tip, plus a memory cable that loops over the ear. Those details give a buyer more ways to approach fit, although no tip selection can guarantee the same comfort for every person. The MONITOR2USB has no ear tips or wearable fit because its job is different.
Finally, keep the swimming question separate from the studio-monitoring decision. Searches for the best multipoint open ear headphones for swimming, the best Bluetooth earbuds for swimming, or on-ear headphones for swimming describe needs that neither product’s listed features address. The ATH-E50 is wired, and the MONITOR2USB is a desk-oriented monitoring device. I would not choose either on the assumption that it is made for swimming.
In my opinion, I would choose the Audio-Technica ATH-E50 if I needed a personal wired monitor: its in-ear design, isolation, detachable cable, and supplied fit accessories serve that role directly. I would choose the Behringer MONITOR2USB only when I needed a USB-connected speaker-and-headphone monitoring controller. For swimming, I recommend neither; neither product is described for that use.
Before deciding, write down the device you need to connect and the job you need the product to do. If you need an earpiece for monitoring, the ATH-E50 is the straightforward fit. If you need a component in a USB-connected monitoring system, look at the MONITOR2USB and verify that its Windows DAW compatibility and 48 kHz maximum sample rate fit your setup.
Think about how much movement your use involves, too. The ATH-E50 includes a carrying case and a detachable 1.6 m cable, which suit a portable wired monitor better than a desk component. The MONITOR2USB’s listed dimensions and 3.3-pound item weight point toward a fixed workspace. Neither spec sheet supports treating these as interchangeable products.
If your priority is swimming, pause before choosing between them. The ATH-E50’s sound-isolating in-ear housings do not establish water resistance, and the Behringer unit is not a wearable audio player. Look for a product whose documented design specifically supports swimming rather than inferring water suitability from a snug fit or a monitoring label.
No. The ATH-E50 is a wired in-ear monitor with a detachable 1.6 m cable. Its listed features do not describe Bluetooth playback.
No. It is a speaker-and-headphone monitoring controller with a USB audio interface, not a pair of headphones. You would use it as part of a monitoring setup.
They serve different roles. The ATH-E50 is an in-ear monitor intended for monitoring and mixing, while the MONITOR2USB is a monitoring center for speakers and headphones. Choose based on whether you need headphones or a controller.
Neither is described for swimming. The ATH-E50 is a wired in-ear monitor, and the MONITOR2USB is a USB monitoring component, so I would not select either specifically for use in water.
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