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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-24 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a flat, honest monitoring tool for tracking and mixing in a loud room, choose Audio Technica ATH-M40x; if you need deeper bass extension, a touch more treble sparkle and a hard travel case, choose Audio-Technica ATH-M50x.
• Audio Technica ATH-M40x — biggest trade-off: it stops at 24 kHz and its 40 mm drivers have less low-end reach than the M50x, so it won't flatter bass-heavy genres the way the bigger model does.
• Audio-Technica ATH-M50x — biggest strength: 45 mm neodymium drivers running all the way to 28,000 Hz, plus a molded EVA hard case that makes it the better pair to actually carry around.
• Audio-Technica ATH-M50x — biggest trade-off: the extra low end and treble lift that make it fun are also the reason some engineers find it less neutral for critical balancing work.
• Pick the ATH-M40x if you're a mixer, tracker or podcaster who wants a reference point rather than a good time.
• Pick the ATH-M50x if you want one pair that works in the studio and on the commute, and you'd rather not buy a separate case.
The M40x is the pair you buy when you want to hear what's actually there. Its 40 mm drivers use rare earth magnets and copper-clad aluminum wire voice coils, and the whole thing is tuned flat across its 15 Hz – 24,000 Hz range. That flatness is the entire point. When you're tracking a vocal or nudging a fader, a headphone that adds its own personality is actively unhelpful — you end up mixing around the headphone instead of around the song.
The practical stuff is well thought out too. The circumaural earpads sit around your ears rather than on them, which is what gives you the isolation the specs call out for loud environments. The earcups swivel 90 degrees, so one-ear monitoring during a take is easy. Both cables detach — a 1.2 m to 3.0 m coiled cable and a 3.0 m straight cable — and you also get a protective pouch and a 6.3 mm screw-on adapter. At 240 g without the cable, it's light enough that a long session doesn't turn into a neck workout. It folds up, too, which matters if your "studio" is also your living room.
Who should skip it? If your main listening is hip-hop, EDM or film scores, and you want headphones that make those genres hit hard, the M40x will feel restrained. It's a tool, not a treat. Anyone who wants a single pair for both the desk and the train should also think twice, because the bundle here pairs it with a five-panel mic isolation shield rather than a travel case — great if you're recording vocals in an untreated room, less useful if you just wanted headphones.
The M50x is Audio-Technica's flagship M-series model, and the spec sheet shows why it sits above the M40x. The drivers are bigger at 45 mm, still neodymium, and the frequency range stretches from 15 Hz to 28,000 Hz. That extra reach at both ends is the whole story: more low-end weight, more air up top, and a sensitivity figure of 99 dB against the M40x's 98 dB. It's the more exciting listen, and for casual playback, DJ monitoring or checking a mix on something a little more consumer-flavored, that's a feature rather than a flaw.
Comfort and portability are handled the same way as the M40x — circumaural earpads, collapsible frame, swivel earcups, detachable straight and coiled cables — but the M50x adds a molded EVA hard case with a tough fabric shell and a plush interior. If you're throwing headphones in a bag, that case is the difference between a pair that survives three years and a pair that doesn't. The warranty is also longer at two years versus one, and the enclosure is stainless steel rather than aluminum.
The trade-off is honesty. The M50x is a slightly colored headphone by design. The bass lift and treble emphasis that make it satisfying for listening are exactly why some engineers keep a flatter pair around for final balance decisions. It's also the heavier, bulkier proposition of the two once you factor in the case. If your work is purely critical referencing in a quiet room, you're paying for capability you don't strictly need.
• Most neutral, trustworthy reference → Audio Technica ATH-M40x. Flat tuning across 15 Hz – 24,000 Hz is the whole reason it exists.
• Deepest bass extension and top-end air → Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. 45 mm drivers reaching 28,000 Hz.
• Lightest on the head → Audio Technica ATH-M40x. 240 g without cable and connector.
• Best for travel and storage → Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. The molded EVA case is included; the M40x bundle gives you a mic shield instead.
• Longest warranty coverage → Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. Two years against one.
• Best for recording vocals in a bad room → Audio Technica ATH-M40x. The bundled five-panel isolation shield is genuinely useful for taming room ambience, and it mounts to a mic stand with the included hardware.
• Best for DJ monitoring and casual listening → Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. The fuller, more energetic signature suits both.
• Best for one-ear tracking on a budget-conscious setup → either. Both swivel 90 degrees and both have detachable cables, so this one comes down to tuning preference.
I'd buy the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. The 45 mm drivers, the wider 15 Hz – 28,000 Hz range, the two-year warranty and the included hard case make it the more complete package for someone who wants one pair to do studio work and everyday listening. In my opinion, the M40x is the better pure monitoring tool — flatter, lighter, more honest — but it's a specialist's choice. If you already own a neutral reference pair and just need a second set for tracking, the M40x is the smarter pick. Otherwise, the M50x earns its place. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since your decision may hinge on how the two are currently positioned.
what are closed back studio headphones
Closed back studio headphones have sealed earcups that block outside sound from getting in and keep your audio from bleeding out. Both the ATH-M40x and ATH-M50x use this design, with circumaural pads that sit around the ear. That's why they're the standard choice for tracking vocals or instruments near a live microphone.
what is closed back studio headphones
It's the same idea stated another way: a headphone whose earcups form a closed shell rather than an open grille. The seal is what gives you the "sound isolation" both models list, and what keeps a click track from leaking into a recorded take. The trade-off is a narrower, more "in your head" soundstage than an open design.
what are the best closed back studio headphones
That depends on the job. For flat, accurate referencing, the Audio Technica ATH-M40x is my pick — its 15 Hz – 24,000 Hz tuning is deliberately neutral. For deeper bass, more top-end detail and a travel-ready hard case, the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x is the stronger all-rounder with its 45 mm drivers and 15 Hz – 28,000 Hz range.
what is open back studio headphones
Open back headphones have vented earcups that let air move freely, which typically produces a wider, more natural soundstage but almost no isolation. Neither the M40x nor the M50x is open back — both are closed back, wired, over-ear designs with 6.35 mm jacks. If you need to record with a mic in the room, closed back is the right choice.
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