If you want a low-profile on-ear fit with three interchangeable cable options, choose Audio Technica ATH-M60X; if you need around-ear isolation and swiveling earcups, choose Audio-Technica ATH-M50X. For commuting, the choice comes down to how you prefer headphones to sit and which design details matter most—not a claimed difference in driver size or frequency range.
• Audio Technica ATH-M60X: Low-profile, closed-back on-ear design, memory foam padding, and three cable options; the trade-off is that it rests on the ears rather than around them.
• Audio-Technica ATH-M50X: Closed-back, around-ear cups with 90-degree swiveling earcups; the trade-off is a larger over-ear design and fewer supplied connection details in the listed package.
• Audio Technica ATH-M60X suits listeners who want an on-ear fit, flexible wired connections, and a carrying pouch.
• Audio-Technica ATH-M50X suits listeners who prefer around-ear coverage and the option to turn one earcup aside for monitoring.
The ATH-M60X is the compact-feeling option by design: it uses a low-profile, closed-back on-ear layout rather than cups that surround the ears. Audio-Technica lists it for studio, broadcast, and mobile use. Its 45 mm drivers are the same size and type as the drivers in the ATH-M50X, and both models share a stated frequency response of 15–28,000 Hz. On the spec sheet, the main distinction is how the headphones fit and what comes in the box, not a different driver specification.
For commuting, the M60X’s wired setup and on-ear design may appeal if you prefer a less enveloping fit. Its memory foam ear pads and headband are intended to provide comfort, while the closed-back construction is designed for sound isolation. That description does not establish how much outside noise it will block in every setting, but it does make the M60X a relevant option for everyday listening around other people.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
I’d look closely at its accessories if you switch between listening setups. It includes three interchangeable cables—two straight lengths and one coiled option—as well as a 6.3 mm screw-on adapter and a protective carrying pouch. Skip it if around-ear coverage or swiveling earcups are priorities; those are features of the M50X instead. And if you’re searching for USB C charging sleep headphones for commuting, note that the M60X is wired, not a charging or wireless headphone.
The ATH-M50X uses a closed-back, circumaural design, meaning its earcups sit around the ears. Audio-Technica describes this layout as providing passive isolation in loud environments. It also has 90-degree swiveling earcups, a useful design detail for one-ear monitoring or for moving one cup aside when you need to listen to something around you.
Like the M60X, it has 45 mm drivers and a listed frequency response of 15–28,000 Hz. The product description highlights clarity across an extended frequency range and deep, accurate bass response. Those specifications and descriptions are shared in broad terms with the M60X, so they don’t support a claim that one model must sound better. The more concrete choice is between over-ear and on-ear wear, plus the M60X’s specifically listed cable bundle and pouch.
For commuting, consider whether you prefer cups that surround your ears and whether one-ear monitoring matters to you. The M50X is a wired headphone; the product information also mentions Bluetooth, but its connectivity details are inconsistent, so I would not treat that listing as confirmation of dependable wireless operation. It is not a charging headset. If your search is for gaming headphones for commuting, the M50X may be worth considering for its closed-back, around-ear design, but the provided details do not list a microphone or gaming-specific features. If you want a foldable gaming headset for commuting, neither model’s supplied specifications confirm that it folds or includes a gaming microphone.
• Best for a low-profile on-ear fit → Audio Technica ATH-M60X. Its cups rest on the ears, a clear distinction from the M50X’s surrounding-ear design.
• Best for around-ear coverage → Audio-Technica ATH-M50X. Choose it if you prefer circumaural cups rather than on-ear pads.
• Best for one-ear monitoring → Audio-Technica ATH-M50X. Its earcups swivel 90 degrees for that use.
• Best for cable flexibility → Audio Technica ATH-M60X. It includes three interchangeable cables in different lengths and styles.
• Best for a supplied carrying pouch → Audio Technica ATH-M60X. The listed package includes one, along with a 6.3 mm screw-on adapter.
• Best for a commuting setup that prioritizes passive isolation by design → Audio-Technica ATH-M50X. Its product details specifically describe the around-ear closed-back design as providing isolation in loud environments; actual results can vary with fit and surroundings.
• Best if you want to compare the published driver and frequency figures → Tie. Both list 45 mm drivers and a 15–28,000 Hz frequency response, so those figures alone don’t distinguish them.
• Best for wireless listening or USB C charging → Neither based on the supplied details. The M60X is wired, and the M50X’s connection information is inconsistent; neither is described as a USB C charging headphone.
For commuting, I’d choose the Audio-Technica ATH-M50X if I wanted around-ear cups and the flexibility of 90-degree swiveling earcups. Those are practical, clearly specified differences that suit my preferred use case.
I’d pick the Audio Technica ATH-M60X instead if an on-ear fit, multiple cable choices, and the included pouch mattered more. The shared driver size and frequency range wouldn’t decide it for me; fit and accessories would.
It depends on the fit you want: the M60X is on-ear, while the M50X surrounds the ears. The M50X’s design is described as offering passive isolation in loud environments, but the specifications don’t establish a guaranteed level of noise reduction.
Yes. Both are listed with 45 mm drivers, and both have a stated frequency response of 15–28,000 Hz. Those shared specifications do not, by themselves, establish that the two headphones sound identical.
The M60X is listed as wired. The M50X’s connectivity information is inconsistent, so I wouldn’t rely on it as confirmation of wireless use; neither product’s details describe USB C charging.
Neither product’s listed features establish a gaming-specific headset setup or include a stated microphone. The M50X has around-ear cups, while the M60X includes several wired cable options, so choose based on fit and connection needs rather than assuming either is a dedicated gaming headset.
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