If you want a lightweight, highly revealing wired reference headphone for focused listening and calls in a quiet workspace, choose Audio-Technica ATH-R70XA; if you need a more flexible cable setup and a more accessible match for everyday studio work and calls, choose Audio-Technica ATH-R50X.
Audio-Technica ATH-R70XA vs Audio-Technica ATH-R50X at a Glance
• ATH-R70XA strength: 199 g build, open-back reference design, and a stated 5–40,000 Hz frequency range. Trade-off: one 3.0 m cable and 470-ohm impedance make source and setup choice more important.
• ATH-R50X strength: two detachable cable lengths, a carrying pouch, and a stated 50-ohm impedance. Trade-off: it weighs 207 g and has a stated 20 Hz–20,000 Hz frequency range.
• Both: wired, over-ear, open-back headphones intended for listening in a private or controlled space; neither includes Bluetooth or a built-in microphone.
• Choose ATH-R70XA for detailed, critical listening with the lighter stated weight; choose ATH-R50X for a more adaptable cable kit and a practical all-around studio setup.
The ATH-R70XA is the more focused reference option in this comparison. Its fully open-back construction is intended to avoid relying on enclosed acoustic space for sound shaping, while the product description emphasizes natural presentation, precise imaging, and detail. That makes it a sensible fit for engineers, producers, and musicians who want to listen closely while making decisions in a quiet workspace.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
At 199 g, it is the lighter of these two models by the stated weights. The velour earpads are replaceable, and the construction combines a streamlined design with metal reinforcement. Those details suit long listening or work sessions where comfort and a lighter feel matter. Its 3.0 m detachable locking cable is dual-sided, with independent left and right signals to maintain stereo orientation.
I’d skip the ATH-R70XA if you need wireless listening, a built-in call microphone, or a closed design to limit sound leakage. It is wired and open-back, and its listed impedance is 470 ohms. That figure makes checking compatibility with your intended audio source a sensible step before choosing it. Its supplied cable is 3.0 m, so it offers less cable-length flexibility than the ATH-R50X package.
The ATH-R50X is also an open-back reference headphone, but its stated strengths point toward a versatile studio role. Audio-Technica describes extended bass, accurate mids, and a wide, realistic soundstage, with intended uses including mixing, mastering, and music creation in a private space. If you want one wired pair for several listening and production tasks, those traits make it an appealing alternative.
Its most concrete convenience is the cable selection: the box includes detachable 3.0 m and 1.2 m cables, plus a 6.3 mm adapter and a carrying pouch. The shorter cable can make a desk or nearby source setup less cumbersome, while the longer one allows more room to move. At a stated 50-ohm impedance, it also differs substantially from the ATH-R70XA’s 470 ohms; still, check that your particular equipment is suitable rather than assuming either model will work identically with every source.
The trade-off is modest but clear: the ATH-R50X weighs 207 g, eight grams more than the ATH-R70XA, and its listed frequency range is 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz rather than 5 Hz to 40,000 Hz. Those specifications alone do not settle which headphone sounds better for a particular listener. Skip it if you specifically want the ATH-R70XA’s lower stated weight and broader listed range, or if you need Bluetooth, isolation, or a microphone for calls.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for a lighter stated weight → Audio-Technica ATH-R70XA. It weighs 199 g, compared with 207 g for the ATH-R50X.
• Best fit for critical reference listening → Audio-Technica ATH-R70XA. Its description emphasizes accuracy, detail, imaging, and depth for production decisions.
• Best fit for an all-around studio setup → Audio-Technica ATH-R50X. The listed use cases include mixing, mastering, and creation, and its cable kit includes a carrying pouch and adapter.
• Lower listed impedance → Audio-Technica ATH-R50X. It is specified at 50 ohms, compared with 470 ohms for the ATH-R70XA. Check your source equipment before buying either.
• Wider stated frequency range → Audio-Technica ATH-R70XA. Its listed range is 5–40,000 Hz, while the ATH-R50X is listed at 20 Hz–20,000 Hz. That is a specification difference, not a guarantee of how every listener will perceive sound.
• Best for calls when you already have a separate microphone → either, with a caveat. Both are wired and open-back, and neither is described as having a built-in microphone. Choose based on your listening and cable needs, not as a Bluetooth call headset.
• Best for quiet, private listening → either. Both use an open-back design, so neither is the natural pick when you need to keep your listening contained or block surrounding sound.
I would choose the Audio-Technica ATH-R50X for most people deciding between these two. Its two cable lengths, included adapter, and carrying pouch make the setup more adaptable, while its 50-ohm specification is lower than the ATH-R70XA’s 470 ohms. For calls in a quiet workspace, I’d pair it with a separate microphone. If my priority were the lighter build and a more explicitly detail-focused reference headphone, I’d choose the ATH-R70XA instead.
FAQ
They can provide wired audio for calls, but neither product is described as having a built-in microphone or Bluetooth. Plan on using a separate microphone, and remember that their open-back design does not isolate your listening from the room.
The ATH-R50X comes with two detachable cables, measuring 3.0 m and 1.2 m, along with a 6.3 mm adapter and carrying pouch. The ATH-R70XA includes a 3.0 m detachable locking cable, so it offers fewer cable-length options in the package.
Not by itself. The listed ranges are 5–40,000 Hz for the ATH-R70XA and 20 Hz–20,000 Hz for the ATH-R50X, but those figures do not fully describe perceived sound or determine which model will suit your work.
No. Both are wired, over-ear, open-back headphones, not Bluetooth earbuds or sleep headphones. If you are searching for USB-C charging Bluetooth earbuds for calls, these models do not match that type of product.
• Amazon Renewed Razer BlackShark V2 vs SIMIFLY Hybrid Active Noise
• SONY MDREX15LP vs Kshttky Clip
• Amazon Renewed beats Solo3 vs Planet Buddies Kids Headphones
• MOONKI SOUND AUDIO PROFESIONAL MH-TWS50-LBL vs xinwld Earbuds
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.