How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want the widest frequency extension and a low-impedance, studio-grade monitoring design built around Focal's Al/Mg driver tech, choose Focal Lensys Professional Closed-Back; if you need swappable cables, a collapsible frame and a bundled stand for a flexible wired workstation, choose Audio-Technica ATH-M50x.
• Focal Lensys Professional Closed-Back — biggest strength: Dual Al/Mg "M"-shaped dynamic drivers in a closed-back, over-ear design with a very wide 5Hz–22kHz range and a low 26-ohm impedance that plays nicely with everyday gear.
• Focal Lensys Professional Closed-Back — biggest trade-off: One fixed 3.5mm wired connection and no bundled stand or spare cables, so you commit to a single cable setup.
• Audio-Technica ATH-M50x — biggest strength: Three interchangeable cables (coiled, long straight, short straight), a 6.3mm screw-on adapter, a protective pouch and a desktop stand — lots of practical kit in one box.
• Audio-Technica ATH-M50x — biggest trade-off: Higher 38-ohm impedance and a 15Hz–28kHz tuning with a 45mm driver, which is a different flavor of monitoring rather than a strictly "better" one.
• Who each pick is for: Focal Lensys Professional Closed-Back for listeners and creators who want maximum portability, memory-foam comfort and deep bass extension in a single tidy package; Audio-Technica ATH-M50x for anyone who wants cable flexibility, a collapsible travel frame and an included stand.
The Lensys Professional is Focal's take on a closed-back, over-ear monitoring and playback headphone, and the spec sheet reads like a studio tool that was also meant to leave the studio. The headline is the driver: a pair of Al/Mg ("aluminum/magnesium") dynamic drivers in Focal's "M"-shaped design, inside circumaural (around-the-ear) cups. The frequency range reaches down to 5Hz and up to 22kHz, which is a notably deep low-end figure — worth noting if you work with bass-heavy material or just like a full-bodied low end.
Who should buy it: a beginner beatmaker, a session musician, or a home listener who wants one closed-back pair that isolates sound, feels comfortable for long stretches, and travels with its own case. Who should skip it: anyone who wants to swap between a coiled cable and a long straight cable, or who wants a stand in the box — the Lensys doesn't offer that. If you want a single-cable, low-fuss headphone and don't mind that trade, this is the more specialized pick. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding, since it's the one variable that shifts.
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x: Who It's For
The ATH-M50x is the well-known classic of the two, and the bundled kit explains a lot of its reputation. You get the headphones plus three interchangeable cables — a 3.9–9.8 ft coiled, a 9.8 ft straight, and a 3.9 ft straight — along with a protective carrying pouch, a 6.3mm (1/4") screw-on adapter, a desktop headphone stand, and a 1-year limited warranty. That's a genuinely useful spread for studio work: the coiled cable for a desk where you don't want slack everywhere, the long straight for reaching across a room or a mixer, and the short straight for casual listening.
The driver is a 45mm large-aperture dynamic unit with a 15Hz–28,000Hz frequency response and 99dB sensitivity. The impedance is 38 ohms — higher than the Focal, but still in the range most gear handles without drama. The design is closed-back with around-the-ear earcups and a contoured seal that's intended to minimize bleed and block outside noise, and the frame is aluminum in black. Notably, it's collapsible for space-saving portability, which is a real advantage if you're packing a bag regularly. The spec sheet also lists a 2.4 lb weight and app-based control method with volume control, alongside the wired 3.5mm jack.
Who should buy it: studio engineers, producers and performers who want cable flexibility, a collapsible frame for transport, and the extra accessories in one purchase. Who should skip it: someone who specifically wants the deepest low-end extension and lowest impedance, or who dislikes juggling multiple cables and accessories. If you want a turnkey wired setup with room to adapt, the M50x fits that brief.
• Best for deep bass extension → Focal Lensys Professional Closed-Back. Its 5Hz low-end reaches lower on paper than the M50x's 15Hz.
• Best for easy driving from everyday devices → Focal Lensys Professional Closed-Back. At 26 ohms it's lower impedance than the M50x's 38 ohms.
• Best for cable flexibility → Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. Three interchangeable cables plus a 6.3mm adapter beat a single fixed 3.5mm connection.
• Best for portability and storage → Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. It's collapsible; the Focal is not described as folding, though it does include a carrying case.
• Best for comfort over long sessions → Tie, ask your ears. Focal uses memory foam earpads; Audio-Technica uses soft contoured earcups designed for extended wear. Both are aimed at long listening.
• Best for high-frequency detail on paper → Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. Its 28kHz upper limit is higher than the Focal's 22kHz, though both cover the audible range.
• Best for an all-in-one kit → Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. Stand, pouch, adapter and spare cables are included.
• Best for a focused single-cable build → Focal Lensys Professional Closed-Back. Clean, simple, one jack, plus a 2-year warranty versus the M50x's 1-year limited.
In my opinion, I'd buy the Focal Lensys Professional Closed-Back if the priority is the deepest low-end extension, the lowest impedance for easy driving, and a comfortable memory-foam fit in a compact case — it's the more specialized monitoring tool. I'd pick the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x instead if I wanted maximum flexibility: three cables, a 6.3mm adapter, a stand, a collapsible frame and a longer high-frequency reach. Neither is universally "better." Decide by which trade-off you'd rather live with, then check the current price on Amazon for whichever you land on.
On paper, yes for extension. The Focal reaches down to 5Hz versus the ATH-M50x's 15Hz, so it's the stronger candidate if deep low-end matters most. Tuning taste still decides the final call.
Not necessarily. At 38 ohms with 99dB sensitivity, they're efficient enough for most phones, laptops and interfaces. A dedicated amp can help, but it isn't a requirement to get usable volume.
The ATH-M50x has the edge because it's collapsible for space-saving storage. The Focal ships with a protective carrying case but isn't described as folding. Both are wired, so neither needs charging.
If you want cable flexibility, a 6.3mm adapter and a bundled stand, the ATH-M50x is the practical studio kit. If you want lower impedance and deeper bass extension in a simpler single-cable setup, the Focal Lensys Professional Closed-Back is my pick.
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