If you want music-production software and a bundle with headphones and a USB hub for commuting, choose Image Line FL Studio 20; if you need closed-back monitoring headphones for commuting, choose Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. These are not two versions of the same product: one centers on creating music, while the other is a dedicated pair of wired headphones. For a commute, the ATH-M50x is the more direct listening choice; FL Studio 20 is for someone whose main goal is making music.
• Image Line FL Studio 20’s biggest strength: Producer Edition software with multi-track audio recording, MIDI piano-roll editing, and more than 80 instrument and effect plugins. Trade-off: it is primarily a software-and-accessories bundle, not a dedicated headphone purchase.
• Audio-Technica ATH-M50x’s biggest strength: closed-back, over-ear headphones with 45 mm dynamic drivers, sound isolation, and detachable cables. Trade-off: it is a wired listening tool, not music-production software.
• The FL Studio 20 bundle includes a headphone and a four-port USB 3.0 hub, but the supplied information does not specify the headphone’s model or performance.
• The ATH-M50x folds, has swiveling earcups, and comes with a protective case, making its design more straightforward to carry.
• Choose FL Studio 20 if you want to produce and edit music on a compatible computer; choose ATH-M50x if you want headphones for monitoring, DJing, or everyday listening.
Image Line FL Studio 20 Producer Edition is the choice for someone who wants tools to build music, rather than simply listen to it. Its core features include multi-track audio recording, MIDI piano-roll editing, and more than 80 instrument and effect plugins. Those plugins cover a broad set of jobs, from synthesis and sample manipulation to equalization, compression, delay, and reverb. That range gives a producer multiple ways to shape a project inside the software.
The bundle also includes a headphone and a four-port USB 3.0 hub. It is compatible with laptops and personal computers and supports Windows and macOS. That makes it relevant to a creator assembling a computer-based setup, though the supplied details do not identify the included headphone’s specifications. I would choose this bundle when music creation is the main goal and the additional accessories are useful.
I would skip it if you are mainly shopping for a reliable set of headphones to wear on a commute. FL Studio is production software, not a headphone model, and its included headphone is not described in enough detail here to compare directly with the ATH-M50x. The bundle’s strengths are editing, sequencing, recording, and software instruments—not a documented headphone design for portable listening.
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-22 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x: Who It's For
The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x is a wired, closed-back, over-ear headphone set aimed at monitoring, recording, mixing, and DJing. Its 45 mm dynamic drivers and stated frequency range of 15–28,000 Hz describe the audio hardware; the closed-back design is intended to limit sound bleed and provide isolation. For a commuter, that enclosure is more relevant than a software bundle, though the listed features do not establish that it blocks all outside noise.
Its practical design details also suit someone who moves between places. The headphones fold, their earcups swivel, and the package includes both straight and coiled detachable cables, plus a protective case. The ear pads are circumaural, meaning they sit around the ears. The listed connection is wired, with a 6.35 mm jack; the product information does not list Bluetooth or a built-in battery.
I would choose the ATH-M50x if the priority is a dedicated headphone for listening or audio work, and I would skip it if the purchase is meant to provide production software. It cannot replace FL Studio’s recording, MIDI editing, or plugin features. Likewise, it is not a wireless option for someone specifically searching for the best Bluetooth headphones for commuting.
• Best for making and editing music → Image Line FL Studio 20. It includes multi-track recording, MIDI piano-roll editing, and more than 80 plugins.
• Best for dedicated wired listening → Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. It is a purpose-built, over-ear headphone set rather than a software bundle.
• Best fit for a computer-based production setup → Image Line FL Studio 20. It supports Windows and macOS on laptops and personal computers, and the bundle includes a four-port USB 3.0 hub.
• Best fit for recording or DJ monitoring → Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. The closed-back design, detachable cables, and 45 mm drivers match those use cases.
• More portable headphone design → Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. It folds, has swivel earcups, and includes a protective case.
• Best if you want a bundle with an unspecified headphone → Image Line FL Studio 20. A headphone is included, but its model and specifications are not provided.
• Best for someone seeking wireless earphones for commuting → Neither, based on the listed features. FL Studio 20 is software, and ATH-M50x is wired; neither product is described as Bluetooth.
• Best when sound isolation is a priority → Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. Its closed-back design is specifically described as providing isolation with minimal bleed.
The commuting question deserves a little care. “Open ear earbuds for commuting” describes a different listening style from either product here: the ATH-M50x is over-ear and closed-back, while FL Studio 20 is a software package. If you want headphones to take on the train or use while walking, the Audio-Technica is the clearer match of these two, but it remains wired. The available details do not say that either option is designed to let you hear surrounding traffic or announcements.
In my opinion, I would choose the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x for commuting because it is a dedicated closed-back headphone with a folding design, detachable cables, and a protective case.
Its wired connection is a real limitation if wireless listening matters to you.
I would buy Image Line FL Studio 20 instead only if producing music is the main goal and I also wanted its software and included accessories.
For a commute-focused headphone choice, the ATH-M50x fits the job more directly.
FAQ
No. The listed connectivity is wired, with a 6.35 mm headphone jack and detachable straight and coiled cables. Bluetooth is not listed.
For headphone listening, the ATH-M50x is the more direct fit: it is a closed-back, over-ear set that folds and comes with a protective case. FL Studio 20 is for creating and editing music on a computer.
Neither is described as an open-ear or wireless earbud. The ATH-M50x is a wired, closed-back over-ear headphone, while FL Studio 20 is software. If you need an open-ear design or Bluetooth, neither product’s listed features match that need.
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