PreSonus Quantum ES 4 vs Audio-Technica ATH-M50x at a Glance
• PreSonus Quantum ES 4 strength: Four mic preamps, multiple input and output options, USB-C connectivity, and a DSP monitor mixer with loopback. Trade-off: It is an audio interface, not a standalone pair of headphones.
• Audio-Technica ATH-M50x strength: Closed-back, over-ear headphones with swivel earcups, a folding design, and detachable cables. Trade-off: They are wired headphones, not a recording interface with mic preamps or other audio connections.
• Best fit for the ES 4: PC users recording microphones or instruments, monitoring sessions, and routing audio between devices.
• Best fit for the ATH-M50x: PC users who want closed-back headphones for focused listening, recording, mixing, or DJing.
• The simplest distinction: Choose the ES 4 to build an audio setup; choose the ATH-M50x to add headphones to one.
The PreSonus Quantum ES 4 is a desktop USB-C audio interface for producers, musicians, and creators who need more than a headphone connection. Its four mic preamps provide a path for microphone recording, while the front-facing instrument inputs are designed for guitar or bass. That makes it a more natural fit for a PC recording desk where vocals and instruments may both be part of the work.
The connection and monitoring options are a big part of its appeal. The interface includes 10 line outputs, two headphone outputs, two reamp outputs, ADAT and S/PDIF I/O, plus a DSP monitor mixer with loopback. In practical terms, that collection gives a creator several ways to route and monitor audio rather than relying only on the computer’s built-in connections. Auto Gain, low-latency monitoring, and 48V phantom power add useful tools for microphone-based sessions. Its full-color, high-resolution screen provides a dedicated way to view interface information.
The ES 4 supports Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android, so it is not limited to a desktop PC workflow. Its listed maximum sample rate is 192 kHz, and the product details describe 24-bit conversion. The bundle also includes Polsen HPC-A30 closed-back studio monitor headphones and XLR cables, which makes it more of a starting point for recording than a headphone-only purchase. Still, the central product is an interface: it needs to connect into a broader setup, and it is not the straightforward choice for someone who only wants a pair of over-ear headphones for PC.
Who should skip it: Skip the ES 4 if your only need is to listen through wired headphones and you do not need recording inputs, routing, or interface controls.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-19 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x is the more direct choice for someone shopping for headphones. Its closed-back, over-ear design is intended to provide sound isolation with minimal bleed, a useful arrangement when recording near a microphone or listening in a shared space. The circumaural ear pads surround the ears, and the product is positioned for longer listening sessions as well as recording, mixing, and DJing.
Its 45 mm dynamic drivers and stated frequency range of 15–28,000 Hz describe the headphone’s playback hardware and range. Those specifications help distinguish it from the ES 4, which is an interface rather than a listening device. The ATH-M50x connects by wire through a 6.35 mm jack. That is a clear fit for a wired PC audio setup, but it is not a Bluetooth model. Anyone specifically searching for Bluetooth headphones for PC should not mistake this product for a wireless option.
For storage and travel, the ATH-M50x has swivel earcups and a collapsible design. Its cables are detachable, and the product description refers to both straight and coiled cable options. A protective case is included, offering a dedicated way to store and carry the headphones. These details make it practical for moving between a desk and another listening location, though it remains a headphone solution rather than a device for connecting microphones or managing multiple audio sources.
Who should skip it: Skip the ATH-M50x if you need mic preamps, instrument inputs, loopback, or multiple audio outputs for a PC recording setup.
• Best for connecting microphones to a PC → PreSonus Quantum ES 4. Its four mic preamps and 48V phantom power make it the clear fit for microphone recording.
• Best for plugging in a guitar or bass → PreSonus Quantum ES 4. It has front-facing instrument inputs intended for those sources.
• Best for a dedicated pair of over-ear headphones for PC → Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. It is a closed-back, circumaural headphone with a wired 6.35 mm connection.
• Best for recording with minimal headphone bleed → Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. Its closed-back design is specified to provide isolation and reduce bleed.
• Best for audio routing and monitoring options → PreSonus Quantum ES 4. Its line, phone, reamp, ADAT, and S/PDIF connections give it a broader role in a recording setup.
• Best for loopback and low-latency monitoring tools → PreSonus Quantum ES 4. It includes a DSP monitor mixer with loopback and lists low-latency capability.
• Best for folding away between sessions → Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. The collapsible design, swivel earcups, detachable cables, and case suit storage and transport.
• Best if you need a wireless PC headset → Neither based on these specs. The ATH-M50x is wired, and the ES 4 is an interface rather than a wireless headset.
Before choosing, pin down what is missing from your current PC setup. If you already have a way to connect your microphone or instruments and simply want a listening device, the ATH-M50x is the more direct purchase. If you need to add microphone inputs, record instruments, or manage several audio connections, the ES 4 addresses a different and wider set of tasks.
Also consider whether you need one product or a complete workflow. The ES 4 bundle includes Polsen HPC-A30 headphones and XLR cables, but those included headphones are not the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. The ES 4’s main job is to serve as an interface; its many connections matter most when you will use them. By contrast, the ATH-M50x focuses on listening and monitoring, with its isolation, folding design, and detachable cables supporting that purpose.
Connection expectations matter, too. The ATH-M50x is wired and uses a 6.35 mm jack, so confirm that your PC setup has a compatible headphone connection or an appropriate audio device. The ES 4 connects over USB-C and supports Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android according to the product details. Neither option should be treated as a wireless Bluetooth headset based on the supplied specifications.
Finally, if the current price is part of your decision, check the current price on Amazon using the page’s button. I would compare the cost against the function you will actually use: headphone playback and isolation for the ATH-M50x, or recording inputs and routing for the ES 4. A longer feature list is only useful when those features match your setup.
My Verdict
No. It is a USB-C audio interface with mic preamps, instrument inputs, audio outputs, and monitoring features. The listed bundle includes Polsen HPC-A30 headphones, but the interface itself is not a headphone model.
The supplied specifications identify them as wired headphones with a 6.35 mm jack. They are not listed as Bluetooth headphones, so choose them for a wired connection rather than wireless PC listening.
The ES 4 is the more suitable option for connecting a microphone because it has four mic preamps and 48V phantom power. The ATH-M50x can serve as headphones for listening or monitoring, but it does not provide microphone inputs.
The ATH-M50x is the headphone choice for that need: its closed-back construction is designed to provide isolation with minimal bleed. The ES 4 is an interface and includes different tools, including a DSP monitor mixer and loopback, rather than being a dedicated headphone.
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