How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a complete, plug-in-and-record setup for calls, podcasts and music production, choose PreSonus Studio 24c; if you need a single pair of serious closed-back monitoring headphones for calls, tracking and travel, choose Audio-Technica ATH-M50XLAB.
• PreSonus Studio 24c — biggest strength: it's a full studio in one box — USB-C interface with 24-bit/192 kHz converters, dual XMAX-L preamps, +48V phantom power, MIDI I/O, a condenser mic with shockmount, pop filter and isolation shield, a pair of Mackie CR4-X monitors, headphones, stands, cables and a production software suite.
• PreSonus Studio 24c — biggest trade-off: it's a desk-bound system that needs a computer and a power-free but cabled USB connection, and it weighs about 10.89 kg as a bundle — this is not something you toss in a bag.
• Audio-Technica ATH-M50XLAB — biggest strength: 45 mm large-aperture drivers with copper-clad aluminum voice coils in a closed-back, over-ear design that folds flat and swivels 90° for one-ear monitoring — accurate audio, deep bass, and isolation you can take anywhere.
• Audio-Technica ATH-M50XLAB — biggest trade-off: it's headphones only. No interface, no mic, no monitors, no software. You're buying one excellent link in the chain, not the chain.
• Who each pick is for: the PreSonus bundle is for someone building a recording space from zero; the ATH-M50XLAB is for someone who already has the rest of the chain and needs reliable monitoring — including for calls.
The Studio 24c bundle is what I'd point a first-time studio builder toward. The interface itself does the heavy lifting: 24-bit/192 kHz conversion, two combo inputs with XMAX-L preamps, +48V phantom power for the included condenser mic, MIDI I/O for keyboards and controllers, balanced line outputs, direct monitoring and gain controls. It's USB-C bus-powered, so plug-and-play really is the operating mode. Add the Mackie CR4-X pair — 4" polypropylene woofers, 0.75" silk-dome tweeters, 50W of Class-D amplification and a flat 65Hz–20kHz response — and you have monitoring that's honest enough to mix on.
What makes this bundle unusual is how little it leaves out. The condenser mic ships with a shockmount, pop filter and a high-density isolation shield, which matters more than people expect: the shield tames room reflections, so a spare bedroom behaves better than it has any right to. The closed-back LyxPro headphones give you a second reference point for tracking, and the boom stand, windscreens, XLR cables, monitor cables and USB cables mean you're not making a second trip for parts. The software suite covers recording, arranging, editing, mixing, mastering and publishing.
So who should buy it? Musicians, podcasters, voice-over artists, streamers and content creators who need to record vocals, guitar, keys and spoken word in one place — including anyone who wants a proper mic-and-monitor rig for calls, interviews and remote sessions rather than a headset. Who should skip it? Anyone who already owns an interface and monitors and just wants better headphones. Also skip it if portability is the priority — this is a desktop system, not a travel kit.
The ATH-M50XLAB is the opposite kind of purchase: one tool, done well. It's a closed-back, over-ear design built around 45 mm large-aperture dynamic drivers with copper-clad aluminum wire voice coils, and the point of that combination is clarity across an extended frequency range with bass you can actually trust rather than bass that flatters. The circumaural pads contour around the ear for sound isolation, which is why these get used for tracking, for editing, and for long listening sessions where outside noise would otherwise pull your attention.
The practical details are what sell me on it for daily work. The earcups swivel 90°, so one-ear monitoring — cueing a take, checking a room, listening to a call while still hearing what's around you — is a natural motion instead of a juggling act. The whole thing collapses and folds flat, which is the difference between headphones that live on a desk and headphones that actually travel. Impedance is 38 ohms with 99 dB sensitivity, so they're easy to drive; the cable is detachable, and there are media and volume controls on the remote. Weight is 288 g, which is light enough for a long day.
Who should buy it? Producers, engineers, musicians and remote workers who need one dependable closed-back pair for tracking, editing, casual listening and — yes — head phones for calls, where isolation and clear vocal reproduction matter more than a boom arm. Who should skip it? Anyone expecting a microphone, an interface or speakers in the box. This is monitoring only, and if you don't already own a way to record, it won't get you there on its own.
• Best for recording vocals and instruments → PreSonus Studio 24c. Dual XMAX-L preamps, +48V phantom power, 24-bit/192 kHz conversion and a condenser mic with shockmount, pop filter and isolation shield.
• Best for accurate, portable monitoring → Audio-Technica ATH-M50XLAB. 45 mm drivers, closed-back isolation, 90° swiveling earcups and a fold-flat collapsible frame.
• Best for calls and remote sessions → PreSonus Studio 24c if you want a mic-and-monitor setup at a desk; ATH-M50XLAB if you mainly need clean, isolated listening on your end.
• Best for mixing with speakers → PreSonus Studio 24c. The Mackie CR4-X pair covers 65Hz–20kHz with 50W of Class-D amplification and front-panel volume plus headphone output.
• Best for travel and commuting → Audio-Technica ATH-M50XLAB. At 288 g with a detachable cable and folding design, it's built to move.
• Best for MIDI and multi-source production → PreSonus Studio 24c. MIDI I/O, balanced line outputs, direct monitoring and a four-channel interface.
• Best for one long session after another → Audio-Technica ATH-M50XLAB. Plush isolation pads and a lightweight over-ear fit designed for extended use.
• Best all-in-one starting point → PreSonus Studio 24c. Interface, monitors, mic, headphones, cables, stand and a full software suite in a single purchase.
In my opinion, most people asking this question should buy the PreSonus Studio 24c bundle. Not because the ATH-M50XLAB is weaker — it isn't — but because the bundle solves more problems at once, and for calls, podcasting or recording anything at all, it gives you the whole signal path: mic, preamp, monitors, headphones and software, with nothing left to source separately. I'd pick the ATH-M50XLAB only if the interface and monitors are already on your desk and you simply want the best monitoring pair your budget allows, or if you need head phones for calls that travel with you. Buy the bundle to build a studio; buy the ATH-M50XLAB to upgrade one.
It's designed as a complete setup. You get the USB-C interface, a condenser mic with shockmount, pop filter and isolation shield, Mackie CR4-X monitors, closed-back headphones, a boom stand, windscreens, XLR and monitor cables, USB cables and a production software suite. The main thing you supply is a computer.
They're wired, closed-back headphones with a detachable cable and media/volume controls on the remote, plus 38-ohm impedance and 99 dB sensitivity that make them easy to drive. They handle the listening side of a call well, but they have no microphone, so you'd pair them with your computer's mic or a separate one.
The bundle has an edge here. The included isolation shield is there specifically to reduce room reflections around the mic, and the CR4-X monitors give you a flat reference for checking a mix. The ATH-M50XLAB sidesteps the room entirely through closed-back isolation, which is a different solution to the same problem.
The frame collapses and folds flat, the earcups swivel 90°, the cable detaches, and the enclosure uses stainless steel with professional-grade earpad and headband materials. It's built for studio sessions and for life on the go, and it carries a two-year warranty.
If price is the deciding factor for you, check the current price on Amazon using the button on this page before you commit.
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.
See also: Sony WH-CH720N vs BEVCEFCC Open Ear: Top Rated Headphones, EARLA TEC Replacement Audio Cable vs Avantree E171, Gankoii Headphones vs KFJAL Earbuds: Touch Control, TOORUN Earpiece vs Monster Open Ear AC311: Touch Control