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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a coiled, studio-grade replacement cable that keeps a wired Audio-Technica headphone connected and untangled during long sessions, choose weishan ATH-M50x; if you need an open-ear wired headphone you can wear for hours without pushing anything into your ear canal — including for exercise — choose HGCXING Open Ear Headphone.
• weishan ATH-M50x biggest strength: a 2.5mm-to-3.5mm coiled aux cable with twist-lock, gold-plated tips and a 6.35mm adapter — proper studio and DJ connectivity. Biggest trade-off: it is a cable, not a headphone, so it only helps if you already own a compatible wired Audio-Technica model.
• HGCXING Open Ear Headphone biggest strength: an open-ear, over-ear hook design with a built-in mic, button controls and a zippered storage case. Biggest trade-off: it is wired 3.5mm only — no wireless, no Bluetooth.
• Pick weishan ATH-M50x if you need to repair or extend a wired Audio-Technica headphone for studio, DJ or desktop use.
• Pick HGCXING Open Ear Headphone if you want breathable open-ear comfort, a mic for calls and class, and a cable that stays tidy — including fast charging earbuds for exercise alternatives where you never want a bud jammed in your canal.
This is a single-purpose accessory, and it is honest about that. The weishan cable runs a 2.5mm three-pole TRS male plug into a 3.5mm three-pole TRS male plug, with a 6.35mm adapter in the box. That 2.5mm end is the tell: it is built for Audio-Technica wired headphones in the M40x / M50x / M70x family, the ones that use a twist-lock jack instead of a plain 3.5mm socket. Twist-lock plus gold-plated tips is the combination that keeps the plug seated when you move, and it is the reason this cable exists rather than a generic aux cord.
The coil is the second thing that matters. It sits at roughly 1.2 meters (4 feet) relaxed and stretches to about 4.5 meters (14 feet), with a 3.5mm wire diameter and a PVC jacket. For studio mixing, tracking, FOH, mastering and post production, that reach is the point — you can stand at a desk, move to a kit, or step back from a board without dragging a straight cable across the floor. In my opinion, this is the cable I would reach for if I were replacing a worn stock cable on a wired Audio-Technica headphone and wanted the coiled, spring-style feel back.
Who should skip it: anyone who does not own a 2.5mm twist-lock headphone. If your headphones take a plain 3.5mm plug, or if you are shopping for headphones rather than a cable, this is the wrong product entirely. It is also indoor-oriented by design, so it is not the thing you grab for a run. Buy it to fix or extend a wired headphone; do not buy it expecting sound hardware.
The HGCXING is the opposite kind of product: actual headphones, and the design brief is comfort over isolation. Nothing goes into your ear canal. Instead, adjustable ear hooks sit the drivers over your ear, so air moves and your canals stay clear. If you have ever cut a workout short because a bud felt gritty or jammed, that is the exact problem this shape solves — which is why I would frame it as a genuine option when you are hunting for open, breathable listening for exercise rather than sealed in-ear pressure.
The spec sheet backs the shape up. A 32-ohm impedance and 105 dB sensitivity over a 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz range with a dynamic driver means this is an easy, phone-friendly load — the kind of headphone a laptop, Chromebook or budget phone drives without strain. It is wired 3.5mm, with button controls on the cable for playback and calls, plus a built-in mic. The package includes a cable fixer clip, the headphones themselves and a zippered storage case, and it carries an 8-month warranty.
The compatibility list is unusually broad, and that is the real selling point: ASUS, HP Chromebook, MacBook, IdeaPad 3, Dell Inspiron and Latitude 3550, Surface, Kindle Fire HD 10/8/8 Plus, Steam Deck, Mac Mini, Samsung A15/A25/S10/S9/S8/A14/A13/A23/A21, Google Pixel 5a/4a/3a XL, Moto G Stylus/G Power/G Play/G 5G, One 5G Ace, MOTO G100, razr, iPhone 6s/6/5s/5/SE 1st, iPad Pro, iPad, iPad mini, iPad Air, plus MP3/MP4 players and any PC with a 3.5mm jack. School, office, airplane, travel and online courses are all fair game.
Skip it if you want wireless. There is no Bluetooth here, and the open design means less noise blocking than a sealed earbud — you hear your surroundings. That is a feature on a bike path and a drawback on a plane. Also note it is listed for ages 7 and up, so it is a family-friendly fit rather than a specialist tool.
• Best for fixing or upgrading a wired Audio-Technica headphone → weishan ATH-M50x. The 2.5mm twist-lock plug and 6.35mm adapter are made for exactly that job.
• Best for an actual listening device → HGCXING Open Ear Headphone. One is a cable; the other is a headphone. Decide which you are shopping for first.
• Best for ear comfort and airflow → HGCXING Open Ear Headphone. The open-ear hook design never enters the canal, so ears breathe.
• Best for long cable reach at a desk or in a studio → weishan ATH-M50x. The coil stretches from about 4 feet to roughly 14 feet.
• Best for calls, class and online courses → HGCXING Open Ear Headphone. Built-in mic plus push-button cable controls.
• Best for plug-and-play across laptops, tablets and phones → HGCXING Open Ear Headphone. The 3.5mm compatibility list covers most mainstream devices.
• Best for durability under movement → weishan ATH-M50x. Twist-lock and gold-plated tips are built to stay seated; the HGCXING is the more flexible, lighter-duty wear.
• Best if you want zero wireless setup → either. Both are wired, so no pairing, no charging, no app.
If I had to pick one, it would be HGCXING Open Ear Headphone — because it is a complete listening product rather than a part, and because the open-ear, hook-based fit is genuinely useful for exercise, travel and long study sessions where you want to hear the world around you. I would choose weishan ATH-M50x only in one scenario: I already own a wired Audio-Technica headphone and I need a proper coiled replacement cable with the right twist-lock connector. For everyone else — especially anyone weighing open-fit options for exercise — the HGCXING is the pick. Check the current price on Amazon for each before you decide, since they sit in completely different categories.
FAQ
It uses a 2.5mm three-pole twist-lock plug, which is the connector the M40x/M50x/M70x-style wired headphones use. If your headphone takes a plain 3.5mm plug, this is not the right cable.
No. It is a wired 3.5mm headphone with a built-in mic and button controls on the cable. There is no Bluetooth, so there is nothing to charge or pair.
The open-ear hook shape keeps your ear canal clear and lets you hear traffic and surroundings, which many people prefer while running or walking. Just note the HGCXING is wired, so you are tethered to your device.
They are not really comparable; one is a replacement cable, the other is a headphone. If you need to repair an existing Audio-Technica headphone, the cable is the cheaper fix. If you need something to listen with, buy the HGCXING.
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