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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 limited-edition, lightweight closed-back set built for drummers and everyday wired listening with a handy inline remote, choose Zildjian Audiofly AF240; if you need a flagship studio monitoring tool with wider frequency response, stronger isolation, swappable cables and a hard case for recording, mixing or DJ work, choose Audio-Technica ATH-M50x.
• Zildjian Audiofly AF240 — biggest strength: a lightweight polycarbonate-and-alloy build with soft ear pads and an inline remote mic, tuned around clarity and bass response for long, comfortable listening.
• Zildjian Audiofly AF240 — biggest trade-off: it sticks to a single wired 3.5 mm connection with a fixed cable, a 20 Hz–20,000 Hz range, and no carry case or swappable cables in the box.
• Audio-Technica ATH-M50x — biggest strength: 45 mm neodymium drivers with a 15 Hz–28,000 Hz range, closed-back isolation, collapsible swivel earcups and detachable straight and coiled cables for serious studio work.
• Audio-Technica ATH-M50x — biggest trade-off: it's the heavier, more purpose-built option with a 6.35 mm jack and a bulkier travel footprint, and it ships with a protective case rather than an inline mic.
• Pick the AF240 if you're a drummer or casual listener who wants comfortable wired headphones with call control.
• Pick the ATH-M50x if you're recording, mixing or DJing and need isolation, detail and a rugged travel setup.
The AF240 is a limited-edition black over-ear headphone from Zildjian, a brand whose name carries weight in the drumming world. The design story here is light and simple: a polycarbonate body with alloy arms, soft ear pads, and a closed-back over-ear fit. That combination is aimed squarely at the "passionate listener" — someone who wants rich, detailed sound without a heavy rig on their head. The dynamic drivers cover a 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz range, which is the standard full-band span for music playback, and Zildjian positions the tuning around clarity plus a strong bass response. For drummers practicing along to tracks, that low-end emphasis matters, because you want to feel the kick and hear the low toms without the whole mix turning to mud.
The feature that separates it from a plain pair of wired headphones is the inline remote mic. The control method is listed as remote, and the wired 3.5 mm jack plugs straight into a phone, laptop or tablet. That means hands-free control and clear calls come built in — you don't have to pull your phone out mid-practice to take a call or pause a track. Combined with the soft ear pads, the whole package reads as a comfort-first, everyday-use headphone rather than a laboratory instrument. The durable construction and alloy arms suggest it's meant to survive being tossed in a gig bag, too.
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x: Who It's For
The ATH-M50x is Audio-Technica's flagship M-series model, and the spec sheet shows why it's treated as a workhorse. The headline is the 45 mm neodymium magnet drivers, which the brand ties directly to accurate frequency response and detail — the qualities you need when you're making sound decisions while recording, mixing or DJing. The frequency range runs 15 Hz to 28,000 Hz, noticeably wider at both ends than the AF240's 20 Hz–20,000 Hz. In practical terms, the extra low-end reach matters for judging sub-bass content, and the extra high-end reach matters for hearing air and detail in cymbals, reverbs and sibilance. Sensitivity is listed at 99 dB, which speaks to how efficiently the drivers convert signal into volume.
The second pillar is isolation. The closed-back design is explicitly described as giving superior isolation with minimal bleed — that's the whole reason a closed-back monitoring headphone exists in a studio. Minimal bleed means less of your track leaking out of the cups and into a live mic, and better isolation means you hear your own mix instead of the room around you. Circumaural ear pads sit around the ear rather than on it, and Audio-Technica describes them as cushy for long sessions — relevant if you're tracking vocals or DJing for hours.
Then there's the practical engineering. The ATH-M50x collapses, the earcups swivel, and the cables are detachable, with both straight and coiled options in the box. That's a genuinely useful design decision: a snagged cable is a cheap replacement instead of a dead headphone. The stainless steel enclosure material points to a sturdier, denser build than plastic, and the package includes a protective case with an EVA molded exterior, tough fabric covering and plush interior to guard against scratches and dings. A 2-year warranty backs it up. The connection is a 6.35 mm jack — the larger plug that matches studio interfaces, mixers and amps, though it means you'll want the right adapter for consumer devices.
Who should skip it? If you want a mic for calls, the ATH-M50x doesn't offer one. If you want the lightest possible headphone for casual listening on a commute, the more substantial build and larger jack work against it. And if you don't need isolation or swappable cables, you're paying for capability you won't use. But for anyone doing actual audio work, this is the more complete tool.
• Best for studio recording and mixing → Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. The 45 mm neodymium drivers, 15 Hz–28,000 Hz range and 99 dB sensitivity are aimed at accurate monitoring.
• Best for isolation and minimal bleed → Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. The closed-back design is specifically built for superior isolation.
• Best for comfortable all-day listening → Zildjian Audiofly AF240. The soft ear pads, lightweight polycarbonate-and-alloy build and over-ear fit are tuned for long sessions.
• Best for taking calls and hands-free control → Zildjian Audiofly AF240. It's the only one of the two with an inline remote mic and a 3.5 mm jack that plugs into phones and laptops directly.
• Best for traveling and gigging → Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. Collapsible design, swivel earcups, detachable cables and a molded protective case make it the more portable, protected setup.
• Best for cable flexibility → Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. Straight and coiled detachable cables versus the AF240's single fixed wired connection.
• Best for plugging into studio gear → Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. The 6.35 mm jack matches interfaces, mixers and amps.
• Best for a drummer practicing to tracks → Zildjian Audiofly AF240. The bass-forward tuning and comfort-first design suit playing along, and the inline mic keeps calls and track control within reach.
If I had to buy one, I'd buy the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. The wider 15 Hz–28,000 Hz range, the 45 mm neodymium drivers, the deliberate isolation, the detachable straight and coiled cables, the collapsible frame and the included protective case add up to a headphone that does real work and survives it. The AF240 is a genuinely nice, comfortable, limited-edition listening headphone with a mic, and I'd happily recommend it to a drummer who mostly plays along to tracks and wants call control. But for recording, mixing or DJing — or just wanting the more capable, more protected pair — the ATH-M50x is the one I'd reach for. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit.
Closed-back headphones have sealed earcups that block outside sound from reaching your ears and keep your audio from leaking out. The ATH-M50x is built exactly this way, with the design described as giving superior isolation with minimal bleed. The AF240 is also a closed-back over-ear model, though its pitch leans toward comfort and clarity rather than maximum isolation.
There's no single answer, because "best" depends on the job. For monitoring, mixing and DJ work, I'd point to the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x: 45 mm neodymium drivers, a 15 Hz–28,000 Hz range, 99 dB sensitivity and detachable cables. For comfortable wired listening with an inline mic, the Zildjian Audiofly AF240 is the more fitting pick. Match the headphone to the task.
Open-back headphones have vented cups that let air and sound move freely, which typically trades isolation for a more spacious sound. Closed-back models like both headphones here seal the cups instead, which is why they isolate better and leak less. If you're recording near a microphone or working in a noisy room, closed-back is the practical choice.
Yes. The AF240 includes a built-in remote mic for hands-free control, with the control method listed as remote and a 3.5 mm wired jack. That makes it usable for calls and track control from a phone or laptop. The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x does not list a microphone; it's a monitoring headphone first.
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