Used Audio-Technica ATH-R50x Professional Over-Ear Open-Back Reference Headphones

2025-09-29T20:00:00

With an open back, I wasn't expecting a good bass response but these are rather surprising. It won't have the lasting impact from closed back monitors but these definitely deliver when needed. I find the ear pads and head pads to be comfortable but I worry that there won't be replacement head pads when these eventually wear out. I primarily use these when I don't want to power up monitor speakers when editing or mixing and they work really well. I wish it had the coiled cable as the short cable doesn't have the 1/4 adapter threads and the long cable can be a hazard if the cord isn't managed correctly. Overall I like how these sound and they are more comfortable to me than the m50x, though I do like how those sounds too.

Tsubaki

Originally posted at

2025-09-03T20:00:00

I have been using these headphones as one of a collection that can depend on mood or what i'm trying to get out of a track. Listening to Oh Daddy by Fleetwood Mac is fantastic, reveals so much i'd not heard before, Adele's first Album 19 i'm hearing rim shots, background noises, guitar plucks not previously picked out. Listening to a very heavy bass heavy track like Live with me by Massive attack still has that moody bass but it's taught and controlled, Roads by Portishead really draws out the violins, and finally Giorgio by Moroder - Daft Punk sounds incredible, The bass is spot on.

Mikey

Originally posted at

2025-05-01T20:00:00

These headphones are super comfortable and lightweight, reducing stress on the ears and head if you like to produce for 3+ hours. Crisp and clear audio, even on the low end frequencies. The open back design is a new and unique feature that I would highly recommend if your environment is in a studio or a more quiet area as the open back can allow outside sounds to pass through easily. Great price for the quality you can expect from Audio-Technica headphones

Ty

Originally posted at

2025-04-26T20:00:00

Very comfortable, lightweight, and stellar sound quality for the price. A great option for open back headphones, I currently use them for playing guitar and mixing audio when I am not using my studio monitors.

showland

Originally posted at

2025-04-13T20:00:00

By stock it's poor headphones, very weak highs , easy to test with one republic wherever I go , sound is very bad, changing cable and pads helps , they have to change it , because it has very high potential

Rado

Originally posted at

2025-03-26T20:00:00

I got this along side of the r70xa and these fell so short of the r70xa. Now that I have the R30x its made it clear to me that I should say something. These headphones (while tuned better than most of Audio Technica's line up) arent good, the tuning is shouty and bright which drowns out any positives i have about the lower mids and bass. The pad system isnt as comfortable as the r30x head strap. If I were considering getting these headphones I would go with R30x over these if I couldn't afford the R70xa.

Capra

Originally posted at