Audio-Technica - ATH-R50x

You've got a large budget. If you're the kind of person who tries to keep the experiences fresh (like I am), maybe consider two different pairs. One for inside use (as people mentioned, Ananda Stealth or Ananda Nano seem to be insanely good for the price planars, but are likely to require EQ, may require a headband replacement, and don't really feel that premium), and one for outside (e.g. Audio-Technica M50x or something equally portable and maybe more engaging - I use Meze 99 Neo for that use case for example)?. There's really no single answer. I was hesitant to recommend something like my ATH-R50x for indoor use when I saw your comment on r/headphones initially, but they're the king of comfort for indoor use, if you're able to get them around 150 USD. Maybe Fiio FT3-32ohm can be an interesting option on the bassier side, it seems to have a somewhat special driver that approaches planars in detail. To make things easier, based on your previous experience, what kind of sound signature do you prefer (V, U, W, M, flat, bright/warm/neutral-leaning?). For reference, Both ATH-R50x and Airpods Pro are a neutral V, Airpods's V is a little more pronounced, R50x's is a little more mild.. And what do you consider to be fun (e.g. microdetail, emotional bassline, guitars being shredded, etc.)?

Disclaimer: This is my first semi-comprehensive review of any kind. All of the headphones showed were purchased with my own money from third-party retailers. I am not a musician or an audiophile of any kind, I'm just an idiot who's done some research and likes to experience his music library in different ways, so take that into account. Also, English is not my first language, so feel free to poke me for grammatical errors. I listen to *a lot* of music, and different kinds of it: from powermetal to Vocaloid through pop-punk and eurodance. I've tried lots of different consumer-grade headphones over the years, trying to scratch that weird mental itch I had, that I couldn't quite explain. I had nowhere to demo different kinds of equipment, so for the longest time, based on what I read, I avoided open-backs like the plague, thinking they'd have less impact, and therefore deliver less enjoyment, than closed-backs do. When I finally got some decent disposable income, I've decided to dabble in, how people call it, mid-fi, and settled with DT 770 Pro X, that covered almost all of my needs, yet something was still missing. After some further research, I got Meze 99 Neo on sale for their portability and them being absolute bass-cannons after some EQ. While 99 Neo turned out to be a really nice pair, the itch still was not scratched. I attributed it to my brain actually craving different experiences, and, thinking I have nothing to lose anyway, started researching open-backs. I wanted something on par with DT770PX in terms of resolution and extension, and something I could wear for hours without fatigue, as this has been an issue with every closed-back I've tried. I had two candidates: Philips X2HR and ATH-R50x, and ended up going with the later simply because it theoretically should've been more comfortable for long sessions. And I've been thouroughly impressed since receiving the package. So here's what my experience with my first open-backs looks like. Packaging: R50x comes in a film-wrapped cardboard box. I was pleasantly surprised to see, that aside from the plastic wrapping, every piece of packaging is tastefully done, yet completely recyclable, even the cables are wrapped in something resembling napkins. Inside the box are the headphones themselves inside their Eggbag™, two cables - 1.5m long 2.5mm to 3.5mm and 3m 2.5mm to 3.5/6.3mm, and basic documentation. Materials and fit: R50x is made on par with twice as expensive DT770PX. It's mostly constructed out of metal with plastic elements, and doesn't at all feel flimsy despite it's weight. There are no sharp edges or peeling paint on the metal parts. R50x by itself weighs 211 grams, and 260 grams with the 3m cable with 6.3mm adaper detached. The cables are light, but a bit stiff, with mild microphonic effect. The earpads are velvet and really soft. They had an unpleasant smell of glue or some other chemical out of the box, but it was gone overnight, as I left the headphones hanging on the monitor. I would've liked them to be deeper, as my ear sits directly against the cloth on the inside. Earpad size is an issue too: compared to DT770PX R50x's earcups border on on-ears. Two headband cushions are made of some rougher synthetic fabric and are extremely soft too. Sound: Overall I'd describe them as being *warmer* than DT770PX and just as detailed, yet less warm than 99 Neo. The soundstage is very narrow, but not imposing. Update on the soundstage after pad replacement and around an hour fidding with fit: it's still narrower than I imagined, but wider than the closed-backs I have. Positioning is poor though, directionality is hard to pinpoint accurately. Let me paint the use case picture fist: Movies: nearly indistinguishable from closed-backs. Every detail is there, sounds in action scenes are just as impactful. Maybe a bit worse for quiet scenes due to non-existent isolation, but better for deciphering poorly mastered dialogue. Gaming: surprisingly, worse positioning than DT770PX, though the sound is "comfier" and doesn't encourage to be hyper-aware. Probably poor choice for gaming, especially competitive shooters. Music: the most surprising part. It's just as fun and dynamic as in DT770PX and 99 Neo, while being *more* detailed and immersive. Let me start from the top: Highs: nothing special to say here. They're detailed but tame and non-fatiguing - to my ears there's less sparking and sizzling, and more pleasant airy and smooth brilliance than in DT 770 PX. Both approaches are valid, but R50x's perfectly fits into the whole theme of this headphone: comfy. In metal songs the hi-hats and higher pitched guitars are heard perfectly well. I may or may not have heard something new in some fast-paced Dragonforce songs. Mids: clear, smooth and pleasant. They may sound a bit recessed, but they're very detailed, full-bodied and just pleasant to take in. There's no resonance at 6khz with Elize Ryd's vocals, live performance videos are more immersive to watch. Thanks to relatively sharp attack, every song feels more energetic, driving and emotional, than in 99 Neo. Bass: the most surprising part. Not only is it there, not only is it extremely well detailed and extended, it feels like there's *more* of it with no EQ than in DT770PX, especially below 80hz. This makes any electronic bass-dependent music (e.g. Reol's early albums) feel like this was it's intended sound profile. I won't say R50x approaches bass-cannon territory, but there's certainly enough lows for my enjoyment, especially since looking at the frequency graph, I expected them to sound tinny. Long-term comfort: probably one of the most comfortable headphones I've ever owned. I have an average-sized head, and the headband adjustment range reflects that perfectly, with my preferred adjustment sitting in the middle. Clamping force is non-existent, so R50x's weight is distributed evenly between the two headband cushions and the tops of my ears. The ears get a little warm after just 10 or so minutes, but unlike PU-leather earpads that doesn't cause any further discomfort. The sound isolation is non-existent, so everything outside the headphones is clearly and easily heard, though frequencies below 50hz seem to be cut off by the headphone construction, so outside noises may sound a bit tinny. Some outside isolation is present, but with sufficient volume everybody around would be able to hear what you're listening to. The cable doesn't intrude at all, so it would've been easy to forget R50x is there at all, if not for the earcup and, consequently, earpad size: even my medium-sized ears get a little squeezed by the earpad on all sides, causing fatigue and mild discomfort in the ears after an hour or so. If I had to wear headphones for 10-12 hours non-stop, I probably would've still picked R50x over DT770PX, but that's something to be mindful of. I don't know what black magic this is, but I'd never look at closed-back headphones the same, and I probably won't trust measurement graps anymore. Maybe it's the case of my ears responding to the (lack of) pressure differently, but I've never expected open-back headphones to be so bass-capable and so psychologically comfortable to wear. With closed-backs I've often had to take a break after just half an hour because it felt like my brain got gradually tired of sound isolation, and for the same reason higher volume felt like a necessity after a while of listening. R50x flips this on it's head, and I don't feel any side-effects of wearing headphones anymore. Overall I'm extremely happy with what I've got for the money, and, considering how they sound, I'm happy R50x were my first open-back experience. I'd probably try finding larger earpads for them, we'll see how that goes. If you'd like me to make a write-up on the DT770PX or 99 Neo, I'd be happy to oblige. Thanks for reading!

Can you fix that with with replacement pads? i know that r70x pads fit them as well.

Nice. I didn't find anything that looks good on aliexpress yet but I'll wait and see if the R50X are fine for me or not, kind of afraid to mess up the sound quality with different pads.

Everyone is sleeping on Audio Technica R50x because it's so new and there are so little reviews. I tried one and immediately bought it. Extremely light, and sounds incredible for how affordable it is

I just got them yesterday. Soundstage is good and positioning also. I would like more volume, what dac amp should i get for them around 150 euros maz?

Fidelio x2hr is very comfortable, much more than my r50x, of you have issues with it I recommend going for iems

I loved using ATH-R50x, flat and comfy, good for long session being open-back

I shall also recommend the newly released ATH-R50x. Super clear sound and I’ve found it helps me a lot in tactical FPS games

Not sure if you will like open back sound at all coming from JBL, which has a lot of bass. Your best bet here is a closed-back like FT1 if you look for roughly the same bass bass response. Out of open backs, you could try ATH-R50x, which has quite a lot of bass for an open back, but comes at $159 price tag. Other honorable mention is FT1 Pro, which is FT1's open back brother that delivers more classic open back sound but is a more expensive option at around $170. Also 6XX is always an option, though not everyone has access to Drop. It's right at $200 mark. Anything less pricey is hot trash with 2 exceptions being KSC75 which requires modding to shine and is on-ear, and HE400se which is Hifiman QC Russian Roulette

Sadly, haven't tried Beyer headphones (although wanted to), but on my relatively big head R50x fits perfectly, while having around an inch of free space for further headband extension from both sides.

Got the ATH r50x recently and have enjoyed them a lot and super comfy/light

These are my main headphones for every day use and I love them. So freaking comfortable and airy