Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
The industry standard for tracking and mixing. Accurate response with excellent isolation and foldable design.
Accurate, flat frequency response for professional music production, mixing, and mastering. Hear exactly what's in your recordings.
Key features for professional audio work
Accurate frequency reproduction without bass boost or treble enhancement. What you hear is what's in the mix.
Reveal subtle details, artifacts, and imperfections in your recordings that consumer headphones mask.
Higher impedance (250Ω+) for dedicated amps, or lower impedance for direct interface connection.
Durable construction with replaceable parts for years of professional use.
Side-by-side comparison of professional monitoring options
| Headphone | Price Tier | Type | Impedance | Freq. Response | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audio-Technica ATH-M50x | Mid-Range | Closed-back | 38Ω | 15Hz - 28kHz | 285g |
| Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro | Mid-Range | Closed-back | 80Ω / 250Ω | 5Hz - 35kHz | 270g |
| Sennheiser HD 600 | Premium | Open-back | 300Ω | 12Hz - 39kHz | 260g |
| Sony MDR-7506 | Budget | Closed-back | 63Ω | 10Hz - 20kHz | 230g |
| AKG K712 Pro | Premium | Open-back | 62Ω | 10Hz - 39.8kHz | 298g |
Detailed reviews and Amazon links for every recommendation
The industry standard for tracking and mixing. Accurate response with excellent isolation and foldable design.
German-made closed-back with legendary comfort. Excellent isolation for tracking vocals and instruments.
Reference open-back headphones for mixing and mastering. Natural soundstage and legendary neutral response.
Broadcast industry standard since 1991. Reliable, revealing, and incredibly affordable for professionals.
Open-back reference headphones with wide soundstage. Ideal for mixing complex orchestral and spatial audio.
Closed-back headphones isolate sound completely. Essential for tracking (recording) where you don't want microphones picking up headphone bleed. Also great for noisy environments.
Open-back headphones allow air to pass through the ear cups, creating a more natural, speaker-like soundstage. Preferred for mixing and mastering but not suitable for recording.
Low impedance (32-80Ω) works well with audio interfaces and mobile devices. More accessible but may have less detail.
High impedance (250Ω+) requires a dedicated headphone amplifier but typically offers more refined detail and dynamics. The Beyerdynamic DT 770 comes in both options.
For tracking, choose closed-back headphones with good isolation. For mixing, consider open-back headphones for a more accurate stereo image, or use closed-backs you know well.