Which Audio-Technica Headphones Should You Buy? M20x to M70x, R50x, R70xa and M50xBT2 (2026)

Walk into almost any home studio, podcast booth or DJ's bag and you will find a pair of Audio-Technica headphones, most likely the ATH-M50x. Audio-Technica was founded in Tokyo in 1962, made its first headphones in 1974, and launched the M50x in 2014; by 2019 it had shipped more than a million of them worldwide, according to Japanese tech press. We are based in Japan, where the M50x is still a steady seller. This guide compares Audio-Technica's current studio lineup with its official US specs and list prices (October 2026).

ATH-M50x: the one to buy

The all-rounder. Large 45mm drivers, a 15 Hz to 28 kHz range, ear cups that swivel for one-ear monitoring, and three detachable cables (coiled, long straight and short straight) in the box. At 38 ohms with high sensitivity, it plays loudly from a phone or laptop without an amplifier. Audio-Technica describes its sound as accurate with deep bass, which is why it works for music production and plain listening alike. In 2025 Audio-Technica added a limited M50x ENSO edition engraved with *ensō*, the circle drawn in one brushstroke in Japanese ink art.

Prices and stock on Amazon change often. Look for listings shipped and sold by Amazon.com or an authorized Audio-Technica dealer.

ATH-M40x: flatter sound for less

The budget pick for mixing. The M40x uses 40mm drivers with a 15 Hz to 24 kHz range, weighs 240g against the M50x's 285g, and comes with two detachable cables. It sounds flatter and less bass-heavy than the M50x, which some producers prefer for checking mixes. At $50 less, it is the best value in the lineup.

ATH-M20x: the starter

At $59 and 190g, the M20x is the lightest and cheapest way into the series. Its cable is fixed, so a broken cable means new headphones, which is the main reason to step up to the M40x.

ATH-M70x: the flagship closed-back

The M70x extends the frequency range to 5 Hz to 40 kHz and comes with a hard carrying case, for engineers who want the most detail in a closed design. For most listeners, the M50x gets close for half the price.

Open-back: ATH-R50x and R70xa

Open-back headphones let sound pass through the ear cups, so music feels more spacious and natural, but they leak sound and do not block noise. They are for quiet rooms. The R50x ($169, 50 ohms) is easy to drive; the R70xa ($379, 470 ohms) is a reference model that needs a headphone amplifier. Our R50x vs R70xa comparison goes deeper.

ATH-M50xBT2: the M50x without wires

The same 45mm driver in a Bluetooth headphone with LDAC, AAC and SBC support, about 50 hours of battery and a 1.2m cable for wired use. It has no noise cancelling, so it suits people who want the M50x sound on the go rather than silence on a plane.

Audio-Technica in Japan

In Japan, the M50x sells for about 22,000 yen and, on October 24, 2026, ranked 83rd out of 11,529 headphones on Kakaku.com, Japan's main price-comparison site, with a 4.55 out of 5 satisfaction score from 70 owner reviews. That is remarkable for a studio model in a market dominated by wireless earbuds. Audio-Technica also builds headphones entirely in Japan, from materials to assembly, for some of its high-end wooden models such as the ATH-AWAS, according to Japanese audio trade press. Pair your headphones with an Audio-Technica turntable for an all-Japanese listening setup.

Which one suits you?

• One pair for everything: ATH-M50x.
• Mixing on a budget: ATH-M40x.
• Cheapest start: ATH-M20x.
• Quiet room, natural sound: ATH-R50x (or R70xa with an amp).
• Wireless: ATH-M50xBT2.

Choosing between the M50x and Sony's studio classic? Read ATH-M50x vs Sony MDR-7506.