Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2

The Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 is the wireless follow-up to one of the best-known studio headphone designs. Audio-Technica describes it as the second generation of its wireless M-Series over-ear headphones, with 45 mm large-aperture drivers and, in its words, the same sonic signature as the legendary ATH-M50x studio headphones. It adds three things the company highlights: improved vocal pickup for calls, an updated USB-C connection and multipoint pairing. For a desk that alternates between music, video calls and the occasional game, that is a useful combination. This page goes through the specification sheet, explains what the numbers mean and tells you where the limits are.

Sound: drivers, DAC and amp

Inside each earcup is a 45 mm driver in a closed-back dynamic design. The frequency response is listed as 15 to 28,000 Hz, sensitivity as 99 dB/mW and impedance as 38 ohms. That low impedance means they are easy to drive from a phone or laptop without a dedicated amplifier, and in fact Audio-Technica says the wireless version has its own internal headphone amp and an AK4331 audio DAC, described as premium audio-grade components for a clear, natural sound. The company also calls the drivers proprietary and says they deliver deep, accurate bass. We have not measured them, so treat "legendary studio sound" as a manufacturer claim, and try them on if you can. If you want to understand what drivers and soundstage mean, our explainer on headset drivers and soundstage is a good companion.

Closed-back and what that means at a desk

The ATH-M50xBT2 is a closed-back over-ear design, and Audio-Technica points to the over-ear shape for excellent sound isolation in loud environments. Note that the product page does not mention active noise cancelling, so the isolation here is passive: the earcups and pads block sound. If active noise cancelling matters to you, compare it with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones or the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless. If you are still deciding between open and closed designs, our guide to open-back versus closed-back headphones helps.

Bluetooth, codecs and multipoint

The headphones use Bluetooth 5.0 with a line-of-sight range of about 10 metres (33 feet) and support the A2DP, AVRCP, HFP and HSP profiles. Supported codecs are LDAC, AAC and SBC. Audio-Technica calls LDAC and AAC high-quality codecs, and SBC is the universal fallback. Multipoint pairing lets you stay connected to two Bluetooth devices at once, for example a laptop and a phone, which is handy for a desk where calls arrive on the phone while music plays from the computer. Google Fast Pair speeds up first-time pairing with Android phones. There is also a low-latency mode, activated from the companion app, that Audio-Technica says improves synchronisation between audio and video for streaming and gaming.

Calls and microphones

Dual microphones with beamforming technology are meant to improve vocal pickup so your calls sound clearer. The microphone is a MEMS type with a sensitivity of minus 38 dB and a frequency response of 85 to 15,000 Hz; the specification table calls its polar pattern omnidirectional, which is worth reading alongside the beamforming claim as two descriptions of the same two-microphone system. Sidetone circuitry lets you hear your own voice in the headphones during calls on most smartphones, which helps you avoid shouting. You can mute with a button and access Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri, with built-in Alexa support noted. If calls are your main use, weigh built-in microphones against a headset with a boom microphone; our headset buying guide discusses that trade-off.

Battery and charging

Audio-Technica quotes up to 50 hours of continuous use on a full charge, with a full charge taking about 3.5 hours through the USB-C port. A 10-minute rapid charge provides up to 3 hours of listening. The battery is a 3.7V lithium polymer cell. These are manufacturer figures, and real-world life will depend on volume, codec and the features you use. Even so, fifty hours is a long time between charges.

The A-T Connect app

The companion app, A-T Connect, adds control. You can activate the low-latency mode, adjust and save an equaliser setting to the headphones, change the left and right volume balance, select which voice assistant you want, locate misplaced headphones and change codecs. Buttons on the earcup control volume and mute, music and calls, and give access to voice assist.

Fit, weight and cable

The headphones weigh about 307 grams. Audio-Technica describes the earpad and headband materials as professional grade for long-lasting durability and comfort. In the box you get a 30 cm USB Type-A to Type-C charging cable, a 1.2 metre 3.5 mm audio cable for wired use and a pouch. The wired option is helpful when the battery is empty or when you want to plug into a source that has no Bluetooth. The page does not describe whether the earcups fold flat, so check that if you plan to travel with them.

Limited editions, the family and battery care

The product page also mentions a fan-designed limited edition. In January 2024 the company launched a website inviting fans to help create the latest limited-edition M50x models, and a DJ from Bolivia, Sergio Gamarra Melgar, was chosen by fans from three finalists for the winning design. The same page lists a related limited-edition model, the ATH-M50xENSO, at 199 dollars. None of that changes the core headphone, but it shows that the M50x line is a family with special editions, so check that the version you order is the standard model you intended. Because the headphones contain an embedded lithium-ion battery, Audio-Technica reminds buyers in a recycling notice that batteries must not go into household trash and points to battery drop-off locations, and California residents to e-waste recycling sites. That is a good reminder for any wireless product: plan for its eventual disposal. The page also lists downloads for a quick start guide, a user manual and a caution guide, which is worth skimming for the button functions.

Where it fits in a day

Audio-Technica frames the use cases plainly: high-fidelity audio for the commute, a conference call setup, or simply relaxing with music. In a home-office day the multipoint connection and the wired option make the switching easy. You might take a video call on the laptop in the morning, hear a phone notification while music plays, and finish the day with the cable plugged into a source that has no Bluetooth.

Price, warranty and the alternatives

Audio-Technica lists the ATH-M50xBT2 from 219 dollars, and it comes with a one-year limited end-user warranty. Prices change, so check the current amount and the colours available. Compared with the premium noise-cancelling headphones mentioned above, the M50xBT2 is about sound and simplicity rather than headline features; compared with a gaming headset, it lacks a boom microphone and a wireless dongle, so it is more of a listening headphone with good call abilities than a gaming tool. For a gaming-focused wireless option, browse our Corsair HS80 MAX Wireless page.

The short version

Choose the ATH-M50xBT2 if you want a closed-back headphone with a studio heritage, long battery life, LDAC and multipoint, and are happy to use its built-in microphones for calls. Look elsewhere if you need active noise cancelling or a boom microphone. It is a straightforward, well-specified headphone that does what Audio-Technica says it does.