Jada Jones/ZDNET
There is a fashionable saying within the South that goes, “If it ain’t broke, do not repair it.” Primarily, why change one thing that is completely positive the way in which it’s? This saying is definitely the mantra of Audio-Technica’s well-respected M-Collection headphones, the newest within the line being the ATH-M50xBT2 wi-fi headphones.
I am certain you may agree that the product title is a mouthful, so, for comfort, I am going to check with them because the M50x2 headphones.
Additionally: These prime headphones ship impeccable sound and all-day consolation
When you’re unfamiliar with Audio-Technica, the corporate’s audio merchandise have been a go-to selection for professionals for many years. You will see Audio-Technica headphones on the ears of podcasters, skilled musicians, and even informal listeners right here and there.
Audio-Technica’s new M50x2 headphones promise improved battery life, Bluetooth connectivity, and inside audio parts that ought to ship a greater sound than ever earlier than. I examined them to see if that every one holds true.
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Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 wi-fi headphones
Audio-Technica’s newest M-Collection headphones ship studio-quality sound with out compromising your battery with ANC.
I will not bury the lede: The M50x2 headphones sound very good. They’ve a transparent, well-balanced sound that is not too heavy on the bass, mids, or treble. And within the Audio-Technica Join app, you possibly can set customized EQ settings and toy round with the headphones’ sound.
Additionally: These $350 headphones allowed me to listen to issues I might by no means heard earlier than
Like different professional-grade headphones, you possibly can management the M50x2 by the hertz, and the Audio-Technica Join app has a formidable vary of ranges so that you can mess around with.
When listening to Neon by John Mayer, I might clearly hear Mayer’s harmonies and one in every of his most well-known guitar riffs interprets superbly by the M50x2’s 45mm dynamic drivers.
Moreover, you possibly can entry a number of codecs with these headphones, solidifying their objective for stylish listeners. Your choices are AAC, SBC, LDAC, and low-latency mode for video and gaming. And do you have to need essentially the most lossless audio type, these headphones include a 3.5mm headphone jack for higher-quality listening, or to maintain the jam sesh going if you’re low on battery.
The M50x2 headphones haven’t got energetic noise cancelation (ANC), a characteristic that may considerably eat away at battery life. Because of this, Audio-Technica says you may squeeze out about 50 hours of playtime. I received about 10 additional hours than that, which I used to be tremendous jazzed about.
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In truth, the dearth of ANC would not essentially imply you may hear each noise and sound that is occurring round you. The M50x2 headphones have a 45mm driver that sits inside vinyl ear cups, making a tightly sealed match round your ears, which makes up for having the ANC omission.
However the tight match can grow to be uncomfortable after a couple of hours of damage, so you may want loads of breaks earlier than the battery offers up on you.
Jada Jones/ZDNET
Design-wise, I like how the M50x2 headphones embrace a conventional, retro design and deviate from the fashionable, futuristic headphone design that is typical in fashionable cans. Many new headphones take after Sony’s ultra-modern design decisions on its flagship WH-series cans, choosing a muted, uniform look.
However the flashy logos on the headscarf and ear cups of the M50x2 will make you stand out from the gang, and make sure you seem like you already know a factor or two about music. One final word: I hoped for a tough shell carrying case, given the headphones’ $200 worth level. As a substitute, Audio-Technica provides a polyurethane leather-based pouch to retailer your headphones, which isn’t superb however higher than nothing.
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
For $200, you may get a pair of headphones with comparable sound high quality to different high-end professional-level headphones, such because the Sennheiser Momentum 4. You will additionally miss out on the robust noise canceling present in headphones just like the Bose QuietComfort 45 or AirPods Max. But when noise canceling isn’t in your precedence record, that is pretty much as good as $200 will get you.
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Apart from that, Audio-Technica offers customers a simple and pleasant pair of headphones with the M50x2. They’re freed from sophisticated software program and over-the-top options, however they provide the similar high-quality sound that has made them a fan favourite since 2007.
You should purchase the ATH-M50xBT2 wi-fi headphones in Black for $200, and in Deep Sea and Ice Blue for $220 on Audio-Technica’s web site. Finest but, you possibly can steadily discover them on Amazon at a reduced worth.