Description
The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x is an industry-standard closed-back studio monitor headphone used by mixing engineers, producers, podcasters, and recording artists worldwide. With 45mm large-aperture drivers, exceptional isolation, and a flat, accurate frequency response, the M50x lets you hear your recordings exactly as they are — without the flattering coloration of consumer headphones. If you’re recording at home or in a studio and need reliable reference sound, these are the benchmark studio headphone rental.
The M50x pairs naturally with the Focusrite Scarlett Solo 4th Gen also available in our rental inventory — the Solo provides clean preamp input and headphone monitoring output, while the M50x gives you the precise reference sound needed to judge your recording. Together they form a capable two-piece recording and monitoring setup for any serious session. The included interchangeable cables (coiled, 3m straight, and 1.2m straight) cover desk recording, live monitoring, and mobile use.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Brand / Model Audio-Technica ATH-M50x & Black |
Type Closed-back circumaural studio monitor headphones (wired) |
| Drivers 45mm large-aperture, with rare earth magnets and copper-clad aluminium wire voice coils |
Frequency Response 15 – 28,000 Hz |
| Impedance 38 ohms |
Sensitivity 99 dB / mW |
| Max Input Power 1,600 mW at 1 kHz |
Cable Connection Threaded 3.5mm locking jack; 6.3mm screw adapter included |
| Included Cables 3 interchangeable cables: 1.2m straight, 3m straight, 1.2–3m coiled |
Design Collapsible, foldable; 90° swivelling earcups |
| Colour Black |
Retail Value ~$299 CAD |
BEST FOR
Studio Headphone Rental Tips
The M50x comes with three interchangeable cables: a 1.2m straight for mobile/compact use, a 3m straight for fixed desk monitoring, and a 1.2–3m coiled for use with studio gear where you want extra slack without cable pooling on the floor. All three terminate in 3.5mm and click into the left earcup’s threaded socket. The 6.3mm screw adapter is included for connecting to amplifiers and audio interfaces with quarter-inch outputs.
The Focusrite Scarlett Solo (also available to rent from Gear Locker) outputs headphone monitoring from its front-panel 6.3mm jack. Plug in the M50x via the included 6.3mm adapter and you have direct monitoring — hearing your mic input in real time with zero latency during recording. This is the standard home studio monitoring setup for podcasters, vocalists, and musicians recording on a laptop.
The M50x’s closed-back design seals around the ear, blocking ambient noise and preventing sound leakage into microphones during recording sessions. This is the correct choice when you’re using a microphone in the same room — an open-back headphone would bleed into the mic. Closed-back is also better for tracking (musicians recording while listening to the mix) and for monitoring in noisy environments.
Consumer headphones are tuned to sound exciting — boosted bass and boosted highs that make music sound full and punchy. Studio monitors like the M50x are tuned to be accurate, revealing problems in your mix that consumer playback would hide. If a mix sounds good on M50x headphones, it will translate well to speakers, earbuds, and car stereos. That neutrality is the point.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can I use the ATH-M50x for podcasting?
Yes — the M50x is widely used for podcasting. The closed-back design prevents your headphone audio from leaking into the microphone, the 38-ohm impedance works well from laptop headphone outputs and audio interfaces, and the accurate response lets you catch audio problems (mouth noise, room reflections, compression artefacts) during editing that you might miss on consumer headphones.
Do these work directly from a phone or laptop without an amplifier?
Yes. At 38 ohms, the M50x is an easy load for phone headphone outputs, laptop jacks, and USB audio interfaces. You don’t need an external headphone amplifier for normal use. The 6.3mm adapter is for audio interfaces and professional equipment with quarter-inch headphone outputs (like the Focusrtite Scarlett Solo).
What is the difference between the ATH-M50x and ATH-M50/
The M50x is the updated version of the original M50. The key change is the detachable cable system — the M50 had a fixed cable while the M50x uses a threaded 3.5mm socket that accepts the three included interchangeable cables. The drivers and acoustic performance are essentially identical. The M50x’s detachable cables make it more practical for rental and studio use.
Are the earpads hygienic for rental?
The M50x’s earcups are cleaned and sanitised between rentals. The earpads are protein leather (synthetic) which can be wiped clean. If you have specific hygiene concerns, you are welcome to use your own earpad covers or bring a thin fabric liner.
What does closed-back mean compared to open-back headphones?
Closed-back headphones have a solid rear housing behind the drivers. This traps sound inside, provides passive isolation from ambient noise (roughly 10–25 dB attenuation), and prevents audio from bleeding out into the room. Open-back headphones have vented rear housings that allow air flow — they often have a more spacious soundstage but offer no isolation and significant sound leakage. For recording (tracking), closed-back is always the correct choice.
Rent the Audio-Technica ATH-M50kx Studio Monitor Headphones in Williams Lake, BC — available by appointment from Gear Locker, serving recording musicians, podcasters, music producers, home studio builders, audio engineers, film and video producers, and DJ monitors across the Cariboo-Chilcotin region.
| Rental Duration | 1 Day, 2 Days, 3 Days, 4 Days, 1 Week, 2 Weeks, 3 Weeks, 1 Month |
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