Audio-Technica ATH-M50x vs Sennheiser HD 560S
Quick take: The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x costs $11 less.
Which one to buy
Both are wired, both cost about the same ($159 vs $170) and weigh about the same (285g vs 280g), and both are the default recommendation in their own category. But the M50x is closed-back and the HD 560S is open-back, and that difference decides most of this comparison.
The M50x isolates well enough for owners to track vocals with it or wear it on a commute. It folds flat, swivels for one-ear monitoring, and comes with three detachable cables. DJs report a decade of abuse with nothing needed beyond new earpads. The HD 560S has zero isolation and leaks freely, so it only works in a quiet room. Its build is light shiny plastic that owners coming from Sennheiser's 600 series call toy-like. If the headphone needs to leave your desk, only the Audio-Technica makes sense.
For sound at a desk, owners favour the Sennheiser. The 560S closely follows reference targets, and its angled drivers give a wider, better-layered stage that makes it the gaming choice in its family. It also has more bass extension than its open-back siblings. The M50x is punchy rather than accurate. Its mid-bass bump hides detail, so people who mix on it learn to verify on something else, and its forward treble can sound sibilant. The 560S has its own brightness, and many owners cut around 5-6kHz with EQ. Neither is warm or relaxed.
Driving them is easy either way. The M50x is 38 ohms and works from anything. The 560S is 120 ohms but sensitive enough for a decent dongle, although its long cable ends in a 6.35mm plug with an adapter, which makes it awkward with a phone. For comfort, the M50x's pleather pads run hot and flake within one to three years, while the 560S's velour cups breathe and fit larger ears. Both clamp firmly at first.
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
When you need one tough, isolating headphone for recording, travel and everyday listening, and you like a punchy sound.
Sennheiser HD 560S
If you listen in a quiet room and want neutral, wide, accurate sound for checking mixes or gaming, and you don't need isolation.
| Spec | Audio-Technica ATH-M50x | Sennheiser HD 560S |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$159 | ~$170 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Wired & Studio | Wired & Studio |
| Noise Cancelling | None | None |
| Battery (single charge) | — | — |
| Battery (with case) | — | — |
| Quick Charge | — | — |
| Codecs | — | — |
| Bluetooth | — | — |
| Multipoint | No | No |
| Driver Size | 45 mm | — |
| Weight | 285 g | 280 g |
| Water Resistance | — | — |
| Wireless Charging | No | No |
| Transparency Mode | No | No |
| Spatial Audio | No | No |
| App EQ | No | No |
Pros & cons
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
- ✓Runs happily from a phone dongle at 38 ohms
- ✓Legendary durability — years of backpack abuse, still working
- ✓Folds flat with three detachable cables included
- ✓Punchy tuning flatters hip-hop and electronic
- ✓Cheap replacement pads make it effectively immortal
- ✓Decade-plus default first studio headphone for a reason
- ✗Coiled cable is heavy enough to tug your head
- ✗Pleather pads run hot and flake by year two
- ✗Clamp is firm on larger heads
- ✗Mid-bass bump and forward treble aren't mixing-flat
- ✗Trails the DT 770 for long-session comfort
Sennheiser HD 560S
- ✓Reference-grade neutral tuning with bass extension the HD 600/6XX lack
- ✓Excellent imaging and a relatively wide stage — superb for gaming
- ✓110 dB sensitivity means dongles and interfaces drive it fine
- ✓Light 280g with roomy earcups for long sessions
- ✓Detachable 1.8m cable plus 6.3mm adapter
- ✓Very low distortion (<0.05% THD) at the price
- ✓Frequently discounted well below its $200 list
- ✗Elevated treble with occasional sibilance — the usual first EQ target
- ✗All-plastic build feels cheap next to how it sounds
- ✗Open back: no isolation, full leakage
- ✗Revealing tuning is unkind to bad masters
- ✗Included cable terminates 2.5mm at the cup, limiting aftermarket options
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x vs Sennheiser HD 560S: common questions
Which is better for mixing, the M50x or the HD 560S?▾
Owners lean toward the HD 560S for mixing because its tuning tracks neutral targets closely. The M50x's mid-bass bump hides detail, so owners who mix on it check their work elsewhere. The M50x is the one for tracking, since its closed back keeps sound out of the microphone.
Can I use the HD 560S on a commute or in an office?▾
Not really. It's fully open with no isolation, so you hear everything around you and people nearby hear your music. The M50x isolates well enough for commuting.
Do I need an amp for the M50x or the HD 560S?▾
No. The M50x at 38 ohms runs fully from a phone dongle or laptop. The HD 560S at 120 ohms gets loud from a decent dongle and tightens up a little on an amp, but doesn't require one.
Is the HD 560S or the M50x more comfortable for long sessions?▾
The HD 560S, going by owner reports: its velour cups breathe, fit larger ears, and its weight disappears over long sessions. The M50x's pleather pads get hot and sweaty within an hour in warm rooms. Both clamp firmly until they break in.