Audio-Technica ATH-M50x vs Sennheiser HD 599 SE
Quick take: The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x costs $1 less.
Which one to buy
Closed or open? At $159 and $160, both running from a phone dongle without an amp (38 ohms against 50), and both with replaceable pads and cables, that's the real choice here, and it matters more than the tuning. The ATH-M50x seals you in. Owners use it for tracking vocals and commuting, it folds flat, and it swivels for one-ear monitoring. The HD 599 SE leaks sound both ways, so it only works in a quiet room where nobody minds hearing your music.
The sound follows the build. The M50x is punchy, with a mid-bass bump and forward treble that make hip-hop and electronic fun, though mixing-focused owners say to double-check mixes elsewhere and bright recordings can sound sibilant. The Sennheiser is warm, wide and relaxed, comfortable for hours, but its bass rolls off, which bassheads call thin. In short, the M50x has more bass and energy and the HD 599 SE has more space and less fatigue.
Comfort favors the Sennheiser. It weighs 250g against 285g, it uses velour pads, and it clamps lightly. The M50x's pleather pads run hot, clamp firmly on big heads, and tend to flake within one to three years, though replacements are cheap. For buying, the HD 599 SE regularly drops to about $100, and owners say not to pay full price for it. The M50x sells on its build instead: some DJs report a decade of use with only new pads.
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
If you need isolation for recording, travel or a shared space, or you listen to bass-driven genres and want one rugged headphone for everything.
Sennheiser HD 599 SE
Best if you listen at home in a quiet room, value comfort over a long evening, and prefer acoustic or orchestral music to bass. Wait for the roughly $100 sale.
| Spec | Audio-Technica ATH-M50x | Sennheiser HD 599 SE |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$159 | ~$160 |
| 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 | 38 mm |
| Weight | 285 g | 250 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 599 SE
- ✓Classic gateway into open-back listening
- ✓Runs fine from a laptop — no amp myths apply
- ✓Warm, relaxed treble stays easy for hours
- ✓Superb 250g velour comfort, even with glasses
- ✓Ships with both 6.3mm and 3.5mm cables
- ✓Regularly drops to $100 — patience pays
- ✗Bass rolls off at the bottom like most open-backs
- ✗Everyone in the room hears your music
- ✗Zero isolation makes it useless for commutes
- ✗Paying the $160 list price is a mistake
- ✗Relaxed treble trades away detail versus the MDR-7506
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x vs Sennheiser HD 599 SE: common questions
Can I use the HD 599 SE on a train or in an office?▾
Not really. It's open-back, so it blocks almost nothing and everyone nearby hears your music. The M50x's closed back isolates well enough that owners use it for commutes and recording.
Is the HD 599 SE more comfortable than the M50x for glasses wearers and long sessions?▾
The HD 599 SE. It's lighter at 250g, uses velour pads and clamps gently. M50x owners with glasses or larger heads report pressure headaches until it breaks in, and its pleather pads get sweaty within an hour in summer.
Does the 38-ohm M50x or the 50-ohm HD 599 SE need an amp?▾
No. Owners confirm both run properly from a laptop jack or phone dongle, the M50x at 38 ohms and the HD 599 SE at 50.