Sony WH-1000XM4 vs Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2
Quick take: The Sony WH-1000XM4 costs $1 less; the Sony WH-1000XM4 has active noise cancelling while the Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 doesn't; the Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 lasts longer per charge (50 hrs).
Which one to buy
At $199 these two solve opposite problems. Owners put it plainly: commuters and travellers take the Sony, while musicians and critical listeners take the Audio-Technica.
The WH-1000XM4 is a convenience headphone. It has some of the strongest noise cancelling at this price, wear detection, Speak-to-Chat, a deep app EQ, and plush pads with moderate clamp that glasses wearers can use all day. The ATH-M50xBT2 has none of that. There's no ANC, no transparency mode and no wear detection, and its multipoint hands off awkwardly enough that owners pause manually. Its sealed studio cups block more office chatter than you'd expect, but they can't do anything about bus or plane drone.
The Audio-Technica wins on sound accuracy, battery and lifespan. Its tuning is flat-leaning and detail-first, where owners describe the XM4 as noticeably coloured. It runs 50 hours against the XM4's 30, and its folding, metal-reinforced frame, detachable cables and cheap replacement pads give it a reputation for lasting five years or more. The XM4's plastic yokes are known to crack after two or three years, and older units develop mic and charging faults. It has the fast charge advantage, though: 10 minutes gives 5 hours against 3 hours on the A-T.
There's one trap for iPhone owners: the A-T Connect app's EQ doesn't work over AAC, so on iOS you're stuck with the stock tuning. Both support LDAC on Android. Comfort favours the Sony. The M50xBT2 is heavier at 307g, and its firm clamp causes temple ache for glasses wearers until it breaks in.
Sony WH-1000XM4
If you commute or fly, want silence and convenience, and wear glasses for hours at a time.
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2
Worth it when accurate sound and a headphone that lasts many years matter more than ANC. You'll get the most from it on Android at a desk.
| Spec | Sony WH-1000XM4 | Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$198 | ~$199 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Over-Ear Headphones | Over-Ear Headphones |
| Noise Cancelling | ANC | None |
| Battery (single charge) | 30 hrs | 50 hrs |
| Battery (with case) | — | — |
| Quick Charge | 10 min = 5 hr | 10 min = 3 hr |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Multipoint | Yes | Yes |
| Driver Size | 40 mm | 45 mm |
| Weight | 254 g | 307 g |
| Water Resistance | — | — |
| Wireless Charging | No | No |
| Transparency Mode | Yes | No |
| Spatial Audio | Yes | No |
| App EQ | Yes | Yes |
Pros & cons
Sony WH-1000XM4
- ✓ANC still beats nearly everything outside current flagships
- ✓Warm, EQ-friendly sound with LDAC hi-res support
- ✓Folds compactly into an included hard case, unlike the XM5
- ✓30 hr battery with 10 min = 5 hr quick charge
- ✓Speak-to-Chat, wear detection, and multipoint all still work great
- ✓Five years of firmware updates — software is thoroughly debugged
- ✓Regularly discounted to $198 or less
- ✗Superseded twice — XM5 and XM6 offer better ANC, sound, and mics
- ✗LDAC and multipoint can't be used at the same time
- ✗Headband/yoke plastic is a documented long-term failure point
- ✗Call mic quality lags modern rivals, especially in noise
- ✗Some aging units develop charging or mic faults out of warranty
- ✗No USB-C audio or LE Audio support
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2
- ✓Flat-leaning, detail-rich M50x tuning that beats consumer rivals on accuracy
- ✓50 hr battery with 10 min = 3 hr rapid charge over USB-C
- ✓LDAC hi-res codec alongside AAC and SBC
- ✓Proven long-term durability with folding, swiveling metal-reinforced build
- ✓Detachable cables including a mic cable for wired listening
- ✓A-T Connect app adds EQ and a low-latency mode for video
- ✓Multipoint pairing across two devices
- ✗No ANC or transparency mode at a price where both are standard
- ✗Multipoint switching requires manually pausing the first device
- ✗Heavier 307g build with a firm studio-style clamp
- ✗Call mics struggle to reject background noise outdoors
- ✗Flat tuning can feel bass-light to listeners raised on Sony/JBL
Sony WH-1000XM4 vs Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2: common questions
I mix music but also commute by train — XM4 or M50xBT2?▾
If you can only have one, choose by where you listen most. Without ANC, the M50xBT2 can't block train drone, and the XM4's coloured tuning isn't a reference for mixing.
Does the M50xBT2 or the XM4 last longer?▾
The Audio-Technica, by owner reports. Its frame and replaceable parts give it a long service life. The XM4's plastic yokes and headband are its known failure points after two or three years.
Is the XM4 or the M50xBT2 better on iPhone?▾
The Sony. The M50xBT2's EQ doesn't work over AAC, which is what iPhones use. The XM4's app EQ works on any phone, though LDAC only helps on Android.