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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
For an all-around solid performance at a more affordable price, the Audio Technica M50x could be the way to go. They have excellent sound quality for music, with a closed design that offers some passive noise isolation, which can be beneficial for listening in moderately noisy environments; however, they may not be ideal for exercise due to their size and lack of sweat resistance. In contrast, the HifiMan Arya Stealth, while more costly, boasts superior sound quality, particularly for music and TV, and a larger soundstage due to their open design, which makes them less suitable for loud environments or outdoor use as they offer no noise isolation. They are also less portable than the Audio Technica M50x. Neither option has a microphone or active noise cancelling, so for calls, meetings, or travel, you may require additional features not provided by these models. Both are wired and do not support wireless connections, which could affect convenience based on your use case. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Audio Technica M50x
- Good for air travel
Advantages of the HifiMan Arya Stealth
- Best in class for music
- Good for gaming
- Excellent for TV and video
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
8.5
10.0
The HifiMan Arya Stealth is best in class for music, while the Audio Technica M50x is very good.
Gaming
6.3
7.1
The HifiMan Arya Stealth is good for gaming, while the Audio Technica M50x is only fair.
Phone Calls
4.4
5.1
The HifiMan Arya Stealth and Audio Technica M50x are both poor for phone calls, though the HifiMan Arya Stealth is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.0
8.1
The HifiMan Arya Stealth is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Audio Technica M50x is good.
TV and Video
7.8
9.4
The HifiMan Arya Stealth is excellent for TV and video, while the Audio Technica M50x is good.
Noise Reduction
5.3
2.5
The Audio Technica M50x and HifiMan Arya Stealth are both poor for noise reduction, though the Audio Technica M50x is somewhat better.
Cost
$149
$649
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Audio Technica M50x has a price of $149 and the HifiMan Arya Stealth costs $649.
Build Quality
8.5
9.0
The HifiMan Arya Stealth has excellent build quality, while the Audio Technica M50x has very good build quality.
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How the Audio Technica M50x and the HifiMan Arya Stealth compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Audio Technica M50x | HifiMan Arya Stealth |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$149 | $649 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Audio Technica | HifiMan | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2007 | November 1, 2018 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.5/10 | 10/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 4.4/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 6.3/10 | 7.2/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7.9/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.3/10 | 4.5/10 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 5.3/10 | 2.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7.3/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 294.8 Grams | 408.2 Grams | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Dustproof Rating | |||
Dustproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Audio Technica M50x
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Sound Guys
Jasper Lastoria | October 2022
"Good sound is timeless. It doesn’t matter that a number of years have passed since the ATH-M50x came out because it still works well. Since this wired headset doesn’t rely on batteries or Bluetooth technology, it’s bound to outlast its wireless counterparts. The no-nonsense performance, fit, and comfort of the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x make it worth picking up."
HifiMan Arya Stealth
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Headphonesty
Eric D Hieger | October 2022
"The Arya can easily be end-game headphones for 99% of consumers, satisfying most audio desires. Priced well above USD$1000, the Arya are obviously and gloriously not for the mass market consumer; they are designed and built by enthusiasts for enthusiasts – especially those who view their expenses on this level of gear as investments."
Get a great deal on the Audio Technica M50x or the HifiMan Arya Stealth
About Audio Technica
Audio Technica is a 60-year-old, Japan-based, professional audio equipment manufacturer. They started off making phonograph cartridges and have expanded their scope of products ever since to include extremely popular models of microphones and headphones. They have been the official audio equipment supplier of several editions of the Summer and Winter Olympics and every edition of the Grammy Awards since 1998.
About HifiMan
HiFiMAN is a Chinese, high-end, audio product manufacturer, with 20 years of experience, that specializes in amplifiers, digital audio players and planar magnetic headphones, some of which have become a staple in the audiophile community such as the entry-level Sundara, the midrange Edition X, and the very well-regarded, high-end, Arya.
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Why trust us
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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