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What we think
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Updated January 10, 2024·
Choosing between the Audio Technica M50x and the HifiMan Edition XS depends on your priorities. The M50x is closed-back and offers better noise isolation, making them suitable for noisy environments and ensuring private listening, but they have a narrower soundstage. They’re also more portable, folding into a more compact form. The Edition XS, on the other hand, has an open-back design which provides an expansive soundstage and more natural listening experience, but it lacks noise isolation which can be an issue in loud environments. Both lack wireless connectivity, but the M50x is lighter, which might contribute to comfort during long listening sessions. If you're looking for more immersive sound quality at a higher cost, Edition XS could be your choice, while the M50x offers a more budget-friendly option with good sound quality and better noise isolation. 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 Edition XS
- Good for gaming
- Best in class for TV and video
Key differences
Gaming
6.3
7.4
The HifiMan Edition XS is good for gaming, while the Audio Technica M50x is only fair.
Phone Calls
4.4
5.0
The HifiMan Edition XS and Audio Technica M50x are both poor for phone calls, though the HifiMan Edition XS is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.0
7.9
The HifiMan Edition XS and Audio Technica M50x are both good for podcasts and audiobooks, though the HifiMan Edition XS is somewhat better.
TV and Video
7.8
9.5
The HifiMan Edition XS is best in class for TV and video, while the Audio Technica M50x is good.
Noise Reduction
5.3
2.5
The Audio Technica M50x and HifiMan Edition XS are both poor for noise reduction, though the Audio Technica M50x is somewhat better.
Cost
$149
$269
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Audio Technica M50x has a price of $149 and the HifiMan Edition XS costs $269.
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Key similarities
Music
8.5
8.8
The HifiMan Edition XS and Audio Technica M50x are both very good for music.
Build Quality
8.5
8.5
The Audio Technica M50x and HifiMan Edition XS both have very good build quality.
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How the Audio Technica M50x and the HifiMan Edition XS compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Audio Technica M50x | HifiMan Edition XS |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$149 | $269 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Audio Technica | HifiMan | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2007 | December 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.5/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 4.4/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 6.3/10 | 7.5/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7.9/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.3/10 | 4.4/10 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 5.3/10 | 2.5/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | N/A | No | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7.3/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 294.8 Grams | 421 Grams | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Dustproof Rating | |||
Dustproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Audio Technica M50x
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Dig into reviews and images
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 Edition XS
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Headphonesty
Eric D Hieger | January 2023
"The Edition XS easily compete with headphones in their price range with a very high price-to-performance ratio. The XS are an amazing value and offer performance not far off from headphones more than twice their cost. These will be a mind-blowing revelation for enthusiasts and music lovers who have only heard standard big-brand mainstream headphones."
Get a great deal on the Audio Technica M50x or the HifiMan Edition XS
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
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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