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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize sound quality, the Audio Technica M50x offers a superior listening experience but lacks a built-in microphone, making them less suitable for calls and meetings. They are wired headphones which could restrict mobility but provide consistent connectivity. In contrast, JLab JBuds Work Wireless are versatile with both wireless and wired options, and they have a boom microphone for clear calls, better suited for work environments. They also have a significant advantage in battery life for extended wireless use. Consider the Audio Technica M50x for dedicated music sessions and the JLab JBuds Work Wireless for a flexible, all-purpose headset. 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
Very good for music
Advantages of the JLab JBuds Work Wireless
Good for phone calls
Very good for gaming
Very good for air travel
Key differences
Music
8.5/10
6.8/10
The Audio Technica M50x is very good for music, while the JLab JBuds Work Wireless is only fair.
Gaming
6.3/10
8.8/10
The JLab JBuds Work Wireless is very good for gaming, while the Audio Technica M50x is only fair.
Phone Calls
4.4/10
7.3/10
The JLab JBuds Work Wireless is good for phone calls, while the Audio Technica M50x is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.0/10
7.9/10
The JLab JBuds Work Wireless and Audio Technica M50x are both good for podcasts and audiobooks, though the JLab JBuds Work Wireless is somewhat better.
Battery
N/A
60.0 Hours
The Audio Technica M50x does not have a battery. The JLab JBuds Work Wireless has 60 hours of battery life.
Cost
$149
$79
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
The Audio Technica M50x has a price of $149 and the JLab JBuds Work Wireless costs $79.
Build Quality
8.5/10
9.0/10
The JLab JBuds Work Wireless has excellent build quality, while the Audio Technica M50x has very good build quality.
"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."
"The JLab JBuds Work is an affordable headset-headphone hybrid that you can use to listen to music in stereo and communicate on video calls thanks to a retractable boom mic, and we particularly like its convenient mono and passive wired modes. You won't find any frills here like you will with the costlier Jabra Evolve2 65 or Plantronics Voyager 4220 UC, but for less than half the price, the JBuds Work is an effective lower-cost alternative."
Get a great deal on the Audio Technica M50x or the JLab JBuds Work Wireless
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.
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