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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Audio Technica M50x, renowned for their sound quality, are ideal for critical listening, but require a wired connection and lack a built-in microphone, making them less suitable for calls and no option for wireless use. They are often heavier and less ideal for exercise. On the other hand, the Sennheiser HD 250BT offers great versatility with solid sound quality, a long wireless battery life and built-in microphone for calls, plus low latency suitable for gaming and watching videos. They are also lighter and more portable, but offer less noise isolation than the M50x. Choose the M50x for the best music experience in a stationary setting, or the HD 250BT for a good all-rounder with connectivity options and portability at a more budget-friendly price. 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 Sennheiser HD 250BT
- Good for phone calls
- Very good for gaming
- Very good for TV and video
- Very good for air travel
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
8.5
6.5
The Audio Technica M50x is very good for music, while the Sennheiser HD 250BT is only fair.
Gaming
6.3
8.8
The Sennheiser HD 250BT is very good for gaming, while the Audio Technica M50x is only fair.
Phone Calls
4.4
7.2
The Sennheiser HD 250BT is good for phone calls, while the Audio Technica M50x is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.0
8.1
The Sennheiser HD 250BT is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Audio Technica M50x is good.
TV and Video
7.8
8.4
The Sennheiser HD 250BT is very good for TV and video, while the Audio Technica M50x is good.
Noise Reduction
5.3
6.0
The Sennheiser HD 250BT is only fair for noise reduction, while the Audio Technica M50x is poor.
Battery
N/A
25.0 Hours
The Audio Technica M50x does not have a battery. The Sennheiser HD 250BT has 25 hours of battery life.
Cost
$149
$45
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
The Audio Technica M50x has a price of $149 and the Sennheiser HD 250BT costs $45.
Build Quality
8.5
9.0
The Sennheiser HD 250BT 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 Sennheiser HD 250BT compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Audio Technica M50x | Sennheiser HD 250BT |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$149 | $45 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Audio Technica | Sennheiser | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2007 | May 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.5/10 | 6.6/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 4.4/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 6.3/10 | 8.9/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7.9/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.3/10 | 6.2/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | N/A | 25 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | N/A | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | N/A | 3 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | N/A | 5 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 5.3/10 | 6/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | N/A | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | N/A | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | N/A | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 8.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7.3/10 | 7/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 294.8 Grams | 125 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Integrated | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof 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."
Sennheiser HD 250BT
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Headphone Check
Pete Scholßnagel | 2020
"As a lightweight, robust audio provider with a long battery life, the Sennheiser HD 250BT offer a lot for their price: very good Bluetooth codecs, an app connection and an extremely understated design. These headphones may not be among the most comfortable, but they deliver adequate sound – without overdriving or distortion."
Get a great deal on the Audio Technica M50x or the Sennheiser HD 250BT
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 Sennheiser
A family-owned company, Sennheiser is a German, high fidelity, audio equipment manufacturer founded in 1945. Their consumer audio division is now owned by the Swiss hearing aid and cochlear implant manufacturer Sonova. Sennheiser offers a wide variety of, very high quality, audio equipment solutions, from headphones to earbuds, full sets of monitoring speakers, amplifiers and microphones. They also make what is widely regarded as the best, and most expensive, headphones in existence, the HE-1 Orpheus, costing a whopping $59,000 dollars.
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