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AABCDS
337
Jul 14, 2015
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I just got the Audio Technica ATH-M50X on Thursday. How do these compare?
Jul 14, 2015
Koro
71
Jul 14, 2015
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AABCDSI've owned the M50xs for about 7 months and the AKG K7XX for close to a month. I'll give a quick non-audiophile OPINION on the two.
The M50xs have more of a "boom". Depending on the genre I'm listening to, I personally enjoy the powerful bass (however many people feel the opposite). The K7XXs have a much tighter bass. Typically people who enjoy the low end of M50xs feel the K7XXs are too neutral. (I prefer electronic on the M50xs and just about everything else on the K7XXs).
Mids are where the K7XXs shine and the M50xs falls short. Vocals on the K7XX shine through clear as day and sound fantastic. On the other hand, I find the M50xs to be v-shaped and as such, produce congested mids. (I do notice that the upper-mid range on the K7XXs can get a little grainy, but the cans still perform above and beyond the M50xs in this regard).
In terms of highs, the K7XX's treble is drawn back, detailed, and not too bright. I personally love it. The M50xs have a very tight sounding treble. It comes across as being small and in a good place when mixed with details of the other ranges.
For comfort, the K7XXs are on another level. Their pads are REAL memory foam...Not some BS padding they call "memory foam". I have no discomfort after wearing them for 8 hours straight. On the other hand, I begin to feel fatigued after wearing the M50xs for only an hour. This discomfort comes from the tiny cup size and the clamp force. (I do have large ears so this can definitely vary).
I'll just mention the build quality of the K7XX (seeing as you have the M50xs and know that they are built pretty damn tough). In comparison the K7XXs feel brittle. They are not the kind of headphones I would take outside and be mobile with. (Obviously since they are open, everyone around you is going to be pleased that these are staying inside and away from them).
Last but certainly not least is the comparison in soundstages. TL;DR the soundstage of the K7XXs is huge and the instrument separation allows for a beautiful sound presentation. This is what makes the K7XXs a great addition to anyone's collection. In comparison, the M50xs have a lack of airiness, and as a result, give a very enclosed feeling that just can't compete with the K7XXs.
So the verdict? In just about every category the K7XX is my preferred set of cans between the two. They perform on par with much higher price point headphones and are a definite upgrade to the M50xs. However, your M50xs are certainly not a waste. As I said before, taking the K7XXs on the go is a bad idea, while the M50xs will man-mode their way through mobile use and come out fabulously.
P.S. The K7XXs are more amp dependent than the M50xs. (62 Ohm vs 38 Ohm). You will be very disappointed in the K7XXs if you plan on using them in your phone without an amplifier.
Jul 14, 2015
AABCDS
337
Jul 14, 2015
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KoroThanks for taking the time to write all that! It was very helpful.
I forgot these are open back. I guess I'll just stick to my M50Xs for now since I'm planning on using them at work.
Jul 14, 2015
Johnny_Sokko
0
Jul 15, 2015
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AABCDSI use them at work and have no issues. Now if you are blasting them at really high volumes it might be an issue.
Jul 15, 2015
Kamacaasi
0
Jul 15, 2015
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KoroThanks for all the info. Very easy to read and understand but still very informative. I may have to pick up a pair now.
Jul 15, 2015
TianZi
37
Jul 16, 2015
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KoroI disagree on the being very disappointing playing it strait of of phone without an amp.
I've had these from the first drop, and after testing various configurations, playing them strait out of a phone (Galaxy S1) is actually one of the sources I like.
They do sound pretty bad out of certain phones, like the MotoX 2013 which is the phone I usually carry around, but that's because the phone itself is bad for music.
K7XX really doesn't use a lot of power, I'd be scared of going deaf if i listened to it at full volume on a phone, and it does match pretty well with certain phone DACs.
Jul 16, 2015
Koro
71
Jul 16, 2015
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TianZiI envy your ears. ;P
Jul 16, 2015
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