Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 review: nothing but fun

Data sheet Design Use and application Audio Microphone Autonomy Price and release date ConclusionCommentsView product sheetAvailable at €198

The Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 headphones replace the M50xBT and bring their share of very valid new features, such as the integration of a new DAC, support for the Bluetooth LDAC codec, new conversation microphones and increased battery life, combined with fast charging. Its sound signature is devilishly catchy and controlled. A master stroke.

The Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 // Source: Tristan Jacquel for Frandroid

Audio-Technica, for those who do not know it, is a Japanese brand that has specialized since the 1960s in the design of headphones, microphones, phono cartridges and turntables. Technologies that are actually very similar, which give Audio-Technica undeniable know-how and allow it to offer excellent vinyl cartridges today from the entry level, as well as headphones with an often attractive price/quality ratio. The Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 is one of them, with its 45mm transducers — inherited from Lady Gaga's favorite ATHM50x professional monitoring headphones — its Asahi Kasei DAC amplifier and a Bluetooth receiver compatible with SBC codecs , AAC and LDAC.

To go further What are the best Bluetooth (wireless) headphones in 2022?

Audio Technica M50xBT2Data sheet

This test was performed with headphones loaned by Audio-Technica.

Audio Technica M50xBT2Design

The Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 headphones are a closed circumaural model with a completely retro look. It is directly derived from the ATH-M50x monitoring model and therefore has ear cups that swivel horizontally and vertically over 180°. This particularity makes it possible to listen to the headset with a single headset by holding it with one hand against the head, or even to share the second headset with someone. Beyond this somewhat old school function, these headphones have, thanks to this mechanism, an excellent ability to adapt to the head of the listener.

Make no mistake, if the reference of the ATH-M50x headset is that of the original wired model, it is indeed an amplified Bluetooth version that it is // Source: Tristan Jacquel for Frandroid

The ATH-M50xBT2 is made mainly of PVC, but with joints and a steel headband support. It seems particularly solid. The headband is obviously adjustable, suitable for large heads and is padded with soft memory foam. It exerts a very well-studied pressure on the skull. The Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 headphones are very comfortable to wear, despite their 300 grams, even for several hours in a row.

The leatherette pads of the Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 are soft and comfortable // Source: Tristan Jacquel for Frandroid

It can be listened to while walking, because its inertia is low. Moreover, it does not keep too hot and we gladly keep it on the head, in this end of tropical summer.

Control buttons and connectors

The Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 headphones have two volume control buttons housed on the left shell. A long press skips to the next track. Between the two is the power button, which also pauses playback and takes voice calls. Finally, a fourth button invokes the voice assistant of the smartphone (Google Assistant, Siri) or Alexa, if the app has been installed.

The only criticism we can make of the Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 is that its control buttons are not very intuitive // ​​Source: Tristan Jacquel for Frandroid

As for the connection, it boils down to a USB-C charging port (cable supplied) and an analog input in 3.5 mm mini-jack format (1.2 m cable supplied). The ATH-M50xBT2 also comes with a leatherette carrying pouch.

Audio Technica M50xBT2Use and Application

The Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 headphones are compatible with Google FastPair Bluetooth pairing. As soon as it is powered on, it signals itself to the nearest Android smartphone and, once paired with it, is automatically configured on all other Android smartphones and tablets connected to the same Google account. With an iPhone or a computer, the pairing procedure is conventional. The ATH-M50xBT2 can stay paired with two Bluetooth sources simultaneously. Its reception capacity is good and we were able to listen to our music through a wooden floor. The helmet delivers a few voice messages when switched on, such as the battery charge level and the possible connection to a Bluetooth device (which is not, however, identified). The only criticism we can make of the Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 is the lack of a port detector, which would pause playback as soon as the headphones are removed.

A well-crafted Audio-Technica Connect app

The Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 has its mobile application for Android or iOS. Called Audio-Technica Connect, it allows you to manage the headset settings: Bluetooth codec used (SBC, AAC or LDAC), Bluetooth latency (game mode), volume key increments, voice messages or beeps, choice of voice assistant , microphone feedback during voice calls, and, finally, access to built-in equalizers.

The Audio-Technica Connect app brings a real plus in the use of headphones.

However, it is not possible to modify the functions of the buttons on the headset.

Audio-Technica | Connect

Surprising tonal equalization

Two equalizers are available for the user to choose from, one band and the other parametric. The first offers basic settings, with only 5 adjustable bands. The second is much more sophisticated, with 5 freely positionable keys on the audio spectrum. The width of the adjusted frequency batches is fully adjustable, to the nearest fifth of a decibel! Even better, the frequency range impacted by a control point can be narrowed or widened manually. We thus achieve fine adjustments, which are really satisfactory for anyone wishing to model the curve of the Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2. Moreover, it is the Asahi Kasei DAC of the headphones that directly applies the corrections, which is an additional guarantee of quality. In addition, the settings applied are saved in the headphones, which makes it possible to find the same tonal balance regardless of the Bluetooth source. Note, however, that the equalization only works on 16-bit audio streams, and that it is obviously disabled when the headphones are listened to via their analog input.

The Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 app offers two equalizers, which are particularly efficient insofar as it is the DAC of the headphones which itself applies the tonal corrections.

Audio Technica M50xBT2Audio

The Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 headphones feature two dynamic transducers 45 mm in diameter, capable of reproducing frequencies from 15 Hz to 28 kHz. If you plan to power these headphones with the analog output of a smartphone or music player, the ATH-M50xBT2 is easy to power, with its high sensitivity of 99 dB / mW and its nominal impedance of 38 Ohms . In other words, you will certainly obtain a strong volume and a balanced reproduction, if you decide to use a cable.

An Asahi Kasei DAC at the heart of the ATH-M50xBT2

If the transducers do not change between the Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT and this new ATH-M50xBT2, the onboard DAC is new. The previous chipset combined Bluetooth controller, DAC and headphone amplifier, while the ATH-M50xBT2 separates Bluetooth and audio section, by embedding an Asahi Kasei AK4331 DAC dedicated solely to audio. Asahi Kasei is a key player in hi-fi and home cinema, where its audiophile DACs, with Velvet Sound technology, equip the best high-end portable music players and home cinema amplifiers. Behind Velvet Sound hides a velvet sound, obtained by preserving the correct timing of the digital audio data packets from the Bluetooth receiver, throughout the various digital processing operations of the DAC (equalization, oversampling, filtering, etc.).

Audio-Technica has opted for a very good Asahi Kasei amp-DAC for its ATH-M50xBT2 // Source: Tristan Jacquel for Frandroid

However, it is not enough to embark a very good amp-DAC to make a good headphone, you above all need good transducers. And Audio-Technica did it well.

Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 Test Setup

I listened to the Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 with several sources: iPhone 12 (Bluetooth AAC), Huawei Mate 20x (Bluetooth LDAC and analog), Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G (Bluetooth LDAC) and MacBook Air M1 (Bluetooth AAC, analog, Audioquest Dragonfly USB DAC up to 24-bit/96 kHz), from Apple Music (lossless). These sessions were supplemented by the viewing of a few extracts from films and series.

Signature sound

The Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 headphones offer clear, powerful and dynamic reproduction, but are not lacking in nuance. The tonal balance is very physiological, with an ample bass register — which does not become disunited at high volume — extended by a precise midrange and slightly set back from the highest frequencies, distributed with a strong excess of presence. This tonal balance is very flattering to the ear and makes the headphones easy to listen to whether the source is Bluetooth or wired. The Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 is therefore not neutral in its restitution, but it is nevertheless very coherent. If we have to sum up this signature in one word, we can say that it is playful.

Dynamic behavior

The transducers of the ATH-M50xBT2 have a formidable dynamic capacity and the level differences are well marked, even at high volume where the message does not settle, nor does it acidify. That's the whole point of using large transducers (45mm). The more subtle variations - which make all the salt of the music - are adequately reproduced, thanks to an excellent transient regime (ability to quickly pass from one sound to another). The finest details are never eluded. This good dynamic behavior of the ATH-M50xBT2 allows vocals and instruments to stand out clearly. Thus, these headphones can be listened to in whispers as well as at very high volume with real pleasure.

sound stage

I found it to be of adequate width and depth, which was not necessarily assured due to the expressive nature of the headphones at the top of the spectrum.

A quick word on the passive insulation of the Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 headphones, which are quite correct, and which allow you to listen to music outside, in the park for example // Source: Tristan Jacquel for Frandroid

The abundance of high frequencies very often results in a settling of the sound planes, which is however not the case here. However, the spatialization is more about the bath than the studious populating of the sound stage. But that, it seems, is the philosophy of the Audio-Technica ATM50xBT2 and it's quite nice.

Some tracks listened to

The Audio-Technica ATM50xBT2 headphones show a lot of relaxation in their reproduction, the richest and most compressed mixes are played with relaxation. It is often surprising. Rebel Yell by Billy Idol captivates throughout its listening: it goes from left to right, from calm to storm, while remaining intelligible. We have rarely listened to it in such good conditions.

The Chain by Fleetwood Mac, is a tricky track in more ways than one. From the intro, the powerful female and male voices are mixed in the background and almost in mono, thus intertwined in the center of the stage. In fact, you need a helmet with a strong ability to extract micro-details to properly separate the two artists. The Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 achieves this without difficulty. Another pitfall, restore the acoustic guitar during the intro without excessive brilliance, at the same level as the electric, but well below the foot of the drums which must impose its intensity. Mission accomplished there too.

With Billie Eilish's Bad Guy, the ATH-M50xBT2 unveils a beautiful palette of bass sounds: the synth-bass that opens the title reveals unexpected variations. We follow the game without any difficulty, both during the intro, then throughout the piece. Really good. Same observation when listening to several Massive Attack titles, notably Angel and Unfinished Sympathy. Good job.

Audio Technica M50xBT2Micro

The Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 has a pair of microphones for picking up voices. Surrounding noises are partially reduced, enough to be heard by the person you are talking to. The headset control app enables audio feedback from the microphone, for those who prefer to hear the sound of their voice during calls.

Audio Technica M50xBT2Autonomy

The Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 headphones are announced with a battery life of up to 50 hours. During this test, the headphones lasted 53 hours at 50% volume. It took just over 3 hours to fully charge the battery. Finally, Audio-Technica indicates, which we have not measured, that this charge is progressive: fast at the beginning to offer 3h30 of autonomy after only 10 minutes of charge, then slow thereafter to preserve the life of drums.

Audio Technica M50xBT2Price and release date

The Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 headphones are available for €199.