AUDIO-Technica ATH R50X Review

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I first unpacked the ATH-R50X audio-Technik. Audio-Technica reputation in the professional audio world is solid, but the reference headphones of the open defender are not quite a ten in the gaming space. These are not your typical game cans, bass, inflated by RGB. Instead ATH-R50X Goals for pure, unpolahed sound reproduction-without a fan of approach, which promises primarily accuracy. Can they compete with my favorite and one of the best game headphones: Beyerdynamic DT 900 PRO X?

The first thing that hit me was the project. ATH-R50X is low, with industrial, senseless aesthetics that seems more at home at the studio than the player’s battlefield. The quality of workmanship is calmingly solid, with a mixture of metal and high quality plastic, which ensures durability, while making the shocking lightweight on the head on just 207 grams.

The headband is abundantly padded, and the ear cups, covered with cushioned velor, are huge enough to fully surround the ears without causing uncomfortable pressure. When it comes to comfort, they are among the best, which I used for long sessions-which I quickly appreciated during my long work day and evening game sessions.

For the first time I dropped them, fired a call of duty black ops 6 to see how they coped with the positions of sound. Headphones with an open defender have a reputation ensuring excellent spatial awareness, and the ATH-R50X does not disappoint.

Traces in the distance, subtle environmental signals, and even the smallest rustling of leaves seemed incredibly well placed as if I were in the middle of the action. Imaging is piercing razor, which makes it easier to indicate the position of the enemy without the need for software -based improvements. Crazy action and chaos shootings, pomegranate explosions are supplied with clarity and precision.

Unlike the artificially extended sound scene of some headphone sets, ATH-R50X provides a natural and truly engaging impression of listening. The design of the open back allows the sound to breathe, creating a ample and realistic audio environment that improves both the game and music. This makes it especially suitable for opening world games with affluent environmental sound. Although he lacks the excessive influence of the bass of some closed alternatives, excellent transparency and realistic separation of instruments and effects make up for it, providing an extremely addictive and true sound scene.

The depth in The Last of Us II, the depth of the sound seemed extremely addictive – every distant trace, every disgusting septic tanks, dripping water and amazing undersea sounds made experience more intense and reliable.

Music, however, is a place where ATH-R50X really bends its references. Playing in Hans Zimmer’s “Why Serious”, I was immediately hit by how balanced the sound signature is. The bass is rather tight and controlled, not overwhelming, allowing the medium details to shine with stunning brightness.

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In wicked “no one mourns wicked”, the vocals are intimate, the instruments have a natural color, and the high tones are crunchy, which brings minor details without twisting in roughness. If you are used to consumer class headphones, which artificially boost the low end, they may seem a bit flat at the beginning-but give them time and you will appreciate what accuracy ensured.

Of course, being open, they are not great in every scenario. Lack of insulation means that they are leaking sounds like crazy – so if you are in a common space, expect everyone around you to hear everything you are listening to. Similarly, external noise penetrates freely, which makes them less than ideal for travel or cacophonous environments. It’s best to enjoy them in a still room, where you can fully immerse yourself in the sound without dispersion.

When it comes to connectivity, ATH-R50X maintains simplicity. He uses a detachable cable (you get 1.2 Mi 3 m with golden tips), which is a welcome accent of longevity, although I would appreciate the option of a balanced cable for people using dedicated amplifiers. Speaking of this, although these headphones are not particularly hungry at 50ohm, they scale well with high quality sources. But they just work connected to the back of the computer, monitoring or console controller.

Compared to classic headphone headphone sets, ATH-R50X requires some change in thinking. There is no built -in microphone, no flashy functions and no software accompanying the improvement of EQ settings.

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But you get uncompromising sound quality, which significantly exceeds most of the headphone sets in the same price range. If you want to combine them with an independent microphone, they can easily double as a high -class game solution that does not devote audio loyalty to tricks.

This leads us to a great question: who are they for? If you are a competitive player who values ​​accuracy and natural sound scene, they are a fantastic choice. If you are an audiophile looking for neutral, detailed listening, they mark all the right fields. But if you need insulation, bass impact or a built -in microphone, you’ll probably want to look at something like Beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro.

At 159 USD (139 GBP, 399 AUD) ATH-R50X sits in an compelling price range. They are more affordable than some high -class studio monitors, but more costly than most headphones for mainstream games. If the sound quality and all day is your highest priority, they are absolutely worth investing. But if you need a built -in microphone, noise insulation and wireless connectivity, there are many great options elsewhere.