Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2: The Studio Classic Goes Wireless
· re:union Radio editorial · 2 min read
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2: 45 mm drivers, LDAC, up to 50 hours of battery and wired playback without power. What the Bluetooth headphones offer DJs.
The Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 brings the M-Series sound into its second Bluetooth generation – with 45 mm drivers, a dedicated DAC and LDAC support. For you as a DJ, one detail from the manual matters most: over a cable, the headphones keep playing even when the battery is empty.
At a glance
- Closed-back dynamic headphones with 45 mm drivers, 38 ohms and 99 dB/mW
- Bluetooth 5.0 with LDAC, AAC and SBC codecs, multipoint for two devices at once
- Up to approx. 50 hours of music playback, full charge in approx. 3.5 hours
- Wired use with the included 1.2 m cable works without battery power
What's inside the housing
According to StereoNET, the M50xBT2 pairs an AK4331 DAC with a dedicated internal headphone amp. The 45 mm large-aperture drivers are Audio-Technica's own design. The app lets you shape the sound with an equalizer – a feature carried over from the predecessor.
New is a low-latency mode meant to keep picture and sound in sync for streaming and gaming. With LDAC at 96 kHz and 990 kbps, the manual lists a transmission band of 20 to 40,000 Hz; at 44.1 kHz it is 20 to 20,000 Hz.
Specifications
| Type | closed-back, dynamic |
|---|---|
| Driver | 45 mm |
| Frequency response | 15–28,000 Hz |
| Sensitivity | 99 dB/mW |
| Impedance | 38 ohms |
| Bluetooth | version 5.0 |
| Codecs | LDAC, AAC, SBC |
| Profiles | A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP |
| Range | approx. 10 m line of sight |
| Microphone | MEMS, omnidirectional |
| Operating time | up to approx. 50 hours of music playback |
| Charging time | approx. 3.5 hours |
| Weight | approx. 307 g |
| Accessories | USB charging cable (30 cm, USB-A to USB-C), 1.2 m cable with gold-plated 3.5 mm L-shaped plug, pouch |
Cable or wireless: what counts behind the decks
For cueing on the mixer, the wired connection is the key point. Audio-Technica calls it the playthrough function: with the included cable, the headphones work like a classic passive pair, even with a flat battery. The buttons on the housing don't work in this mode, and the cable has no microphone.
Note that the cable ends in a 3.5 mm plug; a 6.3 mm adapter is not on the accessory list. According to StereoNET, a 10-minute quick charge via USB-C gives you up to three hours of playback.
The earcups swivel flat or fold compactly into the headband. If you want to compare the headphones with the club standard, read our feature on the Sennheiser HD 25 Plus.
Calls, multipoint and everyday use
Two beamforming microphones are meant to make calls clearer, and Amazon Alexa is built in. So-called sidetone circuitry feeds your own voice into your ears during calls, and an easy-to-find button mutes the mics. Multipoint connects two Bluetooth devices at the same time, and Google Fast Pair simplifies pairing with Android.
For Bluetooth headphones with noise cancelling, take a look at the Sennheiser HD 450BT.
Frequently asked questions
Does the ATH-M50xBT2 work with a cable?
Yes. According to the manual, it plays with the included 1.2 m cable even without battery power, but the buttons and the microphone don't work then.
How long does the battery last?
Audio-Technica quotes up to approx. 50 hours of music playback. A full charge takes around 3.5 hours.
Which Bluetooth codecs does it support?
LDAC, AAC and SBC over Bluetooth 5.0.
