Over-Ear Headphones · owner-verdict comparison

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x vs Beats 360: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x: 55% of 663 owners recommend it, vs 34% of 112 for the Beats 360.

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x

55%of 663 owners recommend

55% recommend · 16% neutral · 29% don't

Owners praise

Excellent sound quality for the price
Built like a tank, lasts for years
Comfortable for long listening sessions

Owners complain about

Bloated bass that muddies the mids
Too-tight clamping force, uncomfortable for long sessions
Earpads and headband flake and peel

Full owner report →

Beats 360

34%of 112 owners recommend

34% recommend · 13% neutral · 53% don't

Owners praise

Light and comfortable to wear for long stretches, and some owners find it easier to wear than AirPods Max
Liked for the gym and running, sometimes by owners who would only use it there
Several owners like the design and being able to swap the cushion covers

Owners complain about

Background hiss is the most common complaint and the top reason for returns: owners hear it in quiet moments and under podcasts, videos and movies, and several got the same hiss on a replacement, though a good number say their pair is silent
Battery drains while switched off, leaving owners with a half-empty or dead pair when they pick it up, and turning off Find My did not stop it for everyone
Many owners find the sound thin, tinny or short on bass for the price, and owners who also have AirPods Max rate the Max's sound higher

Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

Get the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x if

✓Producers and DJs wanting durable closed-back monitors
✓Budget buyers wanting a build that lasts many years
✓Listeners who enjoy a bass-forward, fun sound signature
✓Anyone needing solid passive isolation for tracking

Skip it if

Mixers wanting a flat, reference-neutral response
Glasses-wearers or big heads doing long sessions with tight clamp

Get the Beats 360 if

✓People who want over-ear headphones for workouts and runs
✓Listeners who put comfort and light weight ahead of sound quality

Skip it if

Podcast, audiobook and video listeners, or anyone who listens in quiet rooms
Anyone who needs headphones that hold their charge between uses

What Audio-Technica ATH-M50x owners say

“I can absolutely recommend these, even today.”
— @jonas4288 on YouTube

“Just got these in too, love the detachable cable.”
— @TLD on YouTube

“the M50x isn't even good for monitoring”
— @DJScopeSOFM on YouTube

What Beats 360 owners say

“they’re actually amazing for the gym. Way better than the Bose, the Sony’s, and the AirPods for the gym. Noise cancelation is a 10 out of 10, and they never get hot in your ears.”
— @DrWoc on YouTube

“I love mine. The update really helped with the mids. They were super uncontrolled before”
— @GabeDaEngineer on YouTube

“I got a pair and ended up returning them because it didn’t have on ear detection”
— @crazzei on YouTube

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x vs Beats 360: frequently asked questions

Is the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x or the Beats 360 better?

Real owners lean toward the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x: 55% of 663 owners recommend it, vs 34% of 112 for the Beats 360.

Who should get the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x?

Owners point the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x at producers and DJs wanting durable closed-back monitors, and budget buyers wanting a build that lasts many years.

Who should get the Beats 360?

Owners point the Beats 360 at people who want over-ear headphones for workouts and runs, and listeners who put comfort and light weight ahead of sound quality.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x is bloated bass that muddies the mids. For the Beats 360, it's background hiss is the most common complaint and the top reason for returns: owners hear it in quiet moments and under podcasts, videos and movies, and several got the same hiss on a replacement, though a good number say their pair is silent.