Over-Ear Headphones · owner-verdict comparison

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen): what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x: 55% of 663 owners recommend it, vs 36% of 434 for the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen).

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 →

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)

36%of 434 owners recommend

36% recommend · 24% neutral · 40% don't

Owners praise

Comfort over long flights and full work days, including for glasses wearers
Ear cups deep enough that ears sit inside them rather than being pressed
Noise canceling that buries steady noise like engines, fans and road hum

Owners complain about

A background hiss or white noise floor with nothing playing, audible to many owners though not all
Popping and thumping when walking, running, or when a door slams nearby
A firmware update that removed switching devices from the headphones themselves

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 Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) if

✓Frequent flyers who want quiet on a plane and a case that fits a carry-on
✓Glasses wearers and anyone whose head hurts in tighter-clamping headphones
✓All-day desk wear where the headphones go on in the morning and stay on
✓Listeners who like a full bass-forward sound and will spend a minute in the app

Skip it if

Anyone sensitive to background noise during podcasts, quiet passages or silence
Walkers, runners and commuters on rough roads, where the noise canceling pops

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 Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) owners say

“I’m loving both Bose models though.”
— Zealousideal_Bid2690 on Reddit

“Its very good. quality is top notch”
— Adorable_Toe79 on Reddit

“I had the Ultra headphones which caused severe skin irritation. I got rid of them as the only solution was buying third party ear pads which would have changed the sound.”
— TheLawPlace on Reddit

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen): frequently asked questions

Is the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x or the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) better?

Real owners lean toward the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x: 55% of 663 owners recommend it, vs 36% of 434 for the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen).

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 Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)?

Owners point the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) at frequent flyers who want quiet on a plane and a case that fits a carry-on, and glasses wearers and anyone whose head hurts in tighter-clamping headphones.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x is bloated bass that muddies the mids. For the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen), it's a background hiss or white noise floor with nothing playing, audible to many owners though not all.