Over-Ear Headphones · owner-verdict comparison

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x vs Momentum 4 Wireless: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x: 55% of 663 owners recommend it, vs 45% of 469 for the Momentum 4 Wireless.

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 →

Momentum 4 Wireless

45%of 469 owners recommend

45% recommend · 27% neutral · 28% don't

Owners praise

Sound quality is the headline strength, owners repeatedly call it the best-sounding wireless headphone in its price bracket, often preferring it over Sony WH-1000XM4/XM5, Bose QuietComfort, and even AirPods Max for clarity, bass, and soundstage
Battery life holds up for years of daily use with minimal degradation, charges fast, and the user-replaceable battery is praised as a rare feature at this price
Great value for the price, especially now that it's discounted since the Momentum 5 launched, described as unbeatable price-to-performance and a steal around $150-200

Owners complain about

ANC is consistently rated weaker than Sony (WH-1000XM3/4/5/6) and Bose competitors, usable for daily commuting but inadequate on planes for some owners
Build quality and durability complaints, the fabric headband covering comes loose or peels within months, glue fails after about a year, and units crack or break under normal use
Software/app bugs and Bluetooth connectivity issues, dropped connections, multipoint pairing problems, and headphones randomly turning on/off or losing pairing

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 Momentum 4 Wireless if

✓Sound-quality-first listeners who'll trade top-tier ANC for richer, fuller audio
✓Frequent travelers who want multi-day battery life and decent (not best) noise cancellation
✓Remote workers on long calls who need all-day comfort and clear mic quality
✓Budget-conscious buyers wanting near-flagship sound without flagship pricing

Skip it if

Frequent flyers who need best-in-class ANC, since Sony and Bose noticeably outperform it
Gym-goers or heavy sweaters, since moisture repeatedly causes malfunctions and shorted circuits

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 Momentum 4 Wireless owners say

“Thats unfortunate. I've been using mine for about 2 and a half years daily, and the only problem I've had is the earpads deteriorated and I had to get replacements.”
— Randy265 on Reddit

“i bought M4 last year and i'm fully satisfied”
— zeldafr on Reddit

“Verdict: Not very good”
— thogor on Reddit

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x vs Momentum 4 Wireless: frequently asked questions

Is the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x or the Momentum 4 Wireless better?

Real owners lean toward the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x: 55% of 663 owners recommend it, vs 45% of 469 for the Momentum 4 Wireless.

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 Momentum 4 Wireless?

Owners point the Momentum 4 Wireless at sound-quality-first listeners who'll trade top-tier ANC for richer, fuller audio, and frequent travelers who want multi-day battery life and decent (not best) noise cancellation.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x is bloated bass that muddies the mids. For the Momentum 4 Wireless, it's aNC is consistently rated weaker than Sony (WH-1000XM3/4/5/6) and Bose competitors, usable for daily commuting but inadequate on planes for some owners.