Audio-Technica ATH-M50xSTS-USB – Hardware Review
As stated in our previous headset review, it seems to be the season for many new hardware releases, and we are very fortunate to be able to try out so many different products. For today’s review, we’ll be taking a look at Audio-Technica’s ATH-M50xSTS-USB, a more premium model in our list of recently reviewed items. The device comes in two versions, namely one that has an old-school analog connection and a USB variant. We tried out the latter, and we thoroughly enjoyed our experience with the ATH-M50xSTS-USB.
Design
Audio-Technica’s ATH-M50xSTS-USB is a good-looking device. The headset mainly has components with a matte finish. The headband sports a faux-leather appearance with the brand name and logo on the top. The ear cups have the Audio-Technica logo on them with a glossy black finish. On each ear cup, you’ll also see a metallic finishing touch, and that’s about it. The design is fairly subtle, and this makes it a great headset for all types of occasions, be it for home usage, to spice up your gaming setup, or for streaming and recording sessions. The biggest standout feature is probably the microphone on the left-hand side. The flexible arm looks sturdy, and the microphone itself also looks sturdier than most other similar devices on the market.
Comfort
The ATH-M50xSTS-USB is an extremely comfortable device thanks to its ample padding in the headband and the ear cups. The headset also comes with two sets of earpads, one with fabric on the inside, and faux leather on the outside to block out the outside noise. The other pair is completely made out of faux leather. Both are very pleasant to the touch, and with the over-ear design, your ears will not get squished. The faux-leather ones do heat up slightly quicker, so the other pair will probably be a lot more pleasant for users during the hot summer months. The device was very enjoyable during longer gaming and streaming sessions, but also for conducting simple calls or bingeing our favorite movies and series.
It’s regretful that a premium headset, such as this, comes without the option to detach its cable and microphone. This means that if you snap your cable, or it just wears down over time, you’ll be facing hefty repair costs, or you’ll have to replace the headset altogether. While the overall build quality is still great, accidents can quickly happen, and it would be a shame if you’re faced with having to buy a completely new device when something as simple as the cable gets damaged.
A foldable design is often fairly uncommon for bulkier headsets. The ATH-M50xSTS-USB, however, has something in-between. You can make the headset more compact by folding the ear cups inwards, but we felt the overall way to do so felt a bit awkward. You’ll have to completely turn the cups inwards before you’re able to make things slightly more compact. After a few tries, you’ll get used to it, and it does help make the device a bit more compact if you frequently use the headset in a different location.
Specs
- Type: Closed-back dynamic
- Driver: Diameter 45 mm
- Frequency Response: 15 to 28,000 Hz
- Maximum Input Power: 1,600 mW
- Sensitivity: 99 dB/mW
- Impedance: 38 ohms
- Weight: Approx. 330 g (12 oz), without cable
- Cable Length: 2.0 m (6.6’)
- Plug: ATH-M50xSTS: 3-pin XLR-M type plug, 3.5 mm (1/8”) gold-plated stereo mini-plug/3 pole ATH-M50xSTS-USB: USB Type-A
- Microphone Type: Back electret condenser
- Microphone Sensitivity: -44.5 dB (0 dB = 1V/Pa, at 1 kHz) (ATH-M50xSTS)
- Microphone Frequency Response: 50 to 20,000 Hz (at 3 cm)
- Microphone Polar Pattern: Unidirectional
System Operation: USB2.0 compliant (ATH-M50xSTS-USB) - Supported OS: Windows 10, Windows 11 macOS Catalina, macOS Big Sur, macOS Monterey (ATH-M50xSTS-USB)
- Supported Sampling Rates: 44.1 kHz / 48 kHz / 88.2 kHz / 96 kHz (ATH-M50xSTS-USB)
- Supported Bit Depth: 16 bit / 24 bit (ATH-M50xSTS-USB)
- Power Supply: USB power (5 V DC) (ATH-M50xSTS-USB)
- Phantom Power: 11 to 52 V DC, 2 mA (ATH-M50xSTS)
- Accessories Included: ATH-M50xSTS: Earpads, 6.3 mm (1/4″) stereo adapter ATH-M50xSTS-USB: Earpads, USB conversion adapter (USB-Type-A to USB Type-C)
- Replacements/separately sold items: ATH-M50xSTS: Earpads, 6.3 mm (1/4″) stereo adapter; ATH-M50xSTS-USB: Earpads, USB conversion adapter (USB-Type-A to USB Type-C)
Overview
Audio-Technica’s ATH-M50xSTS-USB is a simple plug-and-play device, and it requires no additional software to function properly. You can easily plug the device into your PC, and you’re good to go. The headset also comes with a small USB-A to USB-C adapter, which is very thoughtful. We haven’t had that many brands in the past that would include adapters such as those, or additional earpads for that matter.
The device also has a built-in audio monitoring function. This allows you to hear what you’re recording and what you sound like to those on the receiving end of calls or streaming sessions. You can adjust the volume of this with the handy dial on the left ear cup, and it’s simply a nifty feature to have embedded without the need for additional software. You get immediate feedback via the sound that gets picked up with the microphone, and this will help you adjust your settings accordingly. It’s also a good way of noticing if your microphone is actually on, as we sometimes forgot we flipped the microphone arm upwards, turning off our microphone.
All in all, the quality of the microphone is great. The mic records crisp audio, and those on the receiving end of our Discord calls could clearly understand us. The device doesn’t really pick up that much background noise, but you might need to tweak your settings depending on the environment you’re sitting in. This is, of course, not uncommon for most recording or gaming devices. You’ll simply have to invest a bit of time in finding all the right settings that work for you.
Unexpectedly, the sound quality is simply great. You’ll be able to enjoy your favorite games, movies, and series, with perfect audio feedback. The sound is crystal clear, and the headset is perfectly suitable for all types of games and media. The bass is a lot deeper than other similar devices out there, which is great for more action-packed shooters or a more cinematic experience when watching action flicks. We didn’t really need to mess around with any settings, and the ATH-M50xSTS-USB functioned great out of the box. We wouldn’t have minded a volume dial embedded into one of the ear cups.
Conclusion
Audio-Technica’s ATH-M50xSTS-USB is a great premium headset that is suitable for hardcore gamers and general entertainment, but also for podcasts and streaming sessions. The device is extremely comfortable, and we applaud the hardware manufacturer for adding additional earpads and a USB-A to USB-C adapter to the package. The sound quality is superb, and the overall performance is in correspondence with its slightly higher asking price. The only thing we missed were a detachable cable and a general volume dial.
No Comments