Choosing the best Audio-Technica studio headphones for editing depends on where you work and how you like to listen. The ATH-M20x and ATH-M50x use closed-back designs that help limit outside noise, while the open-back ATH-R50x offers a wider, more open listening presentation. Here’s how the three options compare for audio and video editing.
Quick Comparison
| Headphones | Design | Standout feature | Best suited for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audio-Technica ATH-M20x | Closed-back | 40 mm drivers and a single-side cable | Entry-level editing and quieter monitoring |
| Audio-Technica ATH-M50x | Closed-back | 45 mm drivers, swiveling earcups, and a detachable cable | Versatile editing and one-ear monitoring |
| Audio-Technica ATH-R50x | Open-back | Wide soundstage and two detachable cables | Focused work in a quiet room |
Our Picks: Best Audio Technica Studio Headphones For Editing reviews
Audio-Technica ATH-M20x: A Straightforward Closed-Back Option
The ATH-M20x is a wired, closed-back studio monitor headphone designed for tracking and mixing. Its circumaural earcups sit around your ears, helping block some surrounding sound. That can be useful when you’re editing in a shared room or monitoring audio while other sounds are nearby.
Audio-Technica lists 40 mm drivers with rare earth magnets and copper-clad aluminum wire voice coils. The headphones are tuned for enhanced low-frequency performance, so pay close attention to bass-heavy material and check your mix on other speakers or headphones before finishing. Their single-side cable exit also keeps the cable connected on one side rather than both.
Compared with the ATH-M50x, the M20x has smaller drivers and a simpler feature set. It may suit you if you want a basic closed-back option for editing, tracking, or general studio listening. The ATH-R50x is a better match if you work in a quiet space and prefer an open-back sound, but it is not the same kind of isolating design.
Pros:
- Closed-back earcups help reduce surrounding sound.
- Designed for studio tracking and mixing.
- Single-side cable exit keeps the connection on one earcup.
- Enhanced low-frequency tuning can help when working with bass-heavy audio.
Cons:
- Offers fewer features than the ATH-M50x, including no listed swiveling earcups or detachable cable.
- Enhanced bass may make it especially important to check low-end balance on another playback system.
Verdict: Choose the ATH-M20x if you want a simple closed-back Audio-Technica headphone for editing and tracking without the added features of the M50x.
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x: A Feature-Rich Closed-Back Pick
The ATH-M50x is a professional-grade, closed-back headphone with 45 mm drivers. Audio-Technica describes its sound as clear across an extended frequency range, with deep, accurate bass response. For editing, its closed-back construction can help keep your attention on the audio and limit sound escaping from the earcups.
Its 90-degree swiveling earcups make one-ear monitoring more practical, such as when you need to listen to a source while keeping one ear free. The cable is detachable, which makes it easier to disconnect for storage or replacement. The product description also notes professional-grade earpad and headband materials for durability and comfort.
Compared with the M20x, the M50x adds swiveling earcups and a detachable cable, along with larger drivers. It is the more versatile closed-back choice in this group. The open-back R50x may offer a wider, more realistic soundstage, but its open construction is better suited to a quiet room than to environments where isolation matters.
Pros:
- 45 mm drivers and a described extended frequency range.
- Closed-back design helps with monitoring in louder environments.
- 90-degree swiveling earcups support one-ear monitoring.
- Detachable cable and professional-grade earpad and headband materials.
Cons:
- The closed-back design does not provide the open presentation of the R50x.
- Its extra features may be unnecessary if you only need a basic wired headphone for editing.
Verdict: Pick the ATH-M50x if you want a versatile closed-back editing headphone with swiveling earcups and a detachable cable.
Audio-Technica ATH-R50x: An Open-Back Choice for Quiet Rooms
The ATH-R50x is an open-back reference headphone intended for demanding audio production. Its fully open design allows airflow through the earcups, and Audio-Technica says this helps reduce internal resonance and support quick transient response. The product description also highlights an accurate midrange, extended bass, and a wide, realistic soundstage.
That open presentation can be useful when you want a less enclosed listening experience while editing in a quiet room. But open-back headphones do not isolate sound in the same way as the M20x and M50x. Nearby noise can distract you, and audio can escape from the earcups, so this is not the strongest option for a shared space or noisy setup.
The R50x is listed at 207 g and comes with two detachable cables: a longer 3.0 m cable and a shorter 1.2 m cable. A 6.3 mm adapter and carrying pouch are also included. Compared with the two closed-back models, it is the pick for a spacious listening presentation and a quiet editing environment, rather than isolation or one-ear monitoring.
Pros:
- Open-back design with a wide, realistic soundstage.
- Described as having an accurate midrange and extended bass.
- Lightweight 207 g construction.
- Includes two detachable cables, a 6.3 mm adapter, and a carrying pouch.
Cons:
- Open-back construction offers less isolation than the M20x and M50x.
- Best suited to quiet spaces where sound leakage and outside noise are less of a concern.
Verdict: Choose the ATH-R50x if you edit in a quiet room and value an open, spacious presentation over sound isolation.
How to Choose Audio-Technica Headphones for Editing
Decide Between Open-Back and Closed-Back
Your workspace is a good starting point. The closed-back M20x and M50x are designed to provide sound isolation, making them more suitable when you need to focus around other people or noise. The open-back R50x is designed for a more spacious listening presentation, but it is better suited to a quiet room where sound can pass through the earcups without becoming a distraction.
Think About Your Editing Tasks
For general editing and studio tracking, the M20x provides a straightforward closed-back design. If you need to monitor with one ear while keeping the other free, the M50x has swiveling earcups. For detailed listening in a quiet space, the R50x emphasizes a wide soundstage and accurate midrange. Match the design to how you work rather than assuming one headphone will be best for every editing task.
Consider Cable Setup and Storage
The M20x has a single-side cable exit. Both the M50x and R50x have detachable cables, which can be helpful when disconnecting your headphones for storage. The R50x includes two cable lengths, while the M50x listing identifies a detachable cable without specifying included cable lengths. Consider your desk layout and how much cable reach you need.
Listen Across More Than One Playback System
Headphones can make it easier to spot edits, but your final audio may be played through speakers, phones, or other headphones. The M20x is tuned for enhanced low-frequency performance, and the M50x is described as having deep bass response. Check bass-heavy material on another system so you can judge whether the low end feels balanced outside your headphones.
Prioritize Comfort for Long Sessions
If you edit for long stretches, fit and comfort matter as much as sound features. The M50x listing highlights its earpad and headband materials, while the R50x is described as lightweight and has a new headband design. Individual fit can vary, so consider the headphones’ construction and whether you prefer a closed or open feel when choosing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Audio-Technica headphones are best for editing in a shared room?
The ATH-M20x and ATH-M50x are the closed-back choices in this group and are designed to help isolate sound. The ATH-R50x is open-back, so it is better suited to a quiet space.
Are the ATH-M20x and ATH-M50x both closed-back?
Yes. Both have circumaural closed-back designs intended to provide sound isolation. The M50x adds features such as 90-degree swiveling earcups and a detachable cable.
What is the main difference between the ATH-M20x and ATH-M50x?
The M20x is a simpler option with 40 mm drivers and a single-side cable exit. The M50x has 45 mm drivers, swiveling earcups, a detachable cable, and professional-grade earpad and headband materials.
Is the ATH-R50x a good choice for editing?
It can be a strong fit if you work in a quiet room and want an open-back presentation with a wide soundstage. If you need more isolation from nearby noise, consider one of the closed-back models instead.
Can you use the ATH-M50x for one-ear monitoring?
Its earcups swivel 90 degrees, a feature designed to make one-ear monitoring easier.
Which model includes multiple cable lengths?
The ATH-R50x includes detachable 3.0 m and 1.2 m cables, along with a 6.3 mm adapter and a carrying pouch.
Final Recommendation
For a versatile closed-back option, the ATH-M50x is the strongest all-around pick in this group because it combines sound isolation with swiveling earcups and a detachable cable. Choose the ATH-M20x for a simpler closed-back setup, or the ATH-R50x if you edit in a quiet room and prefer an open-back presentation.