Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 vs Sennheiser HD 480 Pro

Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2

Audio-Technica

7.9

Recommended

Sennheiser HD 480 Pro

Sennheiser

8.4

A closed-back studio reference that gets out of your way

Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2

What Reviewers Agree On

Studio-accurate sound quality — excellent for critical listening
LDAC hi-res Bluetooth support
Excellent value at $199

Deal Breakers

No active noise cancellation — a non-starter for commuters

Sennheiser HD 480 Pro

What Reviewers Agree On

Balanced, natural tuning with a deep but well-controlled low end — engaging enough to enjoy, neutral enough to trust for mix decisions

Pros & Cons

Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2

Pros

Studio-accurate sound quality — excellent for critical listening
LDAC hi-res Bluetooth support
Excellent value at $199

Cons

No active noise cancellation — a non-starter for commuters

Sennheiser HD 480 Pro

Pros

Detailed Comparison

Sound Quality

Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2

Studio-grade audio accuracy in wireless form.

Retains the M50x signature sound — flat, accurate, revealing, great for mixing and critical listening
LDAC support means you get near-lossless audio quality over Bluetooth

Sennheiser HD 480 Pro

Reviewers converge on a balanced, natural tuning with deep but controlled bass, a clear top end and a surprisingly wide stereo image for a closed-back — engaging enough to enjoy music with, neutral enough to make most mix decisions on. The one recurring caveat is a mild mid-bass lift that keeps it from being perfectly flat.

AudioTechnology calls the balance 'amazing', singling out how organised the low frequencies are — tight and defined — and says you can listen for as long as you need without fatigue.
Recording Magazine lands on 'full and natural' with a deep-reaching yet balanced low end and a fast, accurate top end that stays clear and detailed without becoming harsh or tizzy.

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Browse all reviews

Exceptional long-session comfort: feather-light 272g build, plush velour ear pads and very little clamping pressure

Thoughtful design for glasses-wearers — grooved/softer pad sections let the arms of glasses sit without breaking the acoustic seal

Strong passive isolation for a closed-back, making it well-suited to tracking and monitoring with minimal click-track or headphone bleed into mics

Practical wired design — detachable mini-XLR cable usable on either ear cup, a coiled noise-decoupling section, and 130-ohm impedance easy to drive from a laptop or interface

Deal Breakers

Polarising value — at $399/$439 several reviewers and owners argue a closed-back with a mild mid-bass lift costs more than rivals like the FiiO FT1 or the open-back HD 6XX justify
Sparse accessories — only velour pads, one coiled cable and a soft bag in the standard box; a proper hard case costs an extra $40 (Pro Plus)
A mild mid-bass overemphasis (roughly 2-5dB) means the tuning isn't perfectly flat — for the most critical mixing, an open-back is still the safer reference

Balanced, natural tuning with a deep but well-controlled low end — engaging enough to enjoy, neutral enough to trust for mix decisions
Exceptional long-session comfort: feather-light 272g build, plush velour ear pads and very little clamping pressure
Thoughtful design for glasses-wearers — grooved/softer pad sections let the arms of glasses sit without breaking the acoustic seal
Strong passive isolation for a closed-back, making it well-suited to tracking and monitoring with minimal click-track or headphone bleed into mics
Practical wired design — detachable mini-XLR cable usable on either ear cup, a coiled noise-decoupling section, and 130-ohm impedance easy to drive from a laptop or interface

Cons

Polarising value — at $399/$439 several reviewers and owners argue a closed-back with a mild mid-bass lift costs more than rivals like the FiiO FT1 or the open-back HD 6XX justify
Sparse accessories — only velour pads, one coiled cable and a soft bag in the standard box; a proper hard case costs an extra $40 (Pro Plus)
A mild mid-bass overemphasis (roughly 2-5dB) means the tuning isn't perfectly flat — for the most critical mixing, an open-back is still the safer reference

SoundGuys found kick drums and bass lines punchy without overpowering synths or vocals, with great instrument separation and detail that comes through clearly without sounding shrill.

Despite being closed-back, SoundGuys notes a decently wide stereo image — acoustic tracks sounded as if played in front of the listener from a distance rather than internal.

The Headphone Show praises an exceptionally balanced treble — string instruments sound harmonically rich without going plasticky, glassy or grainy — and calls it one of the best headphones at any price.

Reddit owner Polycosm describes an almost Harman-tuned, slightly warm sound with great upper mids and bass that goes low but stays controlled — enjoyable enough that they hadn't touched EQ.

SoundGuys measurements show bass over-emphasised by roughly 3-5dB (30-175Hz) plus a slight 5-8kHz lift — common for closed-backs and enjoyable for casual listening, but a reason critical mixers may still prefer an open-back's flatter response.

The Headphone Show hears a mild incoherence — a forward bass with mass and heft against a mid-range that sounds a little thin and translucent — though it still calls the overall balance excellent.