Audio-Technica ATH-M50xEnso vs Sony WH-1000XM4 | TechTalkTown
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xEnso vs Sony WH-1000XM4
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xEnso
Audio-Technica
8.1
The studio-monitor icon, in a 10th-anniversary suit
Sony WH-1000XM4
Sony
8.7
Still a noise-cancelling value champion
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xEnso
What Reviewers Agree On
The Enso is a 10th-anniversary special edition built on the unchanged ATH-M50x platform — same 45mm driver, same closed-back design, returning to a classic all-black look with a white circular 'Enso' brushstroke
Delivers the M50x's signature punchy, detailed, fun sound that made the line famous — engaging for music, content creation and casual gaming
Fully passive wired headphone: no battery, no Bluetooth and no ANC, so it never needs charging and works with virtually any source
Comfortable for multi-hour sessions thanks to memory-foam pads, a secure-not-tight clamp and 90-degree swivelling ear cups for one-ear monitoring
Solid, proven build with detachable cables — a damaged cable can be swapped rather than replacing the whole headphone
Pros & Cons
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xEnso
Pros
The Enso is a 10th-anniversary special edition built on the unchanged ATH-M50x platform — same 45mm driver, same closed-back design, returning to a classic all-black look with a white circular 'Enso' brushstroke
Delivers the M50x's signature punchy, detailed, fun sound that made the line famous — engaging for music, content creation and casual gaming
Fully passive wired headphone: no battery, no Bluetooth and no ANC, so it never needs charging and works with virtually any source
Comfortable for multi-hour sessions thanks to memory-foam pads, a secure-not-tight clamp and 90-degree swivelling ear cups for one-ear monitoring
Detailed Comparison
Sound Quality
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xEnso
The Enso inherits the M50x's signature sound completely — a punchy, detailed, slightly V-shaped tuning that is fun and engaging for everyday listening but not perfectly neutral for critical mixing. The 45mm driver is unchanged from the standard model.
The Enso still delivers the punchy, detailed sound that made the M50x famous — its signature has not been retuned for the anniversary edition.
It delivers an impactful and fun sound that many people love for listening, but that same punchy tuning can compromise neutrality when you need accuracy.
The tuning is mildly V-shaped — fairly accurate bass with a slightly 'fun' lift and a treble emphasis that spices up female vocals, which is actually useful for catching flaws in audio engineering.
RTINGS measures decent reproduction accuracy with a generally balanced response — clear, natural vocals and instruments and low enough harmonic distortion that even trained listeners won't notice timbral coloration.
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Easy to drive at 38 ohms — reaches full, satisfying volume straight from a phone or laptop with no separate amp required
Deal Breakers
Nothing about the sound, drivers or build has actually changed from the standard M50x — the Enso is a cosmetic anniversary edition, not an upgrade
The punchy V-shaped tuning is not perfectly neutral, so it can misrepresent elements for critical mixing and mastering
The closed-back pads trap heat and the vinyl wrap can feel tight, so ears get warm over long sessions and glasses-wearers may find the clamp uncomfortable
The bundled drawstring pouch only guards against scrapes — there's no proper protective hard case for travel
Sony WH-1000XM4
What Reviewers Agree On
Class-leading active noise cancellation (QN1 processor + dual mics per cup), adaptive to your activity and location
Excellent, customisable sound with LDAC, DSEE Extreme upscaling and a capable app EQ
Exceptional all-day comfort and an understated, lightweight design carried over from the much-loved XM3
Strong 30-hour battery (ANC on) with a 10-minute quick charge giving ~5 hours of playback
Genuinely useful smart features — Speak-to-Chat auto-pause, wear detection, Quick Attention and multipoint pairing
Outstanding value now that prices have fallen well below the $349 launch — still a top recommendation years later
Deal Breakers
Mediocre microphone/call quality — barely better than the XM3 and frustrating for conference calls
Multipoint disables LDAC — you can't have two-device pairing and hi-res audio at once
No aptX and no IP water/sweat rating; not recommended for running or heavy gym use
Some long-term units develop a piercing feedback noise in one cup in ANC mode (moisture/sweat on the mics over years)
Sony doesn't sell official replacement ear cushions, a wear-and-tear item on a long-lived product
Solid, proven build with detachable cables — a damaged cable can be swapped rather than replacing the whole headphone
Easy to drive at 38 ohms — reaches full, satisfying volume straight from a phone or laptop with no separate amp required
Cons
Nothing about the sound, drivers or build has actually changed from the standard M50x — the Enso is a cosmetic anniversary edition, not an upgrade
The punchy V-shaped tuning is not perfectly neutral, so it can misrepresent elements for critical mixing and mastering
The closed-back pads trap heat and the vinyl wrap can feel tight, so ears get warm over long sessions and glasses-wearers may find the clamp uncomfortable
The bundled drawstring pouch only guards against scrapes — there's no proper protective hard case for travel
Sony WH-1000XM4
Pros
Class-leading active noise cancellation (QN1 processor + dual mics per cup), adaptive to your activity and location
Excellent, customisable sound with LDAC, DSEE Extreme upscaling and a capable app EQ
Exceptional all-day comfort and an understated, lightweight design carried over from the much-loved XM3
Strong 30-hour battery (ANC on) with a 10-minute quick charge giving ~5 hours of playback
Genuinely useful smart features — Speak-to-Chat auto-pause, wear detection, Quick Attention and multipoint pairing
Outstanding value now that prices have fallen well below the $349 launch — still a top recommendation years later
Cons
Mediocre microphone/call quality — barely better than the XM3 and frustrating for conference calls
Multipoint disables LDAC — you can't have two-device pairing and hi-res audio at once
No aptX and no IP water/sweat rating; not recommended for running or heavy gym use
Some long-term units develop a piercing feedback noise in one cup in ANC mode (moisture/sweat on the mics over years)
Sony doesn't sell official replacement ear cushions, a wear-and-tear item on a long-lived product
The frequency response runs slightly conservative below 100Hz and rolls off more than ideal below 40Hz, giving a flatter, studio-leaning curve rather than a deep sub-bass.
If you're after completely faithful reproduction for mixing, mastering or critical listening, the M50x's big bass plus crisp treble flavour can misrepresent certain elements of a recording.
Audio Science Review notes it takes a little modding — aftermarket velour pads and EQ — to get the full potential out of the M50x, but the result is worth the effort.
Sony WH-1000XM4
A judicious, confident sound with LDAC hi-res, DSEE Extreme upscaling and 360 Reality Audio support — widely praised, with the main critique being a slightly bright top end that some EQ to taste.
As far as sound goes the XM4 needs very few excuses made for it — a confident top end and a judicious overall balance.
Updating the QN1 chip algorithm and improving digital sound processing elevates the XM4 from great to superb over the XM3.
40mm drivers deliver rich, not overly bass-heavy sound; bass lovers can add thump easily in the app EQ.
Supports LDAC and 360 Reality Audio; DSEE Extreme upscaling exists but the difference on/off can be hard to hear.
Reddit owners' take: not 'the best' at any one thing, but it does everything right and sounds more than good enough once EQ'd.
Versus the XM5: the XM4 is brighter with more vocal 'bite/sizzle', while the XM5 is warmer with more sustained bass — and the XM4 can get a touch boomy at 100-200Hz.
Comfort & Design
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xEnso
The Enso's headline change is purely cosmetic: an all-black finish with a single white circular 'Enso' brushstroke marking 10 years of the M50x. Underneath, it is the same plastic-and-metal closed-back build — comfortable for a couple of hours, with swivelling cups and a flimsy pouch.
The Enso marks the 10-year anniversary of the M50x with a fresh minimalist design — an all-black finish with a styled swirling accent that honours Japanese artistry.
Audio-Technica describes the Enso as a return to the original sophisticated all-black colourway after years of varied limited-edition designs, with the circle reflecting both that return and the iconic rings on the M50x.
The build itself doesn't change much for the Enso — it keeps the same swivelling ear cups and the proven M50x construction.
The mainly plastic body with metal-notched headband adjustments looks spectacular in its matte finish, with hinges that let the closed-back cups fold down for storage.
The memory-foam pads feel stiff initially but break in with use; clamping force is secure rather than overly tight, and it fits comfortably for a couple of hours.
The closed-back design, while excellent for isolation, can make the M50x feel a bit tight for some users, and the vinyl pads retain heat over long sessions.
The robust design includes 90-degree swivelling ear cups for easy one-ear monitoring — a practical touch for DJs, producers and engineers.
The included vinyl drawstring pouch mainly guards against surface scrapes — cheaper headphones often ship with better protective cases.
Hands-on with the limited edition: the soft pleather on the headband and ear cups feels great and the build quality looks genuinely solid in person.
Sony WH-1000XM4
The XM4 keeps the XM3's understated, lightweight design and superb comfort for long sessions, folds for travel and ships with an excellent hard case — the build holds up for years, with warm ears the only common gripe.
Design tweaks make the XM4 look slightly more lux and even more comfortable to wear for long stretches than the XM3.
Comfortable enough for full workdays — barely noticeable where other headphones bother the ears after 20 minutes.
After a year of heavy use the wear-and-tear is essentially non-existent and they don't wear you out — superb value.
Lighter than the AirPods Max with a much better hard carrying case; folds flat for travel (the XM5 does not).
Like most over-ears in this class the faux-leather pads aren't very breathable — ears get warm after about 6 hours.
Value vs Competition
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xEnso
As a collectible 10th-anniversary edition, the Enso's value rests on whether the artwork appeals — the audio is identical to the standard M50x. Reviewers still rate the M50x platform a strong wired buy, while rivals like the AKG K371 and Sennheiser HD 280 Pro / HD 58X compete hard on sound and comfort.
The Enso is positioned as a celebration of legendary performance with a new symbolic look and a level of rarity Audio-Technica hasn't offered in years — its value is partly collectible.
For its price and longevity, the M50x remains one of the best do-everything wired over-ear headphones you can buy.
RTINGS calls the M50x one of the best values on the market thanks to its strong price-to-performance ratio for critical listening.
The AKG K371 sells around the same price, follows the consumer target curve more closely, isolates slightly better and is more comfortable for glasses-wearers — though the M50x feels more durable.
Against the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro the M50x is better built and noticeably more comfortable with spare cables included — overall better value even at its higher price.
Some audiophiles argue the M50x is overhyped by casual buyers and there are headphones in its price range, such as the Sennheiser HD 58X, that outperform it for casual listening.
Reddit owners are split — many love their M50x for everyday music, while critics note it was over-hyped as the best closed-back ever, fuelling an audiophile backlash.
Sony WH-1000XM4
Launched at $349 alongside the XM3's price, the XM4 is now routinely $198-260 — making it, years on, one of the best-value premium ANC headphones and a frequent pick over the pricier XM5.
Launched at the same $349 price as the XM3 did — and is now frequently discounted well below that.
Among the most popular and well-regarded wireless headphones you can buy; the XM5 is a premium upgrade at a more premium price.
Even 5+ years on, with a ~$250 price gap to the XM6 and street prices under $200, the XM4 remains excellent value and many prefer it to the XM5.
Now around $250 new / ~$200 used — more affordable than ever and a fantastic option, especially refurbished.
The staple recommendation for the average buyer — still ~$50 cheaper than the XM5 and they fold, which the XM5 doesn't.
