While some people want headphones just to listen to their favorite tunes in the office, others want them for their job. For instance, if you are a DJ, high-quality headphones will not make you the best DJ but they will make the job easier for you. No matter the reason, getting high-quality headphones is paramount.
When looking for quality headphones, there are several things you should look out for. You should make sure that you get comfortable headphones that you can have for a long time without straining. They shouldalso have high-quality sound so that you can hear every detail of the music clearly, you should also check out the price, and so on.
We want to make your job of looking for the best headphones easier. Here, we will present you with three of the best headphones that you can find in the market today, i.e., the Audio Technica M40x, Audio TechnicaM50x, and Sennheiser HD 598. We will make a detailed comparison of the three in terms of their price and what they offer so that you can make your choice.
Quick Comparison Table & Our Pick!
$99 | $149 | $199.95 | |
Drivers | 40 mm | 45 mm | 40 mm |
Sensitivity | 98 dB | 99 dB | 112 dB |
Frequency Response | 155 - 24,000 Hz | 155 - 28,000 Hz | 12 - 38,500 Hz |
Impedance | 35 ohms | 38 ohms | 50 ohms |
Fit/Comfort | |||
Sound Quality | |||
Cell |
Things In Common Between Audio Technica M40x, M50x, and Sennheiser HD 598
Irrespective of which headphone you pick among the three, youhave an assurance of getting high-quality sound that will help you get even thefine details of the beats of whichever song you are listening to.
One selling point for every pair of headphones is the comfort asnobody wants to walk around in headphones that will be hurting to the ears andthe head. As such, the headphones come with pads on the earbuds, they arelightweight, and they are also adjustable so that they can fit you well.
They come with detachable cables, which makes them ideal for usein the studio or while walking around.
The earpads block a lot of ambient noise, which makes each ofthe headphones above ideal for use in noisy places.
Let us now look at each headphone in depth.
Audio Technica m40x
Price
Audio Technica M40x headphones will cost you $99.
Design
The headphones weigh 8.5 oz, which makes them light enough foryou to have them on your head for a long time without straining.
It includes two detachable cables that you can interchange anduse the headphones in your studio or have them while having a walk around thepark as you listen to some jams.
Their black color gives you a touch of style, whether you areusing them as a DJ or listening to podcasts while in the office.
Features
If you are traveling or on the go, you should make sure to keepyour headphones safe with the hard body headphones case from Slappa. The casehas a rubberized PVC exterior, which makes it durable, and you have a softvelveteen lining on the inside that keeps your headphones safe.
Audio Technica M40x headphones are collapsible, or they can befolded, which enhances its portability from one place to another and also savesspace.
If you are a music producer or a DJ, these are the headphonesfor you as they come with two detachable and interchangeable cables thatinclude 1.2-3.0 coiled cable and 3.0 straight cable, which makes them suitable for use in studio tracking and mixing.
For comfort purposes and to ensure that you can have yourheadphones for a long time, The M40x headphones come with professional-grade earpads and headband material, which give maximum comfort and also make themlong-lasting.
As a DJ, you need to listen to your surroundings to understandthe mood and how they are reacting to your mixes and then go back to cue thenext track. The M40x headphones make it so easy for you to do that with their 900 swiveling earcups that enable you to have easy one-ear monitoring.
If you are listening to your music in a crowded train station,it may prove a problem listening to the lyrics and hearing the subtle lows and sweet highs of the beats. With the M40x headphones, such challenges are takencare of by the circumaural design contours around the ears that provide the much-needed noise isolation so that you can listen to your jams in peace.
The headphones are a product of top-notch engineering and robust construction with the 40mm drivers with earth magnets and copper-clad aluminumvoice coils.
With the 35 ohms impedance, Audio Technica M40x headphones guarantee you to handle high amplification even at high volumes.
With a frequency response between 15-24,000 Hz, you are sure toget high-quality sound.
Pros
- Accurate sound monitoring across an entire frequency range
- 35 ohms impedance
- Noise isolation
- Two detachable cable
- Robust construction
- Stylish and elegant
- They are comfortable
- Collapsible and come with a carrying case
Cons
- It can be considered bulky
Audio Technica m50x
Price
You can get these professional-grade studio headphones at$149.00.
Design
The Audio Technica M50x professional headphones are available in white, black, and gunmetal colors, which gives you a variety to choose from.
The headphones have a robust construction with refined earpads and detachable cable.
You cannot finish talking about elegance and style without mentioning the name of the Audio Technica M50x. The headphones are lightweight and collapsible, which enhances their portability and comfort of carryingaround.
Features
When buying a headphone, you must not only hear the sound, butyou should actually tell what is being said. The Audio Technica M50x headphones come with a frequency response of 15-28,000 Hz, which makes the headphonesideal for music producers as they enable you to hear every fine detail.
The headphones come with professional-grade earpad and headbandmaterial, which not only make them durable but also comfortable so that you canhave them for a long time without straining.
If you are a DJ or a music producer, M50x headphones are for you as they come with two interchangeable and detachable cables, which include 1.2m-3.0 m coiled cable and 1.2 m straight cable, which enhances their flexibility.
For portability purposes, the headphones are collapsible and can be folded to save space and fit in the carrying case so that you can easily carry the headphones.
Many headphones have a challenge of delivering under highamplification. Fortunately, not so for Audio Technica M50x as it comes with 38ohms of impedance and 98 dB sensitivity so that you can enjoy your music without distortion even at high volumes.
If you are listening to music or podcasts in crowded and noisyareas, it might be a problem getting clearly what is being said. With the M50xheadphones, you get a circumaural design that contours around your ear isolating all the ambient noise, thereby allowing you to listen to yourfavorite music in peace.
Audio Technica M50x is the ideal headphone type for use in astudio, as a DJ or personal use as they offer you exceptional clarity and alsoa deep and accurate bass.
The exceptional clarity and high-quality sound are furtherenhanced by the 45 mm drivers with earth magnets and aluminum wire voice coils.
Pros
- High-quality sound
- 38 ohms
- Exceptional clarity
- Sleek and attractive design
- Comfortable
- Detachable cables
- Noise isolation
- Highly portable
Cons
- No Bluetooth connection
- A little expensive
Sennheiser HD 598
Price
Sennheiser HD 598 cost ~$199.95.
Design
The Sennheiser HD 598 headphones have an artificial leatherfinish that makes them shiny. They also come with a plastic body constructionthat makes them long-lasting and lightweight so that you can have them for along time without straining.
They are also comfortable as they come with velvety pads andleather band. They also come with two detachable cables, including one which is3 meters long and a second one, which is 1.2 meters long.
The headphones are ideal for adults and kids as they are adjustableto the size of the head using the axis.
Features
Sennheiser HD 598 has a plastic body construction, which makesthem sturdy and durable. It also has an artificial leather finish, which makesit shiny; thus, the headphones give you a stylish and elegant look.
They come with an open-air design that allows air to squeezearound them, giving you a high-quality sound and noise cancellation.
If you want to hear the fine details of the music, including the subtle lows and sweet highs, you should go for the HD 598 as it comes with ahigh-frequency response range from 12-38,500 Hz.
The HD 598 features 50 ohms impedance and 112 dB pressure level assuring you of getting the best sound at high amplification even when you listen to music in high volumes.
Comfort is a crucial selling point for any headphones as nomatter how high quality the sound is; it would be a challenge if you willstruggle to have the headphones for a long time. As such, Sennheiser HD 598 comes with velour pads and padded leather headband, which enhances theircomfort.
The headphones are compatible with most audio devices, including phones, tablets, computers, among others, so that you can listen to music atanytime and anywhere.
They also come with two interchangeable and detachable cables,which enhance their portability and makes them ideal for use in the studio, byDJs and for personal use.
Pros
- Long-lasting
- Lightweight and comfortable
- 50 ohms impedance
- High-frequency response
- Two detachable cables that enhance portability
- Compatible with most audio devices
- Noise cancellation
Cons
- No Bluetooth connection
- Not the best balance for treble and bass
Differences Between Audio Technica M40x, M50x, And Sennheiser HD 598
In terms of impedance, Audio Technica M40x comes with 35 ohms,M50x has 35 ohms, while Sennheiser HD 598 has 50 ohms impedance, which means you can play music at high amplification and it will still give a good qualitysound with no distortion.
The three headphones also differ in their frequency responserange with Audio Technica M40x coming with a 155-24,000 Hz frequency response,M50x has 15-28,000 Hz. At the same time, Sennheiser offers a 12-38,500 Hzfrequency response range, which allows you to hear all the fine details of themusic.
When it comes to sensitivity, Audio Technica M40x and M50x have98 and 99 dB respectively, while Sennheiser HD 598 is at 112 dB.
Noise cancellation is a vital aspect of any headphones. AudioTechnica M40x and Technica M50x have a circumaural design that contours around your ears, barring any noise. At the same time, Sennheiser HD 598 combines a closed-back design with ear pads that isolate you from ambient noise.
The three headphones also differ when it comes to their price with Audio Technica M40x costing $99, Audio Technica M50x at $149, and Sennheiser HD 598 at $199.95.
You will also get the headphones in different colors giving youthe choice of taking your favorite.
Audio Technica M40x and M50x can be folded to fit in the carrying bag, which increases their portability. On the other hand, SennheiserHD 598 does not have the folding ability.
Verdict
The Sennheiser HD 598 carries the day here, though not by a significant margin. The headphones have a higher frequency response range at12-38,500 Hz, which makes it ideal for music producers as it allows even thesubtle lows and the sharp highs.
The HD 598 also has the highest pressure level at 112 dB. Interms of impedance, it offers the highest impedance at 50 ohms, which allows you to listen to music even at high amplification. The headphones are also durable and highly comfortable. When it comes to sound quality, Sennheiser HD598 does not disappoint at all. However, Sennheiser HD 598 is the most expensive of the three, and they do not have the folding ability.
Editor Notes:
Our choice for the best headphones, whether you are a DJ or just love listening to music, is the Sennheiser HD 598. Although the headphones cost more than the other two, they come with features that make the price worthwhile.
First, the headphones feature a 50 ohms impedance, ensuring you enjoy the quality sound with no distortion even if you play music at high amplification. In terms of sensitivity, Sennheiser HD 598 comes at 112 dB sensitivity. Additionally, it is perfect for noise cancelation as it features a closed-back design with ear pads that bars any noise.
However, if you want to enjoy the best audio experience, you should go for the Sennheiser HD 820, which is the latest entry in the Sennheiser family. The headphones employ innovative technology to ensure you enjoy the natural and most realistic sound. They come with microfiber earpads that make them comfortable and are also effective in noise cancellation.
The impedance matching cable with low capacitance offers superior contact resistance resulting in high-quality sound output.
