Headphones · Model guide · Maker specs
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2
Get the ATH-M50xBT2 for the M50x studio sound over Bluetooth: LDAC, two-device multipoint and about 50 hours per charge, launched at $199.
Product images
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2, from its Amazon listing.
Credit: Amazon.com (Associates Program). Amazon listing
Product image from the Amazon listing.
In short
Get the ATH-M50xBT2 for the M50x studio sound over Bluetooth: LDAC, two-device multipoint and about 50 hours per charge, launched at $199. It has 45 mm drivers, folds flat, weighs 307 grams and charges over USB-C. Skip it if you need noise cancelling, which it doesn't have, or aptX, which Audio-Technica dropped for LDAC.
Who it is for
- Android listeners with LDAC phones who want the M50x studio sound without a cable.
- People who switch between a laptop and a phone. The ATH-M50xBT2 stays paired with two Bluetooth devices at once.
- Tinkerers who want an EQ that stays on the headphones, plus a low-latency mode for video and games, both set in the A-T Connect app.
Who should skip it
- Commuters and flyers who need noise cancelling. The ATH-M50xBT2 has none; JBL Tour One M3 pairs LDAC with it.
- Gym-goers. Audio-Technica gives the ATH-M50xBT2 no water or sweat rating.
What sets it apart
- LDAC, AAC and SBC, and you choose the codec in the A-T Connect app.
- About 50 hours per charge, and about 3 hours from a 10-minute USB-C top-up.
- Two-device multipoint, Google Fast Pair on Android and Amazon Alexa built in.
- 45 mm proprietary drivers behind an AK4331 DAC and a dedicated headphone amp.
Caveats
- The radio is Bluetooth 5.0 rather than 5.3, and LDAC needs an LDAC-capable phone or player.
- There's no ambient or transparency mode for music; sidetone only lets you hear your own voice on calls.
Key specs
In the same order on every headphones page, so you can compare pairs.
| Spec | Value | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Closed-back, dynamic, wireless over-ear | Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 specs; English user manual |
| Drivers | 45 mm proprietary large-aperture drivers | Audio-Technica US press, 2021-08-18; ATH-M50xBT2 specs |
| Frequency response | 15–28,000 Hz; over Bluetooth, 20–40,000 Hz with LDAC at 96 kHz and 990 kbps | Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 specs; English user manual |
| Impedance | 38 ohms | Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 specs |
| Sensitivity | 99 dB/mW | Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 specs |
| Noise cancelling | None; the closed-back design and professional-grade earpads isolate passively | Audio-Technica US press, 2021-08-18; ATH-M50xBT2 specs |
| Ambient sound | No ambient mode listed; sidetone lets you hear your own voice on calls | Audio-Technica US press, 2021-08-18 |
| Bluetooth codecs | LDAC, AAC, SBC | Audio-Technica US press, 2021-08-18; ATH-M50xBT2 specs |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0; A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP; about 10 m line of sight | Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 specs; English user manual |
| Multipoint | Yes, two Bluetooth devices at once | Audio-Technica US press, 2021-08-18 |
| Battery life | About 50 hours of continuous use; 3.7 V lithium-polymer battery | Audio-Technica US press, 2021-08-18; ATH-M50xBT2 specs |
| Charging | USB-C; full charge in about 3.5 hours; 10 minutes gives about 3 hours | Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 specs; US press, 2021-08-18 |
| Wired listening | Detachable 1.2 m cable with a gold-plated, L-shaped 3.5 mm stereo plug | Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 specs; English user manual |
| Weight | About 307 g (10.8 oz) | Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 specs; English user manual |
| Folding and case | Folds flat; earcups swivel 90 degrees; pouch in the box | Audio-Technica US press, 2021-08-18; ATH-M50xBT2 specs |
| App | A-T Connect: EQ saved on the headphones, left-right balance, low-latency mode, codec choice, voice-assistant choice and a find-my-headphones tool | Audio-Technica US press, 2021-08-18 |
| Microphones and calls | Two beamforming MEMS mics, omnidirectional: −38 dB (1 V/Pa at 1 kHz), 85–15,000 Hz | Audio-Technica US press, 2021-08-18; ATH-M50xBT2 specs |
| Voice assistant | Amazon Alexa built in; Google Assistant or Siri from the left-earcup buttons | Audio-Technica US press, 2021-08-18 |
| Colors | More than one version on Audio-Technica's US store; the 2021 announcement named no finishes | Audio-Technica US press, 2021-08-18; audio-technica.com ATH-M50xBT2 |
| Compatibility | Bluetooth 5.0 devices (LDAC needs a source that supports it); Google Fast Pair on Android; 3.5 mm wired | Audio-Technica US press, 2021-08-18; ATH-M50xBT2 specs |
| US launch price | $199.00 at launch (18 August 2021); later $219.00 on Audio-Technica's US store, with sales from $179 | Audio-Technica US press, 2021-08-18; audio-technica.com ATH-M50xBT2 |
| Price band | About $200 at launch | Audio-Technica US press, 2021-08-18 |
| Announced | 18 August 2021; on sale that day at $199.00 | Audio-Technica US press, 2021-08-18 |
| Availability | The current wireless M50x as of 19 September 2026; still listed at audio-technica.com | audio-technica.com ATH-M50xBT2, accessed 2026-09-19 |
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 extras
Specs only this model has.
| Spec | Value | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Internal DAC and amp | AK4331 DAC and a dedicated internal headphone amp | Audio-Technica US press, 2021-08-18 |
| Low-latency mode | For video and games, switched on in A-T Connect | Audio-Technica US press, 2021-08-18 |
| Bluetooth profiles | A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP; SCMS-T content protection | English user manual; Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 specs |
| In the box | 30 cm USB-A to USB-C charge cable; 1.2 m 3.5 mm audio cable; pouch | Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 specs; English user manual |
What the BT2 changed
Audio-Technica announced the ATH-M50xBT2 on 18 August 2021, nearly three years after the first wireless M50x, at the same $199.00. It kept the 45 mm driver size and rebuilt what surrounds it: the codecs, the battery, the charging port and the app.
| Spec | ATH-M50xBT2 | ATH-M50xBT (2018) |
|---|---|---|
| Codecs | LDAC, AAC, SBC | aptX, AAC, SBC |
| Multipoint | Two devices | Not listed |
| Battery | About 50 hours | About 40 hours |
| Charging | USB-C | Micro-USB |
| Weight | About 307 g | About 310 g |
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT vs ATH-M50xBT2 compares the two generations line by line.
Sound: 45 mm drivers and LDAC
The proprietary 45 mm large-aperture drivers are rated at 15–28,000 Hz, 38 ohms and 99 dB/mW. With LDAC running at 96 kHz and 990 kbps, Audio-Technica lists the Bluetooth transmission band as 20–40,000 Hz.
Battery and charging
| Mode | ATH-M50xBT2 |
|---|---|
| Continuous use | About 50 hours |
| 10-minute charge | About 3 hours |
| Full charge | About 3.5 hours |
The battery is a 3.7 V lithium-polymer cell. The box has a 30 cm USB-A to USB-C cable, so you’ll need a USB-A port or adapter to use it.
If you need noise cancelling
Look elsewhere. JBL Tour One M3 pairs LDAC with noise cancelling, and JBL lists 40 mm drivers and 278 grams for its Tour One headphones, against 45 mm and 307 grams here. Audio-Technica’s own ATH-SR50BT has noise reduction and aptX at 262 grams, with a 28-to-33-hour rating, but it’s an older model.
App, calls and controls
The EQ you set in A-T Connect is saved on the headphones, so it follows them from phone to laptop. The app also sets left-right balance, chooses the voice assistant and helps you find the headphones. Besides the built-in Alexa, the left-earcup buttons can call Google Assistant or Siri.
Two beamforming MEMS microphones pick up your voice on calls, rated −38 dB (1 V/Pa at 1 kHz) over 85–15,000 Hz.
Price
Audio-Technica launched the ATH-M50xBT2 at $199.00, and it was still the current wireless M50x in September 2026. Its US store later listed it at $219, with sales from $179, so check the current price before you buy.
Sources
- Amazon product listing — accessed 2026-09-20
- Audio-Technica US — ATH-M50xBT2 product page and specifications — accessed 2026-09-19
- Audio-Technica — ATH-M50xBT2 English user manual — accessed 2026-09-19
- Audio-Technica US press — ATH-M50xBT2, 18 August 2021 ($199.00) — accessed 2026-09-19
Frequently asked questions
Does the ATH-M50xBT2 have noise cancelling?
No. Closed-back earcups and professional-grade earpads block sound passively.
Does the ATH-M50xBT2 support aptX?
No. Audio-Technica lists LDAC, AAC and SBC. The 2018 ATH-M50xBT is the generation with aptX.
Is it worth upgrading from the original ATH-M50xBT?
Yes, unless your phone relies on aptX. You gain LDAC, two-device multipoint, USB-C charging and roughly 10 extra hours of battery, and lose aptX.
Can I use the ATH-M50xBT2 wired?
Yes. A detachable 1.2 m cable with a gold-plated, L-shaped 3.5 mm plug comes in the box.
Official product page: Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2. Tech specs: Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 specs.