Slickdeals is community-supported.  We may get paid by brands or deals, including promoted items.
  • Slickdeals
  • Forums
  • Deal Talk
  • ATH-M50XBB-CR Special Edition Blue and Black Professional Monitor headphones | Certified Refurbished | Audio-Technica $84.50
Heads up, this deal has expired. Want to create a deal alert for this item?
expired Posted by SprinkSponk 8 months ago
expired Posted by SprinkSponk 8 months ago

Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBB-CR LE Professional Monitor Headphones (Refurbished)

+ Free S/H

$84.50

$169

50% off
41 Comments 21,525 Views
Visit Retailer
Good Deal
Save
Share

Community Voting

Deal Score
+22
Good Deal
$84.50$16950% off
Get Deal at
Deal Details
Outlet.Audio-Technica has Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBB-CR Limited Edition Professional Monitor Headphones in Blue/Black (Certified Refurbished) on sale for $84.50. Shipping is free.

Thanks to community member SprinkSponk for finding this deal

Note, product is a certified refurbished unit.

About the Product
  • Closed Back Dynamic
  • 45mm Drivers
  • 15-28,000Hz Frequency Response
  • 99 dB Sensitivity
  • 38 ohms Impedance
  • Neodymium Connector
  • Gold-Plate Stereo 1/8" (3.5mm) Connector w/ Strain Relief
  • Copper Clad Aluminum Wire Voice Coil
  • Foldable/Collapsible
Includes
  • Audio-Technica ATH-M50XBB-CR Limited Edition Professional Monitor Headphones in Blue/Black (Certified Refurbished)
  • Audio-Technical Protective Carrying Pouch
  • 6.3mm (1/4") Screw-On Adapter
Warranty
  • Includes a 1-year limited end user warranty w/ purchase [Details]

Editor's Notes

Written by Discombobulated | Staff
  • As the most critically acclaimed model in the M-Series line, the ATH-M50 is praised by top audio engineers and pro audio reviewers year after year
  • This product is a certified refurbished unit; inspected and tested by quality control team and fitted w/ any replacement parts as needed.
  • Some refurbished products may have small blemishes, but nothing that will in any way affect the product's performance
  • Product is only available in the blue/black colorway
  • Offer valid while pricing/supplies last
Additional Notes
  • Please see original post for additional details & give the WIKI and additional forum comments a read for helpful discussion - Discombobulated

Original Post

Written by SprinkSponk
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
Outlet.Audio-Technica has Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBB-CR Limited Edition Professional Monitor Headphones in Blue/Black (Certified Refurbished) on sale for $84.50. Shipping is free.

Thanks to community member SprinkSponk for finding this deal

Note, product is a certified refurbished unit.

About the Product
  • Closed Back Dynamic
  • 45mm Drivers
  • 15-28,000Hz Frequency Response
  • 99 dB Sensitivity
  • 38 ohms Impedance
  • Neodymium Connector
  • Gold-Plate Stereo 1/8" (3.5mm) Connector w/ Strain Relief
  • Copper Clad Aluminum Wire Voice Coil
  • Foldable/Collapsible
Includes
  • Audio-Technica ATH-M50XBB-CR Limited Edition Professional Monitor Headphones in Blue/Black (Certified Refurbished)
  • Audio-Technical Protective Carrying Pouch
  • 6.3mm (1/4") Screw-On Adapter
Warranty
  • Includes a 1-year limited end user warranty w/ purchase [Details]

Editor's Notes

Written by Discombobulated | Staff
  • As the most critically acclaimed model in the M-Series line, the ATH-M50 is praised by top audio engineers and pro audio reviewers year after year
  • This product is a certified refurbished unit; inspected and tested by quality control team and fitted w/ any replacement parts as needed.
  • Some refurbished products may have small blemishes, but nothing that will in any way affect the product's performance
  • Product is only available in the blue/black colorway
  • Offer valid while pricing/supplies last
Additional Notes
  • Please see original post for additional details & give the WIKI and additional forum comments a read for helpful discussion - Discombobulated

Original Post

Written by SprinkSponk
Leave a Comment
To participate in the comments, please log in.

Top Comments

Please don't buy these in 2024. I feel like the people who recommend them are those who have never really tried anything else.

The soundstage in these are probably the worst part, it sounds like you are listening to music in a hallway. It's just thrown at you from the front. There's not a lot of "life" in them and they sound very reference, but in a bad way.

The leather on the headband and earpads will flake after about 2-3 years. The earpads are easily replaceable but the headband is not. The earpads also have a very strange shape and (at least for me) didn't sit right.

Positives: They are fairly natural sounding. Cable is also removable. Plastic parts of the build are pretty solid.

I had these for about 6 years and I don't regret it, but there are just better options.

If you can pay more, I'd go with a Sennheiser HD560s. If you can't, I'd do a Phillips SPH9500. If you need closed, DT770. There are also others in this price range as well.

Remember audio is subjective and this is just my opinion.
the longevity on the pads and leather is horrible, I've owned multiple ath m50x's, while the soundstage is great, audio wise they are solid, but as far as the quality on the fabric / leather it's abysmal. Falls apart, patchy, looks ugly after a while
These are barely over-the-ear at all. I used to swear by these early on when I didn't know any better. But looking back these are awful headphones.

41 Comments

Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.

8 months ago
180 Posts
Joined Jun 2009
8 months ago
Anonymo
8 months ago
180 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank Anonymo

I have the black ones. Sound is good and natural, but I'm sure these aren't the best, maybe not even for the price anymore. They do sound better with an amp and DAC, but they are also not very comfortable for long periods of time, especially once the ear muffs start getting some wear. They get hot on the ear, and then you feel the tightness of the headband after a while as well. Plus, with these, you are limited to just wired, unless you buy the adapter. They do look cool in the blue, but I will try to get the BOSE second edition to try those instead.
Last edited by Anonymo March 24, 2024 at 04:54 PM.
1
8 months ago
612 Posts
Joined May 2013
8 months ago
ChiragC
8 months ago
612 Posts
the longevity on the pads and leather is horrible, I've owned multiple ath m50x's, while the soundstage is great, audio wise they are solid, but as far as the quality on the fabric / leather it's abysmal. Falls apart, patchy, looks ugly after a while
8 months ago
250 Posts
Joined Apr 2010
8 months ago
CongaMail
8 months ago
250 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank CongaMail

These are barely over-the-ear at all. I used to swear by these early on when I didn't know any better. But looking back these are awful headphones.
2
3
8 months ago
6 Posts
Joined Jan 2024
8 months ago
Maxi5
8 months ago
6 Posts
Quote from ChiragC :
the longevity on the pads and leather is horrible, I've owned multiple ath m50x's, while the soundstage is great, audio wise they are solid, but as far as the quality on the fabric / leather it's abysmal. Falls apart, patchy, looks ugly after a while
You can replace them can't you?
8 months ago
38 Posts
Joined Feb 2021
8 months ago
FuschiaCatfish203
8 months ago
38 Posts
Quote from Maxi5 :
You can replace them can't you?
You can upgrade them too =) Plenty of options available
8 months ago
53 Posts
Joined Nov 2009
8 months ago
indignantfool
8 months ago
53 Posts
Quote :
You can replace them can't you?
You can... I replaced the pads on my with a velvety/velour feeling pads, and they're great, no sweating and still isolate out outside noise about the same.
8 months ago
1,098 Posts
Joined Feb 2017
8 months ago
dovageris
8 months ago
1,098 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank dovageris

I own this too and like many have commented the pleather and fabric they use is awful and peels off after 2-3 years of regular use. Yes the earcups are replaceable no problem. The big issue is with the headband. It flakes off pleather horribly and there is absolutely no easy way to replace it as it is directly attached to the foam and to the plastic headband. Even if you are lucky to pull it apart without causing any damage, no one makes replacement headband cushions for it.

I ended up getting a generic fabric zip sleeve from Amazon to cover the headband and it works ok: https://a.co/d/gQ58ptU

Other than that, these headphones provide excellent audio and internal build quality.
2

Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.

Pro
8 months ago
336 Posts
Joined Nov 2019
8 months ago
AmusedMoon6137
Pro
8 months ago
336 Posts
I've owned multiple pairs of these for years, solid audio performance that lasts. But as others said, you will eventually have to replace the flaking earcups and get a sleeve for the flaking headband. I've always loved that the cord disconnects on this brand, so you don't accidentally snag and break them
8 months ago
635 Posts
Joined Feb 2014
8 months ago
mephi5to
8 months ago
635 Posts
Quote from CongaMail :
These are barely over-the-ear at all. I used to swear by these early on when I didn't know any better. But looking back these are awful headphones.
what you got now? what are you comparing them to? what's your recomendation?
8 months ago
1 Posts
Joined Nov 2015
8 months ago
Gmesh
8 months ago
1 Posts
Please don't buy these in 2024. I feel like the people who recommend them are those who have never really tried anything else.

The soundstage in these are probably the worst part, it sounds like you are listening to music in a hallway. It's just thrown at you from the front. There's not a lot of "life" in them and they sound very reference, but in a bad way.

The leather on the headband and earpads will flake after about 2-3 years. The earpads are easily replaceable but the headband is not. The earpads also have a very strange shape and (at least for me) didn't sit right.

Positives: They are fairly natural sounding. Cable is also removable. Plastic parts of the build are pretty solid.

I had these for about 6 years and I don't regret it, but there are just better options.

If you can pay more, I'd go with a Sennheiser HD560s. If you can't, I'd do a Phillips SPH9500. If you need closed, DT770. There are also others in this price range as well.

Remember audio is subjective and this is just my opinion.
5
8 months ago
151 Posts
Joined Dec 2007
8 months ago
hsus0225
8 months ago
151 Posts
Quote from BeigeSparrow757 :
if i select for gaming, how will be this sound quality ?
They're very neutral and originally intended as entry level reference monitors. As far as gaming is concerned, you won't get big, boomy bass for that movie theater immersion experience, but you will hear EVERYTHING very clearly. This works particularly well for e-sports shooters due to how distinctly you'll be able to pick out important sound cues and identify their source position in the midst of the audio chaos of everything else happening.

I bought two pairs 9 years ago when there was a sale, and when these were still considered highly regarded budget reference headphones for value. On average I've used the first pair 15-20 hours per week since then, and am still using them. After 7000+ hours of usage they still sound just like the second pair which I keep around as a backup and have less than 100 hours on.

The pleather parts will start disintegrating within 2 years, so you'll need to get a wrap for the headband and replace the ear pads if you want to continue using the headphones comfortably -- but the functional components will otherwise last a long time.

There are a lot of good and/or better options these days for reference headphones around this price point but these are still functional and very competitive when on sale.
8 months ago
579 Posts
Joined Apr 2023
8 months ago
IndigoTent3072
8 months ago
579 Posts
Quote from Anonymo :
I have the black ones. Sound is good and natural, but I'm sure these aren't the best, maybe not even for the price anymore. They do sound better with an amp and DAC, but they are also not very comfortable for long periods of time, especially once the ear muffs start getting some wear. They get hot on the ear, and then you feel the tightness of the headband after a while as well. Plus, with these, you are limited to just wired, unless you buy the adapter. They do look cool in the blue, but I will try to get the BOSE second edition to try those instead.
Consider the Sennheiser HD 599. They sometimes go on sale for $100. Great sound, plenty of clean bass, and very comfortable.
8 months ago
295 Posts
Joined Aug 2008
8 months ago
escavi
8 months ago
295 Posts
They do peel after a few years even without using them. I've had mine for years and untouched already cracked. Not even attributed to being humid or exposed to light. Can't recommend them.
8 months ago
7,506 Posts
Joined Jan 2006
8 months ago
gonepostl
8 months ago
7,506 Posts
Quote from Maxi5 :
You can replace them can't you?
You can replace them, I suggest wicked cushions, they are so durable and comfortable. For the band at the top, there's protection for the headband as well.
Wicked cushions:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product...UTF8&psc=1
Headband:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product...UTF8&psc=1
1

Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.

8 months ago
1,371 Posts
Joined Mar 2009
8 months ago
deals2dream
8 months ago
1,371 Posts
I had these in black color, sound stage is good but tooooo heavy in these modren days. Pass on and get bose QCs.