Products
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
Focal Elegia
Tested using Methodology v2.0
Updated Sep 22, 2025 03:31 PM
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Tested using Methodology v1.3.1
Updated Jan 24, 2024 08:01 PM
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TypeOver-ear
Noise CancellingNo
EnclosureClosed-Back
Bass Amount
Balanced (0 dB)
WirelessNo
TransducerDynamic
Treble Amount
Balanced (0 dB)
MicNo
Sound Signature
Balanced
TypeOver-ear
Noise CancellingNo
EnclosureClosed-Back
WirelessNo
TransducerDynamic
MicNo
Our Verdict
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
Focal Elegia
The Audio Technica ATH-M50x are better headphones than the Focal Elegia for most people, and they're typically a fraction of the price, too. Both are wired headphones designed for audiophiles with neutral-style sound profiles. However, the price difference shows in build quality and comfort, as the Focal are superior in those categories. The cups of the Focal are bigger and deeper, which will also fit most ears better, but the cost difference might not be worth it.
Variants
- ATH-M50x (Black)
- ATH-M50x (Gray)
- Elegia (Black/Silver)
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Black
ATH-M50x
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Black/Silver
Elegia
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Gray
ATH-M50x
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Black/Silver
Elegia
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Metallic Orange
ATH-M50x
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Black/Silver
Elegia
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White
ATH-M50x
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Black/Silver
Elegia
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Elegia
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Focal
Main Differences for
Mixed Usage
Mixed Usage
Threshold
Mixed Usage
5.9
Full Comparison
Sound
Sound Profile
Frequency Response
Preview Graph
Sound Profile
Preview Graph
Normalization Frequency
550 Hz
Bass Amount
Balanced (0 dB)
Bass Amount
-1.79 dB
Treble Amount
-3.4 dB
Treble Amount
Balanced (0 dB)
Sound Signature
Balanced
Frequency Response Consistency
5.9
6.9
Consistency L
Preview Graph
Preview Graph
Consistency R
Preview Graph
Preview Graph
Std. Deviation
1.36 dB
0.65 dB
Raw Frequency Response
Raw FR L
Preview Graph
Raw FR L
Preview Graph
Raw FR R
Preview Graph
Raw FR R
Preview Graph
Bass Profile: Target Compliance
9.2
9.5
Bass
Preview Graph
Bass Profile: Target Compliance
Preview Graph
RMS Deviation From Target
2.7 dB
0.64 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
20 Hz
10 Hz
Low Bass
-1.67 dB
0.12 dB
Mid Bass
1.05 dB
-0.02 dB
High Bass
1.4 dB
0.57 dB
Mid-Range Profile: Target Compliance
8.6
7.8
Mid
Preview Graph
Mid-Range Profile: Target Compliance
Preview Graph
RMS Deviation From Target
1.89 dB
2.95 dB
Low Mid
-2.89 dB
3.3 dB
Mid-Mid
-0.04 dB
2.66 dB
High Mid
0.94 dB
2.65 dB
Treble Profile: Target Compliance
9.6
6.8
Treble Profile: Target Compliance
Preview Graph
Treble
Preview Graph
RMS Deviation From Target
1.86 dB
4.51 dB
Low Treble
0.55 dB
-3.77 dB
Mid Treble
-1.09 dB
-2.27 dB
High Treble
-2.37 dB
-2.07 dB
Peaks/Dips
7.6
7.7
Peaks/Dips Graph
Preview Graph
Peaks/Dips Graph
Preview Graph
Peaks
1.3 dB
1.26 dB
Dips
1.97 dB
1.85 dB
Stereo Mismatch
4.9
Frequency Response Mismatch
Preview Graph
Phase Response Mismatch
Preview Graph
Weighted Amplitude Mismatch
1.40 dB
0.27
Weighted Frequency Response Mismatch
2.01 dB
1.68
Weighted Phase Mismatch
5.4°
15.79
Group Delay
1.9
Group Delay
Preview Graph
Weighted Group Delay
2.6 ms
Cumulative Spectral Decay
CSD
PRTF
7.1
3.9
PRTF
Preview Graph
Preview Graph
PRTF Accuracy (RMS Deviation)
2.43 dB
4.34 dB
PRTF Size (Avg.)
2.73 dB
2.05 dB
PRTF Distance
13.24 dB
3.3 dB
Openness
4.3
Acoustic Space Excitation
4.4
Harmonic Distortion
9.5
Harmonics Levels
Preview Graph
THD Ratio
Preview Graph
Preview Graph
WHD @ 94 dB SPL
0.04%
0.298
WHD @ 104 dB SPL
0.11%
0.099
Electrical Aspects
Impedance
Preview Graph
Sensitivity @1kHz-1V
115.4 dB SPL
Bluetooth Max SPL
N/A
Virtual Soundstage
0.0
Virtual Soundstage
Head Modeling
No
Speaker Modeling
No
Room Ambience
No
Head Tracking
No
Virtual Surround
No App
Test Settings
Firmware
No Firmware
Power
Passive
Connection
Wired
Codec
PCM, 24-bit, 48kHz
Test Instrument
Audio Precision APx517B
EQ
No EQ
ANC
No ANC
Tip/Pad
Default
Microphone
No Microphone
Imaging
8.3
Group Delay
Preview Graph
Phase Response
Preview Graph
Weighted Group Delay
0.19
Weighted Amplitude Mismatch
1.40 dB
0.27
Weighted Frequency Mismatch
2.01 dB
1.68
Weighted Phase Mismatch
5.4°
15.79
Weighted Harmonic Distortion
7.9
Weighted Harmonic Distortion
Preview Graph
Preview Graph
WHD @ 90
0.04%
0.298
WHD @ 100
0.11%
0.099
Design
Style
Design Picture 2
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Type
Over-ear
Over-ear
Enclosure
Closed-Back
Closed-Back
Wireless
No
No
Transducer
Dynamic
Dynamic
Comfort
7.5
8.0
Comfort Picture
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Weight
0.65 lbs
1 lbs
Clamping Force
1 lbs
1 lbs
Controls
0.0
0.0
Controls Picture
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OS Compatibility
No Controls
Not OS specific
Ease Of Use
No Controls
N/A
Feedback
No Controls
N/A
Call/Music Control
No
No
Volume Control
No
No
Microphone Control
No
N/A
Channel Mixing
No
N/A
Noise Cancelling Control
No
N/A
Talk-Through
No
N/A
Additional Controls
No
N/A
Breathability
5.0
Breathability After Picture
Avg.Temp.Difference
8.9 °C
Portability
5.8
5.2
Portability Picture
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L
5.1" (13.0 cm)
8.5"
W
6.9" (17.5 cm)
7.5"
H
3.5" (9.0 cm)
4.1"
Volume
124.93 in³ (2,047.23 cm³)
261 in³
Transmitter Required
No
N/A
Case
6.5
8.0
Case Picture
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Type
Pouch
Hard case
L
N/A
8.5"
W
N/A
9.5"
H
N/A
4.7"
Volume
N/A
380 in³
Build Quality
8.0
9.0
Build Quality Picture
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Stability
6.5
6.0
Stability Picture
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Headshots 1
Angled Picture
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Side Picture
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Headshots 2
Front Picture
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Rear Picture
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Top
Top Picture
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In The Box
In The Box Picture
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Isolation
Noise Isolation - Full Range
4.3
5.5
Noise Isolation - Full Range Graph
Preview Graph
Preview Graph
Noise Cancelling
No
No
Overall Attenuation
-10.18 dB
-13.22 dB
Isolation Audio
Bass
2.24 dB
-0.38 dB
Mid
-8.56 dB
-13.11 dB
Treble
-27.01 dB
-27.41 dB
Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios
4.1
Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios Graph
Preview Graph
Airplane Noise Attenuation
-9.11 dB
Airplane Noise Isolation Audio
Office Noise Attenuation
-9.54 dB
Office Noise Isolation Audio
Street Noise Attenuation
-8.80 dB
Street Noise Isolation Audio
Noise Isolation - Voice Handling
Female Voice 1
Male Voice 1
Female Voice 2
Male Voice 2
ANC Wind Handling
ANC Wind Handling Graph
ANC Wind Noise
N/A
Leakage
7.2
6.5
Leakage
Preview Graph
Preview Graph
Leakage Audio
Overall Leakage @ 1ft
38.32 dB
42.63 dB
Microphone
Microphone Style
Integrated
No
N/A
In-Line
No
N/A
Boom
No
N/A
Detachable Boom
No
N/A
Mic
No
No
Recording Quality
0.0
0.0
Microphone Frequency Response
Recorded Speech
N/A
N/A
LFE
N/A
N/A
FR Std. Dev.
N/A
N/A
HFE
N/A
N/A
Weighted THD
N/A
N/A
Gain
N/A
N/A
Noise Handling
0.0
0.0
SpNR
SpNR
N/A
N/A
Noise Gate
N/A
Speech + Pink Noise Handling
N/A
Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample
N/A
N/A
Speech + Subway Noise Handling
N/A
Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample
N/A
N/A
Active Features
Battery
0.0
0.0
Battery Type
No Battery
N/A
Continuous Battery Life
N/A
N/A
Additional Charges
N/A
N/A
Total Battery Life
N/A
N/A
Charge Time
N/A
N/A
Power-Saving Feature
No
N/A
Audio While Charging
No
N/A
Passive Playback
Passive Headphone
N/A
Charging Port
None
N/A
App Support
0.0
0.0
App Picture
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App Name
No App
N/A
iOS
No
N/A
Android
No
N/A
macOS
No
N/A
Windows
No
N/A
Equalizer
No
N/A
ANC Control
No
N/A
Mic Control
No
N/A
Room Effects
No
N/A
Playback Control
No
N/A
Button Mapping
No
N/A
Surround Sound
N/A
Surround Support
No
Connectivity
Wired Connection
9.9
9.5
Cable Picture
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Analog Audio
Yes
Yes
USB Audio
No
No
Detachable
Yes
Yes
Length
10.00 ft (3.05 m)
4 ft
Connector
1/8" TRS
1/8" TRS
Latency - Analog
0.2 ms
Latency - USB
N/A
Recorded Latency
Recorded Latency Connection
Analog
Wired Latency
0 ms
Bluetooth Connection
0.0
0.0
Bluetooth Version
No Bluetooth
N/A
Multi-Device Pairing
No
N/A
NFC Pairing
N/A
Quick Pair (Android)
No
Quick Pair (iOS)
No
Line Of Sight Range
N/A
N/A
Latency - SBC
N/A
N/A
Latency - aptX
N/A
N/A
Latency - aptX Adaptive (High Quality)
N/A
Latency - aptX Adaptive (Low Latency)
N/A
Latency - LDAC
N/A
Recorded Latency
N/A
Recorded Latency Codec
No Bluetooth Audio
AAC Support
No
aptX(LL) Latency
N/A
Wireless Connection (Dongle)
0.0
0.0
Line Of Sight Range
N/A
N/A
Latency - Dongle
N/A
N/A
Recorded Latency
N/A
PC Compatibility
Analog
Audio Only
Wired USB
No
Non-BT Wireless
No
PlayStation Compatibility
PS4 Analog
Audio Only
Audio Only
PS4 Wired USB
No
No
PS4 Non-BT Wireless
No
No
PS5 Analog
Audio Only
PS5 Wired USB
No
PS5 Non-BT Wireless
No
Xbox Compatibility
Xbox One Analog
Audio Only
Audio Only
Xbox One Wired USB
No
No
Xbox One Non-BT Wireless
No
No
Xbox Series X|S Analog
Audio Only
Xbox Series X|S Wired USB
No
Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless
No
Base/Dock
0.0
0.0
Type
No Base/Dock
N/A
USB Input
No
N/A
Line In
No
N/A
Line Out
No
N/A
Optical Input
No
N/A
RCA Input
No
N/A
Dock Charging
No
N/A
Power Supply
No Base/Dock
N/A
PC / PS4 Compatibility
PC / PS4 Analog
Audio Only
Audio Only
PC / PS4 Wired USB
No
No
PC / PS4 Non-BT Wireless
No
No
Check Price
Black
ATH-M50x
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black/Silver
Elegia
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Gray
ATH-M50x
SEARCH
Amazon.com
Black/Silver
Elegia
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Metallic Orange
ATH-M50x
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black/Silver
Elegia
SEARCH
B&H
White
ATH-M50x
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Black/Silver
Elegia
SEARCH
BestBuy.com
Black/Silver
Elegia
SEARCH
Focal
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Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
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Comments
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x vs Focal Elegia: Main Discussion
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