Audio-Technica isn’t one to let a milestone slip by unnoticed. To celebrate a decade of its wildly popular ATH-M50x headphones — the cans that have graced everything from recording studios to coffee shop commutes — the company is rolling out the new ENSO edition. It’s a sleek, all-black revival that nods to Japanese artistry, proving that sometimes the smartest move is circling back to where it all began — literally, in this case.
The ATH-M50x ENSO edition doesn’t just phone it in with a paint job. Audio-Technica went full artisan here — the earcup rings and headband sliders feature custom engravings that blend sumi ink brush strokes with audio frequency waves. Each pair gets its own engraved serial number on the matte black finish, because mass production just doesn’t cut it for a 10-year celebration. Even the packaging gets the VIP treatment, redesigned exclusively for this limited run.
Audio-Technica’s adding a little lottery flair to the ENSO rollout. Two hundred lucky buyers will find a special postcard inside their box, revealing they’ve scored an exclusive ENSO accessories kit — complete with a custom headphone case and a handcrafted furoshiki cloth.
The cloths come courtesy of Kyoto’s Bamba, a family-run dyeing workshop with more than a century of experience turning fabric into art. Each one is hand-dyed with unique patterns — the kind of detail that makes you rethink how you wrap your lunch or stash your cables.
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x ENSO Edition and Original M50x: Key Features
Under the hood, the ATH-M50x ENSO sticks to the formula that made the original a studio staple. You still get Audio-Technica’s proprietary 45 mm large-aperture drivers with rare earth magnets and copper-clad aluminum wire voice coils — the secret sauce behind its clarity and punchy, accurate bass. The circumaural earcups wrap neatly around the ears, keeping outside noise where it belongs, while the 90° swiveling cups make one-ear monitoring a breeze.
Built for long sessions, the professional-grade earpads and headband offer lasting comfort and durability. Add in the collapsible design and a trio of detachable cables (1.2 m–3.0 m coiled, 3.0 m straight, and 1.2 m straight), and you’ve got a headphone that’s as road-ready as it is refined.
Audio Technica ATH-M50x Series Headphones
Audio Technica Model ATH-M50x ENSO ATH-M50x Product Type Headphones Headphones Design Highlights Custom engraving on the earcups and headband, All Black Price $199 $159 Headphone Type Closed-back Closed-back Driver Type Dynamic dynamic Driver Diameter 45 mm 45 mm Magnet Neodymium Neodymium Voice Coil CCAW (Copper-clad aluminum wire) CCAW (Copper-clad aluminum wire) Frequency Response 15 – 28,000 Hz 15 – 28,000 Hz Maximum Input Power 1,600 mW at 1 kHz 1,600 mW at 1 kHz Sensitivity 99 dB 99 dB Impedance 38 ohms 38 ohms Interchangeable (Detachable) Cables 1.2 m – 3.0 m (3.9′ – 9.8′) coiled cable
3.0 m (9.8′) straight cable
1.2 m (3.9′) straight cable1.2 m – 3.0 m (3.9′ – 9.8′) coiled cable
3.0 m (9.8′) straight cable
1.2 m (3.9′) straight cableConnector Gold-plated stereo 1/8” (3.5 mm) connector with strain relief Gold-plated stereo 1/8” (3.5 mm) connector with strain relief Folding/collapsible Yes Yes Weight 285 g (10 oz), without cable and connector 285 g (10 oz), without cable and connector Accessories Included Protective carrying pouch
6.3 mm (1/4″) screw-on adapterProtective carrying pouch
6.3 mm (1/4″) screw-on adapter
The Bottom Line
The ATH-M50x ENSO edition proves Audio-Technica knows when to evolve and when to stay the course. It’s the same dependable studio classic — precise, durable, and comfortable — now reborn in a sleek, limited-edition black finish that celebrates Japanese artistry.
Like the original ATH-M50x, it delivers impressive clarity, deep bass, and all-day wearability, while maintaining its core studio DNA that’s carried through versions like the discontinued Red/Gold-trimmed ATH-M50xRD, the wireless ATH-M50xBT, and the current ATH-M50xBT2 which are currently available through Audio-Technica and Amazon.
At the same time, Audio-Technica isn’t alone in this game — Beyerdynamic has stepped up with serious contenders in the same price bracket, including the new DJ 300 PRO X series, the DT 990 PRO X, and the DT 770 PRO X studio headphones. Still, for anyone who values proven engineering with a dose of Japanese design heritage, the ATH-M50x ENSO stands as a reminder that refinement sometimes beats reinvention.
Price & Availability
Only 5,000 pairs of Audio-Technica ATH-M50xENSO headphones are available worldwide for $199 (£169/€199).
Where to buy: $199 at Amazon
Also available:
- ATH-M50x (original): $159 at Amazon | Crutchfield
- ATH-M50xWH: $179 at Amazon)
- ATH-M50xGM-CR: $169 at Amazon
For more information: audio-technica.com
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David
October 30, 2025 at 12:09 am
A nicely understated special edition at a modest premium to the orginal’s price and made in Japan as well. What’s not to like? Well, some may find the design not special enough for a special edition.
Ian White
October 30, 2025 at 10:53 am
David,
I agree. Audio-Technica is having a really strong year. New tables, carts, and headphones and not one dud in the mix.
IW