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ATH M50's Doesn't Sound Better Than Previous Phones?

DirkaFat
By DirkaFat
in Audio
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So, I received my ATH M50's yesterday, and I was pretty hyped up for it, but when I received it I didn't see much of an improvement over my previous Razer Electra's (which are $50 headphones).

 

I've thought of why that might be (some of these ideas might sound agonizingly stupid, but this was my first step in high-ish quality audio, so forgive me):

 

  • My ears aren't "audiophile grade" (I don't even know if that's possible)
  • The Razer Electra's are better than what I had previously thought
  • The ATH M50's are worse than the hype they get
  • I need a DAC/AMP (Though, I doubt it because I don't hear any buzzing and the volume isn't too low)
  • Poor sound source (I'm listening from Spotify, so maybe there's a bottleneck that prevents the M50's from showing its potential?)

 

Any input on why the M50's doesn't sound much/any better than the Razer Electra's?

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I'd vote for point 1 and/or 3.

2 is unlikely, as is 4, and 5 is invalid (bottlenecks do not occur in audio)

PC Build in LTT Gallery - JBL J88 - Fostex T50RP (Modded) - Pioneer SE-A1000 vs audio-technica ATH-AD500X - Skullcandy Aviator  
audio-technica ATH-T400 - CHC Silverado and Laredo - Clip-On Headphone Roundup - Sony LinkBuds

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I'd vote for point 1 and/or 3.

2 is unlikely, as is 4, and 5 is invalid (bottlenecks do not occur in audio)

I agree.

I think what he meant by bottleneck might be a really poor quality source file. I don't think that would be the case either, though. I imagine they're at least decent quality.

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I agree.

I think what he meant by bottleneck might be a really poor quality source file. I don't think that would be the case either, though. I imagine they're at least decent quality.

A poor quality file is not a bottleneck. I understand people misunderstand what a bottleneck is, but I still gotta point out the error.

PC Build in LTT Gallery - JBL J88 - Fostex T50RP (Modded) - Pioneer SE-A1000 vs audio-technica ATH-AD500X - Skullcandy Aviator  
audio-technica ATH-T400 - CHC Silverado and Laredo - Clip-On Headphone Roundup - Sony LinkBuds

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So, I received my ATH M50's yesterday, and I was pretty hyped up for it, but when I received it I didn't see much of an improvement over my previous Razer Electra's (which are $50 headphones).

 

I've thought of why that might be (some of these ideas might sound agonizingly stupid, but this was my first step in high-ish quality audio, so forgive me):

 

  • My ears aren't "audiophile grade" (I don't even know if that's possible)
  • The Razer Electra's are better than what I had previously thought
  • The ATH M50's are worse than the hype they get
  • I need a DAC/AMP (Though, I doubt it because I don't hear any buzzing and the volume isn't too low)
  • Poor sound source (I'm listening from Spotify, so maybe there's a bottleneck that prevents the M50's from showing its potential?)

 

Any input on why the M50's doesn't sound much/any better than the Razer Electra's?

It's probably your ears man.. I was also using Electra before, and tried my brother's M50, sounds way different and better.

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I'd vote for point 1 and/or 3.

2 is unlikely, as is 4, and 5 is invalid (bottlenecks do not occur in audio)

Huh, wow. I used the term "bottleneck" because I saw someone else use it when he/she was giving audio advice, so I assumed it was fitting. Guess not :)

 

 

Regarding my "non-audiophile grade" ears, as silly as this sounds, I'm guessing there's no workaround there?

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I'd vote for point 1 and/or 3.

2 is unlikely, as is 4, and 5 is invalid (bottlenecks do not occur in audio)

Also, and I keep saying this: as stupid as this might sound, I've heard some sort of rumor that there are "fake" M50's going around. So... maybe I was unlucky?

 

 

 

But that's so silly that I shouldn't even think about it, right?

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try plugging it into different sources. 

I had a similar experience and found it was a bad extension cable.

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Also, and I keep saying this: as stupid as this might sound, I've heard some sort of rumor that there are "fake" M50's going around. So... maybe I was unlucky?

 

 

 

But that's so silly that I shouldn't even think about it, right?

well, i guess that would depend on where you bought them.

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well, i guess taht would depend on where you bought them.

Massdrop

 

 

I mean, I don't think they're scammers, but they are a somewhat new site (I think).

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Massdrop

 

 

I mean, I don't think they're scammers, but they are a somewhat new site (I think).

 

No, as much as I hate the way they run their business, they don't sell fakes.

 

Like I said a million times, m50's aren't good. If you can, return them and buy better headphones.

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No, as much as I hate the way they run their business, they don't sell fakes.

 

Like I said a million times, m50's aren't good. If you can, return them and buy better headphones.

Really? They're flat out "not good", huh? Well, I got them for $100, so I guess it's a good purchase for the money

 

 

Hmmm. I'm not sure if I could get a refund, but I'll definitely look into it. Well... after I give these M50's a day or two to burn in. (I'm not sure how much of an improvement it'll make, if any)

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Really? They're flat out "not good", huh? Well, I got them for $100, so I guess it's a good purchase for the money

 

 

Hmmm. I'm not sure if I could get a refund, but I'll definitely look into it. Well... after I give these M50's a day or two to burn in. (I'm not sure how much of an improvement it'll make, if any)

 

Actually, the longer you listen to them (in my experience) the worse they get. 

 

I'm almost kidding, but the after a long period of use you realize how uncomfortable they are, and the flaws in the headphone.

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M50s or not, you have to burn in your headphones for around 50 hours before making a clear judgement that they don't sound any different. I personally use Shure 840 and at first they didn't sound any different from my $20 Sony ear buds but the sound stage is much better and sounds different, not necessarily better. Audio is subjective and you won't be wowed by expensive headphones, it's not like an upgrade from an hdd to an ssd, headfi overhypes the increase in quality imo.

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I would not worry about burn in, its all Bit of a hype. I'd try the different source first. Also I'd give them a little bit of time as you can get used to a particular sound signature which can make new cans sound aweful even if they are likely to be something you enjoy.

Grammar and spelling is not indicative of intelligence/knowledge.  Not having the same opinion does not always mean lack of understanding.  

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i would burn them in for at least over night, my m50s sounded bad when i first got them. they also sounded bad after a months of me not using them, but sounded like they sould after i reburned them it.

 

so yea burn them in they sound good then

 

also I've used my m50s on a couple of different sources and they still sound great and spotify from what i heard has great sound streaming. If the off chance they still sound bad, i would try a different audio source, my galaxy s3 sounds better than my pc.

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M50 is just a silly product, not really worth its salt for most anything. 

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they also sounded bad after a months of me not using them, but sounded like they sould after i reburned them it.

 

Dude, that's not a thing.

PC Build in LTT Gallery - JBL J88 - Fostex T50RP (Modded) - Pioneer SE-A1000 vs audio-technica ATH-AD500X - Skullcandy Aviator  
audio-technica ATH-T400 - CHC Silverado and Laredo - Clip-On Headphone Roundup - Sony LinkBuds

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Dude, that's not a thing.

well it was for me, the mids were completely recessed after a couple months of nonuse

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well it was for me, the mids were completely recessed after a couple months of nonuse

 

not possible.

Grammar and spelling is not indicative of intelligence/knowledge.  Not having the same opinion does not always mean lack of understanding.  

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Maybe if we believe hard enough.....

Is that a quote from the movie "the boy who could fly"? I knew I hated that movie for a reason...

Grammar and spelling is not indicative of intelligence/knowledge.  Not having the same opinion does not always mean lack of understanding.  

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Is that a quote from the movie "the boy who could fly"? I knew I hated that movie for a reason...

Dunno, just found the phrase fitting. 

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Dunno, just found the phrase fitting. 

very fitting...

Grammar and spelling is not indicative of intelligence/knowledge.  Not having the same opinion does not always mean lack of understanding.  

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