Between the ATH-M50xBT2 and WH-1000XM5, the ATH-M50xBT2 comes out ahead in battery life and driver size, while the WH-1000XM5 wins on weight and active noise cancellation. Overall, the ATH-M50xBT2 scores 74.2 and the WH-1000XM5 scores 60.5 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The ATH-M50xBT2 is the clear pick on raw spec strength, leading by 13.7 points on the Mars Score. The margin is wide enough that the underdog only makes sense if its individual strengths line up with what you specifically need.
Pick the ATH-M50xBT2 if your top frustration with your current device is running out of charge before the day ends — endurance is the lead spec here. The biggest gaps in its favor are battery life, driver size.
Pick the WH-1000XM5 if you carry the device everywhere and weight or thickness has been the deciding factor before. Its strongest claims are weight, active noise cancellation, spatial audio.
Both ship with comparable multipoint, ldac, water resistance, so those specs don't separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: the ATH-M50xBT2 is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.
Why Audio-Technica - ATH-M50xBT2 wins
- ▲Battery life — 66.67% more. 50 h vs 30 h.
- ▲Driver size — 50.00% more. 45 mm vs 30 mm.
Why Sony - WH-1000XM5 wins
- ▲Weight — 57.00 g less. 250 vs 307.
- ▲Has Active noise cancellation.
- ▲Has Spatial audio.
Spec comparison
Design
| Spec | Audio-Technica - ATH-M50xBT2 | Sony - WH-1000XM5 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | over-ear | over-ear |
| Weight | 307 g | 250 glead |
| Water resistance | none | none |
Audio
| Spec | Audio-Technica - ATH-M50xBT2 | Sony - WH-1000XM5 |
|---|---|---|
| Driver sizeⓘ | 45 mmlead | 30 mm |
| Impedanceⓘ | 38 Ω | 48 Ωlead |
| Sensitivityⓘ | 99 dB | 102 dBlead |
| Active noise cancellationⓘ | false | truelead |
| Transparency mode | false | truelead |
| Spatial audioⓘ | false | truelead |
Battery
| Spec | Audio-Technica - ATH-M50xBT2 | Sony - WH-1000XM5 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 50 hlead | 30 h |
| Fast chargeⓘ | true | true |
Connectivity
| Spec | Audio-Technica - ATH-M50xBT2 | Sony - WH-1000XM5 |
|---|---|---|
| Bluetoothⓘ | 5.0 | 5.2lead |
| Multipointⓘ | true | true |
| 3.5mm jack | true | true |
| LDACⓘ | true | true |
| aptX HDⓘ | truelead | false |
Frequently asked
Which has better battery life, ATH-M50xBT2 or WH-1000XM5?+
ATH-M50xBT2 lasts 50 hours vs 30 hours.
Do ATH-M50xBT2 or WH-1000XM5 have active noise cancellation?+
WH-1000XM5 has ANC; ATH-M50xBT2 does not.
Which supports LDAC, ATH-M50xBT2 or WH-1000XM5?+
Both support LDAC.
Spec-level deep dives
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