Audio-Technica M50x vs MSR7 (or anything else to consider?)

[griffin dai]

Has anybody tried these and can give a honest review on both? Or can anyone please recommend a decent over ear headphone around the £150/200 mark, I don’t mind getting a used set in excellent condition if I can change the pads out for new.

I’m a little torn between getting a new m50x or used msr7, will be used mainly for the 4 hour bus commute to London watching movies/listening to music and listening to music on the 40 min commute in work (iPhone X max)

I’m after the one with best SQ but also needs to be decent at noise cancelling, I’m edging more towards the MSR7’s but some have said they can get a little tight/uncomfortable after an hours or so use?

Thanks dave

[Spragnut]

I've got a set of the brown style MSR7 and they sound fantastic, but after probably 8-10 months of daily evening use the plastic joints started to squeak, particularly the rotating ear piece part.

This got progressively worse and I was on the verge of binning them after 14 months use, but appearance wise, they are still perfect. Weekend just gone I decided to take them apart to see if it can be fixed, which it can, with a bit of sanding and dielectric grease..

Back to having an excellent sounding pair of headphones, with no squeaking, and they actually feel more comfortable to wear, which makes sense because they joints are moving more freely. They may have resolved this during this time though.

I found them a bit tight but the headband is metal inside so this can be "bent" slightly to ease the pressure. I broke out my spare pair of HMD-25 before repairing the MSR7's, putting them back on after fixing the squeak was like putting on a favourite pair of shoes!!

With regards to ambient noise, the cups are big enough to make most of it inaudible, I struggle to hear my wife sat a couple of meters away when wearing them so they must be fairly good!

Edited by Spragnut on Monday 3rd February 10:54

[griffin dai]

Thanks for the reply, I’ve heard a couple say about the squeaking issue, how about sound leakage? (Could get embarrassing when I’m blasting Madonna on the bus home!!)

I’m edging more towards the m50x, proprietary earphone jack was a minus for me but not a deal breaker. Brand new seem to go for £100ish on eBay so we’ll within budget.

The MSR7 seems to give better SQ but can get uncomfortable after a couple hours use so might not be ideal on a long journey

[Spragnut]

I've just added a quick edit to the above post.

Noise leakage is next to nothing whilst wearing them, obviously if the music is still playing when you take them off it might get embarrassing!

I wear mine for a few hours every evening and now they are adjusted I don't find them uncomfortable, it took a couple of weeks to make them right though.

I do have a big head, so they were properly tight to begin with.

Personally I don't think you'll go wrong with either, MSR7 might just need a bit more faffing to get them right.

[griffin dai]

Thanks mate appreciated, I’ve ordered the 50x on amazon should be here tomorrow. The msr7 does seem a step up in quality but knowing my luck they’ll feel too tight and get uncomfortable after a few hours use.

Hope I’ve chosen right but they’ve had some decent reviews online

Edited by griffin dai on Monday 3rd February 16:06