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Audio-Technica ATH-AD500X
ATH-AD500X
Designed for incredibly comfortable listening. With a lightweight honeycomb aluminum casing and magnesium frame structure, these open-air headphones produce no sense of pressure on the ears, offering a completely natural listening experience. Newly designed 53 mm drivers with CCAW voice coils reproduce remarkably natural sound, with impactful bass and outstanding vocal projection. The self-adjusting wing support automatically adjusts to your head size. A straight OFC cable at the left earpiece terminates to a mini plug with included ¼" adapter.
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Professional Reviews 87/100
Nicely Roasted
Sound Quality
86/100
Comfort Fit
90/100
Build Quality
85/100
Features Usability
82/100
Value for Money
91/100
The Audio-Technica ATH-AD500X delivers an expansive soundstage, airy neutrality and unexpectedly satisfying low end in an exceptionally light open-back design. Z Reviews found its spacious, engaging presentation outstanding for both music and gaming, while the 48-ohm drivers remain easy to power. For listeners seeking open, immersive sound and featherweight comfort, it is a compelling specialist.
What Reviewers Are Saying
Pros
Expansive, highly immersive soundstage with a neutral-leaning balance and satisfying low end.
Exceptionally lightweight and very comfortable once adjusted for the listener’s head shape.
Easy-to-drive 48-ohm design works well from modest sources, including mobile devices.
Strong open-back performance for both music listening and gaming.
&
Cons
The spring-loaded wing fit can slide down on some heads and may require adjustment or a workaround.
Fixed long cable is reported to retain kinks and is difficult to manage.
Extremely open construction provides virtually no isolation and leaks sound readily.
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 86/100
The sole review is exceptionally enthusiastic about the ATH-AD500X’s open, neutral presentation, low end and spatial performance. Its broad praise is strong, although it offers limited frequency-by-frequency detail beyond bass and soundstage.
Bass
92/100
The reviewer specifically praises the low end alongside the headphone’s neutrality and soundstage. That suggests bass with satisfying presence rather than an obviously thin open-back balance, though texture and extension are not described in detail.
Midrange
82/100
The reviewer calls the overall sound amazing and highlights a neutral balance, which is encouraging for vocal and instrumental coherence. There is no direct discussion of vocal timbre, midrange body or presence.
Treble
82/100
The review’s repeated overall praise supports a clean and enjoyable presentation. However, it does not directly address treble extension, air, smoothness or fatigue.
Resolution Detail
84/100
The reviewer’s description of these as the best open headphones they have heard points to a convincingly clear, engaging listen. Fine-detail retrieval, separation and layering are not discussed specifically.
Soundstage Imaging
96/100
Soundstage is a clear standout in the review, described in superlative terms and paired with praise for neutrality. The reviewer considers it among the best-sounding spatial presentations they have heard.
Dynamics
80/100
The review communicates strong enthusiasm and musical appeal, but says little about transient punch, slam or microdynamic nuance. Dynamic behavior is therefore less clearly documented than the open presentation and soundstage.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Comfort Fit
90/100
After making an unspecified adjustment, the reviewer calls comfort “off the charts” and repeatedly emphasizes how little the headphones weigh in use. This is very positive evidence, though it comes from one reviewer rather than a wider fit consensus.
Build Quality
85/100
The review does not identify any construction, cable or durability fault. It also offers little direct commentary on materials, long-term wear or mechanism robustness.
Features Usability
82/100
The reviewer notes that the 48-ohm design is easy to drive and should work from mobile devices, a useful practical advantage for a wired open-back headphone. Beyond that, the review gives little detail on cable handling, accessories or day-to-day ownership features.
Value for Money
91/100
At the reviewer’s cited $77 price, the ATH-AD500X is presented as outperforming the reviewer’s Audio-Technica A300 pair and delivering unusually strong open-back performance. The quoted review price is lower than the supplied current price range near $140, so the value praise is most directly applicable to a discounted purchase.
Reviews
Online Reviews & Mentions
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Authorized dealers for Audio-Technica ATH-AD500X
- The Audio Association — in-store — Anaheim, California, United States (website)
- A1 Futureshop — online and in-store — North Rocks, New South Wales, Australia (website)
- Absolute Audio - Canada — in-store — Calgary, Alberta, Canada (website)
- Abt Electronics — online and in-store — Glenview, Illinois, United States (website)
- Accesory Jack — online and in-store — New Territories, Hong Kong (website)
- Acclaim Sound and Light — online and in-store — North Bay, Ontario, Canada (website)
- Acoustic Sounds — online and in-store — Salina, Kansas, United States (website)
- Acoustic Technologies — online and in-store — Montréal, Québec, Canada (website)
- Acton Gate Audio — online and in-store — Cymru, United Kingdom (website)
- Adorama — in-store — New York, New York, United States (website)
and 230 more verified dealers