Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO vs Audio-Technica ATH-M50x for Streaming: Which Closed-Back Headphone to Choose

The direct answer

For a streamer who monitors their own microphone through an audio interface or mixer, the practical choice is between the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x and one of two beyerdynamic models: the DT 770 PRO in its 80 ohm version, or the newer DT 770 PRO X. Pick the ATH-M50x if you plug into a console, motherboard or controller jack, want a detachable cable with spares, or need headphones that fold. Pick the DT 770 PRO 80 ohm or the DT 770 PRO X if you run an interface or mixer and want beyerdynamic's tuning, with the PRO X adding a detachable cable.

The single biggest caveat is that every number in this comparison is a manufacturer claim. No independent measurement of isolation, frequency response or comfort was available as of 2026-10-08, so the advice below is a framework for choosing and testing, not a ranking from listening or lab work. Whichever headphone you choose, mic bleed and echo are mostly decided by your monitoring routing and listening volume, which you can verify in ten minutes before going live.

A naming note keeps searches from misleading you. This comparison covers the wired ATH-M50x, not the wireless ATH-M50xBT2 or the ATH-M50xSTS headset. On the beyerdynamic side, it covers the classic DT 770 PRO (32, 80 and 250 ohm) and the current DT 770 PRO X (48 ohm).

What the current documentation establishes

All facts below come from manufacturer pages read on 2026-10-08. Treat each as a vendor claim, because a spec sheet states what the maker publishes rather than what a test bench returns. Several PDFs, including the beyerdynamic manual and spec sheet, could not be read, so only the product pages are used here.

Audio-Technica lists the ATH-M50x as a closed-back dynamic headphone with 45 mm drivers, 15 to 28,000 Hz frequency response, 99 dB sensitivity, 38 ohm impedance and 1,600 mW maximum input power. It weighs 285 g without cable. Three detachable cables are listed (1.2 to 3.0 m coiled, 3.0 m straight, 1.2 m straight), along with a 3.5 mm plug and a screw-on 6.3 mm adapter. The page showed a price of $159.00 on 2026-10-08, and a replacement headband (HP-HBM50x) at $17.00.

beyerdynamic publishes the DT 770 PRO as a closed, wired, circumaural headphone in three impedances: 32, 80 and 250 ohm. The 250 ohm page lists 5 to 35,000 Hz, a nominal sound pressure level of 96 dB, a firm fit of roughly 3.5 to 5.5 N headband pressure, and 375 g including the cable. The cable is fixed: 1.6 m straight on the 32 ohm model, 3 m straight on the 80 ohm model and 3 m coiled on the 250 ohm model. The North America page showed the 250 ohm model at $159.99, reduced from $199.99 under a seasonal promotion, so that price may not last.

The DT 770 PRO X is listed at 48 ohm, 5 to 40,000 Hz, 305 g without cable, a 5.5 N firm fit, velour pads and a detachable 3 m cable with a locking mini-XLR connector. Its page showed $229.99 on 2026-10-08. beyerdynamic states that it keeps the familiar DT 770 PRO tuning.

What stays unverified: any decibel figure for isolation on either headphone, the 32 ohm DT 770 PRO sensitivity, any DT 770 PRO X sensitivity (the page lists none), and the reference basis (per milliwatt or per volt) behind the sensitivity figures. Because the basis is not stated, the 99 dB and 96 dB numbers should not be treated as a like-for-like loudness comparison.

Naming: why the DT 770 PRO X is not a limited edition

Searches for a DT 770 PRO X "limited" model can lead to outdated results. beyerdynamic's North America address for that variant now redirects to the standard DT 770 PRO X page. A European outlet listing still describes a time-limited special edition released for the company's 100-year anniversary, with a 3 m cable, lockable mini-XLR connector, spring steel headband, memory foam padding and velour pads. That listing is evidence the edition existed, not evidence of current retail stock.

The practical reading is to shop for the standard DT 770 PRO X. Whether the special edition has formally ended is an inference from the redirect and the outlet-only listing; beyerdynamic's support article on the differences between models could not be reviewed, so confirm with the vendor if that distinction matters to you.

Audio-Technica has done something similar with the M50x name. The wireless ATH-M50xBT2 ($219.00 on its page, with a low-latency mode available through an app and no latency figure published on the page text read) and the ATH-M50xSTS StreamSet (a headset with a boom microphone and a permanently attached cable) are different products, not replacements for the wired headphone.

Evaluation criteria for monitoring while live

Eight criteria are used, each tied to a failure that shows up on stream rather than in a studio.

• Mic bleed and isolation: closed-back cups and a good pad seal limit how much headphone audio reaches your microphone. Vendors claim isolation but publish no attenuation figure, so this has to be tested with your own mic.
• Drivability: impedance and sensitivity decide whether an interface, mixer or console jack can reach a comfortable level without distortion or a separate amplifier.
• Monitoring path and latency: hearing your voice without a software round trip depends on the interface or mixer, not on the headphones.
• Cable design: detachable versus fixed, length, coiled versus straight, and connector type determine how often the cable snags on a chair and whether a failure ends the headphone's life.
• Comfort over a long session: clamp force, weight, pad material, glasses and heat matter over four hours more than a first-impression fit.
• Serviceability: replaceable pads, headbands and cables extend useful life, since pads wear first in daily use.
• Portability and one-ear monitoring: folding cups and swivel earcups help if you stream from several locations or need to hear the room.
• Price today and the cost of extras: adapters, spare pads and an amplifier belong in the budget, and sale prices change.

Head-to-head against the criteria

Mic bleed. Audio-Technica claims "excellent passive isolation" for the ATH-M50x. beyerdynamic advises that for use with a microphone, closed-back headphones isolate better from external noise and reduce sound leakage into the microphone. Both statements describe the closed-back category; neither is a measured result for these models. The more reliable bleed variable is how loud you listen, which is why the rehearsal test later in this comparison uses your own volume setting.

Drivability. On paper the ATH-M50x is the easiest load at 38 ohm and 99 dB, and Audio-Technica's page makes no statement that an amplifier is needed. beyerdynamic describes the 32 ohm model as suited to mobile devices, the 80 ohm model as the choice for common interfaces and amplifiers, and the 250 ohm model as particularly suited to high-quality, powerful amplifiers and interfaces. The 48 ohm DT 770 PRO X is described as delivering studio-quality audio on devices with low output power and requiring less voltage than the older driver. Ranked by how demanding they are to drive, the likely order is ATH-M50x, DT 770 PRO X, DT 770 PRO 80 ohm, then DT 770 PRO 250 ohm. That ordering is derived from impedance, not from a measurement.

Cable. The ATH-M50x and the PRO X have detachable cables; the classic DT 770 PRO does not. For a desk setup with a rolling chair, that is the clearest practical split, because a damaged fixed cable means sending the headphone for service or modifying it, while a detachable one is swapped in seconds. The PRO X uses a locking mini-XLR connection, so spares come from beyerdynamic's ecosystem, while the M50x ships with three cables.

Comfort and weight. The M50x weighs 285 g without cable; the classic DT 770 PRO is quoted at 375 g including cable and the PRO X at 305 g without cable. Because the bases differ, a precise gap cannot be calculated. beyerdynamic quotes a firm fit for both DT 770 models (3.5 to 5.5 N for the classic, 5.5 N for the PRO X), while Audio-Technica publishes no clamp force for the M50x. A published clamp number is not a comfort verdict, and readers with glasses or larger heads should expect to judge fit themselves.

Portability. Audio-Technica states the M50x folds and has 90 degree swiveling earcups for one-ear monitoring, and it includes a pouch. No folding or swivel feature was stated on the beyerdynamic pages read.

Impedance matching to interfaces, mixers and console jacks

Impedance describes how much electrical resistance the headphone presents to the output stage that drives it. A higher number generally needs more voltage for the same loudness, and a low-power output such as a laptop or controller jack may reach only a modest level into a 250 ohm load. That is why beyerdynamic splits the DT 770 PRO into three versions rather than one.

Match the variant to the output in front of you. A typical streaming interface or USB mixer headphone output falls in the "common interfaces" band that beyerdynamic assigns to the 80 ohm version. A mixer with a strong dedicated headphone amplifier is the case where the 250 ohm version is within the vendor's stated intent. If you are unsure what your gear delivers, the 80 ohm model or the PRO X is the safer choice, and the ATH-M50x is the lowest-risk option for sources with weak outputs.

The 32 ohm DT 770 PRO is vendor-listed for mobile use, but its sensitivity could not be confirmed from a vendor page, so no figure is quoted here. The 32 ohm version also ships with black leatherette pads, while the 80 and 250 ohm versions use silver grey velour, a detail that affects heat and feel on long streams.

The 250 ohm model plugged into a console controller or laptop jack is the most predictable mismatch: quiet output, and a temptation to turn gain up until the signal distorts. If you own that variant already, a headphone amplifier or a mixer with a dedicated headphone stage addresses it. The M50x and PRO X simply reduce the odds of needing one.

Direct monitoring, latency and the wireless trap

Hearing your own voice late is a routing issue. Focusrite's support documentation defines latency as the delay between an input signal and hearing it played back, and describes direct monitoring as sending the interface's input straight to the headphone or line outputs with near-zero latency, while the signal still goes to the recording software. Focusrite's article applies to its own products, but the technique appears on many interfaces and mixers under other names and controls.

The same documentation recommends enabling direct monitoring and muting the audio track you are recording to, so you do not hear the signal twice. For streamers, the equivalent is to choose one path for your own voice. If the interface provides direct monitoring, switch off any second path, such as software monitoring in your streaming application or an operating-system option that plays the input through the output. How a given streaming application behaves was not verified from primary documentation, so check your own software's settings.

This is why headphone choice does not change latency. Neither the ATH-M50x nor the DT 770 models contain any processing; their delay is whatever the connected device adds.

Bluetooth is the exception. Any wireless link adds delay of its own. The ATH-M50xBT2 offers a low-latency mode, but Audio-Technica's page does not publish a figure, so it should not be your monitor for live speech. It is better treated as a listening headphone for off-air use.

Comfort over long sessions and replaceable parts

Clamp and pad material shape comfort more than any single spec. The classic DT 770 PRO and PRO X are both described by beyerdynamic as firm-fitting, while the company's comparison table lists leatherette on the 32 ohm model and velour on the 80 ohm, 250 ohm and PRO X. Velour is the breathable option; leatherette tends to run warmer. That is general material behavior, not a measured result for these models. The PRO X adds a replaceable headband with a fontanelle recess, which beyerdynamic positions as a comfort improvement. That is a vendor claim.

The M50x lacks a published clamp force. Audio-Technica describes professional-grade earpad and headband material that is durable and comfortable. Real-world fit is best judged by the five-minute talking test below, done with your glasses and headset hair as you would stream.

Replaceable parts are where the lines differ. beyerdynamic states that the DT 770 PRO has replaceable ear pads and that all components are replaceable if necessary; for the PRO X it states that headband and pads are replaceable and nearly all components can be replaced. Audio-Technica lists a $17.00 replacement headband for the M50x and shows a service-parts link, but the page text read does not state whether ear pads are sold as a spare or give a pad part number. Check spare-pad availability before buying any of these, since pads wear first.

Cable replaceability favors the M50x (three included) and the PRO X (a detachable mini-XLR cable). The classic DT 770 PRO has a fixed cable, so a coiled 3 m run that snags on a chair is a repair, not a swap.

Scenarios and recommendations

Interface or USB mixer with an XLR microphone. Any of the three fit within the vendor's "common interfaces" guidance. Choose the DT 770 PRO 80 ohm if you prefer its tuning and are comfortable with a fixed cable, the PRO X for the same tuning with a detachable cable, or the ATH-M50x for its low impedance and fold. Use the interface's direct monitor for your own voice.

Dynamic microphone through a mixer with a powerful headphone stage, in a loud room. This is the case where the 250 ohm DT 770 PRO is inside the vendor's intended use. If you are not sure the output is strong, the 80 ohm version or PRO X is the safer match.

Console or PC streamer on the controller or motherboard jack. Favor the ATH-M50x or the PRO X. The 250 ohm model is the wrong match here, and the 32 ohm model's sensitivity is unconfirmed.

Sitting directly in front of a sensitive condenser microphone with speakers off. Closed-back is the priority and listening volume is the main bleed driver. Prefer a model with a detachable, long enough cable (M50x or PRO X) so the headphone can sit without strain, and run the volume test described below.

Streaming from several locations. The M50x folds and includes a pouch, which suits events and in-real-life streams. The wireless BT2 can serve for listening but not for monitoring your mic.

No microphone yet. The ATH-M50xSTS combines M50x-family headphones with a boom microphone (analog XLR or USB) and a permanently attached 2 m cable. It is a separate product with different weight and cable, and is an all-in-one rather than a substitute for these two.

Failure cases and a rehearsal checklist

Common problems are predictable. You hear yourself late or doubled because two monitoring paths are on at once. The mic picks up game audio because the volume is high or the pad seal is broken by glasses, hair or worn pads; closed-back cups reduce bleed but vendor documentation does not claim to eliminate it. A 250 ohm model on a weak output sounds quiet. A fixed cable fails or snags. A wireless link adds delay. Run these steps before every new setup:

• Choose the monitoring source: the interface or mixer direct monitor for your mic, plus the PC or console return for everything else.
• Turn off any second monitoring path, including software monitoring and operating-system listen-through options, so you do not hear the mic twice.
• Record 30 seconds of silence, then 30 seconds with game audio at your normal listening volume; play the recording back and listen for game audio in the mic track.
• Move the mic or lower the volume until the bleed is gone, and note the volume setting for next time.
• Run a five-minute talking session with glasses and hair as you would stream, to check clamp pressure and heat.
• Check cable routing for length, chair clearance and strain relief, and confirm any 3.5 mm to 6.3 mm adapter is screwed on firmly.
• Confirm left and right channels work and that the mic is not muted after unplugging and replugging.

Cost, alternatives and when to skip both

As shown on the vendors' pages on 2026-10-08: the ATH-M50x at $159.00 on audio-technica.com; the DT 770 PRO at $159.99, reduced from $199.99 under a seasonal promotion, on beyerdynamic's North America store; and the DT 770 PRO X at $229.99. Sale prices change, and retailer prices were not checked. Spare headband cost is confirmed only for the M50x ($17.00). Any amplifier or adapter you need is extra.

Credible alternatives, named without specs: the ATH-M50xSTS or its USB version if you want a headset with a boom mic; the DT 770 PRO X as the current beyerdynamic model with the detachable cable; and the long-standing Sony MDR-7506, mentioned by name only because the figures found for it conflicted between sources. beyerdynamic also lists open-back models, such as the DT 990 PRO and DT 900 PRO X, as suited to gaming and streaming, while warning that open-back designs may bleed into sensitive microphones and cause feedback at high volumes. Those suit a mic placed far from the headphones or a dynamic mic with a tight pickup pattern.

Skip both if you want a lighter in-ear setup, need active noise cancellation (neither advertises it), need a built-in mic without extra gear, or only listen to console audio with no microphone, in which case any comfortable closed-back headphone will do.

Verdict

For most streamers with an interface or mixer, the DT 770 PRO X is the closest like-for-like rival to the ATH-M50x, since both have detachable cables and moderate impedance. Choose the ATH-M50x for weak headphone outputs, folding and multi-location streaming; choose the DT 770 PRO X for beyerdynamic's tuning and replaceable-parts story; choose the DT 770 PRO 80 ohm if you accept a fixed cable and want the classic model. The 250 ohm version belongs only with a strong headphone amplifier.

That ordering follows from impedance, cable design and vendor-stated serviceability. It does not rest on sound quality, which no independent measurement here addresses. The choice would change if a hands-on test showed meaningful bleed differences at matched volume, if a clamp or comfort measurement contradicted the vendor numbers, or if spare-pad availability for the M50x turned out to be poor.

The headphone is the easy part. Settle the monitoring path and the volume first, then decide on comfort.