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Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 — Over-ear · 2022
Audio-Technica

Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2

Over-ear · 2022

85
/ 100
From $199
VS
Sonos Ace wins by 2
Sonos Ace — TV Audio Swap · Dolby Atmos · Wireless Home Theater
Sonos

Sonos Ace

TV Audio Swap · Dolby Atmos · Wireless Home Theater

87
/ 100
From $449
Specdex verdict

Sonos Ace takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 lands at 85 and Sonos Ace at 87. That puts Sonos Ace ahead by 2 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 if…

  • ✓Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
  • ✓Premium build
  • ✓Active noise cancellation (most models)

Pick Sonos Ace if…

  • ✓Unique TV Audio Swap with Arc soundbar
  • ✓Great ANC
  • ✓Spatial audio
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Winner by scenario

Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate test

Sound quality

Sonos Ace

Tuning, detail, and staging

Sonos Ace leads on sound (90 vs 85).

Noise cancelling

Sonos Ace

ANC strength for commute and travel

Sonos Ace leads on anc (90 vs 83).

Comfort

Sonos Ace

Long-session wearability

Sonos Ace leads on comfort (88 vs 84).

Value for money

Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 more score per dollar ($199 vs $449).

Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 85
vs
87 Sonos Ace

Score breakdown

Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2
85
anc 83
sound 85
comfort 84
battery 82
features 81
Sonos Ace
87
anc 90
sound 90
comfort 88
battery 84
features 92

Specs side-by-side

Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 versus Sonos Ace — full spec comparison
Spec Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 Sonos Ace
Type
Over-ear
—
Release year
2022
—
Driver
—
40 mm dynamic
Battery
—
30 h
Weight
—
312 g
Codecs
—
aptX Lossless via Snapdragon Sound

Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2

Pros
  • +Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
  • +Premium build
  • +Active noise cancellation (most models)
Cons
  • −Battery varies by codec
  • −Some are Bluetooth-only
  • −Price creep vs previous gen

Sonos Ace

Pros
  • +Unique TV Audio Swap with Arc soundbar
  • +Great ANC
  • +Spatial audio
Cons
  • −Swap feature only works with Arc/Arc Ultra
  • −Sonos app issues
  • −Heavy

FAQ: Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 vs Sonos Ace

Which is better, Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 or Sonos Ace? +

Sonos Ace scores 87 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 2. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 worth the price? +

At $199, Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 delivers a Specdex score of 85 — strongest in sound.

Is Sonos Ace worth the price? +

At $449, Sonos Ace delivers a Specdex score of 87 — strongest in features.

Does Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 or Sonos Ace last longer? +

Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.

Which is better for sound quality, Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 or Sonos Ace? +

Sonos Ace — leads on sound (90 vs 85). Tuning, detail, and staging.

Which is better for noise cancelling, Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 or Sonos Ace? +

Sonos Ace — leads on anc (90 vs 83). ANC strength for commute and travel.