Short answer: the Sony Pulse Elite. It ranks #52 of 481 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.2/5, at $149; the Audio-Technica ATH-R50x ranks #79, rated 4.1/5, and costs $169, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
Why pick the Sony Pulse Elite: Measured response gives it an excellent Harman preference score of 86 with a 1.61 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 0.6 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural. The catch: A 4.8 dB peak near 11.4 kHz can make cymbals and sibilance sound sharp.
What the Audio-Technica ATH-R50x does well: A preference score of 83 and the smoothest deviation in this group at 1.67 dB make for a very even response, with bass from 60 to 200 Hz and low mids within 0.6 dB of target. The catch: Sub-bass is about 6 dB low under 60 Hz, so deep rumble is lacking.
Buy the Sony Pulse Elite. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Audio-Technica ATH-R50x and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
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Measured response gives it an excellent Harman preference score of 86 with a 1.61 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 0.6 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural.
Amazon $149.00 eBay
A preference score of 83 and the smoothest deviation in this group at 1.67 dB make for a very even response, with bass from 60 to 200 Hz and low mids within 0.6 dB of target.
Amazon $169.00 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Sony Pulse Elite | Audio-Technica ATH-R50x | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $149.00 | $169.00 |
| Ranked | #52 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones | #79 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Back | Closed | Open |
| Connection | Bluetooth | Wired |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic | Dynamic |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz | 5Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (347g) | 0.5 lbs (207 g) |
| Harman Preference Score | 86 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 83 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.61 dB standard deviation | 1.67 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.50 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | +0.64 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.7 dB at 30 Hz) | Falls 6 dB below target at 30 Hz (-6.4 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Drivers | - | 1 x 45mm dynamic |
| Impedance | - | 50 ohms |
| Sensitivity | - | 93.3 dB/mW |
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