Audio-Technica is celebrating a major milestone in 2025: more than a decade of the ATH-M50x headphones. To mark the occasion, the company has released a new limited-edition version called the ATH-M50x ENSO Edition. And this isn’t their only big news—Audio-Technica also rolled out its most advanced open-back headphones yet, along with five new phono cartridges for vinyl fans.

If you’ve been in the audio game for a while, chances are you’ve come across the M50x. Since launching in 2014, they’ve been a go-to choice for studio work, DJ monitoring, and even just everyday listening. Now, Audio-Technica is giving the M50x a fresh spin with the ENSO Edition—returning to the original all-black colorway, but with some carefully thought-out details.

The name “ENSO” comes from a style of Japanese ink painting where a single brushstroke forms a circle. That circle symbolizes the cyclical nature of life, which ties neatly into the circular earcup design of the M50x—and the idea of revisiting a classic look.

Visually, the ENSO Edition is more than just a color swap. It features subtle engravings on the earcups and headband sliders inspired by sumi ink brush strokes and sound waves. Each pair is also uniquely serialized, engraved right into the matte black finish. It’s a low-key design with a personal touch.

The packaging is where Audio-Technica leans even more into the ENSO theme. Along with the usual three detachable cables (a coiled 1.2–3.0m cable, a 3.0m straight cable, and a 1.2m straight cable), the box includes a custom headphone case and a hand-dyed furoshiki cloth.

That cloth isn’t just decoration—it’s part of a collaboration with Bamba, a family-run dyeing studio based in Kyoto that’s been around for more than a century. Each furoshiki is hand-dyed, meaning no two are quite the same. Traditionally, these cloths are used in Japan for wrapping gifts or carrying belongings, so it’s a thoughtful extra that blends culture with practicality.

And there’s a surprise twist: 200 randomly selected boxes will include a special postcard letting you know you’ve won an exclusive ENSO accessories kit, which includes a premium version of the headphone case and a more elaborate furoshiki.

Underneath all the design flourishes, this is still the M50x that many know and use. The ENSO Edition keeps the original headphone’s 45mm large-aperture drivers, rare-earth magnets, and copper-clad aluminum wire voice coils. That means the same well-known sound signature—clear across the full frequency range, with solid low-end and good detail.

The headphones still feature the circumaural (over-ear) design for comfort and sound isolation, as well as swiveling earcups that make them handy for single-ear monitoring. They fold up for portability, and the included cables make them easy to plug into a variety of gear—whether you're tracking in a studio, DJing, or just listening at home.

Only 5,000 pairs of the ATH-M50x ENSO Edition are being made available worldwide, and they’re priced at $199 on Amazon.

The ENSO Edition is just one part of Audio-Technica’s broader strategy for 2025. Alongside this release, they’ve launched five new phono cartridges in the AT33x series—designed for both stereo and mono vinyl playback—and a new flagship open-back headphone for audiophiles.

So whether you’re into analog setups, digital monitoring, or just collecting cool editions of classic gear, it’s shaping up to be a busy year for Audio-Technica fans.