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- Audio-Technica has introduced the ATH-M50xSTS-WL, its first wireless StreamSet headset, priced at AUD $549 in Australia.
- It pairs ATH-M50x-derived 45mm drivers with a cardioid condenser boom microphone, adjustable microphone noise reduction and two sets of earpads.
- The 2.4GHz USB connection supports PCs and compatible consoles, but the headset isn’t Xbox-certified.
Audio-Technica has cut the cord on its latest StreamSet headphones, ditching the tether for wireless freedom via a dedicated 2.4 GHz USB connection rather than Bluetooth. The new ATH-M50xSTS-WL is the first wireless headset in a range originally made for streamers and content creators, where wired connections are often preferred for consistency and fidelity. But if you’re sick of cords and cables, going wireless will cost you AUD $549. That’s a $150 jump from the XLR-wired ATH-M50xSTS StreamSet headphones at AUD $399, but only an $80 jump from the AUD $469 ATH-M50xSTS-USB StreamSet.
Under the hood, it uses a familiar combination of Audio-Technica hardware and studio-headphone technology, borrowed from the existing wired XLR and USB StreamSet models. As the name suggests, this newcomer combines the same 45 mm drivers as the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x studio headphones with a microphone based on its 20 Series recording gear. You can use it wirelessly via the dongle or plug in the included USB cable.
Gaming, Netflix streaming, music, even 9-to-5 video calls. You can do it all from the same desk, without being tied down by wires. But with these headphones nearing the $600 mark, spending extra to ditch cable clutter is only one part of the decision. The microphone is a worthwhile inclusion, even if console support isn’t as straightforward as the term ‘gaming headset’ might suggest.
Studio Drivers With a Streamer-Friendly Mic
Audio-Technica headphones always feel more at home beside a mixing desk than sitting next to a bright RGB-lit keyboard. Its chunky, closed-back, circular earcups wouldn’t look out of place behind a DJ platter, while those silver rings around the Audio-Technica logos show everyone where you got them from.
Whether you’re spinning the decks, closing deals on video chat, or listening for footsteps in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, the thick, padded headband should keep things comfortable through those longer sessions, whether you’re playing multiplayer or the new DMZ game mode.
It also includes two interchangeable earpad sets: standard M50x cushions for sound isolation and a more breathable mesh pair for longer sessions, an ideal choice for all the sweats out there in Hajin.
That rather conspicuous microphone sits on a flexible, ribbed arm, with its mesh-covered capsule positioned near the mouth. It features a cardioid condenser based on Audio-Technica’s 20 Series microphone technology.
If your PC fans are humming during a stream, or the air-con is blasting in the middle of summer, you’ll have two selectable levels of adaptive noise reduction, both designed to keep background noise from competing with your voice. Switch on sidetone to hear yourself through the closed-back earcups so you don’t end up shouting at your mates. Flip the boom up to mute.
Just be aware that adaptive noise reduction applies only to the microphone; the headphones don’t offer active noise cancellation.
1/2Wireless Freedom, Except For Xbox
The included USB-A transceiver handles the low-latency 2.4 GHz wireless link, with a USB-C adapter included in the box (feels like the transition to USB-C is never-ending). Audio-Technica claims up to 24 hours of battery life, about 3.5 hours to recharge, and a wireless range of about 10 metres with a clear line of sight. If you happen to find yourself running on empty, the supplied USB cable supports wired audio while charging.
And that’s it for the connectivity. There’s no advertised Bluetooth or 3.5mm audio connection—none of that.
My current pair of open-back EPOS H6PROs isn’t wireless, but I can plug them into my Xbox controller via a 3.5 mm cable for both listening and game chat.
Xbox does support a few 2.4GHz USB headsets, but they must be console-certified. Since the StreamSet isn’t Xbox-certified and doesn’t include a 3.5mm cable, Xbox Series X|S gamers are out of luck unless Audio-Technica releases an Xbox-certified version down the road. If you’re playing on PlayStation, Nintendo Switch or PC, you’re good to go wire-free.
1/5ATH-M50xSTS-WL StreamSet – Key Specs
- Type: Closed-back wireless streaming headset
- Drivers: 45mm dynamic
- Connection: 2.4GHz USB wireless; USB wired audio
- Microphone: Cardioid condenser boom, flip-to-mute
- Noise reduction: Two levels, for microphone capture
- Battery: Up to 24 hours; approx. 3.5-hour charging
- Weight: Approx. 365g (without cable)
- Accessories: USB transceiver, USB-C adapter, 2-metre cable and two sets of earpads
- Price: AUD $549
At AUD $549, I’d be checking the connection options before anything else. There’s a fair bit here for PC streamers, but if you’re buying a headset mainly for Xbox, save yourself the checkout process.
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