Description
Pretty close to neutral, mildly midrange centric, very smooth tonality without no annoying peaks and dips makes ATH-E50 quite enjoyable for a long session. Midrange is very close to neutral, that to me is a very important factor when choosing an IEM. For a single BA driver, the frequency coverage is pretty impressive. It doesn’t sound thin and has a pretty good tonal density. Although ATH-E50 doesn’t go very deep into the sub bass, but bass is pretty good with pretty good level and dynamic, and bass definitely doesn’t sound anemic. Considering that it is a single driver BA IEM, ATH-E50 has surprisingly good bass. Bass has a good body and pretty decent sub bass extension. Treble extension rolls off a little early and doesn’t go very high, yet ATH-E50 produce sufficient treble energy with good quality. Treble sounds smooth with enough sparkle to make E50 doesn’t sound dull.
Although ATH-E50 doesn’t have very wide frequency coverage, but it presents the frequency range that it covers in a very natural and refined manner. It sounds very pleasing and non-fatiguing, with good holographic imaging. Not extremely spacious imaging, but quite holographic.
ATH-E50 is quite capable in detail retrieval and sometimes may sound mildly analytical. Just mildly. Unlike the organic sounding ATH-E40, ATH-E50 sounds dryer, more towards the analytical side, but in a nice and enjoyable way. Not the type of fatiguing analytical sonic presentation. Tonality sounds more balanced and natural than ATH-E40. Though ATH-E50 doesn’t have the dynamic and liveliness of ATH-E40, but it may sound more pleasing in comparison.
ATH-E50 is really a nice and pleasing single BA driver IEM. It may not have the oomph and wow factor like some other good IEMs in this price category, and clearly not for those looking for a fun sounding IEM, but it is quite special for those looking for neutral sounding and non-fatiguing IEM.
