First launched in 2014 as the successor to the highly-rated ATH-M50 headphones, the M50x ended up selling over 2 million units worldwide, with a wireless model introduced in 2018 before the enhanced ATH-M50xBT 2 was released in 2019.

From 10 January to 24 January 2024, fans will be able to access the “Lab M50x” interactive experience, where you will be able to select colours and finishes for four different components of either the ATH-M50x wired or ATH-M50xBT 2 wireless headphones, with options for solid or metallic colours.

The submissions will then be scrutinised by a panel of judges, including notable names such as the project manager for the ATH-M50x headphones, Hiroyasu Suzuki, Chief Designer at YONENOI DESIGN Yutaro Kumagai and Grace Aberhart, a bass guitarist who is also a big fan of the ATH-M50x.

The top three designs chosen by the judges will be unveiled on Audio-Technica's social media channels on 26 January, and the public will be able to cast their votes for the winning design, which will be revealed on 1 February 2024.

This is also not the first time Audio-Technica has left it up to fans to decide the design for limited edition models, with the same process happening in 2021 with the Lantern Glow ATH-M50xMO headphones and stretching back to the 50th Anniversary ATH-M50s/LE model in 2012.

In September 2024, the winning design will be released and available for purchase, with the same design appearing on the ATH-M50x wired and ATH-M50xBT 2 wireless headphones.

Visit Audio-technica for more information