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Picture a late-night stream: the game is loaded, the chat is scrolling, you lean back in the chair to read a message on the second monitor. The headset cable snags on the desk edge. If that scene feels familiar, Audio-Technica’s newest StreamSet is aimed at you.
On October 28, 2026 Audio-Technica announced the ATH-M50xSTS-WL, the first StreamSet headset with 2.4 GHz digital wireless. It joins two wired StreamSets that have been on Amazon.com for a while: the ATH-M50xSTS-USB plus the analog ATH-M50xSTS with an XLR microphone output. We compared the three on Audio-Technica’s published specifications plus Amazon.com listings. This is a desk comparison of manufacturer information, not a hands-on review.
Our Pick: Which StreamSet Headset Fits You?
- ATH-M50xSTS-WL ($299 direct from Audio-Technica) if you stream or game from a PC or console and want to stand up without unplugging. It uses a USB transceiver, runs up to about 24 hours per charge and can be used wired while charging. It does not have Bluetooth.
- ATH-M50xSTS-USB (around $248 on Amazon) if you want one cable into a computer with the headset handling the audio conversion. No battery, no transceiver, nothing to charge.
- ATH-M50xSTS XLR (around $219 on Amazon) if you already own an audio interface or mixer with phantom power. Its XLR mic output goes straight into pro gear, at the lowest price of the three.
Check price of the ATH-M50xSTS-WL on Amazon →
One price note before you click. Audio-Technica’s own U.S. store lists the WL at $299.00. When we checked the Amazon.com listing on October 29, 2026 it showed $352.00, so compare both before buying.
What Audio-Technica Announced on October 28, 2026
Audio-Technica Corporation published the ATH-M50xSTS-WL announcement in Japanese on October 28, 2026, with a Japan release date of October 30 and open pricing. AV Watch reported the Japanese direct-sales price as 49,500 yen. In the U.S., Audio-Technica’s product page showed the headset at $299.00 and in stock on October 29, 2026.
The headline change is the connection. Instead of a fixed cable, the WL ships with a small USB Type-A transceiver that talks to the headset over 2.4 GHz digital wireless. Audio-Technica lists compatibility with PCs and gaming consoles. The transceiver is rated at 10 mW EIRP on 2.404 to 2.476 GHz with a line-of-sight range of about 10 m (33 feet). It weighs 7.5 g.
Everything else follows the StreamSet formula: ATH-M50x-style 45 mm drivers, a flip-to-mute boom microphone, extra earpads in the box plus a closed-back design for monitoring your own voice. New on the WL is a two-level adaptive noise reduction for the microphone.
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xSTS-WL ($299 Direct, $352 on Amazon When Checked)
The WL keeps the StreamSet shape but cuts the cord. Audio-Technica lists 45 mm drivers with rare earth magnets plus copper-clad aluminum wire voice coils, a frequency response of 20 to 22,000 Hz, maximum input power of 1,600 mW and sensitivity of 99 dB/mW. Audio is 24-bit on the input side and 16-bit on the output side, according to the spec sheet.
Battery life is rated at a maximum of about 24 hours of continuous use, with a full charge taking about 3.5 hours. The box includes a 2.0 m USB cable (USB-C to USB-A) plus a USB-A to USB-C adapter. Audio-Technica says the headset can be used wired while it charges. The internal battery is a 3.7 V lithium-ion cell.
The microphone is a back electret condenser with a unidirectional (cardioid) pattern and a 50 to 20,000 Hz response measured at 3 cm. Audio-Technica says the capsule comes from its 20 Series microphones. The boom flips up to mute. The adaptive noise reduction has two levels for noisy rooms.
Now the honest downsides. There is no Bluetooth, so this is not a phone headset. Weight rises to about 365 g (13 oz) without the cable, up from 330 g on the wired StreamSets. It costs $50 to $80 more than the wired models at Audio-Technica’s own price. The Amazon.com listing showed $352.00 when we checked, above the $299.00 direct price. The listing had no ratings yet on October 29, 2026.
It suits a streamer or gamer who sits at a desk with a PC or console, moves around during long sessions and wants the same closed-back monitoring style as the wired StreamSets. If you need a headset for a phone or tablet, look elsewhere.
Check price of the ATH-M50xSTS-WL on Amazon →
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xSTS-USB (Around $248 on Amazon)
The USB model is the plug-and-play StreamSet. Its fixed 2 m cable ends in a USB-A plug, with a USB-A to USB-C adapter included for newer laptops. The headset contains its own analog-to-digital converter rated at up to 24-bit/96 kHz, with 44.1, 48, 88.2 and 96 kHz sample rates, so the computer sees a single audio device for both the headphones and the microphone.
The driver spec is the wider of the two StreamSet families: 45 mm drivers, 15 to 28,000 Hz frequency response, 38 ohms impedance, 1,600 mW maximum input power and 99 dB/mW sensitivity. Weight is about 330 g (12 oz) without the cable. The microphone is the same back electret condenser, unidirectional type with a 50 to 20,000 Hz response, on a flip-to-mute boom.
The downside is the cable itself. It is fixed, so a damaged cord means a repair rather than a swap. 2 m is the reach you get. It is also a USB-only device: there is no analog path into a mixer or interface, which the XLR model offers.
Amazon listed it at 4.4 out of 5 from 264 ratings as of October 29, 2026, the largest rating count of the three. It suits a streamer or remote worker who sits at one computer and wants a known quantity with no battery to manage.
Check price of the ATH-M50xSTS-USB on Amazon →
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xSTS XLR (Around $219 on Amazon)
The analog StreamSet is the one for people who already own an audio interface or a mixer. Its fixed 2 m cable splits into a 3.5 mm headphone plug (a 6.3 mm adapter is included) plus an XLR connector for the microphone. Audio-Technica lists the mic sensitivity at -44.5 dB and says it needs phantom power of 11 to 52 V DC at 2 mA.
The headphone side matches the USB model: 45 mm drivers, 15 to 28,000 Hz, 38 ohms, 1,600 mW, 99 dB/mW and about 330 g without the cable. Because the headset sends an analog signal, the quality of the preamp in your interface sets the ceiling, which is exactly why interface owners pick it.
The downside is the setup cost. Without an interface or mixer that supplies phantom power, the microphone does not work, so a first-time streamer should add that purchase to the budget. Plugging the XLR into a camera or a laptop directly is not an option.
Amazon listed it at 4.1 out of 5 from 156 ratings as of October 29, 2026. It suits podcasters, musicians who stream, or anyone running a desk with a mixer, at the lowest price of the three. Audio-Technica’s U.S. page lists the StreamSet family from $219.00.
Check price of the ATH-M50xSTS XLR on Amazon →
Compare the Three
| Spec | ATH-M50xSTS-WL | ATH-M50xSTS-USB | ATH-M50xSTS (XLR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connection | 2.4 GHz wireless via USB-A transceiver (wired USB while charging) | Fixed 2 m USB-A cable (USB-C adapter) | Fixed 2 m cable, 3.5 mm headphone (6.3 mm adapter) |
| Mic output | Digital, over the transceiver | Digital, 24-bit/96 kHz A/D in the headset | Analog XLR, needs 11 to 52 V phantom power |
| Bluetooth | No | No | No |
| Drivers | 45 mm | 45 mm | 45 mm |
| Frequency response | 20 to 22,000 Hz | 15 to 28,000 Hz | 15 to 28,000 Hz |
| Sensitivity / max input | 99 dB/mW / 1,600 mW | 99 dB/mW / 1,600 mW (38 ohms) | 99 dB/mW / 1,600 mW (38 ohms) |
| Microphone | Back electret condenser, cardioid, 50 to 20,000 Hz, 2-level noise reduction | Back electret condenser, unidirectional, 50 to 20,000 Hz | Back electret condenser, unidirectional, 50 to 20,000 Hz, -44.5 dB |
| Battery | About 24 hours, about 3.5 hour charge | None needed | None needed |
| Weight (no cable) | About 365 g (13 oz) | About 330 g (12 oz) | About 330 g (12 oz) |
| In the box | Transceiver, 2 earpad sets, 2.0 m USB-C to USB-A cable, USB-A to USB-C adapter | Earpads, USB-A to USB-C adapter | Earpads, 6.3 mm adapter |
| Price (checked Oct 29, 2026) | $299.00 direct; $352.00 on Amazon.com | $248.00 on Amazon.com | $219.00 on Amazon.com |
| Amazon rating (Oct 29, 2026) | No ratings yet | 4.4/5 from 264 ratings | 4.1/5 from 156 ratings |
Bold marks the strongest figure in each row according to Audio-Technica’s published data and the Amazon.com listings we checked. Prices change often, so confirm before you buy.
Which One to Buy
Buy the WL if freedom of movement is the problem you are solving. It is the only StreamSet that lets you walk to the fridge mid-stream, the one Audio-Technica lists for both PCs and gaming consoles, plus the only one with a battery to think about. Pay $299 direct unless the Amazon price has come down.
Buy the USB model if you want the simplest desk setup. One cable, one audio device, no charging, 35 g lighter than the WL and a wider published frequency response. It is the safe middle choice for a single-computer streamer.
Buy the XLR model if you own an interface. It is the cheapest of the three on Amazon.com and the only one that feeds a real preamp. If you do not own an interface with phantom power, the extra purchase erases the savings.
If you do not need a microphone at all, the headphone underneath all three is the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x, which Audio-Technica lists at $159 with three detachable cables and a 285 g weight. Amazon listed it at 4.4 out of 5 from 33,919 ratings as of October 29, 2026.
The Brand in Japan
Audio-Technica was founded in Tokyo in 1962 and built its name on phono cartridges before expanding into microphones and headphones. Its ATH-M50x closed-back monitor headphone is the foundation of the whole StreamSet line: the 45 mm drivers plus the M50x earpads carry over, which is why the WL ships with M50x earpads in the box.
The StreamSet idea is to take that monitor headphone and bolt on a broadcast-style boom microphone drawn from the company’s microphone business, rather than designing a gaming headset from scratch. The WL extends the same idea to wireless without changing the microphone type or the driver size.
Summary
The ATH-M50xSTS-WL adds 2.4 GHz wireless, a 24-hour battery and a two-level noise reduction to the StreamSet formula, at the cost of 35 g, Bluetooth and $50 to $80. The USB model stays the simplest plug-in choice. The XLR model is the value pick for anyone with an interface. Check the Amazon price against Audio-Technica’s $299 before ordering the WL.
FAQ
Does the ATH-M50xSTS-WL have Bluetooth?
No. Audio-Technica lists 2.4 GHz digital wireless through the included USB Type-A transceiver only. It can also be used wired over USB while charging.
How long does the ATH-M50xSTS-WL battery last?
Audio-Technica rates it at a maximum of about 24 hours of continuous use, with a charge time of about 3.5 hours.
How much does the ATH-M50xSTS-WL cost?
Audio-Technica’s U.S. store listed it at $299.00 on October 29, 2026. The Amazon.com listing showed $352.00 the same day. In Japan the price is open, with AV Watch reporting a direct-sales price of 49,500 yen.
Does the XLR StreamSet work without an audio interface?
The headphones play through the 3.5 mm plug, but the microphone needs phantom power of 11 to 52 V DC from an interface or mixer. Without it the mic does not work.
What is the difference between the ATH-M50xSTS-USB and the XLR model?
The headphones are the same. The USB model converts the microphone to digital inside the headset (up to 24-bit/96 kHz) and plugs into a computer. The XLR model sends an analog mic signal to your own interface.
Sources
- Audio-Technica Corporation, ATH-M50xSTS-WL announcement (Japanese), October 28, 2026. audio-technica.co.jp
- AV Watch (Impress), report on the ATH-M50xSTS-WL Japanese direct price of 49,500 yen, October 28, 2026. av.watch.impress.co.jp
- Audio-Technica U.S., ATH-M50xSTS-WL product page plus specifications, accessed October 29, 2026. audio-technica.com
- Audio-Technica U.S., ATH-M50xSTS / ATH-M50xSTS-USB product page plus specifications, accessed October 29, 2026. audio-technica.com
- Audio-Technica U.S., ATH-M50x product page, accessed October 29, 2026. audio-technica.com
- Amazon.com listings for the ATH-M50xSTS-WL, ATH-M50xSTS-USB, ATH-M50xSTS plus ATH-M50x, price, stock plus ratings checked October 29, 2026. Prices may change.