Soncie-Meory G50
A value-packed studio reference headphone offering
Soncie-Meory, a company better known for some excellent value for money in-ear monitors, has entered the headphone market with the G50, a $55 studio reference headphone aimed at offering similar exceptional value for money. Following a trend set by other IEM-focused companies like Moondrop, FiiO, and Kiwi Ears, the Soncie-Meory G50 brings a strong contender to the affordable studio headphone market.
Note: I would like to thank Shenzhenaudio for providing the Soncie-Meory G50 headphone for the purposes of this review.
The Soncie-Meory G50 is currently available for $54.99 on Shenzhenaudio,
here is a non-affiliated
link to their product page. There are also some extra options available on this page, with a mic cable and a
separate options for an extra “Hifi” cable.
So, after spending a couple of weeks with the Soncie-Meory G50, comparing both with some similar priced closed backs but also some of my more expensive studio reference closed backs, I’ve come to appreciate its strengths and understand some of its weaknesses.
So, let’s dive into the details firstly what you get in the box.
Unboxing Experience
The Soncie-Meory G50 arrives in a compact yet stylish box:
On the back you get lots of good details:
Opening the box you get everything very securely packaged:
The plastic protection on the headphone seems a little cheap and probably
not necessary:
Removing the headphone from the cardboard protection and taking everything out of the box and :
For a headphone at this price, I wasn’t expecting to get a second earpad:
and a very decent cable:
Inside the box, you’ll find:
• The G50 headphones • Two sets of earpads • A 1.5m cable with a 3.5mm jack and a 6.35mm adapter • A soft carrying pouch for portability
The inclusion of two earpad options and a high-quality cable is impressive at this price point, making the G50 stand out in this budget segment.
Design, Build Quality, and Comfort
The Soncie-Meory G50 design is going for that studio professional look with a lightweight yet sturdy build.
But while there is a lot to like about the G50 there are some areas where the build quality and comfort is not quiet at the level of a typical Sony or Audio Technica Studio Reference headphone.
Build Quality
The G50’s construction combines durable plastics and metal reinforcements in the headband for added robustness. But the earcups do not swivel which is a shame as that would have made it more comfortable.
But the extension mechanism is very sturdy:
I really liked the cable and the secure mechanism to connect it to the headphone:
Comfort
While the G50 is reasonable comfortable for my large head there are a couple of areas where it is slightly let down.
The headband is padded with soft foam but doesn’t feel as well padded or soft as some other competitors:
And while having the option of 2 earpads at this price is probably unheard off, I got mixed results with comfort.
The stock “square” ones were a little small for my ears:
But while the rounder one fitted did me perfectly:
Alternative Earpads
But the real good news here that you can easily swap earpads. I tried a few, but I loved the G50 with some Angled
Sheepskin ear pads I bought on aliexpress:
These pads provide better comfort for me with a great seal and improved the soung signature, though they did cost $20 on aliexpress during a recent sale.
Here are the 2 stock earpads with the angled pleather ones:
Note: The 50mm Driver on the G50 looks good at this price point:
Sound Quality
The Soncie-Meory G50 offers a slightly V-shaped tuning, with elevated bass and treble that make it enjoyable for casual listening while still retaining enough detail for studio use.
Bass
The bass response is punchy and extends well into the sub-bass region. Tracks like “Royals” by Lorde showcase the G50’s ability to deliver a clean and impactful low-end without bleeding into the mids. The bass is controlled and well-textured, making it suitable for most genres.
Midrange
The midrange is slightly recessed due to the V-shaped tuning, but vocals and instruments still come through clearly. Tracks like “Someone You Loved” by Lewis Capaldi highlight the G50’s ability to reproduce vocals with warmth and clarity, though the emphasis on bass and treble can overshadow finer midrange details.
Treble
The treble is crisp and energetic, with a slight emphasis around 8kHz that adds sparkle to cymbals and strings. While this can make the headphone feel bright and detailed, it may also cause some fatigue during extended listening sessions. I found reducing the treble by -2dB at 8kHz through EQ makes the sound more balanced and less fatiguing though the measurements suggested around 6khz so your mileage may vary.
Soundstage and Imaging
For a closed-back headphone, the G50 offers a surprisingly spacious soundstage, with good separation between instruments. Imaging is precise, allowing for accurate placement of sounds in the stereo field. Tracks like “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen sound immersive and engaging.
Specifications and Measurements
Specification | Details |
---|---|
Type | Over-ear monitoring headphones (closed-back) |
Driver Unit | 50mm dynamic driver unit |
Unit Model | HDS-50MT |
Rated Power | 400mW (IEC) |
Maximum Power | 1500mW (IEC) |
Impedance | 32Ω at 1kHz ± 15% |
Sensitivity | 98 ± 3 dB/Vrms @ 1kHz |
Frequency Response | 10Hz - 35kHz |
Cable | ~1.5m oxygen-free copper, detachable |
Weight | ~295g (excluding cable) |
With an impedance of 32 Ω and a sensitivity of 98 dB/mW, the G50 is easy to drive and pairs well with portable devices, DAC/amps, or even standard headphone outputs on laptops and smartphones.
Measurements
Note: The following measurements were taken with my KB501X soft ear Pinna and a 711 clone coupler. They are available on my measurement database here.
Frequency Response
Let’s start with the default stock “square” earpads:
These show a good mostly balanced frequency response, with a little bit too much mid-bass, and some uneven treble which is to be expected as this price point.
Since the Soncie-Meory G50 comes with 2 earpads I measured both, especially as I liked the round earpads better from a comfort perspective:
The round earpads provide a little bit more bass so a great options for people who like more bass.
As I mentioned earlier, I really liked the comfort of the Angled Sheepskin Earpads I had bought on Aliexpress so I
measured these also:
They do remove a little of that mid-bass and even tame the treble a little. Overall for a cheap closed back with these earpads you get a pretty good frequency response but one you might still want to tweak with some EQ.
Distortion
Distortion levels are commendably low, even at higher volumes:
Also as a percentage the distortion is very low less than 2%:
EQ Recommendation
Given the mostly smooth response generating some wide Q filters makes this an mostly easy headphone to
EQ:
Preamp: -2.4 dB
Filter 1: ON PK Fc 226 Hz Gain -3.2 dB Q 0.800
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 1000 Hz Gain 2.7 dB Q 0.700
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 5628 Hz Gain -5.3 dB Q 3.600
Comparisons
Comparing the G50 with some other closed backs for an idea of the different sizes of these headphones:
Here are the earpads (though I am using the Angled Sheepskin in this photo )
Compared to the Kiwi Ears Division
Since, I recently reviewed the Kiwi Ears Division and since it a very similarly priced headphone, I thought it would be an interesting comparison. But the G50 is a much better headphone with more neutral sound signature, better driver, better cable and good accessories in the box, but I do think the Kiwi Ears Division has slightly better comfort.
Comparing the frequency responses you can see the G50 is much better as the Division goes for a more V-Shaped sound
signature:
Compared to the Sony MDR-M1
This is definitely an unfair comparison as the MDR-M1 costs 5 times the G50, but the MDR-M1 is
much more comfortable and better built with more options for customisations. While the Sound
signature of the G50 holds it own against the MDR-M1:
I have highlighted 2 areas where the G50 would need some EQ tweaks, the mid-bass is a bit bloated compared to the MDR-M1 and there is that treble peak I mentioned earlier.
Compared to the FiiO FT1
Again this is an unfair comparison though in this case the FT1 is just 3 times the cost of the G50 and
isn’t really targeting a studio reference sound.
Again those 2 areas I mentioned in the previous comparison are the weak points in the G50.
Overall, I think the Soncie-Meory G50 does very well in these comparisons for the price of nice steak you get a decent sounding headphone with great accessories and one that can be easily customised.
Rating
I’ve given the Soncie-Meory G50 a pragmatic 5-star rating. Its combination of great sound, exceptional accessories, and unbeatable value makes it a fantastic option for those exploring studio headphones on a budget.
For better, comfort I would suggest some pad swapping, like I did with the angled sheepskin earpads but otherwise this is a very decent headphone for the price.
Conclusion
The Soncie-Meory G50 is an impressive first headphone from a company better known for its IEMs. At just $50, it delivers a fun and enjoyable listening experience with a slightly V-shaped sound signature, along with excellent build quality and thoughtful accessories. While a bit of EQ can make the sound more neutral, the G50 is a standout option for anyone looking for a budget-friendly studio reference headphone. It’s a headphone that punches well above its price point and deserves a place on your shortlist if you are looking for an ultra budget closed back.