Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Review

RE: The M40X's - I was really anticipating this, however...

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Closed-Back Monitor Headphones (Black)

Mar 5, 2021

Reviewed by Bernd on B&H Photo Video

Alright, where even to begin because I have so many things I'd like to say about the M40X's. To begin with, after reading numerous reviews on various sites, I had assumed (and in my case, wrongfully so) that the M40X were a clear winner in the audio quality department. I figured that at $99, these must be a bargain, so I ordered one. Now keep in mind that I'm an audiophile and I periodically do quite a bit of blogging/reviews on various gear. Over the past 6 months I've been writing/covering various DAC's and budget headphones (those below $200). So ordering the M40X's seemed like a no-brainer. When they arrived, I was impressed to see the product box they were packaged in. No need to describe everything because there is a wealth of information out there telling you what you'll get. I immediately set about to burning-in/warming-up the M40'x by allowing a period of 24 hours playing different test music, white noise, frequency sweeps from 20 HZ to 20,000 kHz, etc. As an aside, it is always good (in my strongest opinion) that breaking in any audio gear (break-in time may vary between different audio components) is essential as the true nature of the sound quality typically reveals itself after this warm-up period. Let the testing begin. So I plugged the M40X's into the following gear for evaluation purposes: iFi ZenDAC, the Fiio K50 Pro, the Soundavo HP-DAC-1, FX-Audio DAC-X6 Mk II, and the Schiit Modi 3+ coupled with the excellent tube-based xDuoo MT-602 Class A Tube Headphone Amplifier. Because of all the positive reviews of the M40X, I was expecting an audiophile's delight - but alas, that was definitely not the case. Initial observations resulted in audio reproduction that was thin, severely lacked lower bass capabilities, and overall music reproduction that sounded colored in the Midrange department. I listened further for hours on end, plugging the M40X's into all of the DAC/Amp combinations mentioned above. Although the sound signatures changed ever so slightly (due to the personalities of the DAC/Amp units), overall, the horrible sound I initially heard from the M40X's was still there. Next, I decided to change pads - and to make a long story short, I tried 8 different ear pad arrangements, models ranging from those advertised for the M40X's by Brainwavz and a half dozen other pad makers. Some actually made the sound worse (characterized by thin, lack of dynamics, no bass, and heavy colorations present with the likes of brass instruments and certain strings in large orchestras). Others improved the sound a bit - but not much - and in one pad scenario by a Brainwavz model - the music has a nasal quality to it. I just couldn't believe what I was hearing. Now mind you, I've long since developed critical listening skills over the past 50 years of being an audiophile - but I'm also reasonable when it comes to expectations. So here is what I heard in a nutshell: 1. Bass - sorely lacking - or the EQ may have been scaled back at the factory. To bring it up somewhat (when using the iFi ZenDAC), I had to depress the TrueBass button which elevated the low frequencies - but even then, it was clear that the headphones were just not capable of allowing a lower reach. This resulted in music having less body. 2. Midrange - Now here is where it gets interesting. I tend to listen to large orchestra music (i.e. classical, big-band jazz, Latin jazz, and other large ensemble genres). I've long since found that to truly evaluate audio gear, evaluate different instruments as to accuracy, coloration, etc. The M40x's seemed to provide a thinner sound in this region with instruments such as French Horn, Trombone, and some other brass having a colored, almost nasal quality to the sounds with certain recordings. The best way to describe it is to say that some instruments had noticeably incorrect timbres to them. 3. Higher treble frequencies - Not as open as many of the competitors, yet not harsh. Not enough air around the instrumentation. 4. Sound-staging/Depth - Here is where I was really disappointed. Because of their closed back design, the M40X's had a tighter, more constrained sound stage (definitely not as wide as some of the competition). Depth (front to rear separation) was marginal at best. If anyone is looking in this price range, let me state, save your money and invest in the far superior Philips SHP-9500's instead! Although the SHP-9500's sound very nice right out of the box, and if you are willing to experiment (meaning, removing the stock pads which are glued on to the removable ear-pad rings) by trying different after-market pads, you will be rewarded with audio qualities that punch far, far above its weight. So Alas, I had to send the M40X's back for a refund. Now keep in mind, the headphones I judged these against were the following (all plugged into the same DAC/Amp combinations mentioned above): 1. Philips SHP-9500 - $20 cheaper than the Audio Technica's and far superior in every way. 2. Brainwavz HM5's - $20-$40 less expensive than the Audio Technica's and far superior. 3. Status Audio CB-1's - $40-$50 less expensive than the Audio Technica's - Audio performance elevated substantially with the right ear-pad change. 4. Sivga 007 - Same price range as the Audio Technica's, however, far superior with audiophile sound qualities. 5. Drop HiFiMan HE-35X - Approx $20 less expensive than the Audio Technica's and have superb audiophile sound qualities, improved even more with pad changes. 6. 1MORE Triple Driver Over-Ear Headphones - $39 more expensive than the Audio Technica's, yet vastly superior. Very comfortable - even though you cannot change the ear pads at all. 7. Koss KPH-30i - Now here is where it gets interesting, the $20 (sometimes $30) Koss budget headphones are ridiculous inexpensive, yet punch higher than many headphones in the $100 - $300 range. Now go figure. The KPH-30i's make mince-meal of the Audio Technica's. So that's it folks. This Audio Technica ATH-M40X set of headphones is the first set of cans that I've purchased in a long, long time that I've had to send back because of complete dissatisfaction. I cannot recommend these, although I realize that hearing is a very subjective thing and many may enjoy them. And I realize that all reviews are subjective in nature. If you're a serious audiophile, I strongly suggest steering clear of these. Invest your money elsewhere - like those headphones I recommended above. ... More

Unbalanced Head Clamps

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Closed-Back Monitor Headphones (Black)

Apr 23, 2016

Reviewed by TheCompleatReviewer on B&H Photo Video

I wanted to believe after the many good reviews. But the unit I received had one side that played 2-3dB louder, they were very uncomfortable, and had a raft of other niggly issues. I returned them, but it wasn't all bad. The disappointment started when I put them on and noticed that sounds that should have been centered were definitely not. Flipped them around and the imbalance followed the driver. Measured with tones and an spl meter and found that one side (right) was between 2 and 3 dB louder. Unfortunately for my use and enjoyment, that is not an acceptable defect. Discomfort with glasses was the other major problem. I have a medium size head, and wear plastic-frame glasses. The firm padding on the earpads and the tightness of the headband were intolerable for even 10 minutes. The earpads crush my glasses temples into my skull, and the stiff pads press into that weird sensitive area below the ears that gets sore with the flu. I wore them for maybe an hour this morning, and tonight my head still hurts like it's bruised. I have MDR-V6's at home and MDR-7506's and K-270's at work, and they are infinitely more comfortable for long (6-10 hour) wearing sessions with glasses on. The MDR's do get hot though, but I'd choose that over pain. The sense of stereo was muddled also. Placement of sounds across the soundstage was strangely difficult to identify. It's possible there was some defect related to the level imbalance, but then again I'm not the first commenter to notice the poor soundstage. One other issue was that they were relatively insensitive when compared to my other headphones, so that one of my weaker devices, a Moto G 2015, just could not drive them to satisfying levels on some material. I had no trouble when connected to stronger gear like a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, or even a MacBook, but under live sound conditions I wonder if they would play loud enough for soloing tracks or cueing. The other beef is that when I take them off, the cups spin or fold up one way or another, and it always take some fiddling to get them re-oriented again. Every time. I hate the Grado SR series for a similar reason, but at least those only spin in one wrong direction. Call me crazy but if you take off headphones for a minute and put them back on, it should be easy, not a puzzle. On the plus side the flat response was refreshing. Compared to Sony MDRV6/7506 it was so nice to have this easy, smooth sound, instead of the bass- and treble-heavy sound always grating on my ears, and reminding me that I'm listening for defects, not for balance. With practice it gets easier to estimate how it will sound on speakers, but the ATH-M40x makes it a lot easier, without much practice to tell how something will translate. I really wish this sound were more common. Compared to the K-270's, the balance was similar, but the K-270's sounded duller, weaker from the mid-highs on up. Like I said, I wanted these to work out, but there were too many crucial minuses, even for the excellent B&H price. ... More

Not quite!

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Closed-Back Monitor Headphones (Black)

Jul 9, 2020

Reviewed by Mike on B&H Photo Video

The main thing I learned buying my first set of headphones to listen to music in years is how subjective and individual the decision is. After online research, including reading many B&H reviews of several candidate phones I decided to order a pair of Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Monitor Headphones. I should mention that my budget and interests had helped me narrow my choices to the M40X, Senal SMH-1000, and Sony MDR-7506. My review won't go into the details of physical description or specs that you can get from the B&H description or other reviews. I dropped the Senal for complaints about quality control, and the Sonys for lack of a detachable cord. My perhaps flawed assumption about listening to music of all sorts is that very talented artists, producers, and engineers tweak their recordings until they sound just right. I don't want the manufacturer of my headphones to decide what music frequencies I'd like to hear boosted or suppressed beyond the artists intentions. I suppose that boils down to wanting reproduction that is as flat as possible. Reading reviews can be confusing. I read different reviews that clearly indicated that each of these phones had a flatter response than the other two. Now I'm adding to the potential confusion. Eventually I realized I'd simply have to toss the dice and try a pair for myself. I'm not an audiophile, I'm not a musician, and I'm, uh, mature so probably don't hear so well anymore either. When I get the chance I listen to jazz, classical, rock, blues, R&B, most of which many readers would probably not consider current. I really liked the construction, appearance, quality, and initially the sound production of the M40x but something was nagging at me. Some of the music just did not sound right to me. Close, but not quite what memory recalled. To my ear there was either a bit of bass boost or something else that was slightly suppressing the non-bass elements or vocals of the music. There may be a technical term to describe this, but I don't know it. During my research, it seemed the previously mentioned Sony MDR-7506 headphones received a lot of positive reviews even from people who didn't necessarily use them as their primary headphones. It seems this model has been around forever with only cosmetic changes so there must be some reason for that. I ordered a pair from B&H and did a comparison. My music now sounded as I remembered it. I continued my comparison for a couple of days to validate and finally decided it was not just my imagination. My conclusion is that to my ear, for my music, the Sonys are preferable, but the M40x are really nice and might be perfect for you. ... More

Excellent field/studio monitors, mixing

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Closed-Back Monitor Headphones (Black)

Apr 22, 2015

Reviewed by pointy stumps on B&H Photo Video

I decided to buy these after extensive research of reviews around the web (disregarding anything intended for music listening/casual use). What tipped me over the line was a video review which used a dummy head to compare them side by side with the Sony MDR7506, as well as the ATH-M50x and other similar models. Turns out it offered the flattest and most unaffected sound of the bunch; the Sony sounded awful and tinny, and surprisingly, the M50x's bass was too hyped at the cost of accuracy. Having used them now for mixing and production as well as field interview recording, video work and so on, I can say my experience reflects my expectations (which were high). Incredibly well made, pragmatic sounding headphones. ... More

Sounded good, but . . .

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Closed-Back Professional Studio Monitor Headphones

Feb 27, 2017

Reviewed by Sleezy Boy on Guitar Center

I would give these a 5 star rating if they didn't break from a flawed design and became useless. They do have great sound for their inexpensive price. But . . . where the ear pieces swivel, the plastic has way too much stress on it (poor engineering) and will crack and break off in time, rendering them useless. With mine, one side broke off completely and the other side is cracked in the same identical spot. If I could still use them, it too would break off soon. How long were they cracked before one of them broke off, I don't know, as I never suspected them to do so and wasn't checking for cracks in the plastic. If I had seen the cracks before the one side broke off, there isn't anything I could have done to prevent it anyway. I never dropped them, nor abused them, and always hung them on a hook to protect them, as I really loved them until they broke. Audio Technica's Customer service was very quick to respond to my request to buy the broken parts, but wanted me to ship them to them for repair. With MY cost for 'return' shipping, plus their repair cost, I might as well go for a new pair and keep the broken one for spare parts. That said, I would not buy these again however, as I would not want to go through the disappointment again of the plastic breaking into two pieces. If I didn't use them much, they might have lasted forever, but as I use them on a daily basis in the studio, it was just a matter of time before the plastic cracks, breaks off, and they no longer can be used. A perfect example of "a chain being only as strong as its weakest link". Audio Technica will kindly offer to repair them, though spending the time to fix the poor engineering might be time better spent. As I really liked them before they broke, I had recommended them to several of my sound engineering buddies as a good inexpensive investment. Hopefully they didn't buy them, as I don't want to be responsible when their's eventually snap into two pieces like mine sadly did. ... More

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Studio Monitor Headphones

Nov 18, 2018

Reviewed by Glen S. on Reverb

Like other reviewers have said, these headphones beat everything else in the price range. They sound exceptional, and I've been able to calibrate them to give me a truly flat sound, and have been able to use them for mixing. Yes, you can use headphones for mixing, especially since that is what most people use to listen to their music. What really puts these ahead of the other in the price range aside from the sound is the detachable cables. The pair I got only included 2; the coiled cable and the long cable, but some include a short, straight cable as well. I'm totally happy with the two. Since cables are the first thing to go on headphones, having the option to replace a $10 cable instead of a $100 pair of headphones is a huge plus. I have to agree with the reviewer that says the earcups can be a puzzle to get back facing the right direction sometimes. And, for some reason, they swivel so that they face outward if you have them around your neck instead of the speakers facing your chest. I find this to be a very strange design choice. But other than that, they beat the Sony MDR-7520 not just for sound quality, but for accuracy. They also sound a lot better than the Sennheiser HD280 and the ATH-M50x. When I say better, I'm not just saying they make music sound nice with boosted bass and treble. They are clearer and more detailed, and, like I said, with an EQ curve to adjust them for your ears, they can give a very detailed and accurate reproduction of sound that one would normally expect to pay 2 to 3 times the money to acheive. Compared to the Sony MDR-7520, they feel more durable, and the cables coming from the ear pieces are not exposed right next to the metal adjustment bands. This always made me nervous with the Sonys. Two more points of potential faliure. And I always felt a little weird using headphones that felt they needed to have a big, blue band with the word "Professional" written on the sides. If you feel you have to announce it, there's probably something lacking. ... More

Forget M50-X. M40's is where it's at.

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Closed-Back Monitor Headphones (Black)

Dec 11, 2019

Reviewed by Sascha on B&H Photo Video

I never write reviews. But I liked the service from B&H so much, that I want to help them promote these. If you're a little bit into headphones and audio or currently researching, you'll most likely come across one name: Audio Technica M50-X. They are widely known as an affordable (around 150$), professional headphone for studio monitoring and DJ-ing. Their fanbase is massive. But if you keep digging, you find a few people who say hold on. M40's are the way to go. I listened to this minority and joined them. I listened to both M50's and M40's (also M30's but I think they don't matter in this comparison). I was looking for a closed back, over ear headphone with a flat sound signature, because I already got bass cans (Sony MDR 1-A) and I wanted to use them as a DJ headphone. Over all, I think the sound signature of the M50's is far to bassy. It's fun to listen to, but such a headphone can't call himself a studio/monitoring headphone. The M40's on the other hand, are far more neutral. No emphasis on bass or highs, they tell you how it is (as far as 90$ cans can do that). Yes, the M50's have a bigger driver, but bigger isn't always better. I like the sound of the M40's even more than the Sony MDR-7506 or the Sennheiser HD25 (both have a legendary status in their field). Beside the sound, the M40's earcups swiffle, so you can DJ with one ear open to the PA. Clamping force is alright, pads are maybe a little bit stiff. With it come 2 cables, one coiled. Also a 6,3mm adapter and a nice bag. Love my set and will use them as my DJ equipment. ... More

Clear, accurate, and feature-rich sound!

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Closed-Back Monitor Headphones (Black)

Jan 12, 2017

Reviewed on B&H Photo Video

My preference was always Sony headphones, until I discovered these headphones. Headphones these days are designed to enhance pop music experience, altering the sound, boosting it with ton of bass, and hiding minor sound details. This particular model (ATH-M40x) does not alter the sound, which makes it ideal if you have to monitor sound, or do video and sound mixing for video editing -- which is what I do. These requirements were also the reason why I chose these over the M50x model. I'm very happy with these! The sound reproduced by the M40x is so clear, accurate, and undistorted. Also listening to your favorites songs is like a brand new experience! Until using these, I wasn't able to listen some sound details, particulary voice and low frequencies. With other headphones, those sound details were just not there. That completed my sound quality tests with a 5-star rating. The only thing that did not fully meet my expectations was the construction quality; although it seems somewhat strong, I give it a rating of 3 stars. B&H shipped and delivered these within a day. Totally recommend it. ... More

Amazing Value Studio Monitors

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Closed-Back Monitor Headphones (Black)

Apr 26, 2021

Reviewed by Gregory on B&H Photo Video

I'd describe the ATH-M40x as an accurate, flat response, budget friendly headphone. It outperforms other headphones double it's price point including Audio-Technica's more premium ATH-M50x. Why? Because it doesn't add color, remains neutral and delivers an accurate sound representation regardless of the genre of music you're listening to. I realize that sound is subjective. Some people adore the Beyerdynamic DT770 PRO 250 OHM, while I personally feel there's nothing special about them and feel that they're overhyped. I'm sure some people will say that these headphones sound like trash so if I were you I would suggest listening to some sound comparisons on YouTube to see if these sound right to you. These headphones use a clamp design that encloses the sound as close to the ear as possible but because of this ear fatigue typically comes in at the 3 to 4 hour mark. Remember all headphones cause ear fatigue eventually and I feel it's a good compromise for the sound quality you get. Ideally I would only use them when mixing and choose a more comfortable headphone while recording but hey limitations produce greatness. The M40x has a reputation of having peeling ear cups because of the heat produced from warm ears but so far these have held up great. I gave this product 5 stars, not because they are perfect but because they exceeded my expectations overall. This is a product I would keep for a lifetime. ... More

Half the Function that I Needed

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Headphones, Case, and Hanger Mount Kit (Black)

Feb 16, 2023

Reviewed by Cit Four on B&H Photo Video

The sound profile and weight are the pluses for me yet the cons kind of detract from the headphones. I'm not Audio Technica's target customer as ideally, I want an open back folding headphones that can fold for transportation. The biggest strengths of this headphones is also the weakness: the clamping force. If you are in a club and wanting a monitor that isn't super pricy, these probably work well for you. (I'm not a DJ.) However because they have such a high clamping force, wearing glasses is uncomfortable. I have thin titanium frames (0.96 mm where the headphone clamps to the frame) which are being compressed on the side of my head. If you have thicker frames, (say plastic frames), these would be unusable with your glasses. Additionally, they take a little practice to place just right (because of their rotational mobility). I assume over time, this is something you can learn to deal with. Missing features for me: (1) less clamping force, (2) breathable ear pads not made of faux leather, (3) higher quality detachable cable, (4) a designed case that fits all of the M series than only relying on aftermarket cases, (5) headphone volume pot that can fully mute the source. Mobile devices often run too loud at their lowest volume setting (not 0 setting) when you are in a quiet room. Without knowing how these wear and hold up over time (only using these for a week), this set could be a 4 or 5 star. I'm more like a 2.5 star. ... More

Is exactly what I needed.

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Closed-Back Professional Studio Monitor Headphones Matte Grey

Dec 6, 2017

Reviewed by Marleen on Guitar Center

I have a home studio and wanted headphones that would allow me to both direct-plug into my audio interface to record (hence, needed a long cable) and sit at my DAW to mix (hence, a shorter cable). The fact that these came with not only both cables but also an 1/8" to 1/4" adaptor - so I could move from my audio interface to my laptop - is what sealed the deal. They were specifically advertised as having a flat response/no boost in the bass, whereas the others did not specifically say. I've used them almost every day and love them. ... More

BEST MONITOR HEADPHONES!

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Closed-Back Monitor Headphones (Black)

Oct 20, 2015

Reviewed by Luis1028 on B&H Photo Video

These headphones are the best! If you are thinking about an audio career and need to get some headphones to start mixing or monitoring live music, these guys will be you best investment. The sound that it produces its amazing clear and crispy. This are not headphones that modify your music like BEATS or BOSE. What you hear with these guys is what the producer and artist want you to hear. They don't put an emphasis on low or high frequencies. At first they will be a little stiff. DON'T PANIC! just stretch them for a couple of days and you will be good to go. I use these guys to monitor conference meeting recordings, when I am mixing for the band at church and also just for listening my favorite music like Jazz, Country, Rock and even some Michael Jackson. Overall, these guys are a great investment! They sound amazing, feel comfortable and look good! ... More

Great Sounding Headphones

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Closed-Back Monitor Headphones (Black)

Mar 29, 2015

Reviewed by Adam on B&H Photo Video

I've been using Sennheiser HD280 pros for a long time, but I think these are a little more accurate for checking mixes. I would never mix on strictly headphones, but it's always nice to see how things are shaping up in a pair of cans from time to time. The Sennheisers seem to have a honky low mid bump where the AT m40x are much more balanced in that range. For me, that always an area of concern so it's nice to have a pair of headphones that represent that area as accurately as possible. I still love the Sennheisers, but I find myself using the ATs more and more. My only gripe is that they are a pinch too big for me at their tightest setting. I have a small head, but the HD280s have always fit me great at their tightest setting while the ATs are a little floppy and would definitely fall off if I were to bend over enough or bob my head a little. This has been a problem when using them for tracking, but not a big deal for checking mixes. If not for the sizing issue, these would be my headphones of choice and I would replace all my studio's headphones with these as needed, but being a little too big is a deal breaker for me. That and the fact that the Sennheisers have dropped in price a bit. ... More

Dependable, Affordable Editing Phones

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Closed-Back Monitor Headphones (Black)

Sep 2, 2014

Reviewed by Jacob Brissee on B&H Photo Video

Great sound, decent price. The two detachable (i.e. replaceable) cords are great. They're nothing stylish in design, very practical. They are comfortable, but after an hour or so of editing or listening to music, if I have glasses on I need to take them off. Otherwise they might stay on for 2-3 hours before I take them off. Intended these for field use, but end up using them more at home than for field audio work. A pair of earbuds or a monobud is better just to check levels on interviews etc. for field recordings. If I were a boom operator I might disagree, but these block out the sound around so much I can't really tell how loud I'm speaking if I have to one-man-band it. Plus they're just a little unwieldy to carry around with a tascam and a dslr. Really great for editing. Sound-wise they have a good mix. Not maybe the crispest high-frequency, good mid-level base but no punch - they're headphones after all - but really good frequency response overall. ... More

hard to beat at this price point

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Closed-Back Monitor Headphones (Black)

Sep 29, 2020

Reviewed by James on B&H Photo Video

The ear holes may be a little small for you which can cause sound to leak out (they didn't work for my 79-year old father, but they work great for me). I can't tell any difference between these and my $300 pair of Sony MDR 1A M2s, but I'm a) not an audiophile and b) using them for spoken radio--no music. These have a very long cord (for wandering around a studio or office without having to reeeeaaaach). The cord is removable (which is nice if your kid has a chewing-on-cord habit) and the headphones do a full swivel both in terms of the DJ-style obverse-cups and in terms of the angle when you put them down around your neck. ... More

Just keeps on amazing me.

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Studio Monitor Headphones

Apr 19, 2019

Reviewed by Gary K. on Reverb

This is my 2nd pair of these headphones. Not because the first pair broke or anything, I just needed a second pair. These things just keep on amazing me with their sound quality. Nice flat response across the spectrum. If there are a better pair of headphones out there at this price point I've never heard them. In fact, I don't think they exist. I'm a drummer and I use these live and in the studio. They are perfect for my needs and would highly recommend them to anyone looking for an accurate reproduction of your music. The pivoting ear pieces are a bit of a pain. I altered my first pair by inserting some thermoplastic where the ear pieces rotate. This stops them from rotating side to side and makes them much more manageable. I'll probably do the same to this 2nd pair as well. If you're on the fence about the quality of these headphones, look no further. You have found the right pair. Truly a 5 star product. ... More

Flat response, great headphones

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Closed-Back Monitor Headphones (Black)

Jan 1, 2020

Reviewed by Christopher on B&H Photo Video

I picked up these headphones in a pre-Christmas deal. I needed a pair of affordable yet high quality closed-back headphones that would reproduce a wide variety of music. I'd had my eye on the ATH-M50X headphones, but numerous reviews online posited that the ATH-M40X in fact had a flatter response in the bass. I find these cans to be tighter, especially on the right ear, than my larger Phillips open back headphones. Those with large ears may wish to try before buying. However, I have worn these headphones for 1 hour+ listening sessions already without noticeable fatigue. Having previously owed Sony's MDR-V6 headphones, I would recommend these Audio Technica phones as an alternative. The advantage of the latter is that the cable is detachable. If you catch these at a good price, you can't go wrong. ... More

Well made

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Closed-Back Monitor Headphones (Black)

Nov 12, 2014

Reviewed by Botphoto on B&H Photo Video

These headphones seem solidly made and are very comfortable to wear. The quality of sound is excellent. However, I'll admit I'm no connoisseur who fusses over minute nuances in sound quality. The devices I'm using them with don't afford an opportunity to put the headphones to a real test. I was very impressed with the ergonomic packaging they shipped in. I've never seen such a carefuly and aesthetically designed packaging, that moreover is easy to use. The headphones came in a real box, not one of those hermetically sealed plastic cases that you have to saw through in order to open. The headphones came with two different types of cords that could easily be switched, and an adapter plug for larger audio jacks. ... More

Perfect Headphones For My Application

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Closed-Back Monitor Headphones (Black)

Aug 19, 2015

Reviewed by TR on B&H Photo Video

First of all I have substantial hearing loss at high frequencies as the result of working 25 years in a hign noise environment when I much younger. I was torn between these headphones and the Sony MDR-7506 Headphone, i could get the Sony at less money but what steered me to these was the fact that the Audio-Technica headphone comes with a straight cord (as well as a coiled cord) and the Sony has a coiled cord only,for my use the coiled cord is a deal breaker. I am overjoyed with my decision to purchase these headphones as they are just the truest sound quality and very comfortable on top of that. I use these to listen to the television after the wife is in bed, and i enjoy listening to 50's, 60's, 70's rock, 80's , 90's alternative, folk, country & a lot of the modern stuff. Metallica is souding good right this minute........ We're off to never never land............. ... More

Best monitor headphone under 100$

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Closed-Back Monitor Headphones (Black)

Apr 7, 2016

Reviewed by Charlie on B&H Photo Video

I purchased these headphones to monitor audio tracks for podcasts. They pack easily, have detachable cables (two are supplied), and are very comfortable (a little bit warm for my ears when I use over 2 hours). I purchased these headphones as an upgrade of Bose earbuds. Tried a Sony MDR-7506 at B&H, AT-M40X won. My only complaints are that in summertime my ears can get too warm; and that after prolonged use my ears do become sore, but I don't attribute that to these headphones in particular, it's always been an issue for me with over ear headphones. Highly Recommended!!!