Audio Technica ATH M40X

Audio Technica ATH M40X

Audio Technica ATH M40X

Last updated -- hours ago | Report incorrect information
BEST RATING
TV & Video:
4.6
MUSIC: Very Good8.1/10
CALLS: Poor3.3/10
GAMING: Good7.0/10
TV: Very Good8.7/10
PODCASTS & AUDIOBOOKS: Poor5.1/10
EXERCISE: Poor4.3/10
AIR TRAVEL: Good7.0/10
NOISE REDUCTION: Poor5.3/10
BUILD QUALITY: Very Good8.2/10

The Audio Technica ATH M40X headphones provide an excellent overall sound quality and soundstage, suitable for music listening and TV or video enjoyment. They are over-ear, closed-back headphones, meaning they're designed to isolate sound and prevent leakage, although noise isolation is not their strongest feature. They are not wireless, but they come with a detachable cable, adding to their durability. They have a robust build quality but they lack built-in controls and active noise cancelling. These headphones offer good comfort for extended listening sessions and are foldable for better portability. They are not suited for exercise, and while suitable for gaming, they may not be the best choice for calls or meetings due to poor microphone quality. Give Feedback

this description is based on the product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars.




Evaluation

Chevron down
Pros
  • Excellent overall sound quality
  • Very good build quality
  • Detachable cable for convenience
  • Good soundstage/imaging for positioning
  • Foldable for easier transport
Cons
  • Poor microphone quality
  • Lacks built-in controls
  • Poor noise isolation
  • Not suitable for exercise

Ratings by Category

TV & Video:
4.6
This score evaluates the earbuds or headphones when used to watch videos, movies and TV. In the case of wireless products, it takes into account latency - the perceived delay between the action on screen and the sounds playing in your ears. The score also considers soundstage quality, whether they have a virtual surround feature, and overall comfort. It’s important to note that the device paired with the earbuds heavily influences their performance in regards to latency or delay.
Music:
4.4
The Audio Technica ATH M40X offers a closed enclosure type which helps isolate sound while providing robust noise rejection, and with their wired connection, they deliver consistent, high-fidelity audio without the compression that can occur with wireless codecs, making them highly suitable for an enjoyable music listening experience.
Gaming:
4.0
The Audio Technica ATH M40X is good for gaming due to its wired connection, which ensures low latency during gameplay, and its very good soundstage and imaging, providing an immersive audio experience that helps identify in-game sounds and directions accurately. However, it has a poor microphone quality, so you might want to consider an external mic for in-game communication.
Air Travel:
4.0
This score evaluates the product for use on airplanes and other similar kinds of travel. It takes into account noise reduction and portability, including case shape, case size, and weight. It also incorporates the battery life of the product, long-haul comfort, noise reduction (both active and passive), and sound quality. We generally consider wireless products to be more suitable for air travel.
Portability:
3.5
The Portability score is based on an overall assessment that includes volume and maximum dimension of the product (and case, if relevant), and its weight. Special features like foldability for headphones are also taken into account.

Full Specs

Chevron down

GENERAL

Price
$99
Brand
Audio Technica
Release Date
January 1, 2014
Form Factor
Headphones
Connectivity
Wired

SOUND

Music Score
PerfectRec logo
8.1/10
Phone Calls Score
PerfectRec logo
3.3/10
Gaming Score
PerfectRec logo
7.1/10
TV and Video Score
PerfectRec logo
8.8/10
Exercise Score
PerfectRec logo
4.3/10

FEATURES

Active Noise Cancelling
No
Noise Reduction Score
PerfectRec logo
5.3/10
Virtual Surround
No

BUILD AND DESIGN

Build Quality
PerfectRec logo
8.2/10
Comfort score
PerfectRec logo
7.6/10
Weight
245 Grams
Waterproof Rating
0
Dustproof Rating
0

Shopping

Chevron down

Audio Technica ATH M40X

See more

Dig into reviews and images

Soundguys

Lily Katz | August 2023
"If you were to pick one headset to fill all of your needs, the ATH-M40x is a great buy with its sub-$100 price tag, pleasant sound quality, and accessories. Whether you need to use it for live monitoring, a midnight editing session, or to underscore a campus walk, the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x is a great companion."

Comparison charts

Chevron down

Give feedback

We're constantly perfecting our model

Earbuds or Headphones guides you may be interested in

Chevron down

FAQs

Chevron down

FAQs about Audio Technica ATH M40X

FAQs about earbuds and headphones

Questions about PerfectRec >

Why trust us

Chevron down
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.

By the numbers

108
Earbuds and headphones evaluated
11,340
Earbuds and headphones stats compiled
15
Proprietary Earbuds and headphones ratings developed
118,400
Recommendations made
17,760
Consumer hours saved

About the Earbuds or Headphones team

Joe Golden, Ph.D

CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.

Jason Lew

Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.

Chandradeep Chowdhury

Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.

Luis Torres

Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.

Featured in

Color LTT LogoGeekwire logo9to5 Mac logoPhone Arena LogoColor Daring Fireball logo