Our Verdict
The Audio-Technica M40X deliver a reliable bass, mid, and treble response for neutral listening. They don't have much soundstage because of their closed-back design, but their well-balanced sound will still satisfy most listeners.
- Good audio reproduction.
- Sturdy build.
- Poor isolation.
- No buttons or audio controls.
Not ideal for commuting and loud noisy environments. Their passive isolation doesn't block much noise.
- Good audio reproduction.
- Sturdy build.
- Poor isolation.
- No buttons or audio controls.
Not designed for sports. They're a bit too bulky and unstable to stay put during intense exercises.
- Good audio reproduction.
- Sturdy build.
- Poor isolation.
- No buttons or audio controls.
Mediocre for office use. They won't block the chatter of a busy office and leak a bit too much for a quiet one.
- Good audio reproduction.
- Sturdy build.
- Poor isolation.
- No buttons or audio controls.
- Good audio reproduction.
- Sturdy build.
- Poor isolation.
- No buttons or audio controls.
Changelog
- Updated Jul 07, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
- Updated Feb 07, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
See our recommendations for the best over-ear headphones, the best wired headphones, and the best audiophile headphones.
The Sony MDR-7506 and the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x are closed-back headphones. The Sony are more consistent among various users and have a repariable design, while the Audio-Technica have a more comfortable and stable fit, and come with two different detachable audio cables.
The Audio Technica ATH-M50x are very similar to the Audio Technica M40x, but they have a slight edge over them. They feel a bit sturdier and better-built than the M40x. Both headphones will give you great sound and are also great options for critical listening, but the M50x offer one of the best values on the market due to their great price-to-performance ratio.
The Audio-Technica ATH-M40x and the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro 2016 are both closed-back headphones with reasonably balanced sound profiles. The Audio-Technica are more comfortable, which makes them better suited for long listening sessions. Still, their exaggerated bass and treble ranges can sound quite boomy and even piercing at times. However, they deliver audio more consistently, with less deviation in the bass and treble ranges between listening sessions. The Sennheiser have a much more balanced bass and smoother overall sound but aren't as comfortable.
The Audio-Technica ATH-M40x are better headphones for a neutral sound than the Audio-Technica ATH-M30x from the same lineup. The biggest difference is that the M40x is definitely more neutral in the treble range, where the M30x lack a lot of detail and brightness. The M40x also come with a nice coiled cable, but other than that, they're very similar.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
Test Results
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