Audio-Technica ATH-M40x vs ATH-M30x

Which Headphones Are Better?

Products

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x
Audio-Technica ATH-M30x

Tested using Methodology v1.5

Updated Jul 17, 2025 05:58 PM

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Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Jan 15, 2024 02:50 PM

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  1. Recommended in 1 article:
  2. Audio-Technica

Our Verdict

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x

Audio-Technica ATH-M30x

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.

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Variants

  • ATH-M40x (Black)
  • ATH-M30x

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Black
ATH-M40x
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Amazon.com
Standard
ATH-M30x
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Black
ATH-M40x
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B&H
Standard
ATH-M30x
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B&H
Black
ATH-M40x
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Standard
ATH-M30x
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Black
ATH-M40x
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Standard
ATH-M30x
BestBuy.com
Black
ATH-M40x
Audio-Technica
Standard
ATH-M30x
Audio-Technica
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Main Differences for
Mixed Usage

Threshold 

0.10

Mixed Usage 
 

N/A
0.0
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Full Comparison

Design

Style  

Design Picture 2  

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Design Picture 2 Sample

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Audio-Technica ATH-M30x Design Picture 2 Sample

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Type  

Locked
Locked

Enclosure  

Locked
Locked

Wireless  

Locked
Locked

Transducer  

Locked
Locked
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Comfort 
 

N/A
N/A

Comfort Picture  

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Comfort Picture Sample

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Weight  

Lock lbs
Lock lbs

Clamping Force 
 

Lock lbs
Lock lbs
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Controls 
 

N/A
N/A

Controls Picture  

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Controls Picture Sample

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Audio-Technica ATH-M30x Controls Picture Sample

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OS Compatibility 
 

Locked
Locked

Ease Of Use  

Locked
N/A

Feedback  

Locked
N/A

Call/Music Control  

Locked
Locked

Volume Control  

Locked
Locked

Microphone Control  

Locked
N/A

Channel Mixing 
 

Locked
N/A

Noise Cancelling Control  

Locked
N/A

Talk-Through 
 

Locked
N/A

Additional Controls  

Locked
N/A

Breathability 
 

N/A
N/A

Breathability After Picture  

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Breathability After Picture Sample

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Audio-Technica ATH-M30x Breathability After Picture Sample

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Avg.Temp.Difference  

Lock °C
Lock °C

Portability 
 

N/A
N/A

Portability Picture  

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Portability Picture Sample

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Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock"

 

Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock"

 

Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock"

Volume  

Lock in³ (Lock cm³)
Lock in³

Transmitter Required  

Locked
N/A
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Case 
 

N/A
N/A

Case Picture  

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Case Picture Sample

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Audio-Technica ATH-M30x Case Picture Sample

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Type  

Locked
Locked

 

N/A
N/A

 

N/A
N/A

 

N/A
N/A

Volume  

N/A
N/A
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Build Quality 
 

N/A
N/A

Build Quality Picture  

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Build Quality Picture Sample

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Stability 
 

N/A
N/A

Stability Picture  

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Stability Picture Sample

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Audio-Technica ATH-M30x Stability Picture Sample

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Show Text 

Headshots 1  

Angled Picture  

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Angled Picture Sample

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Side Picture  

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Side Picture Sample

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Headshots 2  

Front Picture  

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Front Picture Sample

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Rear Picture  

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Rear Picture Sample

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Audio-Technica ATH-M30x Rear Picture Sample

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Top  

Top Picture  

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Top Picture Sample

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In The Box  

In The Box Picture  

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x In The Box Picture Sample

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Sound

Sound Profile 
 

Frequency Response  

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Frequency Response Sample

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Frequency Response  

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Frequency Response Sample

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Audio-Technica ATH-M30x Frequency Response Sample

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Bass Amount 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Treble Amount 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Frequency Response Consistency 
 

N/A
N/A

Consistency L  

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Consistency L Sample

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Audio-Technica ATH-M30x Consistency L Sample

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Consistency R  

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Consistency R Sample

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Audio-Technica ATH-M30x Consistency R Sample

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Avg. Std. Deviation 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Raw Frequency Response 
 

Raw FR L  

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Raw FR L Sample

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Audio-Technica ATH-M30x Raw FR L Sample

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Raw FR L  

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Raw FR L Sample

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Audio-Technica ATH-M30x Raw FR L Sample

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Raw FR R  

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Raw FR R Sample

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Audio-Technica ATH-M30x Raw FR R Sample

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Raw FR R  

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Raw FR R Sample

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Audio-Technica ATH-M30x Raw FR R Sample

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Bass Accuracy 
 

N/A
N/A

Bass  

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Bass Sample

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Audio-Technica ATH-M30x Bass Sample

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Bass  

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Bass Sample

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Audio-Technica ATH-M30x Bass Sample

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Std. Err. 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

Lock Hz
Lock Hz

Low-Bass 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Mid-Bass 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

High-Bass 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Mid Accuracy 
 

N/A
N/A

Mid  

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Mid Sample

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Audio-Technica ATH-M30x Mid Sample

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Mid  

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Mid Sample

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Audio-Technica ATH-M30x Mid Sample

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Std. Err. 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Low-Mid 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Mid-Mid 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

High-Mid 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Treble Accuracy 
 

N/A
N/A

Treble  

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Treble Sample

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Audio-Technica ATH-M30x Treble Sample

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Treble  

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Treble Sample

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Audio-Technica ATH-M30x Treble Sample

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Std. Err. 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Low-Treble 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Mid-Treble 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

High-Treble 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Peaks/Dips 
 

N/A
N/A

Peaks/Dips Graph  

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Peaks/Dips Graph Sample

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Audio-Technica ATH-M30x Peaks/Dips Graph Sample

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Peaks/Dips Graph  

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Peaks/Dips Graph Sample

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Audio-Technica ATH-M30x Peaks/Dips Graph Sample

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Peaks 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Dips 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Imaging 
 

N/A
N/A

Group Delay  

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Group Delay Sample

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Audio-Technica ATH-M30x Group Delay Sample

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Phase Response  

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Phase Response Sample

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Audio-Technica ATH-M30x Phase Response Sample

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Phase Response Mismatch  

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Phase Response Mismatch Sample

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Audio-Technica ATH-M30x Phase Response Mismatch Sample

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Weighted Group Delay 
 

Lock
Lock

Weighted Phase Mismatch 
 

Lock
Lock

Weighted Amplitude Mismatch 
 

Lock
Lock

Weighted Frequency Mismatch 
 

Lock
Lock

Passive Soundstage 
 

N/A
N/A

PRTF  

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x PRTF Sample

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Audio-Technica ATH-M30x PRTF Sample

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PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.) 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

PRTF Size (Avg.) 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

PRTF Distance 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Openness 
 

0.0
0.0

Acoustic Space Excitation 
 

0.0
0.0

Virtual Soundstage 
 

N/A
N/A

Virtual Soundstage  

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Virtual Soundstage Sample

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Audio-Technica ATH-M30x Virtual Soundstage Sample

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Head Modeling 
 

Locked

Speaker Modeling 
 

Locked

Room Ambience 
 

Locked

Head Tracking 
 

Locked

Virtual Surround 
 

Locked

Weighted Harmonic Distortion 
 

N/A
N/A

Weighted Harmonic Distortion  

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Weighted Harmonic Distortion Sample

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Audio-Technica ATH-M30x Weighted Harmonic Distortion Sample

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WHD @ 90 
 

Lock
Lock

WHD @ 100 
 

Lock
Lock

Test Settings 
 

Firmware 
 

Locked

Power 
 

Locked

Connection 
 

Locked

Codec 
 

Locked

EQ 
 

Locked

ANC 
 

Locked

Tip/Pad 
 

Locked

Microphone 
 

Locked
Isolation

Noise Isolation 
 

N/A
N/A

Noise Isolation  

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Noise Isolation Sample

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Audio-Technica ATH-M30x Noise Isolation Sample

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Isolation Audio 
 

Overall Attenuation 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Noise Cancelling  

Locked
Locked

Bass 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Mid 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Treble 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
Show Text 

Leakage 
 

N/A
N/A

Leakage  

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Leakage Sample

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Audio-Technica ATH-M30x Leakage Sample

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Leakage Audio 
 

Overall Leakage @ 1ft 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
Show Text 
Microphone

Microphone Style 
 

Integrated 
 

Locked
N/A

In-Line 
 

Locked
N/A

Boom 
 

Locked
N/A

Detachable Boom 
 

Locked
N/A

Mic  

Locked
Locked

Recording Quality 
 

N/A
N/A

Microphone Frequency Response  

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Microphone Frequency Response Sample

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Audio-Technica ATH-M30x Microphone Frequency Response Sample

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Recorded Speech 
 

LFE 
 

N/A
N/A

FR Std. Dev. 
 

N/A
N/A

HFE 
 

N/A
N/A

Weighted THD 
 

N/A
N/A

Gain 
 

N/A
N/A

Noise Handling 
 

N/A
N/A

SpNR  

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x SpNR Sample

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Audio-Technica ATH-M30x SpNR Sample

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SpNR 
 

N/A
N/A

Noise Gate 
 

Locked

Speech + Pink Noise Handling 
 

N/A

Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample  

Speech + Subway Noise Handling 
 

N/A

Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample  

Active Features

Battery 
 

N/A
N/A

Battery Type 
 

Locked
N/A

Continuous Battery Life 
 

N/A
N/A

Additional Charges 
 

N/A
N/A

Total Battery Life 
 

N/A
N/A

Charge Time 
 

N/A
N/A

Power-Saving Feature 
 

Locked
N/A

Audio While Charging 
 

Locked
N/A

Passive Playback 
 

Locked
N/A

Charging Port  

Locked
N/A

App Support 
 

N/A
N/A

App Picture  

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x App Picture Sample

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Audio-Technica ATH-M30x App Picture Sample

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App Name  

Locked
N/A

iOS  

Locked
N/A

Android  

Locked
N/A

macOS  

Locked
N/A

Windows  

Locked
N/A

Equalizer 
 

Locked
N/A

ANC Control 
 

Locked
N/A

Mic Control  

Locked
N/A

Room Effects 
 

Locked
N/A

Playback Control 
 

Locked
N/A

Button Mapping  

Locked
N/A

Surround Sound  

N/A

Surround Support 
 

Locked
Show Text 
Connectivity

Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth Version 
 

Locked
N/A

Multi-Device Pairing 
 

Locked
N/A

NFC Pairing 
 

Locked
N/A

Line Of Sight Range 
 

N/A
N/A

PC Latency (SBC) 
 

N/A
N/A

PC Latency (aptX) 
 

N/A
N/A

PC Latency (aptX HD) 
 

N/A

PC Latency (aptX-LL) 
 

N/A
N/A

iOS Latency 
 

N/A

Android Latency 
 

N/A

Non-Bluetooth Wireless 
 

N/A
N/A

Non-BT Line Of Sight Range 
 

N/A
N/A

Non-BT Latency 
 

N/A
N/A

Wired 
 

N/A
N/A

Cable Picture  

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Cable Picture Sample

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Audio-Technica ATH-M30x Cable Picture Sample

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Analog Audio 
 

Locked
Locked

USB Audio 
 

Locked
Locked

Detachable  

Locked
Locked

Length  

Lock ft (Lock m)
Lock ft

Connection 
 

Locked
Locked

Wired Latency 
 

Lock ms

Analog/USB Audio Latency 
 

Lock ms

PC Compatibility 
 

Analog 
 

Locked

Wired USB 
 

Locked

Non-BT Wireless 
 

Locked

PC / PS4 Compatibility 
 

PC / PS4 Analog 
 

Locked
Locked

PC / PS4 Wired USB 
 

Locked
Locked

PC / PS4 Non-BT Wireless 
 

Locked
Locked

PlayStation Compatibility 
 

PS4 Analog 
 

Locked
Locked

PS4 Wired USB 
 

Locked
Locked

PS4 Non-BT Wireless 
 

Locked
Locked

PS5 Analog 
 

Locked

PS5 Wired USB 
 

Locked

PS5 Non-BT Wireless 
 

Locked

Xbox Compatibility 
 

Xbox One Analog 
 

Locked
Locked

Xbox One Wired USB 
 

Locked
Locked

Xbox One Non-BT Wireless 
 

Locked
Locked

Xbox Series X|S Analog 
 

Locked

Xbox Series X|S Wired USB 
 

Locked

Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless 
 

Locked

Base/Dock 
 

N/A
N/A

Type 
 

Locked
N/A

USB Input 
 

Locked
N/A

Line In 
 

Locked
N/A

Line Out 
 

Locked
N/A

Optical Input 
 

Locked
N/A

RCA Input 
 

Locked
N/A

Dock Charging 
 

Locked
N/A

Power Supply 
 

Locked
N/A

Check Price

Black
ATH-M40x
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Standard
ATH-M30x
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
ATH-M40x
SEE PRICE
B&H
Standard
ATH-M30x
SEE PRICE
B&H
Black
ATH-M40x
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Standard
ATH-M30x
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Black
ATH-M40x
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Standard
ATH-M30x
BestBuy.com
Black
ATH-M40x
Audio-Technica
Standard
ATH-M30x
Audio-Technica

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x

Audio-Technica ATH-M30x

Comments

  1. Comparison

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x vs Audio-Technica ATH-M30x: Main Discussion

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