I’ll admit I’ve been a little over-critical of the Audio-Technica ATH-M40X. But a lot of that is because I’m a big fan of the next model up. So let me backtrack a bit and view these for what they are. Affordably priced headphones that sound fantastic.

Full-bodied and potent sound with great dynamics and balance. Better for studio use and disk jockeys than hifi-freaks.

If you’re looking for an excellent pair of monitoring headphones and don’t want to drop a bunch of cash, the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x is a great pick. For less than $100 USD, you get clear sound quality, a sturdy frame, and multiple cables. Sure, there are plenty of headsets with a more accurate frequency response, but you need to spend a lot more for them.

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x headphones reproduce great bass while remaining balanced and fairly neutral, making them a favorite among musicians and gamers.

The bass bloat, artificial sounding treble, inconsistent comfort levels, and questionable build all combine to make for a painfully average to below-average headphone in my mind.

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.