Audio Technica ATH M40x Review
Verdict and Review Summary
Audio Technica give you a nice balance between the M50x and the M20x with the same comfortable and collapsible design this brand is known for. Powerful Neodymium magnets and detachable cables, like the M50x are also included.
There are no Audio Technica studio headphones that sound bad, so we're looking for a decent price point and a pretty standard set of features. Primarily, we want them to be sturdy with ear cups firmly attached (cheaper sets are notorious for having these break off), and an accurate sound with some smooth bass.
We tried them, they sound good, they didn't break, and they're not overpriced - review complete.
It's a great set. Don't overthink it.
While the M50x is the more popular set, the M40x is pretty close on the spec sheet, and a bit cheaper.
Headphone reviews aren't particularly complicated, so we'll keep this one short and to the point.
To review the Audio Technica M40x we used them and tested them in our office. In order to support our hands on approach, we link to retailers we trust like Sweetwater. If you click through our orange buttons and make a purchase, we might receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you all for your continued support over the years! ~ Bobby and Danielle
Our disclosure↬
Audio Technica M40x Price Guide
This section has live pricing from Sweetwater. We've also included the M50x and M20x just so you can compare prices for all three in the series. This table should always be updated, but check directly with the retailer for final pricing and availability.
Prices updated Fri, August 21st, 2026.
Pricing from Sweetwater
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Review Card
IDEAL FOR: Instrument monitoring, casual listening, recording, home studio projects, podcasting, DJ duties.
Note that we do not provide number ratings for headphones.
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THE PROS
THE CONS
What do the ATH M40x headphones sound like?
If you look at the SoundGuys ATH M40x review, particularly their frequency response graph, you can see there's actually a little dip on the low end, and an even bigger dip near the middle which starts to creep back up as it gets closer to 10,000 Hz.
This gives these particular headphones some strong treble emphasis, so it might be a good option for those who listen to a wider genre of music.
Things like bluegrass and classical music will be replicated really well.
You can EQ a little more balance or low end if you want, depending on the type of music you're working on or listening to.
Guitar and Instrument Monitoring
Closed back headphones are great for instrument monitoring if you don't mind being more isolated. Some players prefer the open back set up, but it's really not a quality issue.
Check our full list of recommendations for guitar players here.
Read more: Best Headphones for Guitar Amp Monitoring
You'll probably need a cable extension, but bass and guitar both sound great - nice and full. Cleans and particularly distortion are very accurate and not too overwhelming.
Here's the product page for the ATH-M40x on Audio Technica's website. Note that pricing isn't necessarily the same as third party retailers. Image via Audio Technica
Music Production, Playback, Neodymium Magnets
Everything we like about instrument monitoring is true - and probably better - with mixing and playback. The power of the Neodymium magnets gives you the most "honest" replication of the audio that you could get, and is the reason that you get such a full sound with headsets like these.
They're also really light, which is why they're often used in headphones like these.
Audio Technica just doesn't miss the mark on this type of thing. Playback from a PC, Mac, and iPhone all sound great.
Personally, I like heavier rock and metal, so that was my main testing fodder.
Even with the high end push I mentioned earlier, it sounded nice and full. Plenty of "chugging" as they say.
Durability
The biggest problem with studio headphones that I've experienced is the breaking of cables and ear cups. I've only ever had the cable issues with headphones that are not detachable, which usually short out. The M40x cables are detachable, so there are no issues there.
Ear cups on the M40x have the swivel function which is really forgiving for bumps and drops.
For some of the sets I've had (other brands) my kids have broken them by accident, or they've gotten stepped on.
Full disclosure:
I did not test dropping or stepping-on the M40x, because I wanted to keep them. But in my hands, they don't feel delicate. Assuming reasonable use and that you don't leave them on the floor like me (goofball move), you should be fine.
Price and Value
I'm surprised this set isn't a little more expensive, especially with how much cheaper the M20x costs.
So I have no issue with the price, especially considering it's a closed-back set.
Open back sets tend to be a little more expensive, though it depends on the brand.
To be honest, I prefer to stay above the $100 mark when it comes to studio headphones. In my experience, once you go under that $100 mark is when you start running into durability issues.
Audio Technica M40x Review Conclusion
Headphones are pretty easy to review.
We tried them, they sound good, they didn't break, and they're not overpriced - review complete.
That's pretty much all you can ask for, right?
Don't overthink it and if you've read this entire review, I'm truly sorry. The blockquote in the first paragraph was probably all you needed to know.
If you've got questions, the comments section is good to go.
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