Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Closed-back Studio Monitoring Headphones Reviews

I originally purchased the ATH-M20x because of the price and reviews. Initially, I was not able to A/B the sound quality with other headphones. While waiting for delivery, I finally got the chance to listen to both the M20 vs the M40. I was impressed with the M20x but the M40x had a more responsive sound across the frequencies, which suited my sound envelope. I returned the M20 and got the M40. Big price difference but it had more of what I required from the headphone through my gear.

I bought my Audio-Technica ATH-M40x headphones in February of 2017 or so. During that time, I have replaced the earpads because they got gross after many years and the cable because the straight cable was cut in an accident: both being replaceable parts. The headphones themselves finally gave up recently after being dropped on carpet hundreds of times, and they were good enough that I am buying another set today (for $ more than the $ I paid in 2017...the joys of inflation).

Everything about these headphones is amazing, from the upper and and ear padding, to the sound (the balance is beautiful), to the carry bag that it comes with. Very quality, and for $100, I feel these are the best headphones in this price bracket.

The ATH-M40x has turned out to be higher quality than anticipated and the perfect option for quieter keyboard and guitar practice. I don't need sound engineer quality, or price, but these exceeded expectations. Recommended.

Love these headphones, and they take the kick just fine. From toms to cymbals they are great!

I recently bought the ATH-M40x headset and love it. The sound and comfort are excellent. It's a great product, at a great price, from a great retailer. Thanks, Sweetwater!

Great sounding ,and very comfortable!

Have had many studio headphones over the years. Don't want them to sound good, Want them to sound ACCURATE and they do. Good value at this price point and they are quite durable.

These sound terrific, with good bass and crisp highs. They're comfortable even for long stretches, and they fold compactly. They come with two cables, one straight and one coiled, and they connect securely to the headphones with a locking mechanism. I can definitely recommend these.

This has everything I need to crank up my guitar without disturbing the neighborhood. Two plug types, removable cords-yes TWO cords! One curly, one straight. Nice bag to store it. Sounds great. Not the most extreme range of signals but I doubt I can tell the difference on a much better - and much more expensive set.

First of all, these headphones sound great. Second of all, I love that they have a replaceable cord.

I got these after much review and research when my cheaper Tascams died on me. The cable failed so that only the right channel worked. Sadly, the Tascams were hardwired. Not only to these Audio-Technica headphones sound MUCH better, they also have a replaceable cord, so that if the cord fails again because of strain, I can get a new cable instead of a whole new set of headphones. The frequency response is also so much better than my previous phones. Crisp highs, and decent lows make playing with my headphones so much more enjoyable. Definitely recommend these if you're looking for a set of headphones to use while you noodle/practice so that you don't disturb your roommates or neighbors.

Good isolation and privacy. I can wear for more than an hour without sweaty ears as well. Excellent instrument resolution (I can hear individual instruments in a mix much better than with bluetooth headphones or earbuds.

I bought a pair of these 3 years ago and loved them, I am hard on these things so I finally broke them. I bought 2 of them this time, one for me and one for my wife. She was as impressed as I was. They are very good for a not too expensive headphone.

These are my favorite, I've owned three pairs (for different applications, I've never broke a pair before) and they have performed flawlessly. They are comfy and stylish, they block lots of noise (so they are great for drummers) and they deliver crystal clear signal that is incredibly accurate. Id compare them personally to the Sony MDR 7506's (obviously those are open back) but they have that same flat-ouit accurate sound that gives you perfect precision for the final product, its exactly what you want for prodcution, monitoring, and live use.

I've been using these on a Daily basis and I love them. They are very sleek and portable and easy to take with me on the go

These are true to sound, and work perfectly for headphone mixing along with studio monitors.
Better than the Sony MDRv6's by a long shot.

Switched over to these in my Tokyo studio last year and was delighted with their flat quality sound. Was so pleased with them, I set my New York studio up with them too. Great quality and price. Thanks to my Sales Engineer Jordon Clohessy for all is great work on my behalf.

These were an awesome upgrade to what I was used to. They're very clear and fit snuggly. Very happy that I purchased these over the competitors.

I like the ATH-M40x headphones very much. I wanted headphones to mix with and these are just what I was looking for. The sound is great and they are lightweight and comfortable. These are the most accurate headphones I've owned yet and the price can't be beat. Kudos to Evan Mehre for recommending them to me!

Firdt, thank you Tomir, thank you and all at SWEETWATER for the always expectional servive you always provide. The ATH40X headphone are almost perfect for trcording tracks. the polyurethane ear pads felt a bit uncofortable. I immeadiately replaced the pads with a pair of micro-suede pads,made with memory foam and cooling gel. These pads are thicker and move the driver away from the ear a little more, this increased the definition of the midrange, and made the ATH40X extremely comfortable to wear for extended periods of time. As is, the headphones are very good. the pads felt tight and nade me sweat. The low end is solid. If, you're mixing in 5" speakers or, on a lap top, use the ATH40X, and you'll e able to hear what's going on in the low end much better. The midrange is detailed, and the highs are clear. For the price, hard to beat. Perfect headphones for anyone who is just getting into mixing, just change the ear pads. For tracking, these are outstanding.

Speak the truth and speak it ever, cause it what it will,
He who hide and reveal the wrong things,does the
Wrong things still...
If you want the truth of what you are hearing
Well this AT40 delivers!!..

I didn't expect how much different there studio monitors were going to be from my headphones. I can hear more subtleties in music than ever. I can hear differences in some songs I have listened to for years. Very impressive especially at this price point! Thanks Sweetwater!

I am new to recording so did a lot of online research before I settled on these headphones. I've found them to provide near complete isolation (no bleed through to vocal mic), and flat sound. They are fairly comfortable - though sit heavy on my head.

I've had these for several months and absolutely love them. I don't do any mixing just use them for edrums and listening to tracks. First set of headphones I've owned with detachable cord and that is a really convenient feature. I do not get listening fatigue wearing these and almost forget I have them on. They are incredibly comfortable! Yes there are better more expensive headphones and cheaper lower quality headphones but for the price I feel they are a fantastic value.

I received the best service ever. My rep seemed very concerned about my order and made sure I was completely satisfied. I will definetly be doing more business in the future and recommend highly to my friends.

Couldn't be any happier with these and the great service o always get at Sweetwater, appreciate you guys very much!

Great quality and great price at Sweetwate,The shipping was fast and the personal Service is fantastic. I will recommend ...

Has much clarity and not much color great for tracking and mixing weather in the studio or live.

Recently I found myself needing to replace an old headphone set that had broken. After looking at all the different types available, I went back to the Audio-Technica brand since I had purchased their model ATHM20X a few years back. I have now purchased their Closed-Back Studio Monitoring Headphones model ATH-M40X. I am very pleased with the quality of the audio reproduction sound I get thanks to the larger drivers. I have been using them for private keyboard practice which sounds great. I am now planning to use them for monitoring a audio mixing station which will be used with my keyboard and several accompanying instruments. I also liked being able to change between the two different types of cables supplied. The coiled cable is great for sit down counsel work, but the straight cable is more suited for on the floor movement flexibility. I was concerned that the cables mite come unplug-ed from the headphone during usage, but found that the cables have a built-in locking feature. The fold up compactness of the headphones is a welcome feature when you need to pack things up for travel. Being able to place every thing in the supplied pouch make it quite convenient. All and all I am very pleased with my purchase. You can not go wrong with Sweetwater leading the way.

Just bought a second pair because these are so good. 100% recommended. I mix and listen on these every single day.

First pair of this brand, I must say wow. they sound great and are super comfortable to wear. Couldn't be happier for the price I paid.

I bought these as monitor headphones for my home podcasting studio. They are mostly spoken voice use. I was attracted to the replaceable cords, and the price.

They came very well packaged in recyclable cardboard. They are very light and comfortable. The cord secures well to the headset, and I have no fear of it coming loose. The audio quality is quite good, and much flatter than my Skull-Candy headset I use for zoom-calls and some music listening, they really pumps the bass – but I am certainly no audiophile. The sound isolation is quite good. Outside noise is well blunted. I have the mic right in my face, but do not pick up any noticeable sound from the headset. They perform exactly as I need them.

I am quite happy with the headphones so far, and would recommend them.

I've only had these for 17 months, but it's been used everyday. VERY COMFORTABLE! I used to have to airdrop my song to my phone every so often to see what it sounds like in the car and in my earbuds. With these, there's no need! I still recommend monitor speakers as well though.

You can't beat these headphones for the money. Great sound and comfortable fit.

Had 1 set prior to buying my second set. After much research of comparisons, I had to get another set of these 40's. I do studio work and play numerous instruments. These will give you the true sound of what is being done. Highly recommended and a 3rd and 4th set are in my future.

I use headphones to track and transcribe bass guitar parts. I had heard that the M50x are bass heavy, that sounded like what I needed. Sweetwater was out of stock, so I took a chance on these thinking if they didn't do the job I would send them back and wait on the M50x. These are clear and punchy across the spectrum. I think more bass would be overkill. Im keeping the M40x. Would I mix a band recording with these? No, but I don't think it would be a big problem if I did. They are comfy for a while 40 minutes or so. I did have the presence of mind to order the velour replacement ears pads. Im glad I did, its getting a little warm around here and the supplied plastic pads would be a bit sticky after a while. They are light and fit well without slipping.

These phones are really nice. The sound is great and they are comfortable.Also they have a detachable cable and come with a straight and a coiled cord, nice touch. Also have the mini jack and adaptor.

More than what I expected. Worth every penny. Sweet Water rep recommended this headphones and I'm not regretting it one bit. Very happy with the product and the costumer support.

I have two pairs of these. Both working great. Good sound. Anything equal or better costs significantly more.

These are saweet! Perfect for my needs

Well fitting w:o 'squeezing.' Comfortable for multi-hour projects.

I had Sony & Audio Technica M-40 Fs for many years. I used for my home recording studio. I was expecting to get new one and I checked online and I decided to buy it from SweetWater.
Mr Charles Cummings was follow up with my order very kindly. I appreciate for his excellent customer service .

Lovely low end! Can't be beat for the money

I was debating getting the M50x Audio-Technica headphones, but for my purposes decided that the M40x would likely be fine. I was right. I need to hear parts, for tunes that I'm learning, as clearly as possible & these phones do the job great. I was worried that I might not hear enough bass, but there's is plenty here.

Wow. These are killer. Not only do I use them while laying down a track in the studio or practicing at home, but they’ve also become my daily driver headphones to listen to whatever I’m feeling on a regular basis. And when I say I’m hearing parts of songs now that I’ve never heard before, I mean it. I plan on re-listening to everything in my library with these, so I can actually hear these works how they were intended to be heard. Thanks Sweetwater and thanks Audio Technica for a great product!

I used to own the m20x for home recording. After a year and a half of heavy use they finally broke, so I decided to pull together some money and make an investment on a better pair of headphones. I use several audio technical products in my home studio, so I decided to stick to this line of headphones. In comparison to the m20xs they are much sturdier, clearer, and more comfortable. The frequency response is tuned flat, so I don't overcorrect in my recordings anymore. The bass is deliciously sharp; it's punchy and thick without being muddy or overpowering. I let my audiophile friends listen to some songs on these and I quote, "That bass line is nutty" Every single dollar was well spent and I don't miss it.

I just love these headphones!!! They are very comfortable to wear for long mixing sessions. Their sound is great as well...there's just the right amount of bass and its very well rounded out. Highly recommended!

I was looking for a practical set of headphones for travel as well as times when I don't want to disturb others. Surprisingly, especially considering the price, I got much more---these are luscious! Very good isolation, light, and comfortable. The look, feel, and material quality are all great. The sound is incredibly detailed, with great stereo separation. The bass too is surprisingly pleasant and detailed. I would say they lean to the neutral side. Playing a sampled piano, for instance, sounds like a piano! The correct piano timbre, even in the lower registers, without that all too familiar tubby or muddied sound. There are many flavors of headphones, but these have their own unique and wonderful qualities that easily win you over. They will be put to much more studio use than originally intended. Bravo! to Audio-Technica.

I have had a few sets of headphones and for the price, these are great. They can make a tiny creaky sound when you move, if you don't try to break the joints and connections in a little bit before really using them. The range you can hear is fantastic. I use these to record at my home and I really like them.

I have tried many different headphones. None of the ones i tried performs better than these Audio-Technicas in my opinion. They actually do what they are designed to do. With my new Audio-Technicas , I already completed 2 outstanding mixes compared to my mixes in the past. I recommend this brand and model to anyone having headphone issues.

Sound great. Flat frequency response and no fatigue on the ears. Very useful.

This is the second pair of closed-back headphones I have owned. I must say that these sound and fit fantastically. For the cost I am very please with this product and would recommend it to anyone looking for an affordable pair of closed-back headphones for recording.

Really shoot above their price point in sound, detail, and ability to close room noise out. I put them a little above the Sony 7506, which I also love!! These are just a tad warmer sounding with seemingly more detail. Outstanding product!

I"ve been using AKG K240 studios for a very long time, mostly for tracking synths. I"ve also used the Sony MD7506 in various applications. Neither hold a candle to these in therms of sound. (Granted, they AKGs are semi-open, so there"s going to be some difference there.)

The AT provides better definition and less harshness all around. Bass is not especially hyped either, which is fantastic.

Comfort and construction is more or less on par with the others I mentioned, maybe a bit less space around the ear compared to the AKG and more padding than the Sony. The most I"ve worn them in one sitting so far is about an hour. No complaints or pressure points.

The detachable cord(s) are made well, and you don"t always have this option at this price point.

But the bottom line is that everything sounds better through these phones!

One of the top pair of headphones I've ever owned. I have used a bunch of different over ear headphones. For playing guitar, drums, bass. Also for just listening to different music. These are prob the best. Super comfy, clear sound, highs and lows come in well. if you are thinking about getting them. pull the trigger you will not be disappointed. Better than both the Bose and beats studio headphone in my collection.

Great headphones. I really like the sound that comes from them. There not mixing headphones at all. But they work great while you lay down vocals or playing around with instruments in your daw.

These are amazing headphones. I AB'd them against another popular pair and I personally liked them best. Very balanced sounding, the lows go pretty low, the highs go high enough without being harsh. So far, I'm really liking them. Highly recommended especially for the price!!!

After listening to everything I can get my ears around, I think the M40x's are the best all-around sounding closed back headphones you can buy. (without being filthy rich)

After listening to everything I can get my ears around, I think the M40x's are the best all-around sounding closed back headphones you can buy. (without being filthy rich)

I was initially hesitant to buy these and considered spending the extra $50-60 for the popular m50x's.. and let me tell you; you do not need to go any further than these. These extremely balanced headphones have great low and high freq response and are honest when it comes to your mix. I produce rock/metal music and immediately noticed many flaws in my mixes using these headphones. They are extremely comfortable and come with a detachable cable(s), which is awesome (I don't even think the m50x's have this feature).

I've been listening to artists from Royksopp and Bjork to Gojira and Meshuggah with these headphones, and once again - these headphones don't lie. Clarity, balance, and comfort is what you get. Buy these now!

Great set of headphones

Smaller cousin to the ATH-M50x, which already have a good reputation as studio monitors, the ATH-M40x is about as good as I could have hoped as an audio engineer on a budget. They are not quite as flat as their bigger cousin the 50x, providing a little more power on the bass than they do in the mid-range, but at this price point I have no complaints. Foldability and the detachable cables are a big plus for me, as I always tend to wear out the cable connection to my headphones before I wear out the headphones, from moving around a lot.

There are several great headphones around this price point but the M40x is one of the best, if not the best. They are very easy to drive and sound great. If you haven't tried replacing the M40x stock ear pads with a pair of ZMF cowhide angled ear pads, I highly recommend doing it. The sound and comfort levels are raised significantly. I also own a pair of the M50xMG that have the ZMF angled cowhide ear pads and I think the M40x sounds as good and possibly better. Regardless, I can't recommend the ZMF ear pads enough and the M40x's are a steal at the low price you pay.

These headphones fit well over the ear, they produce a great range of sound, they're comfortable and they do a very good job of drowning out ambient noise. For $100, they're a great value. You don't need to spend $300 to get high quality headphones.

I love the sound of these headphones, but especially how they close out the ambient room noise, which is what I needed most for recording. Lightweight, they are also comfortable for listening.

I got these at 50% off while attending Gearfest 2016. What a great buy. They sound awesome, they"re comfortable and they block outside noise very well. They are a little warm to wear but that's what you get with the closed design. No regrets!

I own a lot of headphones... including 6 pairs of m30xs, a pair or m50s, m50x, and m70x (as well as a variety of Shure, Beyerdynamic, and Sennheiser cans). In my opinion, these are the gem of the mXXx line. I wish I had bought them sooner. The price is closer to the m30x, but with a replaceable cable which is worth every penny. The sound is truer than the m50/x, but doesn't lack for anything, except for extreme highs and maybe a bit of clarity in busier mixes, but it is far less harshly analytical than the m70x (which I'm still not sure how I feel about). It is something of a cross between the Beyerdynamic DT880 and m50x in both sound and application. They won't replace my 880s for mixing or my SRH1540s for critical listening, but they will definitely be my walking around headphones for a good while and could easily replace my m50/x and SRH840pro for monitoring and field recording for less cost. A complete no-brainer.

I really like the ATH-M40x headphones. I have had them for about on a year. I am not a musician, but I can actually distinguish the various instruments being played in song, which is something I could not do with any of the other headphones I previously owned. What really makes me feel ok with spending $99 on set of headphones is the customer service I received. By far, Sweetwater's customer service is top-notch.

Comfortable cans, the female vocalist is now focusing on her vocal, not on "they don't feel quite right on my head". she accidentally steps on the cable pulling it out but it plugs right back in, no time wasted taking the cans apart & soldering the cable back in. they sound as good as anyone could hope for in this price range. a straight & coiled cable arrive with each set of phones. home run so far as i'm concerned.

I've been a performing musician for more years than I would like to admit. Let's just say at 54 yrs old my hearing is not the best anymore. When I put the headphones on in my studio, the clarity and separation of each tone was amazing,....even to these ears. Well worth every penny, and then some. Highly recommended.

These headphones were worth every penny. I only use them for when I have to do work on my laptop in public settings and they do an excellent job of shutting the world out. Through these headphones it sounds like I'm hearing everything for the first time.

I was in the market for a set of ATH M50x as kind of an all-around daily use headphone that I could use use in the studio. After much research and hand-wringing, I decided to go in a different direction for my studio phones. I still needed a set of headphones for "general listening" and decided to give these a shot. The comfort, build quality, weight plus the convenience of being able to keep a cord plugged in at my studio while I take my headphones on the road with the shorter cable, make these headphones, at this price, unmatched by any other sub $100 headphone on the market, in my opinion.

I bought these being used to apple earbud heaphones and let me tell you now this is how music should sound! These headphones are super comfortable and have a very thick leather padding. I love how you can replace the earcups for a cheap price. It really shows that they want you to use these for a while and aren't "throw away" headphones. The sound quality is flat of course, that's what the 40x's are and I like that. I'll probably get the 50x's next when the price drops below 150. The x series did just come out this year so that might be a while. My only complaint with these headphones is that after long periods of time I get a headache due to the pressure on my glasses. Simple solution, take off the glasses! If you have worse vision than me though, they're basically reading glasses that sharpen things from far away, then you may wanna be careful with these. I haven't broken them in yet though so after 30+ hours of use they will probably stretch out. I love the detachable cables! I used the coiled for commuting to college. I got really great service from Sweetwater too. I've actually had this good of customer service. I even got called on my phone to ask about my headphones from a really nice guy named Matt McKible. You won't regret ordering these headphones or from Sweetwater.

First of all let say this is my first Sweetwater purchase and I'm loving it.
Great price, service, shipping etc etc Kudos all around guys!
Now for the headphones
The Pros:
Light weight
comfort
interchangeable cables
Balanced sound (lows, mids, highs)
Cons:
These headphones don't insulate sound as well as other closed headphones. At a loud Starbucks I can here the lyrics from the song being played. Not a big con for me but if you will be using these in a loud environment you need to consider insulation

These headphones are super comfortable, feel breathable, and cut out almost all background noise while producing. The frequency response is pretty flat, which makes them good for mixing, and the sound doesn't leak too much. Overall amazing headphones, worth the money.

I didn't want (or really need) to spend money on truly high end phones for my home studio. At this price point these headphones were better than what I expected. They have a good flat response that doesn't see to color you tone on playback. But what really attracted me to this set was the removeable cord. I tend to roll over headphone and instrument cable with my chair on a regular basis. The replaceable cord is a definite plus here.

Great Sound Reproduction.
Light weight.
Comfortable.
My head stays cool under long usage.
Highly recommend.

I bought them a few weeks ago and been loving them, I feel that I can hear each instrument separatelly with them.My ears get kind of warm after a while but I do not mind it. I feel that the mids saturate a little bit in some of my recordings but I am not certain if it is because of my audio interface, the recording iself or the headphones. Overall though, I would recommend these headphones if you are under a $ budget.

I have the 50's and I never understood the hype on these headphones so I finally broke down and tried the 40's! The 40's in my opinion have everything that you need in a headphone. The sound is UNCOLORED. Low end is present & mixes translate very well. I'm very pleased with my purchase.

My first impression when listening to these was that they were bright with no bass. However, I know other people say to let them brake in a bit. So I've had them for a few days now, and they are really fun to listen with! Bass isn't overpowering... just perfect, the right amount of UMF, but not to the point of distortion or muddy-ness. Highs have died down a bit so it isn't harsh to listen to. Sound gets an A. Now some common problems I've heard about comfort. Comfort is good, ear pads feel nice. Some people have said their ears get hot after a while, I can definitely say the same, but nothing extreme. Some say the ear pads suck, I can see after some time of use the ear pads can become uncomfortable. However besides that, everything feels quite nice. Quality is good, the cables feel like nice heavy duty cables. The headphones themselves feel good as well, nice quality plastics, nice headband, and nice connection points as well. All in all, let them brake in a bit and I think you'll be happy... I know I am!

Maybe necessarily intended for the purpose I'm using them, but plug them into my amp and my wife can enjoy television without me having to stop playing. Comfortable for as long as I wear them, which usually isn't much longer than two hours at a time. Either the straight or coiled cables both sufficiently long for my purpose. Quality of sound seems excellent (at least to my ears). Sounds so good I've had to take them off and put them back on again to make sure all I was hearing was the phones and not the amp. My first pair of headphones so nothing to compare with. Bought on the strength of other reviews and am NOT disappointed.
Thanks Sweetwater and thank you, Aaron.

great I love them my headphones great fit

Great set of headphones and the price is right. I needed something to practice with at night so I wouldn’t disturb the rest of the household. I can plug these right into my tube head and still get the sound I want through these bad boys. Plus I can plug into my I phone and block our the rest of the world while I feed good tunes straight to the dome.
Volume is good (it won’t make you go deaf) thank you Ryan!

I bought an inexpensive pair of Behringer headphones some months ago and I realized that they would be usable, but they were terribly inaccurate (but I didn't expect much for the price). I chose these because the reviews didn't indicate problems. I've had audio technica gear in the past that held up well. I liked the detachable cord (I think this is the cheapest model with that feature).

These sound good, the base is better than I expected. It doesn't make bad recordings sound better but that is ok. I does make good recordings sound the way they should.

The way this is folded up when not in use can make it confusing to find the right position when putting it back on the head, but I can live with that.

These headphones are perfect for the home-studio-on-a-budget musician / mixer who isn't chasing pro gear unicorns into a fantasy world of Grammy nominations and model-studded mega yachts. Granted, I've only had these 'phones for 3 days (Sweetwater sends these review solicitations before you've even dellivered the packing air pads & cardboard to the appropriate outdoor holding bin), but I'd been living with dynamic consumer headphones for years, doing all my mixing with those and computer speakers and wondering why my mixes sounded like baked dirt. In other words, I could instantly hear the difference after wrapping these 'round my cranium.

A decent pair of studio monitor speakers make the essential final aural assessment of your mix, but a good, comfortable pair of closed back, dynamically flat studio headphones can get your mix close enough to the finish that you're only making minor tweaks when upstaging to the big boys for the ultimate sonic assessment. I'm writing this to let you know that the M40x 'phones will get you that close.

Yes, I am saying this after only 3 days with these pups, so why take my word for it? I did a fair amount of research before pulling the trigger on these 'phones & consulted with my resident Sweetwater expert and all around great guy, Justin. He IS a pro audio guy - and for good reason, no doubt - no unicorn chasing on his end - and his first recommendation for monitor 'phones was predictably beyond my budgetary reach, even though they looked and sounded worthy of the $300+ price tag. Knowing I couldn't afford these mold-breaking musical marvels forced me to find a pair that (1) fit my budget and (2) did what studio monitor headphones are supposed to do. No oohs and aaaahs. Just a pair that did the necessary work - no frills, no airs, no fall apart after a week. When I laid it all on Justin, he totally understood my scenario and gave me the double thumbs-up to hit the ATH M40x. So instead of spending over 300 bucks that I don't have to get gear that is far beyond my need or ability, I spent $ to get a GREAT SOUNDING DYNAMICALLY FLAT PAIR OF STUDIO MONITOR HEADPHONES. They are COMFORTABLE. The choice of TWO DIFFERENT DETATCHABLE CORDS - ONE COILED AND SHORTER, ONE STRAIGHT AN LONGER - makes it easy to switch between mixing desk use where I'm closer to the interface (coiled) and recording use when I'm a little further away (straight). The ear padding is comfy and you don't really even feel the 'phones on top of your head. And the ubiquitous pouch (I have so many of these lying around the house) is a fine stash for the cord not in use - or whatever other little things you need to hold discretely....

To put it all together: I spent... to grab a pair of ATH monitor 'phones that give me a flat enough sound to get my mix to within' a few minor tweaks of where it needs to be. Wisdom begins with the realization that expensive, pro audio gear does not make you a better musician or mixer / engineer. Get the best gear you can at the lowest possible price. Get only what you need and don't pay for enhancements beyond what you need. These are distractions and don't get you closer to your goal. If you've got bundles of Benjamins lying around and want to upgrade to pro 'phones, Justin unequivocally recommends the Shure 1540s, and I'm sure those are off the charts. But if you're not a studio pro and are living by more modest means, the M40x pair are for you. Grab 'em!

For neutral response, professional monitor headphones at the $ price range, I find it hard to imagine anything surpassing these for quite some time. The sound is clear. The frequency response extends very well without exaggerating things. The comfort is good. The build quality feels pretty sturdy. I greatly enjoy these.

My only complaints are that there is an unsettling clicking when folding the cups for storage, and the comfort, while good, definitely has room for improvement.

Awesome headphones, the sound is way beyond what I was expecting, and the sweetwater people customer service was excellent as usual.

I like how well the ATH-M40x is built and how it sounds. I have only used it for it's main purpose once, that is as part of a video/photography set up I use in my job, and it worked well in that environment. I will also be using it for listening to music. I used it with PANDORA on my computer yesterday for the first time and it did a great job of creating the stereo effect with no background noise. So far no issues.

I bought these headphones in order to monitor myself when I am doing voice over. I also write, record and mix my own music. I was looking at a lot of headphones and settled on these after looking at the M50x. All the reviews said there is not much difference. These sound great. Here are some insights regarding things said about these...

Build- They aren't tanks, but if you don't manhandle them, they seem fine. I wouldn't let the uninitiated use them in a studio. Unfolding them doesn't need to be gingerly done, but there are a few cro-magnons out there who think the only way to solve a problem is to pull or smash. These are not the cans for them. (You know who you are.)

Comfort- When I'm not wearing glasses I have no prob and can wear the the M40x's for hours. Glasses it's a different story. I sometimes wear thick frames (so fashionable!) and after an hour the pressure hurts. You shouldn't wear headphones that long anyway, but after a break, the law of diminishing returns kicks in.

Fidelity- I've compared my mixes on other devices and found the flat response translated to nice mixes.

All in all, after a few weeks, they are holding up fine and are helping me get more work done, all at a great price. Daddy like!

Super happy with these for recording sessions. Light weight, good fit on all heads, excellent sound. Bonus - two cords - one straight, one curly. I hate curly cords - always tangling! But some folks prefer them, so it's great to have both.

These are one of the nicest sets of headphones I have ever put on my head. In addition to being very comfortable even over long periods, the sound balance is beautiful. You can hear everything, even very dim/underlying background/synth lines, with great clarity. Covers the full range without any frequencies overpowering the rest. In addition, the inclusion of cables for both 3/4 inch and 3.5 mm is very convenient. Overall, for the price, a very good product.

If you're looking for flat-frequency headphones that you want to use for monitoring or production work within the $100-$300 price range, I've got to say, this is the one to get; especially when paired with a good amplifier.

It's very sturdy, built to last, and works amazingly well in most types of environments. From Audio-Tech's new lineup of MX headphones, this is definitely the one to beat. Its' frequency response is much flatter compared to that of the flagship model's, ATH-M50X, which I feel was made for a more commercialized market population due its' emphasis on the bass freq's. So basically, you're paying extra for a slightly better build/quality and more bass (which is what I was not looking for).

I use this in the studio all the time, and when I need to take my production work with me on the road. The only cons I would point out are that these are closed back, so sound spacing and stage presence aren't the best compared to open back headphones, and your ears tend to get a little hot after prolonged usage.

That doesn't deter me much though.
So would I recommend these to anyone? Yes. yes. yes. yes.

I bought the AT4033Cl/ATH-M40x package from Sweetwater when it was on sale at the time of this writing. I'd been eying the 4033 for a while and when the headphones were included with no addition charge- basically ($399 is what the mic usually costs), I decided to jump on it. Frankly, I was reticent about the headphones. I bought some AT40's (not sure if it's the exact model of the predecessor of these) and to this day I believe the tweeters were left out of those cans! There was nothing above 3K that I could hear- nasty! Unbelievably nasty, in fact! When these came in I thought, "hmmmm... let's check this out..." I put them on right after wearing a pair of vintage 7506's I've owned for 14 years- that still sound great- and was nicely pleased with what I heard! They aren't quite as bright as the Sony's but that's probably a good thing because those headphones have been known for being a bit on the bright side. There's ample bass response and the top end is nice- very nice for $99 headphones! I'd recommend them!

Simply the best in this price range!

I own the Ath M50, T500,Pro700 (GOLD), SONY MDRV6, PHILIPS X1.KRK 8400..plus others that I sold away.
The M40X gives you clarity, separation, decent deep bass, slightly better open sound compare to the M50, it sounds 90% like the M50 at almost half the price. And yes, it can be used for studio monitoring. Skip the M20/30X …. The M40X has the best value for price ratio. The M50X will may be offer users a better built design with stronger bass. But for those who wish to find the best headset below $100…at 15Hz-24kHz, the M40X is a Winner !

These headphones have served me very well and I still use them to this day, they stay in my studio at all times and they haven't broken or gone bad. The cushions are a little worn but those can probably be replaced.

That being said, I have a couple of critiques:

1. I don't have a ton of hair...but I have a big skull, man. I've tried every adjustment under the sun and they still get painfully uncomfortable to wear after a few hours. Same with the M50X, which is the type of headphones we use at my university. I originally got these because a review said "oh these are great for my giant head" but nope. These things can hurt after a while.

2. The bass response can be a little tricky when mixing and mastering. At the point where it the bass starts to feel nice and punchy (but not necessarily overbearing) in these headphones, the actual amount of bass is more than what you're hearing. Best to rely more on your eyes when it comes to mixing anything below 100Hz when using these.

Bottom line, these will still serve you well if you're willing to work with their strengths. In a way, they can be a teaching tool. Just make sure you test on other speaker systems before shipping a track.

the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x are really good headphones. sound quality is excellent. I gave it 4 stars because of how it collapses and or folds for storage. it seems to happen every time I slide them down to my neck or remove them from my head. one side will fold into itself. kinda frustrating. but nevertheless, they do the job and do it well. I recommend them.

Comfortable fit and quality sound that is not so bass heavy, make these head phones a great choice moderate cost studio category. Like the level of isolation and lack of bleed when using condenser mics. The frequency response is smooth and fairly flat. Represents good "bang for the buck".

I am by no means an audio engineer, but I have seen enough voice over videos and microphone reviews to have a basic understanding of sound quality. I was looking for a decently priced pair of headphones for recreational use that have good reviews . I originally was thinking about buying the lower priced headphones around 40 to 70 dollars (ATH-M20x, ATH-M30x, etc.) but ultimately went for the ATH-M40x because I hoped the $ price point would ensure good sound quality. They did not disappoint.

Pros: I wanted good quality plug in headphones that had sound isolation, and the M40x provides that. My recreational headphones that I had before buying these were Bluetooth JVC headphones, which I believed did not provide the frequency range that plug in headphones would achieve. Upon first trying out the M40x, I was speechless. The sound quality was exceptional compared to my JVCs. I was on Spotify just clicking and clicking on all my favorite songs and it was like I was rediscovering music! The M40x has far more presence, range, and high-mid-low frequency output than my JVCs. So to answer the question about listening to music, YES!, these headphones are awesome for that (as well as just browsing YouTube or watching movies on Netflix). You can simply hear much more sound! I also like that it comes with two cords, one that is spring style, and one straight, the adapter for audio interfaces, and the carrying pouch.

Cons: (Note: most of the points are made for the sake of others) Upon watching review videos, I learned that the foam padding on the Audio Technica headphones were prone to wearing out after around a year of use. I have not used them long enough to have seen this, but I myself have no problem with buying new pads, others may prefer longer lasting materials however. Also, I must warn you that the plastic, while decently strong, feels a bit fragile around the joints, such that if you accidentally bent them the wrong way, it would break. As long as you are careful with them, I believe they will be fine. For the voice actors out there, I too am interested in it, and these headphones are good for sound monitoring in the booth. However, upon listening to microphone reviews that I have watched before with my JVCs, I believe that the M40x accentuated the sibilance (S and T sounds) of the microphones in the reviews more than was realistic. If you watch microphone reviews like I do, know that the mics in the videos do not have as much sibilance as the headphones make you believe. Just to be sure, if you have another pair of headphones available, listen to the reviews through them and find a median between them in order to decide if you like or dislike the sound of the microphones. Lastly, while these are over ear headphones, I found they do slightly pinch around the earlobe. For those who are sensitive to on-ear headphones, and want over ear ones for comfort, take note that the squeezing on the earlobes may cause discomfort and soreness for you. I myself am not sensitive to the squeeze so there is no problem; they are comfortable for me.

All in all, in my opinion this was a very worthwhile buy. Not to pricy and still commendable quality. Audio Technica upholds its reputation for that.

For pre-production and making a track, these headphones are perfect. Convenient and closed in sound allows you to hear all that you need to create a great song.

Great for exactly what they are designed for. There's no bass boost or anything, just pure high quality audio. I love them and for the price its a no brainer

Very pleased so far. Use them to play my guitar through my boss katana. Thought they would blow out my ears, I can find a comfortable level and still hear the effects.

The ATH-M40 have a good tone and frequency response is good. The only reason for the four stars instead of the five is the comfort. They are a little tight..... if listening for a couple hours. Great product.

Bought to use in the evenings while playing guitar through my amp. Sound great. I will say that the plug into the earphone doesn't seem too rugged so I'm keeping my eye on that.

I love my M40x's a s--ton because they are, to my ears, balanced, not bass hyped but tight and punchy, detailed, forward sounding, lightweight, super comfy and very affordable. The ONLY complaint is they are fragile. I have had mine for about 2-3 years and last year broke them above the right ear swivel. I duct taped it and it was holding its own. This morning I hooked my foot on the damned cable again and they fell on the floor and the left side snapped. I have duct taped it again but it isn't holding quite as firmly as the first break. The sound is unaffected but I now need to get something else for my main tracking cans. Sadly, these will now be relegated to backup status. Might try the KRK-8400's. I heard wonderful things about them for the... price range.

Serious consideration about the "collapsible" design of these should be given before purchasing. If you are a casual user that really doesn't need to fold these up, I would look at other models. I have found the design of these to be rather frustrating, making it difficult to "unfold" and get the sides into the correct position before putting on my head. I always feel like I'm about to break them. For that reason only, I'm not sure I could recommend them to anyone unless the need to fold them up is very important to you. I find it very wonky, and at times annoying when I'm in a hurry. I almost feel like taking epoxy and gluing them to stay open, but that would not work either. The sound is terrific otherwise. But seriously, go to a store and try before you buy these, you may not like them at all.

The M40x headphones were one of the recommendations from the Sweetwater rep I was talking to about keyboard gear. I really appreciated the rep's experience and insight into what equipment is available and what might be the best purchase options for me at my low experience level. I don't know how these headphones compare with other models internally, but I quickly saw what they meant in their advertising about "collapsible design" and "swivel earcups". They tuck themselves right up into a snug oval that slides easily into the carrying pouch provided . The two sets of cables with the 1/4" adapter have already proven useful in connecting to my keyboard. I am very pleased with my purchase from Sweetwater and very thankful for their advice and guidance. I realize now that the "on sale" headphones that I was considering at a local store ($30 plus tax) would never have provided the additional sound quality nor accessories that the M40x included. Thank you, Sweetwater!

I did a ton of research and these are the best headphones for the price, Their great for mixing and recording. Overall pretty these headphones are pretty awesome.

Far better than the others I've tried.

I bought these because my old audio technical M40fs that I had for 3-4 years finally 1 side of head phone has played out. I had great expectations on the M40X thinking that they was a upgraded version. What's better is the Head band is more sturdy, I'm not expecting it to shred off like the M40fs. The Headphones fold up & the ear cups rotate more. Those are the upgraded parts. The con is that the ear cushions seem to be a little harder than the M40fs that might make the headphones more noise cancelling or maybe I haven't broke them in yet but the M40fs cushions was very soft from the day I bought them. I've used them maybe 5 or 6 times for approximately 30 hours they still haven't soften up. The sound quality is the same as the M40fs.

These are a far cry over my last set of headphones. Great quality. They are a little bit clench-y on the ol' ears, though that's after hours and hours of them being on my head.

I like how they're "swivel earcups" allow for it to be easily stored and makes it somewhat awkward-damage proof.

We do long-haul recording - audiobooks, industrial presentations, etc. These headphones sound fine, but, from a comfort standpoint, they're a bit rigid and stiff. Guess we got spoiled over the decades using the ATH M40fs headphones, which are so comfortable you forget you're wearing them.

These were recommended to me by a Sweetwater agent. They sound fine. Uncomfortable to wear especially for long periods of time. The collapsible foldable design adds more inconvenience to my day (as if studio recording was"nt complicated enough) .Every time I put these on it"s like wrestling with something that has a mind of it"s own. I would not have bought these if I knew what I know now. But as I said, they sound fine despite the kittywambus design.

For the good part, they sound great for monitoring. Crisp and clear separation of instrument tracks and bass is full without being overly deep or muddy. I am using them with Sonarworks calibration. The detachable cables are a big plus.

For the bad part, they fit on your head pretty hard. The headband does not feel comfortable at all, and has no cushiony feel. It feels like a hard plastic band on your head. You have to wear the headband slightly forward or they will fall off the back of your head. The ear cushions are also pretty hard, and may not fit over larger ears. The folding design is a complete nightmare. You can't just grab the headphones and put them on. They easily flip in on themselves and you have to maneuver them every time to open them up. You won't want to use them for long periods.

I was on the fence about returning to SW for a different brand, but after writing this review, I pretty much made up my mind they have to go back. It's a shame because they sound great.

I had hoped I could use my choice of cables but the way this one connects that's not possible.
Also the sound is a bit boomy with not great high ends. Good thing these were relatively
inexpensive. I won't try this brand again due to the cable situation.

I liked the sound and the changeable cord, but the fit was too tight. I sent them back and ordered a pair of Sony headphones, which are more comfortable.

Good sound, but the fit...? They set more on the ear than around the ear, and not flush against the head which starts to be painful after long sessions. Also, they don't isolate well. Can hear outside noise easily. Could be because of the fit. Thinking I should have gone with the Senns.

I got these for Christmas after having read many reviews that they would be better than my Senn Hd280s. Nope. They're heavier, the ears are smaller, and the frequency range isn't there. I wanted to like these because the coiled cord on the Senns are incredibly annoying. Anyway, I'm gonna return them for a credit.

I'm not sure I would recommend these to others or buy these again. Although they sound terrific, the folding design of the unit can be very annoying to live with. The two ear pieces need to be twisted gently and swiveled around to put in position before attempting to use on your head, and they seem very flimsy at times like if you do it too fast, they will break. I'll leave the other reviews to comment on the sound quality, which to me is perfect. But you need to consider whether or not you wish to fiddle with these ear pieces for 20 seconds every time you wish to put these on your head. Go play with them in a store somewhere and if you like them, come back to Sweetwater to buy, but know what you are getting into first. I really don't care about the folding capability and would most likely pick something else, knowing what I know.

These headphones sound good. Flat, unbiased, and perfect for the video editing that I do. They are also comfortable to wear for hours. I have now had both ear hinges break. I found replacement hinge the first time and did the repair (relatively simple, but time consuming). Unfortunate, as I would have considered another set from this company if it weren't for this experience.

I purchased these headphones with the intention of using them on the road when I travel but I was unhappy with the ear padding. Ear fatigue almost started within the first 10 minutes and I produce so after 2 hours of mixing your ears feel like you did some MMA training. Sound quality was fine but I was unimpressed. I approve audio-technica products but not these headphones. Also broke within first month of use. Right headphone adjustable clip broke.

I do a lot of mixing in headphones and after hearing so much about people doing just that using these headphones I purchased a pair. But in doing some critical listening I noticed that certain bass notes really popped out in the mix. Almost as if there were standing waves where specific frequencies resonate in a specific environment more than others. The peak here centers around 105Hz. I did do a fast mix with these cans but when listening to it on other systems the bass was seriously lacking in depth. Just my opinion but I would not mix in these headphones.

all my songs sound cloudy when i mix on these and im really not sure why, I don't think the bass comes through strong enough and the highs are just piercing so i overcompensate and then on almost everything else {headphones, speakers] the bass comes through so loud... so like, maybe im really amature or something? i dont know whats going on, everyone seems to love these headphones and im really trying to

I've had these for a few months in my studio and while they sound great, the swivel ears cups are really annoying. None of my clients can figure them out and everyone thinks they are breaking them when trying to get them to fold out properly. I bought a pair of the ATH-M30s. Practically the same design but with no swivel. I like them much more and would recommend those instead.

I hate writing a bad review. I am not a fan. The Headphones are Heavy..the cord gets in the way constantly. The sound is sub par..i can't tell the difference between a cheap set of headphones and these. Horrible purchase

No bass, screeching treble, and a bit quiet. These headphones are as uncomfortable as they are overpriced. I would only recommend these to my worst enemies.

I would give these a 5 star rating if they didn't break from a flawed design and became useless. They do have great sound for their inexpensive price. But . . . where the ear pieces swivel, the plastic has way too much stress on it (poor engineering) and will crack and break off in time, rendering them useless. With mine, one side broke off completely and the other side is cracked in the same identical spot. If I could still use them, it too would break off soon. How long were they cracked before one of them broke off, I don't know, as I never suspected them to do so and wasn't checking for cracks in the plastic. If I had seen the cracks before the one side broke off, there isn't anything I could have done to prevent it anyway. I never dropped them, nor abused them, and always hung them on a hook to protect them, as I really loved them until they broke. Audio Technica's Customer service was very quick to respond to my request to buy the broken parts, but wanted me to ship them to them for repair. With MY cost for 'return' shipping, plus their repair cost, I might as well go for a new pair and keep the broken one for spare parts. That said, I would not buy these again however, as I would not want to go through the disappointment again of the plastic breaking into two pieces. If I didn't use them much, they might have lasted forever, but as I use them on a daily basis in the studio, it was just a matter of time before the plastic cracks, breaks off, and they no longer can be used. A perfect example of "a chain being only as strong as its weakest link". Audio Technica will kindly offer to repair them, though spending the time to fix the poor engineering might be time better spent. As I really liked them before they broke, I had recommended them to several of my sound engineering buddies as a good inexpensive investment. Hopefully they didn't buy them, as I don't want to be responsible when their's eventually snap into two pieces like mine sadly did.

I have noticed other reviewers with the same exact problem. That is not hard to believe considering the problem. Whether it is flawed engineering, or the plastic's fault, please be warned, this might and probably will happen to you if you buy this product, unless you just buy it and hardly ever it.. It really is a shame, as they were nice until they snapped in two, from no fault of mine.