Audio-Technica ATH-M40x
Is the ATH-M40x right for you?
The ATH-M40x is a closed-back headphone Audio-Technica sells for studio work, and its product page calls it over-ear in one paragraph and on-ear in another.
Best for
- DJ or studio monitoring with one ear free. Audio-Technica lists 90° swiveling earcups for easy, one-ear monitoring.
- Choosing a cable to suit your setup. Audio-Technica includes two detachable cables: a coiled one that stretches from 1.2 m to 3.0 m, and a straight one 3.0 m long.
Skip if
- You want noise cancelling. Audio-Technica's ATH-M40x product page doesn't list active noise cancelling.
- You'll wear it on a noisy commute. Reviewers found its isolation weak.
Want to see it next to a keyboard and a mouse? Try it on the QuickDesker board and build a whole desk setup around it.
What does it cost, and what should you check first?
- Seen at Audio-Technica US store for $109.00 (ATH-M40x) on 3 Nov 2026
- Seen at Audio-Technica.com for $109.00 (Black) on 2 Nov 2026
- Seen at Crutchfield for $109.00 (ATH-M40x) on 3 Nov 2026
- Seen at Sweetwater for $109.00 (ATH-M40x) on 3 Nov 2026
Prices change, so check the current one before you buy. Audio-Technica's specification table puts a protective carrying pouch and a 6.3 mm (1/4") screw-on adapter in the box; its included accessories note calls it a 6.3 mm (¼”) snap-on adaptor.
Audio-Technica says it's collapsible for space-saving portability. Its US warranty page gives two years on select products bought in the U.S.A. from an authorized Audio-Technica dealer.
What do the ATH-M40x's 40 mm drivers tell you about its sound?
Audio-Technica lists 40 mm dynamic drivers and an impedance of 35 ohms, with a frequency response of 15 to 24,000 Hz. Impedance is the electrical load a headphone puts on its source, not a sound-quality score, and a frequency range shows where the stated range stops, not how even the output is inside it. Our guide explains what each figure does and doesn't tell you: What do headphone specs actually mean? Frequency response, impedance and driver size.
Audio-Technica says it's tuned flat for incredibly accurate sound monitoring across the entire frequency range. One review found the sound balanced and neutral-leaning; another found it clear, with a restrained bass response.
What do reviewers say about isolation and build?
Audio-Technica claims excellent sound isolation in loud environments for its circumaural design. The reviews are less kind: one rated the isolation poor and said it may not be enough for a noisy commute; another found it barely reduced low-frequency noise such as engines or trains.
On build, one review found it sturdy, and another found the frame survives drops despite its freely rotating ear cups.
Full specifications
| How it is worn | over-ear (overview paragraph) · on-ear (sound isolation paragraph) |
|---|---|
| Active noise cancelling | Not listed on Audio-Technica's ATH-M40x product page |
| Weight | 240 g (8.5 oz), without cable and connector |
| Back design | Closed-back |
| Passive isolation claimed | Circumaural design contours around the ears for excellent sound isolation in loud environments |
| Driver diameter | 40 mm |
| Driver type | dynamic |
| Impedance | 35 ohms |
| Frequency response | 15 - 24,000 Hz |
| Folds | Yes |
| Detachable cable | Yes |
| Cable length | 1.2 m - 3.0 m (3.9' - 9.8') coiled cable and 3.0 m (9.8') straight cable |
| Sensitivity | 98 dB |
| Warranty | TWO YEAR LIMITED END USER WARRANTY |
| In the box | Protective carrying pouch, 6.3 mm (1/4") screw-on adapter (specification table) · 6.3 mm (¼”) snap-on adaptor (included accessories note) |
Audio-Technica's ATH-M40x product page doesn't list water resistance or dimensions.
Specifications from Audio-Technica's ATH-M40x product page and US limited warranty, read 3 Nov 2026.