Audio-TechnicaATH-M20X Professional Studio Monitor Headphones and Amazon Basics XLR Microphone Cable Bundle
A**D
Worth the money!
Pros:-Sound quality is excellent. Rich, warm tones with a balanced sound overall.-Feels well made-Good seal around ears-Easy to adjust size-Awesome that it comes with a plug adapter for different uses. Clicks in for a firm holdCons:-I did have to move it around quite a bit to find a comfortable spot to let it sit. Once I found it, it was ok. Could I wear it for hours day in, day out, maybe not. I'll see once I break it in a bit. My head size I think is on the average to small side for women. Overall fit was ok otherwise, just the strength of the spring of the head band felt like it was a bit much.-The instructions that came with it are kind of confusing as it talks about how to fold it down. I know the next model up folds and this one doesn't, but it wasn't very clear that that bit of the diagram didn't refer to this model.Would I buy this again? Yes.
Q**.
My First "Hi-Fi" Headphones, Compared to Other Headphones Indepth
UPDATE, BUILD QUALITY:Well, I'll be damned, its been exactly a year since I wrote this. It was pure luck that I checked my reviews today.Anyway, build quality.The M20xs I bought a year ago are still going strong, and I use them constantly when I am not on my computer. The cable is fine, the gold plating has worn off of the plug (that's normal after a lot of use), and the plastic doesn't appear to be worn. If I cleaned this thing very well, it would look brand new. However, not everything is in perfect condition, and that would be the padding.I started to notice after a while that the earcups were starting to feel harder and harder. As a sanity check, I took a look at my dad's m50xs to see if they were still soft, and they were (he doesn't use them that much anymore). I looked into it, and apparently, the fake rubber-leather stuff Audio Technica uses in their earcups slowly deteriorates over time by getting harder and eventually cracking due to the stress of cushioning. This is a result of constant contact with body oils (this is why my dad's pair is still soft). Thankfully, these are replaceable, but they are $25 for a pair, which is quite a bit. I got these headphones for $30 dollars while they were on sale, for perspective. There is also the chance that they use some cheaper earcups in the m20xs, which wouldn't surprise me. In which case, the replacement earcups for the m50xs could be considered an upgrade.What is more worrisome is the headband. Unlike the m50xs, which have a higher quality rubber on the headband, the headband on the m20xs is made out of the same material the earcups are. You can't replace it. Although its unlikely that the headband will get severely damaged from cracking since it doesn't exactly cushion, I can still see some dents in mine that don't go away.Other than that, these are still my favorite general purpose headphones, and I still recommend them. I'm on the edge of replacing the earcups though. If it does break at some point, I might aim for the m40xs due to the shorter cable options, better build quality/materials, and better sound. I'll give it two more years and see what happens to them.REVIEW:So, I have never been wealthy enough to own a good pair of headphones. Hearing about the constant praise of Audio-Technica, I decided to pick of their budget pair of monitors, the ATH-M20x. My father has a pair of their M40x or 50x, but I am pretty much not allowed to touch them. That's why I can't say which ones they are.As perspective and for comparison, the main headphones I used before these were the Sol-Republic v8 tracks, and I use a Logitech G230 gaming headset currently for my desktop.The song I tested between these headphones was Ocean Man by Ween, because of the formidable range in pitch. I also remembered the song the day I did this, so it was a bit nostalgic for me to listen to it again.SOUND QUALITY:Now, the first thing that struck me with these headphones was that the bass was much less compared to the other headphones. Now, this isn't a bad thing, because it let me focus on the other tracks in the song, such as the guitar and percussion, which became much brighter. This made the song sound much clearer than my other headphones, which lacked a little in mids and highs. My Sols overall had much more bass, but the rest of the frequencies seemed filtered out because of it. It's mostly the same story with my g230s, but the highs are much better than the sols. Realizing this, I finally figured out why I couldn't hear footsteps very well in the game Counter Strike Global Offensive, which encourages me to buy another pair of the M20x for my desktop, as well as a mic. The only real issue I have with the M20x at this point is that I cannot hear bass drums very well if they aren't mixed loud enough, which is disappointing, as percussion is one of the most important factors in music to me. Overall, these have generally amazing performance in the audio range, despite the bass seeming only a tad bit weaker than it should be. If they boosted up a tiny bit, I would be satisfied. Not worth to take a star off however, especially for the price.Another thing to note is that these headphones are higher in impedance than normal, so I have to near max out my volume on my phone to get somewhere acceptable to me. This isn't a problem, but I'm afraid I may get some distortion in some songs. This is also sad, as I use a separate Creative Zen audio player for my high quality CD rips, which don't go as loud as my phone, making it essentially useless. They also don't really like to plug into my phone with the case on, so I have to jam it in the jack and hope it doesn't spring out. This is along with the other problem with my audio jack, which is that they always think I'm using an inline mic unless I unplug and re-plug and hope they see them as regular headphones. If it doesn't, then bumping the cord can cause google to start voice detecting, which is very annoying, as well as randomly pausing and playing a song. To reinforce it, this is a problem with my PHONE, not the plug. This is more of a me problem, however, they still have issues being plugged into a phone with a case. Making the end coned and the adapter it comes with internally coned would solve this problem.BUILD QUALITY:Now, one of main reasons why I bought a g230 was because they are very well built, and could take multiple falls off of my desk. Same goes for the Sols, which are pretty much designed like a tank due to the super strong headband and hard but not brittle plastic. The M20x however, seems like it would need a bit more care with the headband, since it is not topped with plastic. I usually just throw my Sols into my backpack everyday, because it can handle it. These will need a bit of extra attention to not tear up the foam on the headband. I tried buying a hard case from Caseling , but the description lied to me and said that these headphones would fit. They didn't, and now I have to return it as soon as possible to get my 13 bucks back. They do fit my dad's well though because they fold, and is a pretty good case. Otherwise, the ABS plastic is nice on the drivers making them strong, and the headband has spring steel metal in it. There are no visible defects anywhere, not even unmixed plastics or rough spots on the foam. This is fairly impressive for a product made in Taiwan. Another thing I would have liked would be to color the logo inset on the sides of the drivers, it would make it easier to see. I assume this is to differentiate different models.Now, the cord I have a bit of an issue with. The cord itself is very nice; it's well insulated and flexible. The jack is nice too, it appears gold plated and has a nice bend protector. The issue I have is that it's way to freaking long, at a staggering 3 meters. This may be a good thing for some people, but I am going to be walking around with these. I have to coil up the wire (thank god for that insulation) and put a cable management strip on it to shorten it. Now, there is a good 4 inch diameter coil in my pocket that is 1/2 an inch thick, and is VERY annoying. If they could have at least shortened it to maybe 1 meter, I would not be writing this. This is worth a star for me, so off it goes. Despite this, the cable has to be one of the best impeding headphone cables I have encountered, keeping out eddy currents very well, which would cause distortion with the huge coil I have to lug around. A good way to test if a cable is well insulated or not is to try and use the cable as a stylus on a touch screen. If the screen reacts in any way while playing music, the cable has failed the test. No matter how I tried, looping it, squishing it against the screen, it would not be detected. That is a good sign for a good cable, as no electrical fields are going through that thing. As a solution to the coil, I may do some research on the internals of the cord, and shorten it myself. If you are also hateful of this issue, the better ATH models have interchangeable cables that can be much shorter. To me, it isn't worth it to pay 30 to 40 extra dollars for that feature.COMFORT:So, my g230s are a very comfortable pair of headphones for me to wear, as they are over ears. My Sols on the other hand are on ear, which was a huge issue to me when I bought them. It's not that they were uncomfortable, but it was because of an odd problem I have with my right ear. My ear canals are extremely small, so I can't use earbuds, which is really my main reason of buying full on headphones. In this case, the Sols would squeeze my right ear shut! There would be no music to my right ear unless I physically held the driver, and stretched my ear a bit. Now, the M20x are also over ear, so that's great for me. It's actually the main reason why I bought these, I wanted a nice pair of over ears that would not impede my hearing. Not only this, I would say they fit even better than my g230s due to the many degrees of freedom, so I am extremely happy here. My issue was solved due to these headphones. The actual foam the headphones use is nice, definitely on the drivers. The headband foam on top is durable and a bit stiff, but not noticeable. The bottom foam seems the same as the drivers, so no problem there. All of the foam seems to be wrapped in a thin fake leather material, and it feels nice. My g230s are just wrapped in perforated fabric, which makes it a tad itchy.MY OWN JUDGEMENT:Now, because I like nice things, I want it obvious what I'm using is nice and worth it. I like to make a statement, so I buy things that fall under these categories:1. Looks cool2. Does it's job well3. Lasts a long timeSo, for it looking cool, I would say "eh." As I previously stated, the logo isn't painted in, so they just look like headphones from afar. My Sols on the other hand, look 100% sweet, with it's circular drivers, solid looking headband, minimalist logo, and shiny plating (that wore off around the edges of the drivers, sadly). These don't have that aesthetic I'm looking for, but they do look like monitors, which kind of makes up for it. To me, they just look intermediate, not pro.For doing the job well, that is a definite yes. The cool factor to me can immediately be vetoed in the case that something works like a well oiled machine. This is that case. They just sound good, and anyone who would borrow these would tell. My sols aren't that good sounding, and my g230 is okay, so these are technically the best headphones I own at the moment. A case where this wouldn't be true would be Beats by Dre. Yes, the headphones look very nice, iconic even. Despite this, they pretty much are just a step up from those 5 dollar Koss headphones you buy at drug stores when you have nothing else to use (those headphones are very good for the price though, so I like them for that).I don't know for certain yet if these will last a long time. This is another factor that directly goes with doing the job well, as having these factors multiply each other makes for a godly product. My Sols and g230s definitely fall under this category, as they have both lasted me 2 years. The Sols are almost done for, however, as the right driver's plastic cone buzzes on certain frequencies. The g230s look literally brand new and haven't degraded audio wise, so they have served me well, and will keep doing so. Beats by Dre also do not fall under this factor, as they must be treated like kings, or either they will shatter the moment you look at them (an anecdote from a friend). Because it misses the two most important factors, Beats headphones are useless to me, especially with the price they ask for. I will have to live with the M20xs for a while to see how well they do with this factor, and I am predicting another strong yes. And even if they only last me a couple months, they are still only $30, an amazing price for what these headphones are. One thing I realized that may break them is extending the drivers over and over again. The metal tracks that are attached to them go in and out of the headband, and you can feel them moving inside through the foam. You can even pinch it and make it really hard to move it (annoying sometimes), which means they aren't encased in anything. This leads me to predict that at some point, they will poke through the band. Because of this, I will not shorten them every time I stow them away. Someone posted a picture that looked like this happened to them, so I will watch out.OVERALL:These are an amazing pair of headphones that meet many of my quality standards, as I am a bit of a snob. They sound great, but bass drums can be too quiet or hard to distinguish. They are made very well, despite the freaking long cable and too thick of an end for the jack. They are very comfortable, and solved the issues I had with other headphones I owned. They succeed my personal checklist, but I will need to test for durability. So, as a final statement: if you are on a budget and want nice over ears for sitting down and listening to music, pick up a pair of ATH-M20X headphones. If you have more money, shoot for the M40x or m50x if you want to walk around or need better quality. I am pretty satisfied despite my current situation, so I hope you can enjoy these headphones more than me.
C**Y
Wish I'd made the return window. Cheap.
I chose these for the delivery time and more economical cost - and I wish I had made the return window. I tested them at home in my studio, and then used them for a music gig. They were okay for the gig, which is what I purchased them for, but I will never personally use them in the studio or anywhere else. Treble-tones were piercing (as if displaced in the master audio mix), the mid-tone was saturated and offensively imbalanced, and the bass line was non-existent after a shallow depth. I don't care for heavy bass, but it is necessary in the balance of all things. In listening to familiar music, the bassline simply disappeared at a certain point. In listening to a film, the mid-tone was obnoxious. I pulled the ear pieces away although the volume was not high. Treble tones were present, kind of punching through the audio mix and so seemingly displaced. You get what you expect, but I had hoped for more of a decent sound for this decent price than the less-than-decent sound I get. Otherwise the physical product is nice. Soft to the touch, comfortable to wear, and easy to store.
T**L
They're alright
Good enough fit (for my large dome). The heavy, long cable is great. However, I have found them seriously lacking for power delivery with certain aspects. They don't reach anything above an OK volume when used with a PC stereo when plugged into a distribution/control feature of the stereo (the little volume control and headphone connector that comes attached to most 2.1 Logitech speakers). Also, they suck with a cell phone in power and volume. But! If you plug them into something that can support the headset's speakers, they shine. Overall, I'm disappointed, but I'm also not using them as they were designed. Playing games and watching movies on a laptop or PC is lacking majorly, but use them as a headset for an amp when you playing guitar and they sound great. Just be aware of the power limitations and your intended use. If they had a battery inside I'm sure I would give them 5-stars because of the increased amplification in low power use.
M**L
Great headphones!
I had been using Sony headphones for the last 7 years, and for the most part, they were fine. They're primarily used with my computer at my desk, listening to and occasionally editing audio files. I found myself in need of a set with a longer cord, after a driver update disabled the front end ports on my tower and wouldn't roll back. I also wanted something a bit nicer than the last Sony set I had (MDRZX300). came across these Audio-Technica phones during a search, and immediately liked the 3 meter cord. Then checking the specs, these had far better components than the Sony - and they didn't cost $100. Ordered them and they are excellent. They fully cover the ear and do a much better job of noise cancellation, and the sound is great. Music, voice.. doesn't matter - they come through much better than the Sony phones. Great choice for a value-priced headphone set that still makes what you listen to sound better.
S**V
Awesome head phones, not suitable for very long usage hours
Have used Sennheiser before this and instantly noticed the difference in sound signature.Pros:1) Sound appears much more realistic and has less of a surround experience compared to Sennheiser.2) Build quality is really good, especially the cable is thick and well made.3) Almost no noise leak.Cons:1) Head/ear cushions are a bit stiff and can cause discomfort when used for extended periods of time, like a few hours.2) Ears will start heating up after around 2 hour of usage and will cause discomfort.
J**D
Dodgy Plug Connection & Virtually No Bass.
I bought these purely on recommendations here to replace an aged pair of Sony cans. Oh what a mistake I made. First off the connection twixt plug and amp is a very big and miss affair, sometimes two channels, often only one.Then there is the sound, using a high end Marantz SACD player as my source and a high end Yamaha amp for sound, these cans, when working on both channels (which wasn't often), were just so tinny with virtually no bass at all.On top of that, the lead was way too short meaning I couldn't sit back on my sofa to enjoy my tunes. Only sitting leaning forward would they reach, not good for me with severe spinal issues.Will be returning and looking elsewhere for something that actually works. Likely to cost more but sound quality and comfort are worth paying for.
W**Y
Brilliant.
1- Comfort2- Sound1. Get stuffy after a while of use, e.g. long music sessions, couple hours gaming, and possibly towards the end of movie. I reccomend you buy velour ear pads down the road (4+ months) as not only are they more comfortable but the 'leather' on these began to split after about 6 months so I reccomend you swap em out about 4 months in.2. Superb low-end, slightly distorted highs. No matter the case these are amazing for the price and are suitable for all sorts of media consumption: Surround sound-like experience with movies/gaming with a crisp & bassy sound; YouTube videos etc, just great; music is great also, especially when listening to a deeper sound such as the following genres: Jazz, Rock, Heavy-metal, psychedelic rock, math rock, pop rock, dubstep (despite my personal taste against dubstep, my friend told me it's great for it). Those genre are where the headphones shine most, but are great for a wide variety of genre including lo-fi hip-hop, hip-hop in general, r&b and rap. Just be wary with rap and hip-hop as like I said before the high-end can get distorted.They're a great product for just £35 when I bought them 2 years ago. 9.5/10
そ**ん
音に迫力を求めてる方にはオススメできない
こちらはモニターヘッドホン。主に動画編集や音の編集など、低音から高音まで音を聞き逃さないためのヘッドホンと言えます。ですので、低音などのドゥンドゥン来る感じには聞こえません。なので、音楽やゲームや映画など、音に迫力を求めるものに向いていないのです。個人的に好きな音ではなかったので星を一つだけ減らさせてもらいます。しかしこのヘッドホンが駄目と言うわけではないので、完全にどんな事に使用したいのかでこのヘッドホンの評価は変わると思います。繰り返しになりますが、音に迫力を求めてる方にはオススメできません。
A**R
Brilliant pair of headphones (2 years down the line as well)
If I could, I would give it a 4.5/5.I spent quite a long time looking around for headphones, and chose these as earlier versions of the M50x which is 2.5x the price but regarded as one of the best at its pricepoint, and reviews for this product were pretty good across the board.SOUND QUALITY: Pretty great!They're better than other headphones I've tried that were around, or slightly below this price point - a genuine and easily identifiable improvement. They have a crisp and fairly well-rounded sound that seems to fill the air. One thing I will note is that the sorta low-end bass/sub-bass is hard to exploit - you can't truly get the bone pumping bass out of these, no matter what you try. However, with a bit of EQ to boost the lowest end, you can certainly get a bit more out of them than the baseline, and I would advise trying that before dismissing the bass on these as not being enough. Overall, I really enjoy the way they sound, and wear them everywhere now.BUILD QUALITY: Seems great.Product doesn't feel tacky or cheap and it also feels quite flexible.The cable is high quality, and exceptionally long actually, definitely seemed to have monitor usage in mind, but it does mean they're a little more awkward walking around town with them on, as you have to stash the rest of the cable somewhere. But I wouldn't particularly call that a drawback - having a longer and high quality cable is nice for usage at home for sure.COMFORT: Yes.They don't clamp hard, they sit nicely around my ears - comfortable straight away.The cups on them are that kind of shiny leathery material, which can make them a bit sweaty if using them for long periods. I am actually tempted to buy and install some different pads, but it's not a dealbreaker by any means.SOUND LEAKAGE: Surprisingly good.I received these headphones while at work, tried them on, put on a bassy track, turned the volume up a little... no-one batted an eyelid. I kept putting them on, taking them off, on, off... I was really surprised at just how well these kept the sound inside when the cups are together or on your head. They're definitely not noise canceling headphones, as you'll still hear the outside noise while traveling for example, but they are definitely good at preventing sound leakage.So - if you're looking for mid-end headphones at a low-ish price point - these do seem a great choice. As said, the only thing that would tempt me to upgrade would be to improve that lower bass end, but I can see myself not feeling like I need to explore that for a while to come, now that I have these.EDIT: 2 years later - they're as comfortable as day 1, and I've still not found headphones that match them. Yes, the low-end could use a tiny nudge but it's really not an issue given how the sound is balanced. Couldn't recommend them more.
Trustpilot
2 months ago
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