Audio-Technica ATH-M20X Professional Monitor Headphones Black

Update - my main pair of headphones has finally seen its last day and here I am, as promised when I did this review, repurchasing these. I was secretly looking forward to mine failing I have to admit. Really comfortable to wear for long periods. The cord is a good length and they feel pretty robust and fairly light too. They fit well on different sized heads as you can easily adjust them and the sound quality is great too. I ended up returning them because I had lost my main pair and ended up locating them again so I no longer required these. However, if my main pair ever fails me this will be my go to for purchase again as I really enjoyed my time with them. There’s a lot of clarity in the sound which is exactly what I need when field recording. I also enjoyed the comfortability whilst recording for long sessions too. I’ve also had issues with headphones in the past always dropping off my head which is really frustrating. This wasn’t a problem with these at all. I’d highly recommend them and I’m sure I’ll be purchasing them again in the future once my current headphones fail eventually. I also think the price is really reasonable for these. What you get for the price is great.

As a full-time visual media professional working in-house at an agency, I’m always looking for affordable, reliable tools that don’t compromise on quality. I recently purchased the Audio-Technica ATH-M20X headphones as a budget option specifically for video and audio editing, as well as on-set tracking. Having recently splurged on Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones, I quickly realized that while they’re fantastic for casual listening and noise-canceling on the go, they’re more “lifestyle” than “workhorse.” I needed something dependable and accurate, and the ATH-M20X seemed promising based on reviews. Sound Quality - Exceeds Expectations For the price, the ATH-M20X headphones are genuinely impressive. The sound clarity across the frequency spectrum is remarkable, especially for a budget model. The mids and highs come through clearly, which is essential for accurate audio editing. But what really surprised me was the punch in the low end; it’s strong but not overdone, adding depth without muddying the sound. This makes them ideal for any kind of professional work where accurate sound reproduction is key. They may not quite match the precision of higher-end models, but for their price range, the balance and clarity are outstanding. Comfort and Build - Lightweight and Practical One of the things I appreciate about these headphones is their lightweight design. They’re comfortable enough for long editing sessions, though I do need to take occasional breaks. The ear pads are soft but not as luxurious as what you’d find on more expensive models like the Bose. Still, for what they cost, they’re reasonably comfortable, and I haven’t had issues with overheating or excessive pressure (I am also a full-time glasses wearer which can often make wearing over-ear headphones uncomfortable, however, these have been fine). Design Trade-Offs - Reasonable for the Price The ATH-M20X lacks some of the premium features you’d find in higher-tier models, like the ATH-M50X. The cable isn’t detachable, which would have been a nice addition, especially for on-the-go use or replacing it when needed. The ear cups also don’t fully articulate, which limits the range of motion if you’re used to folding or rotating your headphones for single-ear listening. But these are minor trade-offs, and they don’t detract much from their utility in a professional setting. Great for Both Professionals and Casual Users After comparing specs and reviews across the M-series lineup, I initially hesitated to go for the most affordable option, but I’m glad I took the gamble on the ATH-M20X. They’re excellent not only for professional work but also for anyone looking to upgrade their sound quality without breaking the bank. These would work well for casual users who want high-quality sound for music or movies and don’t necessarily need all the bells and whistles. Final Verdict - High Value, Low Cost If you’re in the market for affordable monitoring headphones with strong sound quality and decent comfort, the ATH-M20X is a solid choice. While it lacks some of the premium features of more expensive models, the clarity and low-end punch make it perfect for professionals on a budget and casual users alike. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a budget-friendly, reliable pair of headphones!

The headphones have great clarity of sound and it is very easy to hear small details in music and other audio recordings. However it is worth noting that if blasting songs at a really high volume, these headphones are not for you as they're volume level is nothing to write home about. In terms of comfort they aren't the lightest headphones in the world and the ear cups do seal around your ear a little bit too tight but other than that they are comfortable headphones and could easily be worn seemlessly for a few hours without any discomfort. Another thing worth noting is that these are not gaming headphones and thus they're performance aren't as good as more specialised products. The intense bass found on most gaming headphones/headsets in order to bring more life into the audio environment in games such as gunshot sounds. These headphones are best kept for media consumption, however they can be used for gaming just like any pair of headphones or earphones. They do not have a microphone so that needs to be taken into consideration if you are purchasing them with the intention of using them as a gaming headset. In conclusion Positives: Build Quality Price to Performance Audio Clarity Comfort Negatives: Audio Level Flat Bass

Audio-Technica ATH-M20X Review (6 Months Later) After using the Audio-Technica ATH-M20X for six months, I can confidently say that this budget-friendly headphone has held up quite well. Whether you're using them for casual music listening, podcasts, or video calls, these headphones still manage to deliver solid performance at an affordable price. Here's my updated take after months of regular use. Design and Build Quality Six months in, the ATH-M20X still feels just as sturdy as it did when I first got them. The lightweight plastic build hasn't shown any signs of wear or damage. The adjustable headband is still smooth, and the ear cups remain comfortable, even during long listening sessions. I was initially concerned about the ear padding feeling too firm, but surprisingly, it's held up fine over time. It doesn't get too uncomfortable, though if you're used to very plush padding, you might still find them a bit stiff. The build overall is simple but durable. These headphones are easy to fold up and store, which has been great for travel. There’s no significant creaking or looseness in the joints after a few months of use, which shows that they’re well-built for the price. Sound Quality the sound quality of the ATH-M20X is still impressive for an entry-level headphone. The bass remains balanced—not too punchy, but present enough for most genres. If you're into bass-heavy music, like hip-hop or EDM, you might feel like you want more, but it’s not bad by any means. The mids and vocals are still clear, and the treble hasn’t become harsh or fatiguing. There’s a nice balance overall that works well for a variety of genres. I’ve used these for everything from casual listening to watching movies and gaming, and the audio performance holds up across all activities. I still don’t expect the level of soundstage and deep bass found in more expensive models like the ATH-M50X, but for general use, the M20X has been more than sufficient. Comfort and Fit Comfort-wise, these headphones have done well for long listening sessions. The ear cups still feel snug, and the headband adjusts easily to ensure a good fit. The ear padding has softened slightly, which makes them more comfortable now than when I first got them. I can easily wear these for a few hours without feeling much discomfort, though I wouldn’t say they’re as plush as higher-end headphones. If you have larger ears, you might still feel a bit cramped, but for me, they’ve been comfortable overall. Noise Isolation The passive noise isolation of the ATH-M20X continues to perform well. In quieter environments, they block out most background noise, which is great when I want to focus on music or a podcast. In louder places, like public transport or a noisy café, they do a decent job of cutting out ambient noise, but you can still hear some of the background sounds if the volume isn’t turned up. If you need active noise cancellation, you’ll have to look at pricier models, but for everyday use, the isolation on these is more than adequate. Durability The ATH-M20X has held up impressively well after six months of regular use. The cable hasn’t shown any signs of fraying or damage, despite daily use. I’ve also been able to pack them up and carry them around without worrying about breaking or bending them. They’ve been dropped a couple of times, and there are no visible cracks or loose parts. The plastic build remains solid, and there’s been no degradation in sound quality. One downside, however, is that the cable is still non-detachable, which means if something were to happen to it, you'd have to replace the entire set. That said, the cable itself has been sturdy enough that I haven’t encountered any issues. Pros: Great value: Still impressive sound quality for the price, offering a balanced and clear audio experience. Comfortable for long sessions: Ear padding has softened a bit, making them more comfortable over time. Sturdy build: No signs of wear and tear after six months of regular use. Good noise isolation: Still effective at blocking out background noise, particularly in quieter environments. Durable cable: The non-detachable cable is still in perfect condition after months of use. Cons: Lack of deep bass: The bass is balanced, but if you’re a basshead, you may find it underwhelming. Non-detachable cable: While durable, the inability to replace the cable could be a downside for some. Snug fit for larger ears: While comfortable for most, those with larger ears might find the ear cups a little tight after extended wear. Conclusion After six months of regular use, I’m still very pleased with the Audio-Technica ATH-M20X. For the price, they offer a great combination of clear sound, comfort, and durability. While they don’t have the deep bass or expansive soundstage of more premium models, they provide solid performance for casual listening, gaming, and even podcasts. If you're looking for affordable, reliable headphones that can handle daily use without breaking the bank, the ATH-M20X remains a fantastic choice. They’ve held up well and continue to be a great value after months of use.

Pros: Excellent sound quality. Difference between this model and the 50 model is hard to notice. Comfortable ear cups: I have small but pokey out ears and these cups are comfortable for me to wear for 2 hours or more. Long cable: more than enough cable for most use cases, and it comes with the full size jack plug adapter. Noise suppression: they’re not noise cancelling headphones but they do a brilliant job of suppressing the background noises with just the padded ear cups. Cons: the only little thing I can pick with these is that the construction materials feel a bit cheap, but it doesn’t effect the sound quality at all, and won’t make you feel like you bought a cheap product as the sound quality outweighs it heavily. Great to buy if you’re moving up from those cheaper headphones and want something that gives an accurate representation of the audio you’re working with. Good bass representation, clarity between frequencies, the high end seems the slightest bit lacking, but overall the sound quality is very good and very close to the 50 model.

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.

I upgraded to these from a pair of Sennheiser HD206s that lasted me well before the cable eventually broke. I was apprehensive at the higher price and thought that I should just buy the same pair again but honestly I am glad that I decided to pay extra for these. Seriously, these headphones feel like they should cost £200 instead of £40, and if you can get one in a sale go for it. I'm not an audiophile but these are by far the best budget headphones I've ever bought. The range, bass and fidelity feel nothing but premium. The headphones don't feel like they cater to just one aspect like bass that alot of other cheaper headphones do. They've got a very balanced sound to them, especially once you've broken them in. I don't know what more I can say other than I'm genuinely blown away by the sound quality. When Audio Technica says 'Premium', they do not disappoint. The build-quality is also amazing. They feel solid and are made of a higher-quality plastic than most headphones, this also makes the headphones look great aesthetically as well. The headband and adjustment points are very sturdy and I don't doubt they would last over 2 years without degrading. The band and ear-cups are also very comfortable, even when the thing is worn tightly, and they feel of a similar high quality. The cable is very thick and well-insulated, it is difficult for it to be bent or twisted and it does a good job of protecting the cable. I doubt that the cable will break first unless you don't take care of it. The 6.5mm adapter also feels very high quality, as does the 3.5 connector, so I doubt any issues would arise from that. The noise cancelling is also very good, since the headphones hang tighter to the head than most (but without being uncomfortable, mind.) If you were to look for purpose-built noise-cancelling headphones you'd find better but honestly these are completely fine. I could only notice sound-leakage at extremely high volumes (80%-90%) but If you were to use these headphones at that volume you'd probably go deaf. They've very loud and you don't need a very high volume for them to shine through (I normally found that with the HD206 I had to bump up volume an extra 20%) So overall, these are a very good set of headphones that are an absolute steal at the price (LIke seriously I think AT might be selling this at a loss they're that good) Unless you're a serious audiophile I bet these would do just fine for most music enthusiasts and even casual listeners.

Ive had these for 3 years and they're still going without any issue, which is a suprise because the plastic brakets are composed of cheap plastic. I think its stronger than it feels, which makes you careful with them beyond what is necesary. The leather is of poor quality, but the cups are still comfortable and the headband hasnt torn on me yet, though there is some cracking of the leather which will be the ultimate downfall of my pair (probably in another 2-3 years). More expensive headphones have very soft cups, which is nicer around the ears but sometimes becomes hot so its a bit of a tradoff. I start feeling these afte 2 hours and they become pretty uncomfortable after 5-6 hours. They are very light though, which is a bonus for some. The sound quality is good for the price, and the head band design is a good one which is very robust and smooth. All in all they are a good design, with poor quality materials and sensible priorities on sound quality and head band design. An ideal tradeoff for budget headphones, but they arent that budget anymore considering they used to be £30. Im happy with the purchase, and now these will be spares for me. I bought a more expensive pair, but only because I wanted a mic inbuilt. If you want to use these for being outside with and walking whilst listening, I dont advise these headphones. The cable is too long for it, and they are not strong enough for it. They are more suited for at home, on a PC or Laptop. Also, you might want more noise cancelling in that case.