Audio-Technica ATH-M20x Review

9.4
9.4 score
[Editors rating (9.4)] = (WalkJogRun) score (9.4)/10


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If you are searching for a good pair of headphones at an affordable price, then you might want to check out the Audio-Technica ATH-M20x's. They offer you a fantastic sound experience. This means giving you crisper sounds that are not overly bassy, which many music lovers can appreciate. You aren't going to get all the fancy features that you'd get from the more expensive pairs. But that is something that you would expect from something at this price point.

The closed back design and contoured earcups help keep most of the background noise at bay so you can listen in peace, giving you a more pleasant experience while you are out and about. Whether you like to travel, commute for work or you are just someone who likes music; these headphones will be perfect for you. Customers love them, and they come highly recommended.

Editor's Pros & Cons
Pros

Affordable price point

Decent sound quality

Great durability

Lightweight and comfortable

Swiveling earcups

Cons

No color options

No advanced features

Activities

The Audio-Technica ATH-M20x over the ear headphones are designed to be used more for studio settings, whether in your home or a professional context. They are considered to be monitor headphones. And as such, they are specifically designed to help you analyze the audio that you are listening to and give you the ability to isolate individual sounds.

They are also a fantastic choice for those of you who like just to hang out and lose yourself in the music. Whether you commute to work or you want to travel, these headphones are going to be a great and affordable choice.

If you are looking for a pair of headphones to wear to the gym or for any other physical activity, then these ones might not be the best option for you. They have padded earcups that will collect the moisture from your sweat, and they will start to develop an unpleasant odor. They are not supposed to be for athletic use; therefore, they cannot hold up to that kind of treatment. Additionally, some customers have stated that cord is just a bit too long to work well at the gym, it will get in the way and lead to distractions while you're trying to get a workout in. There are still some users that use them while being active; it's not that you can't use them for that. They just weren't designed for athletic use.


Features

There are some great features that you will be able to take advantage of when you are using the Audio-Technica ATH-M20x headphones. They have 40mm drivers that use Earth magnets as well as copper lined aluminum wire voice coils to give you a better sound while you're listening. You can even tune them so you can get better performance at lower frequencies.

The earcups will contour around your ears so you can get a fantastic amount of comfort as well as take advantage of some sound isolation when you're hanging out in a loud and boisterous environment. They aren't considered to be noise canceling as they don't use that circuitry, but they do a decent job at dampening out some of the ambient sounds around you so you can focus on what you are doing without the distractions of the outside world. If you need actual noise canceling, you may want to consider a different option.

These headphones have a closed back which means that they seal around the back, keeping the sound from spilling out, annoying everyone else around you. You will be able to keep the music contained within the earcups, which means that you may not get as natural of a sound as you might with open backs, but it will help with blocking out more of the other outside noises.

Something that these headphones do not have that some of the competitors offer is music controls on the earcup as well as a microphone. You will not find those perks on these headphones, but that doesn't seem to deter many folks. It just means that if you are using them for listening to your music, you will have to pull your music player out of your pocket if you want to adjust the volume or change the song.

Sound Quality

For the average person, the Audio-Technica ATH-M20x has a beautiful sound quality, giving you amazing sounding music to listen to. They are not as heavy on the bass as you might find in many of the competitors. This is not always a bad thing, in fact, it will make the song sound much brighter and more precise, letting you focus on everything else that is going on in the music, other than just the bass.

Keep in mind that these are budget headphones and designed for use in a studio setting so they are not going to give you the same level of sound quality that you would find in higher-end headphones. The sound might be less than stellar for audiophiles, but for those just looking for something affordable that they can jam out to then this is going to work just fine.

Connectivity

The Audio-Technica ATH-M20x headphones connect to your phone or media player through an attached 3-meter long cable. It will simply plug into the headphone jack of your device, and you are good to go. They are not wireless so there is no need to fiddle with the settings on your device to get it to connect, you just plug it in and go.

If you find yourself needing to plug into one of your instruments or any other device that takes a 1/4-inch jack, these headphones come with an adapter that you can use. You will be able to easily use the adapter so you can use these earphones with just about any device you might need.

Comfort

Customers have said that these headphones are exceptionally comfortable while they are wearing them. That is very important as you don't want to be stuck wearing something that is going to hurt your ears or feel too tight on your head. Some reviewers stated that they had to mess around with it a bit to adjust it for the perfect fit, but once you get there they feel great.

The earcups are padded with a comfortable foam that sits around your ears so you aren't experiencing discomfort around your ears while you are wearing them. The headband is padded as well so you will get a pleasant experience on your head while you are out and about. All of the paddings have a covering of a soft faux leather material that feels great on your skin, adding to the overall comfort.

They are not too tight that they will clamp on your head, squishing your ears uncomfortably while you are wearing them. At the same time, however, they are going to be able to stay firmly in place while you are out and about. This is important if you are taking them with you to the gym or for a long distance run, you want to make sure that they stay put on your head and will not keep falling off.

Style

The Audio-Technica ATH-M20x earphones have a classic over the ear design. They have two large earcups that cover your ears with padding around the outside to keep them comfortable for extended use. The headband itself also has some padding to add to the overall comfort and aesthetics.

The design itself isn't flashy at all, you will find the logo on the earcups, but they do not stand out too much, blending in with the rest of the headphones. Across the headband, you will find the Audio-Technica name and logo in a contrasting color.

One thing that some consumers would have liked to have seen is some more color options. As it is, there are no options. They come in black, that is it. That does not take away from the performance of the headphones at all, but some people would have liked to have seen a bigger selection.

Durability

When it comes to your headphones, you want to try to make sure that you find a pair that are going to last you a while. It can be frustrating when you buy something, and they break shortly after you get them. Thankfully, the Audio-Technica ATH-M20x's are going to last you a while so you will not have to worry about replacing them for a while.

The Audio-Technica ATH-M20x headphones have a solid build. They are mostly made of sturdy plastic, that will not snap or break easily. The only problem some customers have is that the cord itself is permanently attached to the headphones so if something goes wrong with the cable, then you have to replace the whole set. That doesn't happen very often, but it's something to keep in mind when making the decision to purchase them or not.

Intuitive Use

The Audio-Technica ATH-M20x headphones are super easy to use, barely an inconvenience. They have a cord that connects to the phone, so you just plug them in, and you are ready to listen. There are no fancy buttons or extra features that you have to worry about. There is really nothing else you have to do to use these earphones other than plug them in and listen. You control all of your music from your listening device, not from the headphones themselves and since they are wired, there is no need to go through the hassle of trying to get them to connect.

Power Source

The Audio-Technica's are wired headphones and therefore have no use for a battery. There is no power source at all for these headphones. They simply plug into your phone or music device, and you are ready to go.

This is great because you don't have to deal with the hassle of making sure the battery is charged or having it die on you while you are out and about. They are always ready to be used.

Value

These headphones have a pretty low price point, which is perfect for those looking for an affordable option. They offer fantastic sound quality and a comfortable fit, giving you an all-around pleasant experience while wearing them. To top it all off, they are very durable, so you won't have to worry about spending the money again to replace them.

You aren't going to get all the fancy features that you would expect from the higher-end headphones, but that is to be expected considering the price point. If you want all the bells and whistles, then you will want to look at the more pricey headphones. If you want dependable function and affordability, then these ones are perfect.

Bottom Line

If you're looking for a reliable pair of headphones that function well and feel great, then you've come to the right place. The Audio-Technica ATH-M20x's have a budget-friendly price point that customers love, it draws them in, and the excellent quality keeps them coming back for more. You aren't going to get all the bells and whistles that you might expect from the higher-end products, but that is something that you should expect with the more affordable products. Don't let the price tag fool you though; these are a great pair of headphones with pretty good sound. The closed-back design helps keep the music in so you aren't contributing to the noise pollution around you. They don't actually have noise canceling technology, but the since the earcups cover your whole ear and they have the closed-back design, they will help keep a lot of the background noise away from you so you can tune out the world around you.

You can use the headphones for just about anything you are doing. They may be intended for those working in a studio setting but are great for everyday use as well. You can wear them for physical exercise, and they would work great there, but they won't excel there. The padding in the earcups can't hand the sweat very well and are hard to clean, so you run the risk of them developing an odor after excessive use. They are an all around great pair of earphones that customers adore.