I’ve used the best Audio-Technica headphones before, and I must say that they’re a pretty popular choice for cheap headphones. I think that the sound quality of the Best Audio-Technica Headphones is pretty good, even compared to more expensive models. But based on how I’ve used them, I think they might not be the most durable in terms of build quality.
Few audio companies are as respected as Audio-Technica. When it comes to studio headphones, audio engineers and enthusiasts cannot help but sing the praises of the Japanese company. The affection is also well deserved, as Audio-Technica always puts the performance and reliability of its quality audio products first, drawing industry professionals like a bunch of cats to the tuna. This versatile brand offers a wide range of headphones for a variety of uses at affordable prices. Below, we have mentioned the best Audio-Technica Headphones.
10 Best Audio-Technica Headphones
Audio-Technica ATH-R70x
The ATH-R70x certainly has a unique look with its “3D wing support system” instead of the traditional headband, but it’s a no-nonsense design that aims for light weight and comfort for longer sessions in the studio. More on comfort later, but at 210 grams they are really very light. This is down to the materials used, apart from the aluminum ear cup grilles and slim headband headband, the rest of the visible parts are plastic.
However, this comes at a cost – the build feels far from sturdy and seems to require some care when handling. Maybe it’s deceiving, but these don’t feel like headphones that you can just toss in a backpack with other stuff and expect them to be in the same condition afterwards. In addition, the high-quality and pleasant-to-the-touch material used to cover the ear cushions attracts hair and dust in a similar way to Alcantara, so they need some maintenance to keep them looking fresh.
Audio-Technica ATH-M50X
The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x are excellent-sounding closed-back headphones for critical listening. They have outstanding bass, midrange and treble reproduction and are robust and durable enough to last a long time. However, their studio design offers only passive isolation from ambient noise and no audio control, which is not an ideal for noisy environments and commuting.
The ATH-M40x headphones are slightly larger than similar model headphones, which makes them a bit more comfortable. The extra space allows them to fit larger ears and not squeeze the head too tightly. Unfortunately, the padding can be a bit stiff and jarring, especially when moving or adjusting the headphones on the head.
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2
The Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 are wireless over-ear headphones with a continuous battery life of more than 60 hours. They are the next generation of the Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT and have a very neutral, less boomy sound profile. They also have some new features, including multi-device pairing and sound customization via their companion app.
The headphones now also charge with a USB-C connection instead of Micro-USB. The Audio-Technica M50xBT2 look like simple studio headphones. They have an all-black design except for round silver accents on the outside of each earcup and the brand name printed in white at the top of the headband.
Audio-Technica ATH-M20x
The Audio-Technica ATH-M20x are the best budget-friendly Audio-Technica headphones we’ve tested. These over-ear headphones have a simplistic design without many frills, but their very balanced, versatile sound profile should please fans of neutral sound. There’s a slight mid-bass over-emphasis that adds body to your audio, and the very flat mid-range response means vocals and lead instruments sound present and clear.
They’re decently comfortable and don’t clamp too tightly to your head, allowing you to listen to music for hours without feeling much fatigue. They come with a 1/8″ to 1/4″ adapter, meaning you can plug them straight into an amp or mixer. However, they don’t have a microphone or built-in controls, so they are not a convenient choice for casual use when you are on the go.
Audio-Technica ATH-SR50BT
Audio-Technica has always been a master of moderation in its design. You’ll never wear one of his headphones hoping to draw attention – their designs are far too subtle for that. For those who want to look elsewhere, here you have a really nice, snazzy looking pair of cans that come with a thick, padded memory phone headband, dual earcups, and buttons and ports that are secretly hidden underneath.
And further in those earcups are good sized 45mm drivers. These ports include a USB (not C) for charging and a 3.5mm jack. That’s great to see considering these are Bluetooth headphones – not all have the jack connector. It’s here, though, and comes with a 1.2m cable. The reason we use analog cables in hands-on Bluetooth headphones means there’s another way to listen to your music when the battery is low.
Audio-Technica ATH-AD900X
The ATH-AD900x is ideal for music lovers who prefer the spacious quality of open-back headphones that combine immersive sound with long-lasting comfort. The ATH-AD900x features large 53-mm drivers designed exclusively for headphones, which use rare-earth magnets and Audio-Technica’s Copper Clad Aluminum Wire (CCAW) technology for superb audio reproduction with an extremely wide frequency response from 5 Hz to 35,000 Hz.
The ATH-AD900x offer an immersive listening experience with clear and natural reproduction of voices and instruments, smooth tonal balance, accurate imaging and superior dynamic range. The headphones offer unique wearing comfort with their generously padded earcups, lightweight aluminum honeycomb housing, and unique 3D wing-supported housing that fits each wearer perfectly.
Audio-Technica ATH-M40x
The Audio-Technica ATH-M40x are decent headphones with great studio quality sound. They feel sturdy and are fairly comfortable, but don’t offer any control options for your audio. They also only offer passive isolation, which may not be enough to block out some listeners’ noise when commuting.
The large ear cups of the ATH-M40x completely enclose the ears and do not put too much pressure on the head. They also pivot, making them easy to adjust. They’re more comfortable than the Beyer dynamic DT 770, but the headband and earcup padding is a bit rigid and squeaks when you move or adjust the headphones on your head.
Audio-Technica ATH-ANC900BT
The Audio Technica ATH-ANC900BT offers a pretty lightweight listening experience. Constructed primarily of plastic with aluminum extensions for added strength, the headphones still feel solid despite the featherweight build. A hinge also allows these headphones to fold or swivel to lay flat. Deep poly-leather padding covers the ear cushions and top of the headband, providing comfort for extended listening sessions.
Dedicated controls on the left earcup allow wearer to adjust playback and volume. There’s also a dedicated toggle for turning Bluetooth on and off, and a dedicated button for cycling through ANC modes. In addition to the standard noise-cancellation mode, there is also a passive listen-through mode that amplifies ambient noise.
Audio-Technica ATH-M70x
The Audio-Technica ATH-M70x delivers decent sound, but it lacks the bass and versatility of the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. They’re stylish, comfortable, and have a good body, but have a slightly weaker build quality than some of the previous ATH-M models. They also don’t block out noise very well.
They are not too heavy or tight on the head. They also have slightly better earcup padding than the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x and Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. Although the earcups are large, the opening created by the padding feels a bit small and sometimes touches the tip of the ear. This can cause mild discomfort during long listening sessions, but is not significant enough to be a cause for concern.
Audio-Technica ATH-MSR7bBK
The new 45mm dynamic drivers offer a high frequency response range of 5 Hz to 50 kHz. This not only reads well on paper, but also sounds exceptionally good. Its transparency literally scrutinizes the sound to ensure all details appear the same. Compared to its predecessor, Audio-Technica has kept the highs under control so that they are no longer overdone, but are still crisp and crystal clear.
The precisely rendered transients of Bob James’ “Westchester Lady” are a testament to the capabilities of these headphones, while the electronic hi-hat elements of Kraftwerk’s “Heimcomputer” are delivered with real power. Well-rounded mids serve lead sound elements and vocals well, keeping things clean and straightforward overall.
Final Words
Audio-Technica has a long and distinguished sonic heritage, starting with playing with turntable phono cartridges in the swinging sixties and then expanding into headphones in the mid seventies. With the advent of wireless listening and active noise cancellation, Audio-Technica has kept pace with the times, and some of its headphones make up our roundups of the best headphones and best true wireless headphones.
