The ear cups on the M40X can only swivel 90 degrees forward with just a few degrees swivel in the other direction. A little smaller and a lot cheaper than the excellent M50X model, but with similarly clear, balanced performance. Both headsets house 40mm dynamic drivers, but the ATH-M30x is both lighter and smaller than its big brother. Both will work for one-ear monitoring, and both can lay flat to fit around the neck when not in use.

While the output isn’t exactly what some audiophiles refer to as “flat,” those whose music preferences span a wide variety of genres will appreciate how the ATH-M40x sounds. A little bit of EQ can be used to balance both of these headphones to the point that they sound very similar. It has a smooth bass that’s never over-prominent in the mix, a midrange with a nice realistic tone, and treble that provides ample detail without the fatigue possibilities of some other studio pairs like the MDR-7506. Please note this information is provided for guidance only as manufacturer warranties may be updated from time to time.These discounts are usually communicated through newsletters, which are created and managed by us with the tool "Emarsys". Headphone companies aren’t often successful when they try to take a popular pair and make a cheaper version of it. This simply isn’t as much of an all-rounder giant-killer sort of product, in my opinion, as some folks have made it out to be. The bass bloat, artificial-sounding treble, inconsistent comfort levels, and questionable build all combine to make for a painfully average to below-average headphone in my mind. The earpads deteriorating over time is another pretty serious issue but happens gradually, giving you time to plan on re-investing in new pads when the need arises.

It weighs just a few grams more than Audio-Technica’s headset and does a slightly better job of blocking out background noise. Listening to a 50X and a 40X side-by-side, the 50 feels a bit more crisp and detailed, like someone shaved a thin slice of blurriness off the top of the 40X sound, revealing more oomph and sparkle underneath.

Most audio philes say that M50X is too heavy on bass, and i bet if i heard them my first reaction would be "Wheres the bass? If you’re looking for this type of sound, I would just get a 50x or have a look at my best headphones for hip-hop guide which goes into some fantastic options (including the 50x). The high-performance ATH-M40x professional headphones are tuned flat for incredibly accurate audio monitoring across an extended frequency range.