tldr; Studio monitor for budget. Flat reference sound, portable folding design. Small pads uncomfortable for long gaming. K371 often preferred.
$109.00 on AmazonScores based on sentiment analysis of topic-related comments
Best praise vs top criticism for Audio-Technica ATH-M40x
“I know these are disliked here for some reason, but the M40x and the M50x are actually great for their price and I really like them.”
“I had the M40x's and they were ok? I don't think I'd seriously recommend them because there are better headphones now. The comfort is subpar and the sound is lacking. My brother had M50x's and I think I preferred the sound of the 40s. For closed back, I guess they're ok for the price. For budget audiophile I'd prolly point to IEMs or open backs.”
489 Reddit opinions analyzed • Last updated 4/5/2026