If you're looking for a no-frills, well-made pair of entry-level studio headphones that sound great and won't cost you an arm and a leg, the
Audio-Technical ATH-M20x are more than up to the task.
Audio-Technica, along with other brands like Sony and Sennheiser, is one of the biggest names in the world of studio-quality headphones. The company offers a wide lineup of professional-grade cans that will set you back hundreds of dollars, but it also makes a variety of more affordable and highly rated alternatives, including our top pick: The ATH-M20x over-ear headphones.
The Audio-Technica ATH-M20x are designed to be an entry-level pair of studio headphones, and as such, they feature a full-sized over-ear design with 40mm drivers. This means that they are best suited for use with your laptop or desktop computer. Smaller devices like smartphones, tablets, or handheld gaming systems won't have enough power to get the most out of these headphones, but you're probably already using earbuds with those.
When hooked up to a PC or TV, however, the ATH-M20x headphones really shine. They deliver excellent sound quality in the high and mid ranges, with sufficient impedance to eliminate annoying interference (like faint buzzing) when hooked up to your electronics. The sound is clear, crisp, and accurate, but don't expect super-deep bass with these. Still, the ATH-M20x are more than good enough for everyday music listening, movie-watching, and gaming.
The build quality and comfort are also as good as you'd expect from an established name like Audio-Technica. The cushioned headband and leatherette-covered padded ear cups are comfortable to wear for extended periods of time, and the cups also provide good noise isolation that filters out the majority of ambient sounds and won't bother others around you unless you're really cranking the volume up.
The ATH-M20x could be considered the little sibling of Audio-Technica's ATH series, as these are essentially a budget-friendly alternative to the M40x and M50x — two highly-rated and very popular headphones, but ones that will set you back $100 to $150. But at only $39-$49, the Audio-Technica ATH-M20x is an incredible value at half the price of the M40x and sneaks in right below our $50 threshold.
Pros: Well-made and comfortable to wear for extended periods, great sound for the price, the 40mm drivers deliver clear and loud sound, and the sturdy 3.5mm cable comes with a 6.3mm adapter for use with audio equipment
Cons: Bass response is lacking compared to its beefier (and much more expensive) cousins