Image: Audio-Technica · source
Audio-Technica · Budget
The Audio-Technica ATH-M20x is a wired, closed-back, over-ear monitor headphone with 40 mm drivers that Audio-Technica presents as an entry-level studio model.
Expert pick · RTINGS, Jan 2024
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We have not tested it ourselves: strengths and weaknesses below come from the tests cited.
For a railfan who records train sound or video, a pair of wired monitor headphones is a way to check what was captured. Audio-Technica says the ATH-M20x is designed for tracking and monitoring, and RTINGS found that its balanced sound gives a good impression of what you are listening to when tracking a recording. That is the use to buy it for: checking a recording at a desk or on a laptop, where hearing the true balance of a passing train matters more than portability.
The cable is fixed and straight, 3.0 m long, and exits on the left side. A 6.3 mm snap-on adapter is included, according to Audio-Technica. At 190 g without the cable, the headphones are described by the maker as lightweight for hours of wear. This is a wired model, so it cannot be paired with a phone wirelessly, and RTINGS says there is no microphone and no case or pouch. RTINGS also says the cable is not detachable. Audio-Technica credits the circumaural design with excellent sound isolation, but RTINGS found isolation poor and recommends keeping them for quiet or indoor use, so do not count on them to mask platform noise. Audio-Technica lists a frequency response of 15 to 20,000 Hz, an impedance of 47 ohms and a sensitivity of 96 dB, and says the drivers are tuned for enhanced low-frequency performance. RTINGS describes the sound as warm with pleasing bass, though it finds the treble under-emphasized, which costs some detail in vocal harmonics.
Expert pick · RTINGS: RTINGS, which buys and tests its headphones, calls them budget-friendly closed-backs with a balanced sound that suit quiet settings and monitoring, but says they do not block much noise. Read the review
Strengths
Weaknesses
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Closed-back dynamic |
| Cable | 3.0 m (9.8 ft), straight, left-side exit |
| Weight | 190 g (6.7 oz), without cable and connector |
| Impedance | 47 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 96 dB |
| Driver diameter | 40 mm |
| Frequency response | 15 - 20,000 Hz |
| Maximum input power | 700 mW at 1 kHz |
| Accessories included | 6.3 mm (1/4 inch) snap-on adapter |
A railfan editing video or audio at home who wants a plain, wired, neutral-sounding pair as a first set of monitoring headphones. It is not the choice for commuting or for blocking noise on a platform, nor for anyone who wants wireless freedom or a built-in microphone. RTINGS places it one tier below the ATH-M30x in the same range.
The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x, already in this catalogue, is the sturdier step up that RTINGS says has a detachable cable and extra cables. The ATH-M30x is the model just above this one, which RTINGS says adds a pouch.
Image: Apple · source
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Apple's in-ear true wireless earbuds with active noise cancelling, which RTINGS tested as outstanding for travel, with most extras tied to an iPhone.
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Audio-Technica · Mid-range
A closed-back, wired studio-monitor headphone with a detachable cable, which RTINGS tested as a balanced, comfortable over-ear pair for any device with a headphone socket.
Expert pick · RTINGS, Jun 2026
Image: CMF by Nothing · source
CMF by Nothing · Budget
A closed-back over-ear Bluetooth headphone with hybrid adaptive noise cancelling, a wired option and ear cushions that twist off, tested by RTINGS in the light green colorway.
Expert pick · RTINGS, Jul 2026
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