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What we think
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Updated April 11, 2024·
If you're on a budget and primarily need headphones for music and TV in a quiet environment, the Audio Technica ATH M20X with good overall sound quality might suit you. However, they might be uncomfortable for long periods, have no wireless capability, and lack active noise cancelling. In contrast, the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones are premium priced but provide excellent noise isolation, best-in-class comfort, active noise cancelling, and are suitable for air travel and exercise. Choose Bose if you need versatility, comfort during long use, and the convenience of wireless with great battery life, but can afford the higher price. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Audio Technica ATH M20X
- The Audio Technica ATH M20X has no clear advantages over the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones.
Advantages of the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones
- Very good for music
- Excellent for gaming
- Excellent for TV and video
- Best in class for air travel
Key differences
Music
7.6
8.3
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is very good for music, while the Audio Technica ATH M20X is good.
Gaming
6.2
9.3
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is excellent for gaming, while the Audio Technica ATH M20X is only fair.
Phone Calls
4.3
5.3
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones and Audio Technica ATH M20X are both poor for phone calls, though the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.7
6.0
The Audio Technica ATH M20X and Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones are both only fair for podcasts and audiobooks, though the Audio Technica ATH M20X is somewhat better.
TV and Video
7.6
9.0
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is excellent for TV and video, while the Audio Technica ATH M20X is good.
Noise Reduction
6.0
9.1
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is excellent for noise reduction, while the Audio Technica ATH M20X is only fair.
Battery
N/A
29.0 Hours
The Audio Technica ATH M20X does not have a battery. The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones has 29 hours of battery life.
Cost
$49
$429
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The Audio Technica ATH M20X has a price of $49 and the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones costs $429.
Build Quality
6.9
9.0
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones has excellent build quality, while the Audio Technica ATH M20X has only fair build quality.
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How the Audio Technica ATH M20X and the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Audio Technica ATH M20X | Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$49 | $429 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Audio Technica | Bose | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2014 | November 1, 2023 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired + Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.6/10 | 8.3/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 4.4/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 6.2/10 | 9.3/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7.7/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.1/10 | 6.4/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | N/A | 29 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | N/A | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | N/A | 3 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | N/A | 5.3 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 6/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | N/A | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | N/A | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 7.4/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 6.9/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 5.8/10 | 10/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 190 Grams | 255 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Integrated | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Audio Technica ATH M20X
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Dig into reviews and images
Soundguys
Jasper Lastoria | September 2023
"Audio-Technica positively defies what you can expect for around $50. Ultimately, Audio-Technica did not design the ATH-M20x to go on the subway with you. It’s for the budget-conscious, do-it-yourself producer, podcaster, or studio that needs to buy tracking cans in bulk. If you don’t need the most deluxe, comfortable headphones, maybe you’ll like the ATH-M20x for its spartan functionality. The headphones are aimed at giving you the minimum requirements without it feeling like a sacrifice."
Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones
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Dig into reviews and images
SoundGuys
Christian Thomas | January 2024
"The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are a credible step up from previous Bose ANC headphones, and they're built to hang tough with the competition for years into the future. No waterproofing is a bit of a letdown, but these headphones have the technical chops to make most quite happy."
Get a great deal on the Audio Technica ATH M20X or the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones
About Audio Technica
Audio Technica is a 60-year-old, Japan-based, professional audio equipment manufacturer. They started off making phonograph cartridges and have expanded their scope of products ever since to include extremely popular models of microphones and headphones. They have been the official audio equipment supplier of several editions of the Summer and Winter Olympics and every edition of the Grammy Awards since 1998.
About Bose
Bose is an American audio equipment manufacturer based out of Framingham, Massachusetts. Founded in 1964 by Amar Bose with the goal of creating a speaker system that could accurately recreate the sound of a concert hall, Bose has become one of the most prominent players in the modern consumer audio market due to the premium feel of their products and their wide brand recognition.
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