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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Audio Technica ATH M20X are over-ear headphones great for a budget-conscious listener looking for quality sound and who also may use them primarily in a stationary indoor setting due to their size and wired connection. The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, while more expensive, are true wireless earbuds with active noise cancelling, superior comfort, portability, and they're sweatproof, making them well-suited for travelers or fitness enthusiasts looking for versatility and quiet personal space. If you value noise isolation and a wire-free experience and can invest more, Bose is the better choice; however, if your budget is tighter and you don't mind wires, Audio Technica will serve you well. 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
- Good for TV and video
Advantages of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II
- Very good for exercise
- Very good for air travel
Key differences
Gaming
6.2
5.5
The Audio Technica ATH M20X is only fair for gaming, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is poor.
Phone Calls
4.3
5.1
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and Audio Technica ATH M20X are both poor for phone calls, though the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.7
6.0
The Audio Technica ATH M20X and Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are both only fair for podcasts and audiobooks, though the Audio Technica ATH M20X is somewhat better.
TV and Video
7.6
6.2
The Audio Technica ATH M20X is good for TV and video, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is only fair.
Noise Reduction
6.0
9.1
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is excellent for noise reduction, while the Audio Technica ATH M20X is only fair.
Battery
N/A
7.0 Hours
The Audio Technica ATH M20X does not have a battery. The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II has 7 hours of battery life.
Cost
$49
$199
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
The Audio Technica ATH M20X has a price of $49 and the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II costs $199.
Build Quality
6.9
9.2
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II has excellent build quality, while the Audio Technica ATH M20X has only fair build quality.
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Key similarities
Music
7.6
7.4
The Audio Technica ATH M20X and Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are both good for music.
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How the Audio Technica ATH M20X and the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Audio Technica ATH M20X | Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$49 | $199 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Audio Technica | Bose | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2014 | September 1, 2022 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.6/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 4.4/10 | 5.2/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 6.2/10 | 5.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7.7/10 | 6.3/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.1/10 | 8.5/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | N/A | 7 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | N/A | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | N/A | 2 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | N/A | 5.3 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | N/A | 20 | |
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 | 6.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 6.9/10 | 9.2/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 5.8/10 | 8.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Medium | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 190 Grams | 7.7 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Integrated | |
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 QuietComfort Earbuds II
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Dig into reviews and images
What HiFi?
What HiFi? | September 2023
"Bose’s flagship wireless earbuds were never going to be cheap, but the question was whether they’d be competitive in an area of the market where rivals have never been more capable. The fact that the company has not only managed to implement a successful redesign, but also push the envelope for noise-cancelling and sound quality in such a highly competitive category simultaneously is truly impressive."
Get a great deal on the Audio Technica ATH M20X or the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II
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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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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