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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Audio Technica ATH M20X headphones offer superior overall sound quality, a better soundstage for music listening, and are better suited for activities such as air travel due to their noise isolation. However, they are less comfortable, bulkier, and not as portable as the Sennheiser CX300S earbuds. Sennheisers have a better comfort score and are more portable, making them a good choice for on-the-go listening. Both do not have a mic, so neither is ideal for calls, and both are wired without active noise canceling. Consider the difference in sound quality and comfort versus portability for your use case when making your decision. 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 music
Advantages of the Sennheiser CX300S
- Good for air travel
Key differences
Music
7.6
6.9
The Audio Technica ATH M20X is good for music, while the Sennheiser CX300S is only fair.
Phone Calls
4.3
3.0
The Audio Technica ATH M20X and Sennheiser CX300S are both poor for phone calls, though the Audio Technica ATH M20X is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.7
4.7
The Audio Technica ATH M20X is only fair for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sennheiser CX300S is poor.
Noise Reduction
6.0
7.0
The Sennheiser CX300S is good for noise reduction, while the Audio Technica ATH M20X is only fair.
Build Quality
6.9
8.0
The Sennheiser CX300S has very good build quality, while the Audio Technica ATH M20X has only fair build quality.
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Key similarities
Gaming
6.2
6.1
The Audio Technica ATH M20X and Sennheiser CX300S are both only fair for gaming.
TV and Video
7.6
7.3
The Audio Technica ATH M20X and Sennheiser CX300S are both good for TV and video.
Cost
$49
$50
$0
$10
$20
$30
$40
$50
The Audio Technica ATH M20X has a price of $49 and the Sennheiser CX300S costs $50.
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How the Audio Technica ATH M20X and the Sennheiser CX300S compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Audio Technica ATH M20X | Sennheiser CX300S |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$49 | $50 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Audio Technica | Sennheiser | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2014 | February 1, 2019 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.6/10 | 7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 4.4/10 | 3.1/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 6.2/10 | 6.1/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7.7/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.1/10 | 4.2/10 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 6/10 | 7/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | No | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 6.9/10 | 8/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 5.8/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Small | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 190 Grams | 12 Grams | |
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."
Sennheiser CX300S
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Dig into reviews and images
Major HiFi
Carroll Moore | April 2019
"Sennheiser offers impressive bang for your buck when it comes to the CX 300S. Built like a tank and sounding surprisingly good for such a budget-minded earphone, the CX 300S out-classes many of its would-be competitors. Functional but beautiful, it’s the perfect in-ear listening solution for anyone who wants to hear everything and look good doing it."
Get a great deal on the Audio Technica ATH M20X or the Sennheiser CX300S
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 Sennheiser
A family-owned company, Sennheiser is a German, high fidelity, audio equipment manufacturer founded in 1945. Their consumer audio division is now owned by the Swiss hearing aid and cochlear implant manufacturer Sonova. Sennheiser offers a wide variety of, very high quality, audio equipment solutions, from headphones to earbuds, full sets of monitoring speakers, amplifiers and microphones. They also make what is widely regarded as the best, and most expensive, headphones in existence, the HE-1 Orpheus, costing a whopping $59,000 dollars.
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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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