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What we think
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Updated April 11, 2024·
Choosing between the Audio Technica ATH M40X and the Beats Fit Pro depends on your preferences and activities. The ATH M40X offers excellent overall sound quality, very good durability, and is more suitable for a stationary listening experience, like editing music or watching TV, due to its wired connection and less portability. However, they lack a microphone and active noise cancelling. The Beats Fit Pro, although more expensive, provides active noise cancellation, wireless convenience, better suitability for exercise and travel due to its sweatproof certification and compact size, and features like virtual surround sound and an H1 chip for Apple devices, but may not match the soundstage quality of the ATH M40X. If budget is a concern and you don't need wireless features, the ATH M40X might be a good choice, but if you're an active user or an Apple device owner looking for feature-rich earbuds, consider the Fit Pro. 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 M40X
- Very good for music
- Good for gaming
- Very good for TV and video
Advantages of the Beats Fit Pro
- Good for exercise
- Very good for air travel
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
8.1
6.9
The Audio Technica ATH M40X is very good for music, while the Beats Fit Pro is only fair.
Gaming
7.0
4.9
The Audio Technica ATH M40X is good for gaming, while the Beats Fit Pro is poor.
Phone Calls
3.3
6.3
The Beats Fit Pro is only fair for phone calls, while the Audio Technica ATH M40X is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.1
7.6
The Beats Fit Pro is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Audio Technica ATH M40X is poor.
TV and Video
8.7
5.6
The Audio Technica ATH M40X is very good for TV and video, while the Beats Fit Pro is poor.
Noise Reduction
5.3
8.3
The Beats Fit Pro is very good for noise reduction, while the Audio Technica ATH M40X is poor.
Battery
N/A
5.2 Hours
The Audio Technica ATH M40X does not have a battery. The Beats Fit Pro has 5.2 hours of battery life.
Cost
$99
$179
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
The Audio Technica ATH M40X has a price of $99 and the Beats Fit Pro costs $179.
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Key similarities
Build Quality
8.2
8.5
The Beats Fit Pro and Audio Technica ATH M40X both have very good build quality.
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How the Audio Technica ATH M40X and the Beats Fit Pro compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Audio Technica ATH M40X | Beats Fit Pro |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$99 | $179 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Audio Technica | Beats | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2014 | November 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.1/10 | 7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 3.3/10 | 6.4/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.1/10 | 5/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.8/10 | 5.7/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.3/10 | 7.3/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | N/A | 5.2 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | N/A | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | N/A | 1.3 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | N/A | 5 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | N/A | 18 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 5.3/10 | 8.4/10 | |
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 | 6.7/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.2/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7.6/10 | 7/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Medium | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 245 Grams | 5.6 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Integrated | |
Shopping
Audio Technica ATH M40X
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Dig into reviews and images
Soundguys
Lily Katz | August 2023
"If you were to pick one headset to fill all of your needs, the ATH-M40x is a great buy with its sub-$100 price tag, pleasant sound quality, and accessories. Whether you need to use it for live monitoring, a midnight editing session, or to underscore a campus walk, the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x is a great companion."
Beats Fit Pro
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Dig into reviews and images
SoundGuys
Lili Katz | January 2024
"The Beats Fit Pro is just as easy to use with an Android device as it is with an iPhone. It seems Apple-owned Beats is trying to appeal to a wider market, and it works. The Fit Pro fits like a pro with the ear tip fit test and multiple ear tips. Sound quality is sure to please most athletes, but the Fit Pro is just at home in the office as it is in the gym. The main factor holding the Beats Fit Pro back from gold is the price."
Get a great deal on the Audio Technica ATH M40X or the Beats Fit Pro
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 Beats
Beats is an American, consumer-focused, audio products manufacturer. Founded originally by American rapper and producer Dr Dre, the company is now a subsidiary of Apple. Beats sells a wide range of audio products, including several models of headphones, earbuds and speakers as well as full car audio systems.
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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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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