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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Audio Technica ATH M40X is a great choice for a more economical option with excellent overall sound quality and soundstage; they're perfect if you need wired headphones for critical listening and mixing. However, they do not have a mic, making them less suitable for calls and meetings. On the other hand, the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is more expensive but comes with superior comfort, active noise cancelling for noisy environments, and a longer battery life in a wireless design, which makes them a good fit for travel, office use, or commuting. If calls and convenience are priorities for you, the Bose would be a better choice, despite 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 M40X
- Very good for music
- Good for gaming
- Very good for TV and video
Advantages of the Bose Quiet Comfort 45
- Very good for phone calls
- Best in class for air travel
- Excellent for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
8.1
6.4
The Audio Technica ATH M40X is very good for music, while the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is only fair.
Gaming
7.0
5.5
The Audio Technica ATH M40X is good for gaming, while the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is poor.
Phone Calls
3.3
8.0
The Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is very good for phone calls, while the Audio Technica ATH M40X is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.1
9.3
The Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is excellent for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Audio Technica ATH M40X is poor.
TV and Video
8.7
5.8
The Audio Technica ATH M40X is very good for TV and video, while the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is poor.
Noise Reduction
5.3
10.0
The Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is best in class for noise reduction, while the Audio Technica ATH M40X is poor.
Battery
N/A
22.5 Hours
The Audio Technica ATH M40X does not have a battery. The Bose Quiet Comfort 45 has 22.5 hours of battery life.
Cost
$99
$260
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Audio Technica ATH M40X has a price of $99 and the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 costs $260.
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Key similarities
Build Quality
8.2
8.5
The Bose Quiet Comfort 45 and Audio Technica ATH M40X both have very good build quality.
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How the Audio Technica ATH M40X and the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Audio Technica ATH M40X | Bose Quiet Comfort 45 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$99 | $260 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Audio Technica | Bose | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2014 | September 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired + Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.1/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 3.3/10 | 8/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.1/10 | 5.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.8/10 | 5.8/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.3/10 | 6.4/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | N/A | 22.5 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | N/A | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | N/A | 3 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | N/A | 5.1 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 5.3/10 | 10/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | N/A | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | N/A | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 7/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.2/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7.6/10 | 10/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 245 Grams | 235.8 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Integrated | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
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."
Bose Quiet Comfort 45
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Dig into reviews and images
What HiFi?
What HiFi? | November 2022
"If you want a set of wireless over-ear headphones you can put on, deploy noise-cancelling on your commute or at your desk and largely extinguish the outside world for up to 24 hours, the Bose QC 45 has the edge over most of the competition at the price."
Get a great deal on the Audio Technica ATH M40X or the Bose Quiet Comfort 45
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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