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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If budget is a concern and you prioritize sound quality for music and unbiased sound, go for the Audio Technica ATH M40X. They offer excellent overall sound quality and are ideal for critical listening. However, they're wired, bulkier, and not as comfortable for long periods. The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are more expensive but are wireless with active noise canceling, making them suitable for travel, exercise, and better for calls and meetings due to their built-in microphone. They are also more portable and offer virtual surround sound, which is absent in the ATH M40X. Choose the Bose Earbuds if comfort, noise isolation, and convenience are top priorities. 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 QuietComfort Earbuds II
- Very good for exercise
- Very good for air travel
Key differences
Music
8.1
7.4
The Audio Technica ATH M40X is very good for music, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is good.
Gaming
7.0
5.5
The Audio Technica ATH M40X is good for gaming, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is poor.
Phone Calls
3.3
5.1
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and Audio Technica ATH M40X are both poor for phone calls, though the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.1
6.0
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is only fair for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Audio Technica ATH M40X is poor.
TV and Video
8.7
6.2
The Audio Technica ATH M40X is very good for TV and video, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is only fair.
Noise Reduction
5.3
9.1
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is excellent for noise reduction, while the Audio Technica ATH M40X is poor.
Battery
N/A
7.0 Hours
The Audio Technica ATH M40X does not have a battery. The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II has 7 hours of battery life.
Cost
$99
$199
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
The Audio Technica ATH M40X has a price of $99 and the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II costs $199.
Build Quality
8.2
9.2
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II has excellent build quality, while the Audio Technica ATH M40X has very good build quality.
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How the Audio Technica ATH M40X and the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Audio Technica ATH M40X | Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$99 | $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 | 8.1/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 3.3/10 | 5.2/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.1/10 | 5.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.8/10 | 6.3/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.3/10 | 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 | 5.3/10 | 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 | 8.2/10 | 9.2/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7.6/10 | 8.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Medium | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 245 Grams | 7.7 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."
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 M40X 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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