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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
The Audio Technica ATH M40X headphones are a solid choice if you prioritize sound quality and focus on music and TV, thanks to their very good soundstage, comfort, and closed-back design that provides decent noise isolation; however, they lack a built-in mic and are not optimal for calls, gaming, or portability. On the other hand, the Creative Labs Aurvana Trio LS earbuds are more budget-friendly, provide good mic quality and are better suited for calls and meetings. They're also more travel-friendly due to their smaller size and are decent for use during various activities, though they don't offer features like active noise cancelling or wireless functionality. If you want a more immersive listening experience and don't mind the additional cost, go for the Audio Technica. If you need something more affordable, portable, and versatile for different types of use, including calls, the Creative Labs Aurvana Trio LS might be more suitable for you. 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
- Very good for TV and video
Advantages of the Creative Labs Aurvana Trio LS
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
8.1
6.6
The Audio Technica ATH M40X is very good for music, while the Creative Labs Aurvana Trio LS is only fair.
Gaming
7.0
7.9
The Creative Labs Aurvana Trio LS and Audio Technica ATH M40X are both good for gaming, though the Creative Labs Aurvana Trio LS is somewhat better.
Phone Calls
3.3
6.9
The Creative Labs Aurvana Trio LS is only fair for phone calls, while the Audio Technica ATH M40X is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.1
7.4
The Creative Labs Aurvana Trio LS is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Audio Technica ATH M40X is poor.
TV and Video
8.7
7.2
The Audio Technica ATH M40X is very good for TV and video, while the Creative Labs Aurvana Trio LS is good.
Noise Reduction
5.3
7.0
The Creative Labs Aurvana Trio LS is good for noise reduction, while the Audio Technica ATH M40X is poor.
Cost
$99
$25
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
The Audio Technica ATH M40X has a price of $99 and the Creative Labs Aurvana Trio LS costs $25.
Build Quality
8.2
9.0
The Creative Labs Aurvana Trio LS 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 Creative Labs Aurvana Trio LS compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Audio Technica ATH M40X | Creative Labs Aurvana Trio LS |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$99 | $25 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Audio Technica | Creative Labs | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2014 | January 1, 2018 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.1/10 | 6.6/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 3.3/10 | 7/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.1/10 | 8/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.8/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.3/10 | 4.1/10 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 5.3/10 | 7/10 | |
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 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7.6/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Medium | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 245 Grams | 18 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."
Creative Labs Aurvana Trio LS
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Dig into reviews and images
Forbes
Mark Sparrow | December 2021
"These super-affordable wired earphones are some of the best I’ve heard in recent years. For the money they are unbeatable. And before you say: “I can’t use them as there’s no headphone jack on my smartphone!”, they can work with jack-less phones by using the brilliant little Creative SXFI headphone amp which plugs into a smartphone’s USB or Lightning port (with an adapter) and produces the most sublime audio output."
Get a great deal on the Audio Technica ATH M40X or the Creative Labs Aurvana Trio LS
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 Creative Labs
Creative Labs is a Singaporean technology company specialized in the manufacture of multimedia products. They created the world-famous Soundblaster soundcard back in 1989 which was a staple of the gaming community for a long time. Nowadays, besides still marketing their discrete audio systems, they offer a wide array of headphones, gaming headsets and speakers that still preserve that same heritage.
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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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