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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 10, 2024·
If you prioritize sound quality for music and the immersive experience of a closed-back, over-ear design for home use, especially with TV and video, the Audio Technica ATH M40X is a better choice, but it does not support wireless connectivity and has no microphone for calls. The Creative Labs Zen Air will save you money and are suitable for activities like exercise and air travel, thanks to their sweatproof design and active noise cancelling, plus they offer convenient features like wireless charging and an integrated microphone, but may not match the sound quality and soundstage of the Audio Technica for critical listening. 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 Creative Labs Zen Air
- Very good for air travel
Key differences
Music
8.1
6.8
The Audio Technica ATH M40X is very good for music, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is only fair.
Gaming
7.0
5.1
The Audio Technica ATH M40X is good for gaming, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is poor.
Phone Calls
3.3
5.1
The Creative Labs Zen Air and Audio Technica ATH M40X are both poor for phone calls, though the Creative Labs Zen Air is somewhat better.
TV and Video
8.7
5.6
The Audio Technica ATH M40X is very good for TV and video, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is poor.
Noise Reduction
5.3
7.0
The Creative Labs Zen Air is good for noise reduction, while the Audio Technica ATH M40X is poor.
Battery
N/A
5.0 Hours
The Audio Technica ATH M40X does not have a battery. The Creative Labs Zen Air has 5 hours of battery life.
Cost
$99
$30
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
The Audio Technica ATH M40X has a price of $99 and the Creative Labs Zen Air costs $30.
Build Quality
8.2
9.0
The Creative Labs Zen Air has excellent build quality, while the Audio Technica ATH M40X has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.1
5.4
The Creative Labs Zen Air and Audio Technica ATH M40X are both poor for podcasts and audiobooks.
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How the Audio Technica ATH M40X and the Creative Labs Zen Air compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Audio Technica ATH M40X | Creative Labs Zen Air |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$99 | $30 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Audio Technica | Creative Labs | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2014 | December 1, 2022 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.1/10 | 6.9/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 3.3/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.1/10 | 5.1/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.8/10 | 5.7/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.3/10 | 6.9/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | N/A | 5 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | N/A | Yes | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | N/A | 2 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | N/A | 5 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | N/A | 12 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 5.3/10 | 7/10 | |
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 | 7/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.2/10 | 9/10 | |
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 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 Zen Air
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Headphone Check
Maike Paeßens | February 2023
"The Creative Zen Air’s weak points are its low battery life and rather short Bluetooth range. On the other hand, the strengths of these weatherproof True Wireless in-Ears are the sound and the wide attenuation of the Active Noise Cancellation. Considering the price range, the speech intelligibility during calls is also exceptionally good."
Get a great deal on the Audio Technica ATH M40X or the Creative Labs Zen Air
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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Why trust us
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
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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