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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Audio Technica ATH M40X are closed-back headphones known for excellent sound quality at a lower price, making them a great choice for general music listening and TV due to good sound isolation and low leakage. They're not equipped with a mic, so calls, meetings, and gaming might be challenging compared to the EPOS PC38X. The EPOS PC38X, albeit more expensive, are praised for their superior comfort and outstanding mic quality, which makes them ideal for immersive gaming experiences and video calls. They have an open-back design, which offers a more natural soundstage but less noise isolation, so they wouldn't be the best for loud environments or recording purposes. Both have wired connectivity and similar sound quality scores, but if your focus is on gaming or calls and the higher price isn't a barrier, the EPOS PC38X with its boom mic could be more suitable. 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
- Good for air travel
Advantages of the EPOS PC38X
- Best in class for music
- Best in class for phone calls
- Best in class for gaming
- Excellent for TV and video
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
8.1
9.5
The EPOS PC38X is best in class for music, while the Audio Technica ATH M40X is very good.
Gaming
7.0
10.0
The EPOS PC38X is best in class for gaming, while the Audio Technica ATH M40X is good.
Phone Calls
3.3
10.0
The EPOS PC38X is best in class for phone calls, while the Audio Technica ATH M40X is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.1
7.9
The EPOS PC38X is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Audio Technica ATH M40X is poor.
Noise Reduction
5.3
2.5
The Audio Technica ATH M40X and EPOS PC38X are both poor for noise reduction, though the Audio Technica ATH M40X is somewhat better.
Cost
$99
$125
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
The Audio Technica ATH M40X has a price of $99 and the EPOS PC38X costs $125.
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Key similarities
TV and Video
8.7
9.0
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers EPOS PC38X to be excellent for TV and video, while the Audio Technica ATH M40X is very good.
Build Quality
8.2
8.5
The EPOS PC38X and Audio Technica ATH M40X both have very good build quality.
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How the Audio Technica ATH M40X and the EPOS PC38X compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Audio Technica ATH M40X | EPOS PC38X |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$99 | $125 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Audio Technica | EPOS | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2014 | September 1, 2020 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.1/10 | 9.6/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 3.3/10 | 10/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.1/10 | 10/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.8/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.3/10 | 4.5/10 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 5.3/10 | 2.5/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 10/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.2/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7.6/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 245 Grams | 249.4 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Boom | |
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."
EPOS PC38X
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Dig into reviews and images
Everyday Listening
Ryan Soo | November 2021
"Lightweight and comfortable design, Mic arm with mute, Excellent tuning, Highly natural midrange voicing, Clean and separated bass, Solid soundstage dimensions. Combining all day comfort and integrated coms with a balanced and spacious sound from essentially any source, it is hard to deny the versatility and value provided by the PC38X."
Get a great deal on the Audio Technica ATH M40X or the EPOS PC38X
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 EPOS
EPOS is a relatively new company with a very long heritage. Previously known as Sennheiser Communications, EPOS is the result of the joint venture between the German headphone manufacturer Sennheiser and the Danish Demant that sought to develop premium audio communication solutions. They specialize in two main product groups, enterprise communications and gaming communication headsets and processing devices.
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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
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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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