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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you're looking for over-ear headphones with very good sound quality for music and TV, and don't need wireless features or a microphone, the Audio Technica ATH M40X is suitable. They're not great for exercise or travel due to size and lack of active noise cancelling. Conversely, the Jabra Elite 4 earbuds are versatile with good sound quality, active noise cancelling, and excellent build quality, making them appropriate for calls, meetings, and use during exercise. However, they fall short for immersive gaming and TV experiences. They are more portable, offer sweat and dust resistance, and come with a battery life sufficient for typical use. Choose based on whether you need portability and multipurpose use (Jabra) or a stationary, immersive audio experience (Audio Technica). 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 Jabra Elite 4
- Very good for phone calls
- Good for exercise
- Very good for air travel
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
8.1
6.6
The Audio Technica ATH M40X is very good for music, while the Jabra Elite 4 is only fair.
Gaming
7.0
5.4
The Audio Technica ATH M40X is good for gaming, while the Jabra Elite 4 is poor.
Phone Calls
3.3
8.8
The Jabra Elite 4 is very good for phone calls, while the Audio Technica ATH M40X is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.1
8.6
The Jabra Elite 4 is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Audio Technica ATH M40X is poor.
TV and Video
8.7
6.0
The Audio Technica ATH M40X is very good for TV and video, while the Jabra Elite 4 is only fair.
Noise Reduction
5.3
7.0
The Jabra Elite 4 is good for noise reduction, while the Audio Technica ATH M40X is poor.
Battery
N/A
5.5 Hours
The Audio Technica ATH M40X does not have a battery. The Jabra Elite 4 has 5.5 hours of battery life.
Cost
$79
$100
$40
$60
$80
$100
$120
$140
$160
The Audio Technica ATH M40X has a price of $79 and the Jabra Elite 4 costs $100.
Build Quality
8.2
9.0
The Jabra Elite 4 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 Jabra Elite 4 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Audio Technica ATH M40X | Jabra Elite 4 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$79 | $100 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Audio Technica | Jabra | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2014 | April 1, 2023 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.1/10 | 6.6/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 3.3/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.1/10 | 5.4/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.8/10 | 6/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.3/10 | 7.7/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | N/A | 5.5 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | N/A | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | N/A | 3.5 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | N/A | 5.2 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | N/A | 21 | |
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 | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | N/A | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | N/A | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 8.5/10 | |
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 | 4.6 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."
Jabra Elite 4
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Dig into reviews and images
SoundGuys
Jasper Lastoria | September 2023
"The Jabra Elite 4 is a good midrange option with solid isolation and aptX codec for Android. It sounds consumer friendly from the box and the app has some EQ to adjust to taste. Some included luxuries include multipoint, sidetone, and Spotify Tap"
Get a great deal on the Audio Technica ATH M40X or the Jabra Elite 4
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 Jabra
Jabra is a subsidiary of GN Store Nord, a 150-year-old Danish company that specializes in the manufacturing of hearing aids, headsets and earphones. Jabra has a focus on fit and comfort and quality control over everything else. According to Peter Karstromer, Jabras CEO, they “design and engineer technology that frees people to work, live and communicate how and where they want to, equipping them with the tools to live their life to a new rhythm”.
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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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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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