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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Audio Technica ATH M40X is ideal if you prioritize overall sound quality and sound isolation for environments like public transport and busy offices, and you don't mind a higher price. They're particularly suited for critical listening and watching TV or videos due to their closed-back design and superior soundstage. However, they might be less comfortable for long sessions and aren't optimal for exercise use. Conversely, the Koss KSC75 offers good sound quality at a much lower price, and their open-back design can be comfortable for casual use, but they let in more ambient noise, making them less ideal for noisy environments and they lack the sound isolation benefits of the ATH M40X. 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 gaming
Very good for TV and video
Good for air travel
Advantages of the Koss KSC75
Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Gaming
7.0/10
6.4/10
The Audio Technica ATH M40X is good for gaming, while the Koss KSC75 is only fair.
Phone Calls
3.3/10
4.8/10
The Koss KSC75 and Audio Technica ATH M40X are both poor for phone calls, though the Koss KSC75 is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.1/10
7.5/10
The Koss KSC75 is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Audio Technica ATH M40X is poor.
TV and Video
8.7/10
7.7/10
The Audio Technica ATH M40X is very good for TV and video, while the Koss KSC75 is good.
Noise Reduction
5.3/10
2.5/10
The Audio Technica ATH M40X and Koss KSC75 are both poor for noise reduction, though the Audio Technica ATH M40X is somewhat better.
Cost
$99
$20
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
The Audio Technica ATH M40X has a price of $99 and the Koss KSC75 costs $20.
Build Quality
8.2/10
5.6/10
The Audio Technica ATH M40X has very good build quality, while the Koss KSC75 has poor build quality.
"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."
"Let’s not insult the KSC75 by saying that it’s simply good for the price… because it’s far more than that. It basically has a monopoly at its asking price, and could still give modern budget headphones a run for their money 15 years after its release. The KSC75 is the world’s best not-headphone."
Get a great deal on the Audio Technica ATH M40X or the Koss KSC75
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 Koss
Koss is an American headphone manufacturer established in 1953. In 1958, they created the first set of stereophones, that is headphones with stereo sound, and in 1984 they released the world-famous Porta Pro, a set of on-ear headphones that has remained essentially unchanged for more than 30 years and that is still made, sold and loved by many audio enthusiasts around the world today.
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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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