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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If price is a major concern, the Audio Technica ATH M40X offers good quality at a lower cost, making it suitable for budget-conscious users. However, if financial constraints are less of a concern and you seek a premium listening experience, the Sennheiser HD800S will provide superior sound quality and comfort, which can be particularly rewarding for audiophiles or for critical listening sessions. The HD800S headphones deliver a more expansive soundstage and detailed audio reproduction but come with a higher price tag. Keep in mind the HD800S may also need additional equipment like a high-quality amplifier to reach its full potential. 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 Sennheiser HD800S
- Best in class for music
- Best in class for TV and video
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
8.1
9.9
The Sennheiser HD800S is best in class for music, while the Audio Technica ATH M40X is very good.
Gaming
7.0
7.5
The Sennheiser HD800S and Audio Technica ATH M40X are both good for gaming, though the Sennheiser HD800S is somewhat better.
Phone Calls
3.3
5.0
The Sennheiser HD800S and Audio Technica ATH M40X are both poor for phone calls, though the Sennheiser HD800S is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.1
8.1
The Sennheiser HD800S is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Audio Technica ATH M40X is poor.
TV and Video
8.7
9.7
The Sennheiser HD800S is best in class for TV and video, while the Audio Technica ATH M40X is very good.
Noise Reduction
5.3
2.5
The Audio Technica ATH M40X and Sennheiser HD800S are both poor for noise reduction, though the Audio Technica ATH M40X is somewhat better.
Cost
$99
$1,380
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Audio Technica ATH M40X has a price of $99 and the Sennheiser HD800S costs $1,380.
Build Quality
8.2
9.0
The Sennheiser HD800S 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 Sennheiser HD800S compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Audio Technica ATH M40X | Sennheiser HD800S |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$99 | $1,380 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Audio Technica | Sennheiser | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2014 | December 1, 2015 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.1/10 | 10/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 3.3/10 | 5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.1/10 | 7.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.8/10 | 9.7/10 | |
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 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.2/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7.6/10 | 10/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 245 Grams | 371.9 Grams | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Dustproof Rating | |||
Dustproof 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."
Sennheiser HD800S
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Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Christian Thomas | March 2023
"The cans offer stellar sound quality, comfort, and good maintenance options—so they're an easy recommendation if you have the cash and the need for the last headphones you'll buy for years."
Get a great deal on the Audio Technica ATH M40X or the Sennheiser HD800S
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 Sennheiser
A family-owned company, Sennheiser is a German, high fidelity, audio equipment manufacturer founded in 1945. Their consumer audio division is now owned by the Swiss hearing aid and cochlear implant manufacturer Sonova. Sennheiser offers a wide variety of, very high quality, audio equipment solutions, from headphones to earbuds, full sets of monitoring speakers, amplifiers and microphones. They also make what is widely regarded as the best, and most expensive, headphones in existence, the HE-1 Orpheus, costing a whopping $59,000 dollars.
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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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