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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If budget is a major concern, the Audio Technica ATH M40X will save you money while offering very good overall sound quality, making them well-suited for listening to music and watching TV. However, the lack of wireless capability and active noise cancelling, along with their size, might limit their convenience for commuting and outdoor use. On the other hand, the Sennheiser IE600 provides best-in-class sound and excellent build quality, though they're priced at a premium. They are smaller and therefore more portable, but also lack wireless features and active noise cancelling. Both have good sound isolation, but neither is ideal for exercise or calls, as they have poor microphone quality. If you value ultimate sound quality and portability, the Sennheiser might be the better choice, but if you prefer to save money and need a solid, reliable pair of headphones mainly for home use, go with the 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
- Good for gaming
- Good for air travel
Advantages of the Sennheiser IE600
- Excellent for TV and video
Key differences
TV and Video
8.7
9.3
The Sennheiser IE600 is excellent for TV and video, while the Audio Technica ATH M40X is very good.
Noise Reduction
5.3
7.0
The Sennheiser IE600 is good for noise reduction, while the Audio Technica ATH M40X is poor.
Cost
$99
$600
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Audio Technica ATH M40X has a price of $99 and the Sennheiser IE600 costs $600.
Build Quality
8.2
9.0
The Sennheiser IE600 has excellent build quality, while the Audio Technica ATH M40X has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Music
8.1
8.3
The Sennheiser IE600 and Audio Technica ATH M40X are both very good for music.
Gaming
7.0
6.7
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Audio Technica ATH M40X to be good for gaming, while the Sennheiser IE600 is only fair.
Phone Calls
3.3
3.5
The Sennheiser IE600 and Audio Technica ATH M40X are both poor for phone calls.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.1
5.4
The Sennheiser IE600 and Audio Technica ATH M40X are both poor for podcasts and audiobooks.
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How the Audio Technica ATH M40X and the Sennheiser IE600 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Audio Technica ATH M40X | Sennheiser IE600 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$99 | $600 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Audio Technica | Sennheiser | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2014 | June 1, 2022 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.1/10 | 8.3/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 3.3/10 | 3.5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.1/10 | 6.8/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.8/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.3/10 | 4.6/10 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 5.3/10 | 7/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | No | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 2.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.2/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7.6/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 245 Grams | 6 Grams | |
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."
Sennheiser IE600
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Dig into reviews and images
Soundguys
Jasper Lastoria | August 2023
"If you've got the bucks, the Sennheiser IE 600 is a nice, upscale set of in-ear monitors made of a lightweight metal with an unusual texture. It comes with a suite of extras, and performs well at virtually every task."
Get a great deal on the Audio Technica ATH M40X or the Sennheiser IE600
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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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.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.
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