Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT

Audio-Technica’s A$169 ATH-M20xBT wireless headphones are counterparts to its wired M-Series lineup for studio and pro use, and are very affordable for the audio quality they deliver. The sound signature focuses on accuracy, but still manages to faithfully represent any sub-bass that's in the mix. The headphones are light on features, including high-end Bluetooth codec support for Android, but if you primarily listen to music on an Apple device (or use a wired audio cable), they're sure to please. For more money, the wired Sennheiser HD 280 Pro ($179.95) and the noise-cancelling Sennheiser HD 450BT ($299 list, but available for much less) are superb alternatives with similarly accurate audio, but for well under $200, it's easy to recommend the ATH-M20xBT.

Comfortable Design, Lackluster Bluetooth Support

The ATH-M20xBT headphones are available only in black, and the Audio-Technica logo appears prominently in reflective metallic paint on the top of the headband. Both the faux-leather-lined earpads and the headband feature a generous amount of cushioning. We had no comfort issues even during long listening sessions, but the design isn't anything special.

Internally, 40mm dynamic drivers deliver a frequency range of 5Hz to 32KHz (with an impedance of 36 ohms), which is quite a range compared with the typical 20Hz to 20KHz range. The headphones are compatible with Bluetooth 5.0, support multipoint pairing, and offer Google Fast Pair functionality. They work with the AAC and SBC Bluetooth codecs, but not AptX or LDAC. This is worth noting for Android users, because SBC isn't conducive to quality audio streaming and AAC doesn't work well on the platform.

The controls are all on the left earcup’s side panel. A central multifunction button handles power, pairing, media playback, calls, and voice assistant access depending on how many times (or for how long) you press it. You can also toggle a low-latency mode (helpful for playing games or watching videos) by pressing this button three times; a vocal prompt tells you the current active mode. The plus and minus buttons control both volume (press once) and track navigation (hold for two seconds). We’re never fans of combining these functions on the same button because it’s a recipe for accidental track skipping.

You get two cables in the box—a USB-C-to-USB-A charging cable and a 3.5mm audio cable for wired (passive) listening. Both cables connect to the left earcup. Keeping with the no-frills approach, the audio cable lacks both inline controls and a mic.

Audio-Technica estimates that the headphones can last roughly 60 hours on battery—that's an excellent claim, but your results will vary based on your typical listening volume levels.

Plenty of headphones ship with zip-up pouches or cases, but we don't necessarily expect one at this price, and indeed don't get one. The headphones don't fold down or collapse, which makes them a bit difficult to bring along for trips. Beyond that, the lack of a quarter-inch adapter is surprising. If Audio-Technica expects serious audiophiles to use these, an adapter to plug them into stereo and pro gear seems like a no-brainer (nothing is stopping you from buying one separately, however). The lack of any EQ options also means you must stick with the default sound signature, though as we explain below, it's excellent.

Fantastic Audio Presentation

We were skeptical that the ATH-M20xBT headphones could live up to their stated frequency range (particularly at the low end), but they deliver some serious sub-bass rumble. That means low-end sounds from, say, a timpani or a huge kick drum, come through clearly without any amount of over-emphasis. Lesser headphones tend to treat sub-bass elements like something that needs to vibrate your skull, but here it's just a part of the frequency range and remains in balance with everything else.

On tracks with intense sub-bass content, like The Knife’s “Silent Shout,” the headphones offer excellent low-frequency response—the powerful sub-bass sounds robust, but never overpowers the mix or the balance with the highs. The lows don't distort at top volume levels and still sound powerful at more moderate ones.

Bill Callahan’s “Drover,” a track with far less deep bass in the mix, gives us a better sense of the sound signature. The drums on this track get an ideal amount of bass presence—they sound round and heavy, but never unnatural. Callahan’s baritone vocals benefit from a pleasant blend of low-mid richness and high-mid crispness, while the acoustic strums and higher-register percussive hits exhibit plenty of brightness and detail. These headphones are well suited for checking mixes, as there's excellent balance and detail throughout the frequency range. Importantly, if there’s deep bass in your track, you can hear all of it, just not to an exaggerated extent.

On Jay-Z and Kanye West’s “No Church in the Wild,” the kick drum loop receives an ideal high-mid presence, allowing its attack to retain its excellent punch. The vinyl crackle and hiss in the background don’t seem to move forward in the mix too much, but they do get some additional high-frequency presence—the sculpting in the higher frequencies is minimal and simply improves clarity. The sub-bass synth hits that punctuate the beat come across with excellent depth—you get the full extent of their rumble but they don't overtake the mix. So few headphones we test make room for subtlety and nuance in the deep lows, so we're particularly appreciative of the treatment here.

Orchestral tracks, like the opening scene from John Adams’ The Gospel According to the Other Mary, sound fantastic. The lower-register instrumentation gets perhaps a little boost, but it sounds natural and as if it exists in a real space. The higher-register brass, strings, and vocals are bright and detailed; they never compete with the lows. All the sonic elements exhibit a lovely balance.

In wired (passive) mode, we didn’t detect a major difference in frequency range or overall sound signature. This is another pleasant surprise. Often, the bass drops off seriously in this mode, but that impact is minimal here.

The omnidirectional mic sounds fine. We had no issues understanding every word from a test recording on an iPhone. Bluetooth audio artifacts are minimal in the signal and the mic sounds highly equalized to focus on the human voice. The latter effect might make you sound a bit unnatural, but it certainly helps improve clarity on calls.

High-Quality Wireless Audio for Less

The Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT wireless headphones are light on extra features and accessories, but their impressive sound quality more than makes up for it, offering one of the best sound signatures we've heard in the sub-$200 range. You get clarity and detail throughout the frequency range and a refreshingly accurate presentation of deep bass. The wired mode doesn't make any significant compromises, either. Not many competitors exist in this price bracket unless you're willing to give up Bluetooth connectivity and get the aforementioned Sennheiser HD 280 Pro. For wireless options under $300, we’re also fans of the Sennheiser HD 450BT (for their accuracy) and the $179 Jabra Elite 45h (for their ease of use). All these options cost more than the ATH-M20xBT, however, which just underscores their value relative to their sound quality.