Audio Technica
Audio-Technica’s M50x studio monitoring headphones have been the top choice for many musicians and broadcasters for several years. Their excellent build quality and flat frequency response make them something of a gold standard for studio use.
Now the Japan-based company has released a more affordable pair of studio-quality headphones with Bluetooth and wired functionality. The ATH-M20xBT are certainly inspired by the brand’s best-selling wired professional studio headphones, but this new model offers up to 60 hours of continuous wireless playback and a sound that’s big and bold.
The critically acclaimed M Series is known for accurate sound and exceptional levels of comfort, ideal for extended studio sessions and on the go. The ATH-M20xBT are also a wonderfully comfortable pair of headphones. Build quality isn’t as solid on the M50xBT and there are no modular earpieces. However, these headphones look great and feel incredibly light.
The ATH-M20xBT are incredibly comfortable and lightweight, perfect for long studio sessions.
Audio-Technica
With its modern design and high-quality materials, including professional-grade earphones, the ATH-M20xBT is equipped with 40mm drivers made with rare earth magnets and copper-clad aluminum wire voice coils for excellent clarity and amazing bass response. The ATH-M20xBTs are definitely bassier than the neutral ATH-M50xBTs. Bluetooth has a low-latency mode for precise synchronization between audio and video when streaming movies or playing games.
These new headphones also feature a multi-point pairing feature that allows the user to connect two devices via Bluetooth. One device could be a smartphone to take calls, while the other could be to connect to a tablet to watch a movie or play a game. Switching between the two devices is seamless. Along with up to 60 hours of playback on a full charge, a quick burst charge of just 10 minutes will yield up to 3 hours of playback. The headphones are easy to use and have a built-in microphone for phone calls and voice assistants, as well as buttons on the left earcup for handling calls, controlling music playback and adjusting volume levels.
The sound quality offered by the M20xBT is solid and muscular. In addition to being great for playing a wide variety of music genres, these headphones make inexpensive studio boxes for broadcasting or podcasting, thanks to their closed-back design and effective sound isolation.
With 60 hours of battery life and a lightweight design, the Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT are ideal … [+] for playing music on the go.
Audio-Technica
Verdict: If you’re looking for a pair of high-quality over-ear wireless Bluetooth headphones, the ATH-M20xBT are a bargain. The fit is incredibly comfortable and the weight is wonderfully light, ideal for long listening sessions. Battery life is nothing short of impressive, and should you run out of power, there’s an audio cable supplied with a 3.5mm stereo jack plug for passive use. If you love lots of bass and enjoy a detailed top end with ideal V-shaped frequency response, these headphones are worth a listen.
Pricing & Availability: The Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT are available now and cost £79.99 / €89 / $79.
More information: www.audio-technica.com
Specifications:
Type: Dynamic closed back. Driver: 40mm. Frequency response: 5 – 32,000Hz. Sensitivity: 100dB/mW. Resistance: 36Ω. Weight: Approx. 216g (7.6oz). Charging time: Approx. 4 hours. Microphone sensitivity: -42 dB (1 V/Pa, at 1 kHz). Microphone frequency response: 50 – 20,000 Hz. Polar Microphone Design: Omnidirectional. Battery: 3.7V lithium polymer. Playtime: Up to 60 hours on a full charge. Bluetooth: Version 5.0. Operating range: approx. 10 meters (33 feet). Bluetooth Profiles: A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP. Audio Codecs: AAC, SBC. Accessories: USB charging cable (30 cm/12 inches), USB Type-A/USB Type-C), Audio cable (1.2 m (3.9-ft) / 3.5 mm (1/8 inch) gold-plated stereo mini plug (3-pole/L-shaped).
