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Head to head · for music listening
Sennheiser HD 600 vs Audio-Technica ATH-M40x
More people recommend the Sennheiser HD 600 overall (117 vs 74). None of the 10 comments that name both says outright which one to buy, so read the loves and complaints and decide by taste.
- Comments naming both
- 10
- Say they own both
- 1
- Choose the HD 600
- 0
- Choose the ATH-M40x
- 0
Preference evidence:Limited0 explicit choices among 10 comments naming both.What the levels mean
Counted across 8 review videos, harvested Sep 2026. A comment counts as a choice only when it says so in plain words (prefer X over Y, upgraded from Y to X); questions never count. Quotes are whole sentences of 12 words or fewer, linked to where they were said. How we count.
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical price | $300 | $109cheaper |
| Overall rank | #4higher | #9 |
| People who recommend it | 117more | 74 |
| Say they own it | 149more | 92 |
| Mentions | 1,279more | 646 |
| Type | open-back wired | closed-back wired |
| Known for | NeutralVocalsLong sessions | Closed-backBudgetFlat |
| Best for | Recommended as the reference headphone by people who care about accurate, fatigue-free music listening. | The cheapest closed-back that owners keep recommending for a first proper pair. |
| Buy | Amazon · $300 | Amazon · $109Direct |
#4 overall
Sennheiser HD 600
1 of the 10 comments naming both come from people who say they own this one.
What owners love
- The most natural, neutral mid-range people can name; a 25-year reference
- Super comfortable for long sessions
- Timbre and tone that owners call perfect for acoustic, classical and vocals
- Owners who tried many others keep coming back to it
The complaints
- Needs a decent amp to open up; weak from phones and laptops
- Small, intimate soundstage; some call it boring
- Bass does not go deep
In their words
“My favorite headphones are my painted hd600s with a custom matching cable”
A commenter under Crinacle's ULTIMATE Guide to Headphones (crinacle) · Dec 2024
“After trying all other options, we highly recommend the HD 600”
A commenter under Why You SHOULDN'T Buy HD 600... & What To Get Instead (The Headphone Show) · Sep 2025
“I love my HD600 but have to compensate for the weak bass”
A commenter under Almost all headphones are inaccurate. Only these are good. (AP Mastering) · Dec 2024
#9 overall
Audio-Technica ATH-M40x
2 of the 10 comments naming both come from people who say they own this one.
What owners love
- Flatter and less bassy than the M50x; several owners prefer it for the price
- Detachable cable, folds, easy to drive from anything
- A common first serious headphone that people keep for years
The complaints
- Stock pads crack and crumble; most owners swap them for velour or sheepskin
- Older units cracked at the hinge (Audio-Technica redesigned it)
- Can sound a little sharp and boring for music; better with pad swaps
In their words
“ATH m40x: love them, daily driver for almost a decade”
A commenter under Don't buy a gaming headset. Get these instead! - Audio Technica ATH M50xSTS (ShortCircuit) · Apr 2023
“Audio tech m40x is still my go to headphones”
A commenter under FIDELIO X2HR Review | For you B A S S heads out there 🤯 (Joshua Valour) · Oct 2019
“There amazing I Love The Audio Technica M40X headphones”
A commenter under 🟥Audio-Technica ATH-M40x (aka FU©K M50's even harder) (Z Reviews) · Aug 2016
Questions people ask about this pair
Every answer is built from the counts on this page, not from our own listening.
- Is the Sennheiser HD 600 better than the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x?
- None of the 10 comments naming both says outright which one to buy. Overall, 117 people recommend the Sennheiser HD 600 and 74 the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x. Read what owners love and complain about below and decide by taste.
- Which is cheaper, the Sennheiser HD 600 or the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x?
- The Audio-Technica ATH-M40x is cheaper: $109 against $300 when we last checked. Prices move, so the buy buttons show the live price.
- Which do more people recommend, the Sennheiser HD 600 or the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x?
- The Sennheiser HD 600: 117 people recommend it against 74. On the site-wide leaderboard the Sennheiser HD 600 is #4 and the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x is #9.
- Do people own both the Sennheiser HD 600 and the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x?
- Yes. 1 of the 10 comments that name both come from people who say they own both pairs. 1 say they own the Sennheiser HD 600 and 2 the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x.
- What do owners complain about on the Sennheiser HD 600 and the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x?
- The most repeated complaint about the Sennheiser HD 600: needs a decent amp to open up; weak from phones and laptops. About the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x: stock pads crack and crumble; most owners swap them for velour or sheepskin. The full lists are on each side below.