Audio-Technica ATH-M40 Professional Studio Monitor Headphones

2015-03-22T21:00:00

With poser 'designer series' headphones flooding the market for kids to spend their dollars on, I have found incredible performance and comfort in the ATH-M40fs studiophones. Whether plugged into our band's mixing board, into my stereo, my laptop or my smartphone, the sound reproduction excels, and compares to no other. Whether listening to a live mix from our 7 piece MoTown band, screaming trumpets in a big band recording, pipe organ compositions, barbershop quartets and chorus', or more modern selections, every last bit of every sound is brought to my attention. Even some selections that I have listened to several times prior reveal nuances previously missed by other headphones. I do highly recommend these superb quality studiophones as a smart purchase over others costing two or three times more! They are solidly built, and you can count on them to provide better sound than most anything else available. Sincerely, Andy Platz trumpet player for The Swizzle Stick Band, Akron Ohio

Jazzman42960

2015-03-22T21:00:00

I was in need of a good set of headphones specifically for tracking and I decided to try the ATH-M40fs. The build quality is extremely solid, I especially like the spring-equipped 1/4" connector. There is plenty of cord length and the closed-back design minimizes bleed when tracking vocals. They are very comfortable on and the soft material over the ear cups is a nice touch. Since I only use these for tracking the sound quality is perfectly adequate for my needs. Overall I believe this was a solid purchase.

Ruckus

2015-03-11T21:00:00

My M40's have served well as everyday headphones in an office environment. They are durable enough for everyday use without worry that they will be damaged. The audio quality is superb, with a near flat response. They have a warm quality to the sound while preserving the integrity of original recordings. These headphones are fairly comfortable for all day/extended use or wearing. The only downfalls in my opinion are that they come standard with a 1/4" plug and no adapter. It is expected that studio headphones would have this feature, however some of A/T's other headphones in their studio line come standard with an adapter as well as multiple cables to be used in different scenarios. For the money, these are a great value. As stated above, the main issues that I see have to do with portability and not practical usability.

rmsuchy

2015-01-23T19:00:00

I've had these for 6 years of nonstop use and everything is intact and working well. I use these with a Roland V Drum kit. The low end reproduction in the headphones makes the kick drum sound meaty while maintaining the mids and highs from low to high volume. I mix music and the drums similtaneosly in the headphones and it performs like a beast. The closed back design helps with some sound isolation too. I only wished it came with a detachable cord that allowed you to plug into either ear.

Joehall71

2014-08-19T21:00:00

I use them with a focusrite scarlett 2i2 soundcard and they sound great! just great!!!! the output power of the soundcard is pretty high but this ATH-M40fs handle it with no problem ; bass, mids,treble are played as it should be. Great build quality! I just got them and listened all kind off electronica music(d&b,progressive,etc) and i am very happy that i chose them. Also they are very comfortable to wear. I hope that i won't have problems with them beacuse i trust in Audio-Techinca quality. And one more thing : i think is the best quality/price balance for professional headphones with this technical specifications.

raulv

2014-07-30T21:00:00

I can rely on these headphones whenever I compose music or simply want to listen to the nuances of music that I cannot capture elsewhere. They maintain a strong bass when harmonies become complex and allow the listener to focus on specific melodic lines while still perceiving the music as a whole. Comfort is excellent for what they are meant for and the superior sound quality has remained undiminished over several years. They work flawlessly with my keyboard. An adapter will normally be required for casual listening on computers. Excellent headphones.

HariRHS

2013-12-31T19:00:00

I bought mine at least 6 years ago. I record and mix my own records. They are very comfortable...I have easily put 1000's of hours on these. They're durable, comfortable and accurately represent my mixes to other sources truthfully. Once I get a mix that sounds good with these headphones, they sound great on every other source. I know that mixing for long periods of time are a no no, but I can go hours without ear fatigue. I will buy another pair just to use at home and take the ones I have on the road for listening pleasure as well. One of the few products that I have that I feel like, "they do make them like they used to." Buy them, they're a no brainer!

MrMod

2013-07-08T21:00:00

A must buy.These are my first headphones but i have to say that these are best in range.

RIJUL

2013-06-17T21:00:00

The M40fs are pretty sweet. They look kinda bulky, but they're actually fairly light. The audio quality is also very nice for the price. I also love the 1/4" plug so you don't need an adapter to use them with your equipment. Buy these if you're on a budget and you still want quality sound, you won't be disappointed.

Oxman

2011-11-10T19:00:00

I use this product at home for listening to music, recording music, and remixing music. The earpieces fold flat, so that I can fit them into my stereo cabinet (where they are out of the way). The cord is very long, and can be easily replaced if necessary. They are only well-suited for listening while sitting; this is not something you would use while jogging or moving a lot. I would recommend these headphones. The only thing I do not like about them is the way the earpieces rotate. It is convenient for storage, but I prefer headphones that are solid and only adjust to the size of your head. I gave them a 4 for durability because I suspect the rotating function of the earpieces makes the headphones more fragile, although nothing has broken on my headphones. I am very pleased with them regardless! I can hear sounds that I didn't hear before with my older headphones, which is a great plus.

R2RPat

2011-10-24T21:00:00

The sound produced by the ATH-M40fs are good at the low end without booming, midrange is clear with a touch of forwardness and the highs are crisp. It has a long straight cord with a gold plated rca plug, but is a little on the thin side for my taste. Ear pads and head band are comfortable. I've been using them now for 18 months and no problems. The only reason I gave audio quality good instead of excellent is my other headphones are electrostatics that tend to spoil you with their sound.

Musicman45

2011-10-19T21:00:00

I got these headphones to monitor in my home project studio and on location. They sound fantastic, there isn't really any competition in this price range. Well balanced sound, good isolation. They are very comfortable, the rotating earpieces are ok but it would be nice if they could fold. I guess this is a compromise to offer a lower price. I find ATH-M50 better but the price is 2-3 times higher. Overall great, inexpensive headphones that sound very well.

molownia

2011-10-19T21:00:00

i use 2 of the ATH-m40fs in my home studio. Very reliable gear with a great natural sound that works well with any style of music---sometimes you can get a headphone that really doesn't support a style of music like rock or rap...something with deeper bass or gain than the headphone can support. but this headphone is solid. it isolates and provides a great support system for my home recordings. one thing, the cord seems thin....so i have to remember to be a bit careful when storing/moving and not bending the cord to break any connections. this headphone is well worth the money....and it will not break the bank---another reason i love it. you can afford some great gear and won't have to worry about going broke with this unit!

mtff3

2011-10-19T21:00:00

I bought these 'phones to use when I needed to listen to a temporary mix while recording. While the frequency response curve is somewhat flat, there is a characteristic to the sound that I don't like. The sound is boxy, with a touch of plastic. In other words, I don't hear the openness I do when the same tune is played through my Focal monitors, my Altec-Lansing loud speakers or even my car. There is a characteristic to the mid-frequencies that resonate with too much presence. They'll do for evaluating intermediate mixes while recording, though.

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