Audio-Technica ATH-M20XBT Wireless Headphones

Product Information

While these may not include noise cancelling, I did find that the secure fit meant the sound isolation was pretty good. I didn’t find myself getting too annoyed at the outside noise penetrating through the headphones but I was still able to hear what was going on around me.

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. Although we cannot vouch for the sound yet, we're intrigued to see if Audio-Technica can score a home run here –if so, there's very little standing in their way…Personally, I prefer the less-hyped tuning of the M20xBT compared to M50, and if you are sensitive to upper frequency, the M20 might be a better option. Having said that, the M50xBT2 is a more premium headphones with more features like LDAC, custom EQ, better build, so you pay for better features with limited-edition colour options. Plus, music played on M50 is much clearer, the highs are more articulated and precise. Its tuning is more likable to the general listeners. Given that Bluetooth operation requires fitting chips, power and batteries inside the headphones, the first surprise is how light the new wireless headphones are, at 216 grams – that’s just 26 grams over the non-wireless version.

USB charging cable (30 cm (12”), USB Type-A / USB Type-C). Audio cable (1.2 m (3.9’) /3.5 mm (1/8”) gold-plated stereo mini-plug (3 pole/L-shaped)) You do also get a low latency mode which is made for gamers and for streaming video because it helps to reduce delay. Activating it is really easy, you just press the MFB three times. You'll be able to see the difference more in mobile gaming than anything else. The design is solid, if a little utilitarian, with a flexible headband that doesn’t pinch too closely to your skull and is reasonably well-padded. The earcups could do with being a bit plusher, however – they’re a little too firm and can get uncomfortable during extended listening sessions. The ATH-M20xBT are a mixed bag. Audio quality is fantastic for the price, with plenty of bass and a detailed mid-range doing justice to a wide range of genres. Battery life is also impressive, ensuring you won’t find yourself having to charge the headphones more than once every couple of weeks, if that.Make sure the indicator lamps on both headphones light in red and then turn white before releasing your fingers. Reset is complete. Enjoy a sonic signature tuned to reflect our wired studio monitor headphones wherever you go. The ATH-M20xBT has a multipoint pairing capability that lets you connect wirelessly to two devices, optimal for multimedia use. The wireless headphones are also equipped with a low latency mode that improves the synchronicity between audio and video for smooth streaming and gaming. When connecting the M20xBT to a 3.5mm cable, the power turns off automatically for passive audio without consuming battery. In this mode, the sound is more dynamic, less compressed. The lower midrange is a bit more exposed while the upper treble is also slighting more bright-sounding, albeit still obscured by the prominent midrange. There is one caveat to this performance. The sound is significantly clarified if you use the supplied 1.2-metre cable instead of the wireless connection. (Bluetooth offers only SBC and AAC, with no higher-quality codecs available to Android users.) But in saying that, I personally was able to look past them. The sound isolation was good enough to make me not yearn after ANC and I enjoyed the default tuning, so I still think they’re worth considering. I just maybe wouldn’t use these on an aeroplane and I'd be careful not to be too clumsy with them. Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT review: also consider

This entry-level M-series is a notch up from the ATH-S220BT, but with a small price difference, the M20xBT looks more “professional” with a sturdier build. Compared to the ATH-M50xBT2, the M20xBT feels more lightweight, the headband clamping force is lighter, and the earcups are slightly larger. In terms of comfort, I prefer wearing the M20xBT over the M50xBT2, but the M20xBT cannot be folded, so it takes more space when carrying it around. And obviously the M50xBT2 feels more robust and solid thanks to its flexible earcups that can pivot and swivel in any direction. The M50xBT2 also offers better passive noise isolation. Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT vs. ATH-M50xBT2 M20xBT FeaturesWhile it may be basic, I liked the fact that these have physical buttons because they work more effectively and more consistently than the touch panels on some other cheaper headphones. 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.