If you want a wired in-ear monitor with a flexible over-ear cable and sound isolation for video calls, choose Audio-Technica ATH-E40; if you need a wired earphone with a precision-milled metal housing and interchangeable cable, choose Moondrop ARIA 2. Neither is a Bluetooth headset, and neither lists a built-in microphone or active noise cancellation, so I’d treat both as listening-focused options rather than complete call headsets.
• Audio-Technica ATH-E40’s strength: an over-ear memory cable, detachable connection and sound-isolating housing. Trade-off: it is wired and doesn’t list a built-in microphone.
• Moondrop ARIA 2’s strength: a metal alloy housing, brass nozzle and replaceable 0.78 mm two-pin cable. Trade-off: it is also wired, with no listed noise-control feature or built-in microphone.
• ATH-E40 is for: listeners who want a monitoring-oriented design, an ear-loop fit and included silicone and foam tips.
• ARIA 2 is for: listeners who value its construction and detailed driver design, and want the option to swap compatible cables.
• For video calls: choose based on fit and audio priorities, but plan on a separate microphone or call setup if you need one; neither product sheet specifies an integrated mic.
The ATH-E40 is built around a monitoring use case. Its dual phase push-pull driver design is intended to deliver accurate, clear sound, and the product information describes a full-range response from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. That makes it the more straightforward choice for someone who wants an in-ear monitor for listening closely to music, balancing audio, or keeping a wired setup simple.
Its flexible memory cable loops over the ears, which gives the fit a more secure, shaped arrangement than a cable that simply hangs down. The housing is designed for sound isolation, and the detachable 1.6 m cable connects through A2DC connectors. It also comes with silicone tips in XS, S, M and L, plus a medium Comply foam tip, a carrying case and a 6.3 mm adapter. Those details make it a practical pick if you expect to adjust the fit or connect to equipment with a larger headphone jack.
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-23 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
For video calls, the ear-loop cable and isolating design may suit someone who wants to listen privately at a desk or move between meetings and focused listening. But the ATH-E40 is wired, not Bluetooth, and its listed features do not include a microphone or active noise cancellation. If you need a self-contained call headset or want wireless freedom, this isn’t the match I’d choose.
The ARIA 2 is a wired in-ear earphone with a dynamic driver and a stated frequency range of 16 Hz to 22 kHz. Its design emphasizes the driver structure and diaphragm: Moondrop describes a TiN ceramic-coated dome composite diaphragm intended to support treble detail and extension. For a buyer choosing by listening design rather than call features, that gives the ARIA 2 a clear identity as an audio-focused option.
The housing is made with alloy casting and CNC milling, and the acoustic nozzle is a separate brass component with a gold-plated surface. Its 0.78 mm two-pin cable can be changed, which is useful if you want to replace a cable or use a compatible accessory. That flexibility is a meaningful distinction from simply choosing a fixed wired earphone, though it does not make the ARIA 2 wireless by itself.
For video calls, the ARIA 2 can be considered if you already have a suitable wired call setup and want an earphone for listening. The product information lists no noise-control feature, Bluetooth connection or built-in microphone. If calls are your main reason for buying, I would not assume it can replace a dedicated headset; its strengths are its construction, driver design and cable interchangeability.
• Best fit for monitoring and mixing → Audio-Technica ATH-E40. Its design is explicitly aimed at monitoring applications, with a focus on accuracy and clarity.
• Best for an over-ear cable fit → ATH-E40. The flexible memory cable is designed to loop over the ear and shape to the wearer.
• Best for sound isolation → ATH-E40. Its housing is designed to isolate sound. That is not the same as active noise cancellation.
• Best for a replaceable cable connection → Moondrop ARIA 2. Its universal 0.78 mm two-pin cable can be swapped for a compatible replacement or accessory.
• Best for a metal housing and brass nozzle → ARIA 2. Its shell uses alloy casting and CNC milling, while the nozzle is a separate brass component.
• Best for included fit options and accessories → ATH-E40. The package includes four sizes of silicone tips, a medium foam tip, a carrying case and a 6.3 mm adapter.
• Best for Bluetooth use → Neither. Both are wired. The ARIA 2 description mentions compatible Bluetooth accessories, but that does not make the supplied earphones wireless.
• Best noise cancelling earbuds for video calls → Neither, based on the listed features. Neither product lists active noise cancellation, and neither lists an integrated microphone. For calls, confirm your microphone and noise-control needs separately.
The last point matters because shoppers often search for the best long battery life Bluetooth headphones for video calls or the best ANC wireless earbuds for video calls. These two products don’t fit those descriptions: both use wired connections, and neither provides a battery-life specification or active noise cancellation. The ATH-E40 does offer sound isolation, which can help reduce outside sound reaching the listener, but it is not presented as ANC. The ARIA 2 lists no noise-control feature.
The more practical comparison is therefore about the earphones themselves. The ATH-E40 brings an over-ear cable, sound-isolating housing and a monitoring-oriented purpose. The ARIA 2 brings a metal construction, a detailed dynamic-driver design and a cable connection that can be replaced. For either one, a separate microphone may be needed for calls.
For video calls, I would choose neither as a stand-alone headset because neither lists a built-in microphone or Bluetooth. If I were choosing one for wired listening alongside a separate call microphone, I’d pick the Audio-Technica ATH-E40. Its ear-loop cable, sound-isolating housing and included range of tips make the fit and use case easier to understand. I’d choose the Moondrop ARIA 2 instead if interchangeable cabling and its metal construction mattered more to me than isolation.
No. Both are described as wired earphones. The ARIA 2’s compatible accessories may support different configurations, but the earphones themselves are not listed as wireless.
Neither lists a built-in microphone, so neither is a complete headset on the information provided. The ATH-E40 has a sound-isolating housing; the ARIA 2 lists no noise-control feature. You’ll need to consider a separate microphone and your call setup.
The ATH-E40 is described as having a housing designed for sound isolation. That is different from active noise cancellation, and ANC is not listed among its features.
The ARIA 2 uses a 0.78 mm interchangeable two-pin cable. The ATH-E40 also has a detachable cable, using A2DC connectors, so both allow cable replacement, but they use different connection types.
• Kendir Headset vs Znoogrn 3-in-1: Fast Charge Headphones
• Bang Olufsen Beoplay H95 vs Bowers & Wilkins Px8
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.