If you want wired studio headphones with 40 mm drivers and a long, single-side cable for music production, choose Audio-Technica ATH-M20x; if you need foldable headphones with an inline remote and mic for everyday listening, choose Sennheiser HD 400S. The M20x is my pick for a simple tracking setup; the 400S makes more sense when portability and call controls matter.
Audio-Technica ATH-M20x vs Sennheiser HD 400S at a Glance
• Sennheiser HD 400S strength: folds for easier storage and includes an inline remote and microphone. Trade-off: its cable is shorter at 1.4 m, and it uses 32 mm drivers.
• Choose the ATH-M20x if your priority is wired tracking and monitoring at a desk.
• Choose the HD 400S if you want headphones that are easier to pack and can handle music controls and calls.
The ATH-M20x is a wired, closed-back, over-ear headphone designed for studio tracking and mixing. Its 40 mm drivers and tuning aimed at enhanced low-frequency performance make it a sensible option for someone who wants to monitor bass-heavy material or keep an eye on low-end detail while working. That tuning alone does not make it a complete mixing solution, but it gives the headphone a clear studio-oriented purpose.
Its circumaural earcups go around the ears and are designed to help isolate sound in loud environments. The cable exits on one side and runs 3.0 m, which can be useful when your listening position is not right beside your equipment. A 6.3 mm snap-on adapter is included alongside the standard 3.5 mm plug, giving you two connection formats to work with.
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-21 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
I’d choose the M20x for a home tracking setup, a recording space, or focused listening where a long cable and passive sound isolation are useful. I’d skip it if folding storage, a microphone, or inline music controls are important to your routine. It is wired, and its cable length makes it better suited to a stationary setup than an everyday carry bag.
The HD 400S is also a closed-back, over-ear wired headphone, but its feature set leans toward everyday listening. Its 32 mm transducers are described as delivering clear mids, detailed highs, and controlled bass. That makes it a reasonable fit for someone who wants a balanced listening character for music, calls, and general use rather than a headphone focused specifically on studio tracking.
The foldable design is the practical distinction. You can collapse the headphones for storage, and the inline one-button remote handles basic music control and calls through its built-in microphone. The earcups are intended to reduce ambient noise passively, while soft pads and a lightweight design support longer listening sessions. Its cable is 1.4 m long and uses a 2.5 mm headphone connection.
I’d pick the HD 400S for commuting, travel, or moving between rooms, especially if taking calls from the same headphones is useful. I’d skip it if your main need is a longer cable for a recording desk or if you want the M20x’s 40 mm drivers and studio-tracking orientation. The 400S is still wired; folding makes it more packable, not wireless.
• Best fit for studio tracking → Audio-Technica ATH-M20x. Its design is specifically aimed at tracking and monitoring, with closed-back, around-ear isolation.
• Best for a long connection to a desk → Audio-Technica ATH-M20x. Its 3.0 m straight cable gives more reach than the 400S’s 1.4 m cable.
• Best for a foldable travel pair → Sennheiser HD 400S. Its headband folds to make storage and transport more convenient.
• Best for taking calls without reaching for your device → Sennheiser HD 400S. The inline remote and microphone support calls and basic music control.
• Best for a supplied 6.3 mm adapter → Audio-Technica ATH-M20x. That adapter is included with the 3.5 mm connection.
• Best if you prefer a stated balanced sound profile → Sennheiser HD 400S. Its described tuning emphasizes clear mids, detailed highs, and controlled bass.
• Best for someone who wants low-frequency-focused studio monitoring → Audio-Technica ATH-M20x. Its tuning is intended to enhance low-frequency performance, though that is not a claim of neutral reference sound.
• Best for compact storage and everyday carry → Sennheiser HD 400S. The folding design gives it an advantage when headphones need to fit away between uses.
These are both wired, closed-back over-ear models, so neither is an in-ear headphone. If your search is for the best noise cancelling clip on earbuds for music production or in ear headphones for music production, neither one matches that form factor. They provide passive isolation through their earcup design rather than active noise cancellation, and neither is a clip-on or in-ear product.
For production, I would also keep the word “monitoring” in perspective. The M20x is explicitly positioned for tracking and mixing, but its low-frequency emphasis is a sound-design choice to consider, not proof that every mix will translate accurately. The 400S offers a described balanced presentation, but its standout practical features are the foldable construction and call controls. Neither product’s listed details establish active noise cancellation or wireless listening.
I would buy the Audio-Technica ATH-M20x for a wired desk setup and music production. Its tracking-oriented design, 40 mm drivers, single-side 3.0 m cable, and included 6.3 mm adapter fit that use better for me. I’d choose the Sennheiser HD 400S instead if folding storage and an inline mic are the priorities. For my stated production use, the M20x is the clearer choice.
I’d choose the ATH-M20x for tracking and monitoring because it is designed for that role and has a 3.0 m cable. Its low-frequency-focused tuning is worth considering when judging bass; the product details do not establish that it is a neutral reference headphone.
Yes. It has an inline microphone and one-button remote for calls and basic music control. The ATH-M20x’s listed features do not include an inline mic or remote.
Do either of these headphones have active noise cancelling?
The HD 400S is easier to pack because its headband folds, and its inline remote and mic can be convenient for calls. The ATH-M20x’s 3.0 m cable is more suited to a stationary setup than carrying around for everyday use.
• FiiO K9 vs Jabra Evolve3 comparison
• Yoley Classroom Headphones Bulk vs RadioShack Thunder 2
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.