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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-03 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• Audio-Technica ATH-M40x — biggest strength: 40mm neodymium drivers tuned for a flat response, wrapped in a circumcural, sound-isolating design that lets you hear detail instead of hype.
• Audio-Technica ATH-M40x — biggest trade-off: It is wired, full-size and made for a desk or a booth. There is no Bluetooth, no battery, and no pretending it is a gym companion.
• PIIWIAU Neckband — biggest strength: Wireless freedom with Bluetooth 5.3, a 280mAh battery rated up to 18 hours of music playback, and an IPX5 sweatproof rating built for movement.
• PIIWIAU Neckband — biggest trade-off: It is an in-ear neckband, so it will not deliver the flat, isolating, over-ear monitoring experience a studio headphone is designed for.
• Choose the ATH-M40x if you record, mix, DJ or just want a wired, foldable, repairable-feeling pair of monitors with a detachable cable.
• Choose the PIIWIAU Neckband if your listening happens while running, commuting, taking calls, or moving through a workday untethered.
The ATH-M40x is a purpose-built monitoring tool. Audio-Technica designed it for studio tracking and mixing as well as DJ monitoring, and the specs back that up: 40mm neodymium drivers with copper-clad aluminum voice coils, tuned for a flat response. "Flat" here means the headphone is not trying to flatter your music with extra bass or sparkle — it is trying to show you what is actually in the recording. That is exactly what you want when you are balancing a mix or checking a take, and exactly what can feel underwhelming if you only ever listen for fun.
The physical design tells the same story. The circumcural, around-the-ear fit provides sound isolation in loud environments, which matters in a room with drums, a talkative bandmate or a noisy DJ booth. The earcups swivel up to 90 degrees for single-ear monitoring — you can cue with one ear while keeping the other on the room. The cable is detachable and single-sided, and both coiled and straight cables are included, so you can pick the one that suits your setup. Everything folds down into the included carry pouch. At 8.5 ounces with an aluminum enclosure, it is a piece of gear, not a fashion accessory, and the black finish keeps it looking like one.
PIIWIAU Neckband: Who It's For
The PIIWIAU Neckband is the opposite philosophy: audio that follows you. It uses Bluetooth 5.3 for a faster, more stable connection rated up to roughly 44 feet, so you can leave your phone on a bench or desk and keep moving. The in-ear neckband layout, weighing just 1.7 ounces, is built for all-day comfort, and the retractable cable system — tested to stretch over 7,000 times — keeps things tangle-free and portable between uses.
Battery is the headline. The 280mAh cell is rated for up to 18 hours of music playback, up to 16 hours of talk time, and 500 hours of standby, with a full charge taking about 1.5 hours. While connected, the battery status shows on your device, which quietly removes the "is it about to die?" guesswork. For a long run, a full workday, or a weekend trip, that is the kind of spec that actually changes how you use a headphone.
Then there is the fitness angle. An IPX5 sweatproof rating covers running, hiking, cycling, fitness and gym workouts — sweat and light spray are not a problem. The built-in noise-canceling technology filters background noise, and the noise-canceling microphone is aimed at clear hands-free calls. A vibration alert for incoming calls is a genuinely thoughtful touch: in a noisy gym or mid-sprint, you still know someone is calling. You also get a 2-year manufacturer warranty, which is worth noting for a wireless product that will live in a bag or on your neck. Who should buy it? Runners, gym-goers, commuters, and anyone on calls all day who wants wireless freedom. Who should skip it? Anyone who needs a flat, isolating monitor for critical listening — an in-ear neckband is not that.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for critical listening and mixing → Audio-Technica ATH-M40x. Flat-tuned 40mm drivers exist to reveal, not to flatter.
• Best for noisy environments where you need isolation → Audio-Technica ATH-M40x. The circumcural, sound-isolating design is built for exactly that.
• Best for running, gym and sweat → PIIWIAU Neckband. IPX5 sweatproof plus a 1.7-ounce ergonomic neckband.
• Best for calls → PIIWIAU Neckband. Noise-canceling mic, vibration alerts, and up to 16 hours of talk time.
• Best for single-ear monitoring or DJ cueing → Audio-Technica ATH-M40x. The 90-degree swiveling earcups make it possible.
• Best for travel and storage → Both, differently. The M40x folds into a carry pouch; the neckband's retractable cable stays tangle-free.
• Best for plug-and-play reliability → Audio-Technica ATH-M40x. A wired 3.5 mm connection with detachable cables has nothing to charge.
If I had to pick one for myself, I would buy the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x. I value an honest, flat reference and real sound isolation, and I do most of my listening sitting still at a desk — the swiveling earcups, detachable cables and foldable aluminum build fit how I work. In my opinion, the PIIWIAU Neckband is the smarter buy if your life is spent moving: it wins on wireless convenience, battery and sweat resistance, and it is the one I would recommend for runners and commuters. Match the tool to the job and you will not regret either. Whichever you lean toward, check the current price on Amazon before you commit.
No. The ATH-M40x is a wired headphone with a 3.5 mm jack and a detachable, single-sided cable system. Both coiled and straight cables are included, but there is no Bluetooth or battery. If you want wireless, the PIIWIAU Neckband is the one to consider.
PIIWIAU rates it at up to 18 hours of music playback, up to 16 hours of talk time and 500 hours of standby from a 280mAh battery, with a full charge in about 1.5 hours. Real-world numbers vary with volume and connection quality, but the design is clearly aimed at all-day use.
I would not recommend it for that. The M40x is a full-size, wired, 8.5-ounce monitoring headphone built for studio and DJ use, not for sweat and movement. The PIIWIAU Neckband's IPX5 rating and lightweight neckband are made for exactly that kind of activity.
The PIIWIAU Neckband, clearly. It has a noise-canceling microphone, vibration alerts for incoming calls, and a long talk-time rating. The ATH-M40x is designed for monitoring and does not include call features in its spec sheet.
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