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Updated: 2026-09-26 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want maximum passive isolation for tracking loud sources without any batteries, choose Direct Sound EX-29; if you need a flatter, more accurate monitor with a detachable cable and swiveling earcups for mixing and one-ear work, choose Audio Technica ATH-M40x.
• Direct Sound EX-29 — biggest trade-off: Heavier and more utilitarian, at 11.5 oz including cable and plug, with a fixed 9 ft cable rather than a detachable one.
• Audio Technica ATH-M40x — biggest strength: A flat-tuned, studio-focused monitor with 40 mm drivers, rare earth magnets, CCAW voice coils, and 90° swiveling earcups for one-ear monitoring.
• Audio Technica ATH-M40x — biggest trade-off: Lower isolation than the EX-29 and a lighter 240 g build, so it blocks less external noise in very loud rooms.
• Who each is for: The EX-29 suits drummers, live tracking, and anyone who needs quiet on demand; the M40x suits producers, mixers, and DJs who want accuracy and flexibility.
The EX-29 is built around one idea: shutting the world out. Direct Sound rates it at 29 dB NRR, with passive attenuation of 36.7 dB at 8,000 Hz. That is a serious number, and it comes from the physical design rather than from any active noise cancellation, so there is no battery to charge, no power switch to manage, and nothing to fail mid-session. The 40 mm closed-back drivers sit inside sealed over-ear cups, and the whole thing is tuned to what Direct Sound calls a TruSound tonally accurate response across 20 Hz to 20 kHz.
For a drummer tracking to a click in a live room, or an engineer who needs to hear a click track over a loud amp, that isolation is the entire point. The 32 Ohm impedance and 114 dB sensitivity at 1 kHz mean it gets loud easily from modest sources, and the 500 mW rated input (1,000 mW max) gives it headroom. The IncrediFlex padded headband is fully adjustable, and the headphones fold for storage. You get a straight 1/8" gold-plated plug with a screw-on 1/4" adapter, plus a 9 ft twin-lead cable.
Audio Technica ATH-M40x: Who It's For
The M40x is the more traditional studio monitor of the pair. Audio-Technica tunes it flat for accurate monitoring across the entire range, and the spec sheet backs that intent: 40 mm drivers with rare earth (neodymium) magnets and copper-clad aluminum wire voice coils, a 15 Hz to 24,000 Hz frequency response, 35 Ohm impedance, 98 dB sensitivity, and 1,600 mW maximum input power. That combination is aimed squarely at people who need to trust what they hear when balancing a mix.
The practical design details matter just as much. The circumaural cups contour around the ears for isolation in loud environments, and the earcups swivel 90 degrees, which makes one-ear monitoring genuinely easy, whether you are cueing a record as a DJ or checking a take in a tracking room. The headband and earpads use professional-grade material built for durability and comfort, and at 240 g without cable it is lighter on the head than the EX-29.
Flexibility is where the M40x pulls ahead for studio work. It ships with two detachable cables, a 1.2 m to 3.0 m coiled cable and a 3.0 m straight cable, plus a protective carrying pouch and a 6.3 mm screw-on adapter. It collapses for transport. The trade-off is isolation: it is designed to reduce outside noise, but it does not claim the extreme attenuation of the EX-29, so in an extremely loud room it will let more through. The kit also includes a RockShield 3 mic isolation shield, which is useful if you record vocals or acoustic sources and want to cut room ambience, but it is a separate piece of gear rather than a headphone feature.
If you mostly mix, edit, or DJ, this is the more natural fit. If your priority is surviving a wall of sound on stage, it is not.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for maximum isolation → Direct Sound EX-29. NRR 29 dB and 36.7 dB attenuation at 8,000 Hz, with no batteries required.
• Best for one-ear monitoring → Audio Technica ATH-M40x. The earcups swivel 90 degrees.
• Best for easy loud playback from weak sources → Direct Sound EX-29. 114 dB sensitivity at 1 kHz versus 98 dB on the M40x.
• Best for cable flexibility → Audio Technica ATH-M40x. Two detachable cables, coiled and straight; the EX-29 has a fixed 9 ft cable.
• Best for lighter long sessions → Audio Technica ATH-M40x. 240 g without cable against 11.5 oz (about 326 g) on the EX-29.
• Best for drummers and live tracking → Direct Sound EX-29. The passive attenuation is the feature.
• Best for DJs and studio producers → Audio Technica ATH-M40x. Swiveling cups, flat tuning, and a bundled mic shield.
If I had to pick one, I would buy the Audio Technica ATH-M40x. In my opinion it covers more ground: flat tuning for mixing, swiveling cups for one-ear work, two detachable cables, and a lighter build make it the better everyday studio headphone. The Direct Sound EX-29 wins outright on isolation, and if you are a drummer or you track in loud rooms, that NRR 29 dB rating is worth more than any feature on this list. But as a single do-most-things closed-back monitor, the M40x is the one I would reach for. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since the two sit in different spots depending on the bundle.
what are closed back studio headphones
Closed-back studio headphones have sealed earcups that block outside sound from reaching your ears and keep your audio from leaking out. Both the EX-29 and the M40x use this design, which is why they are suited to tracking and monitoring.
what are the best closed back studio headphones
There is no single answer, because it depends on the job. If isolation is the goal, the Direct Sound EX-29's NRR 29 dB rating makes it a strong pick; for flat, accurate monitoring with swiveling cups and detachable cables, I would point to the Audio Technica ATH-M40x.
Open-back headphones have vented earcups that let air and sound pass through, which typically gives a wider, more natural soundstage but far less isolation and more sound leakage. Neither headphone here is open back, so both are better choices when you need to keep sound contained.
Does the Direct Sound EX-29 need batteries?
No. Its isolation is entirely passive and mechanical, rated at NRR 29 dB, so there is nothing to charge or power. That makes it dependable in long sessions where you cannot stop to swap or recharge anything.
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