If you want a studio-oriented wired headset with a larger 50 mm driver and two cable options for office listening, choose MAONO MH700; if you need a lighter, single-side-cable monitor headphone with a focus on low-frequency tuning, choose Audio-Technica ATH-M20x. For office use, I’d favor the MAONO for flexible connections, while the Audio-Technica is the simpler choice when lower weight and a left-side cable matter most.
• MAONO MH700: Biggest strength is its 50 mm driver and included straight and coiled cables; its trade-off is a heavier 400 g listed weight.
• Audio-Technica ATH-M20x: Biggest strength is its lighter 210 g listed weight and single-side cable exit; its trade-off is a fixed 3 m straight cable rather than multiple cable options.
• Choose the MAONO if you want a wired over-ear headphone that can move between a computer and equipment with a 6.35 mm jack.
• Choose the ATH-M20x if you want a more lightweight wired monitor headphone with a low-frequency emphasis and a straightforward cable setup.
• Neither is wireless, so someone specifically shopping for a wireless headset for office use should look beyond these two.
The MAONO MH700 is a closed-back, over-ear wired headphone built around a 50 mm dynamic driver. Its stated frequency range is 20 Hz to 20 kHz, with 32-ohm impedance and 100 dB sensitivity. Those numbers describe its basic audio and connection profile; they do not, by themselves, promise a particular sound signature or guarantee better sound than a smaller-driver model.
Its practical edge is the included cable choice. There is a 1.2 m straight 3.5 mm cable and a 3 m coiled cable that ends in a 6.35 mm plug. That setup gives it a useful fit for a desk computer, keyboard, guitar amp, or other gear with a quarter-inch headphone jack. A storage bag is also included, and the headphone has sound isolation as its listed noise-control type.
For an office, I’d consider the MH700 when you want a wired set for listening, editing, or monitoring and value the option of swapping between cable styles. It is not the pick for someone prioritizing the lightest headset: its listed weight is 400 g. It also has no listed wireless connection, so it will not serve as a cable-free work headset or a fast-charging open ear headphones option.
The Audio-Technica ATH-M20x is a closed-back, over-ear wired monitor headphone with 40 mm dynamic drivers. Its frequency range is listed as 15 Hz to 20 kHz, and its tuning is described as emphasizing lower frequencies. The earcups contour around the ears, a design intended to help with sound isolation in louder environments.
Its straightforward setup may suit a desk where the headphone can stay plugged in. The ATH-M20x has a 3 m straight cable with a left-side exit and includes a 6.3 mm snap-on adapter. That gives it a clear connection path for compatible equipment, though there is no second cable length or coiled option listed. Its listed headphone weight is 210 g, making it the lighter option by the figures provided.
I’d look at the ATH-M20x if low weight, a left-side cable, and a monitor-style design matter more than cable flexibility. For office listening, the long fixed cable may be convenient at a stationary desk but less tidy if you move around. Like the MAONO, it is wired rather than wireless, so neither model is a true wireless headset for office calls or movement.
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-09 · 10 min read · Independent comparison
• Want the larger listed driver → MAONO MH700. It has a 50 mm dynamic driver, compared with the ATH-M20x’s 40 mm driver. Driver size alone does not establish which sounds better.
• Want the lighter listed headphone → Audio-Technica ATH-M20x. Its listed weight is 210 g, while the MAONO is listed at 400 g.
• Need two cable formats in the box → MAONO MH700. It includes a short straight 3.5 mm cable and a longer coiled cable with a 6.35 mm plug.
• Prefer one long straight cable with a left-side exit → Audio-Technica ATH-M20x. Its 3 m cable is fixed in that format, and a 6.3 mm adapter is included.
• Want the stated low-frequency tuning emphasis → Audio-Technica ATH-M20x. That characteristic is specifically called out for this model; the MAONO’s supplied information does not specify an equivalent tuning emphasis.
• Need a wired choice for compatible studio or instrument gear → Either can fit. Both are over-ear, closed-back, wired headphones, and each provides a route to a 6.35 mm connection.
• Want a cable-free work setup → Neither. Both are wired, with no wireless operating mode or battery charging feature listed.
• Trying to pick the best earphones for office listening? These are over-ear headphones rather than earphones. For desk listening, choose between the MAONO’s cable flexibility and the Audio-Technica’s lighter listed weight.
I’d choose the MAONO MH700 for office use if my desk setup includes different audio connections or I want the choice of a straight or coiled cable. Its 50 mm driver and included 3.5 mm and 6.35 mm cable options make it the more flexible package on paper. I’d switch to the ATH-M20x if carrying less listed headphone weight and having a left-side cable were my priorities. Neither is wireless, so I would not choose either for a cable-free office routine.
For a stationary desk with multiple compatible audio devices, the MAONO’s two included cable options are useful. If lower listed weight and a single-side cable exit matter more, the ATH-M20x is the more direct fit.
The Audio-Technica ATH-M20x is listed at 210 g, while the MAONO MH700 is listed at 400 g. The supplied figures do not specify identical weighing conditions, so treat that as a product-information comparison rather than a guarantee of how either will feel during a long workday.
No wireless operating mode is listed for either model. Both are wired, so they need a compatible audio jack and do not offer a battery-powered wireless setup.
Both are described as closed-back, over-ear headphones with sound isolation. The ATH-M20x’s circumaural design is specifically described as intended to help isolate sound in louder environments; the supplied information does not establish a direct test-based winner between them.
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If you want a wired studio headphone with a larger 50 mm driver and two included cable options for office listening, choose MAONO MH700; if you need a lighter monitor headphone with a single-side cable and a stated low-frequency emphasis, choose Audio-Technica ATH-M20x. For office use, I’d lean toward the MAONO for its connection flexibility, while the Audio-Technica makes more sense if lower listed weight and a simple, fixed cable setup matter more.
MAONO MH700 vs Audio-Technica ATH-M20x at a Glance
• MAONO MH700: Its biggest strength is the 50 mm driver and two included cable options; its trade-off is a listed weight of 400 g.
• Audio-Technica ATH-M20x: Its biggest strength is its lower listed weight of 210 g and left-side cable exit; its trade-off is a single 3 m straight cable.
• Choose the ATH-M20x if you want a lighter wired monitor headphone with a specified low-frequency tuning emphasis.
• For wireless office listening, choose neither: both are wired models.
The MAONO MH700 is a closed-back, over-ear wired headphone with a 50 mm dynamic driver. Its listed frequency range is 20 Hz to 20 kHz, with 32-ohm impedance and 100 dB sensitivity. Those specifications give you a useful picture of its basic audio profile, but they do not establish that it will sound better than the ATH-M20x.
The most practical advantage is the cable selection. The box includes a 1.2 m straight cable with a 3.5 mm plug and a 3 m coiled cable with a 6.35 mm plug. That makes it easier to switch between compatible desk audio and equipment with a quarter-inch headphone connection. A storage bag is included, and sound isolation is listed as its noise-control type.
I’d consider the MH700 for office listening, editing, or monitoring when you’ll stay near a compatible wired source and want more than one cable format. I’d skip it if keeping headphone weight low is a priority: its listed weight is 400 g. It also has no listed wireless mode, so it is not a cable-free work headset or a fast-charging open ear headphones option.
The Audio-Technica ATH-M20x is a closed-back, over-ear wired monitor headphone with 40 mm dynamic drivers. Its stated frequency range is 15 Hz to 20 kHz, and its tuning is described as emphasizing lower frequencies. The circumaural design contours around the ears and is intended to help with sound isolation in louder environments.
Its connection setup is simple: a 3 m straight cable exits from the left side, and a 6.3 mm snap-on adapter is included. That works well for a stationary desk or compatible audio equipment, though the supplied details do not list a second cable length or a coiled option. The listed headphone weight is 210 g, making it the lighter of these two by the provided figures.
I’d look at the ATH-M20x if you want a lighter wired monitor headphone and prefer a single cable that exits on one side. The long fixed cable may be convenient at a desk, but it gives you less choice than the MAONO’s two-cable package. It is not wireless, either, so it won’t suit someone who wants to move freely around an office without a cable.
• Want the larger listed driver → MAONO MH700. It has a 50 mm dynamic driver; the ATH-M20x has a 40 mm driver. Driver size alone doesn’t tell you which headphone will sound better.
• Want the lower listed weight → Audio-Technica ATH-M20x. It is listed at 210 g, compared with 400 g for the MAONO.
• Want two cable options → MAONO MH700. The included cables are a 1.2 m straight 3.5 mm cable and a 3 m coiled cable with a 6.35 mm plug.
• Prefer a long straight cable with a left-side exit → Audio-Technica ATH-M20x. Its 3 m cable is paired with a 6.3 mm snap-on adapter.
• Want a specified low-frequency emphasis → Audio-Technica ATH-M20x. That tuning characteristic is listed for this model; no equivalent emphasis is specified for the MAONO.
• Need a wired headphone for compatible studio or instrument equipment → Either can fit. Both are over-ear wired models, and both can connect to equipment with a 6.35 mm jack using the supplied cable or adapter arrangement.
• Need a wireless headset for office use → Neither. Neither model has a listed wireless operating mode or battery charging feature.
• Searching for the best earphones for office listening? These are over-ear headphones, not earphones. For a wired desk setup, the choice comes down to the MAONO’s cable flexibility or the Audio-Technica’s lower listed weight.
I’d choose the MAONO MH700 for office use if I wanted two cable options and flexibility across compatible audio connections. Its 50 mm driver and included straight and coiled cables make it the more adaptable package on paper. I’d choose the ATH-M20x instead if lower listed weight and a left-side cable mattered more to me. Neither is wireless, so I wouldn’t pick either for a cable-free workday.
For a stationary desk with different compatible audio connections, the MAONO’s two included cables are useful. If lower listed weight and a single-side cable exit matter more, the ATH-M20x is the more straightforward fit.
The ATH-M20x is listed at 210 g, while the MH700 is listed at 400 g. The product information does not specify identical weighing conditions, so those figures are a comparison of the listed weights—not a guarantee of how either will feel over a long workday.
No wireless mode is listed for either model. Both are wired headphones, so they need a compatible audio connection and don’t offer a battery-powered wireless setup.
Both are described as closed-back, over-ear headphones with sound isolation. The ATH-M20x’s circumaural design is specifically intended to help isolate sound in louder environments, but the available product details don’t establish a direct, test-based winner.
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