If you want a distinctive, long-cable wired headphone for focused listening and meetings, choose Meters Ashdown NOVU-1; if you need a straightforward closed-back monitor with a desktop stand, choose Audio-Technica ATH-M20x. For meetings, I’d lean toward the NOVU-1 if its detachable cable and visual design appeal to you; neither model is wireless, so both keep you physically tethered to your device.
• Meters Ashdown NOVU-1: 50mm dynamic drivers, a detachable 3m cable, and a distinctive illuminated VU-meter design. Its trade-off is that it is wired, and the listed features do not include a microphone.
• Audio-Technica ATH-M20x: 40mm dynamic drivers, closed-back construction, and an included desktop stand. Its cable is 3m long but not listed as detachable.
• NOVU-1 fits listeners who want a visually distinctive, wired over-ear headphone with a replaceable cable.
• ATH-M20x fits listeners who want a conventional monitoring design and a stand for storage between sessions.
• Neither is a true wireless or ANC-earbud option; both are wired, closed-back headphones.
The NOVU-1 is a wired, closed-back over-ear headphone built around 50mm dynamic drivers and a stated frequency bandwidth of 16–20,000Hz. Its standout practical detail is the detachable 3m cable. A cable that can be replaced is useful if it gets damaged, and the length gives you room to move around a desk or studio setup without being right on top of the source.
It comes with a 3.5mm stereo mini-plug and a threaded 1/4-inch adapter, so it can connect to more than one kind of headphone output. A cloth carrying bag is included, too. The design’s illuminated VU meter gives the NOVU-1 a more distinctive look than a plain studio-style headphone. That visual character may be part of the appeal if you want headphones that look at home beside your music gear rather than disappearing into the background.
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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-22 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
The ATH-M20x is also a wired, closed-back dynamic headphone, with 40mm drivers and a listed frequency response of 15–20,000Hz. Its product information emphasizes monitoring and sound isolation, making it a plausible fit for home recording, DJ practice, or focused listening in a space with some everyday background noise. The included desktop stand gives it a convenient place to rest when it is not being worn.
Its 3m straight cable exits from the left side. That length can work well at a desk or studio station, but the cable is not described as detachable. If a cable replacement is an important part of your decision, the NOVU-1 has the clearer advantage on that point. The ATH-M20x’s design is less visually unusual, which may be a plus if you prefer simple gear that sits neatly on a stand.
For meetings, the ATH-M20x can be considered if you want wired, closed-back headphones and do not require a listed microphone. The supplied details do not identify a built-in mic, wireless calling, or active noise cancellation. Its isolation-oriented closed-back design may help keep listening more focused, but it should not be mistaken for ANC true wireless earbuds for meetings. Choose it for wired listening and monitoring, not for a hands-free meeting setup.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for a desktop storage stand → Audio-Technica ATH-M20x. A desktop stand is included with the listed bundle.
• Best for a distinctive visual design → Meters Ashdown NOVU-1. Its illuminated VU meter is a defining design feature.
• Best for a straightforward monitoring setup → Audio-Technica ATH-M20x. Its product details specifically position it for monitoring and mention sound isolation.
• Best for the larger listed driver size → Meters Ashdown NOVU-1. It has 50mm dynamic drivers, compared with 40mm drivers in the ATH-M20x. Driver size alone does not establish which sounds better.
• Best for a wider stated low-frequency reach → Audio-Technica ATH-M20x. Its listed response begins at 15Hz, compared with 16Hz for the NOVU-1; both list a 20,000Hz upper limit.
• Best for a meeting where you need a built-in mic or wireless freedom → Neither based on the listed features. Neither product’s information specifies a microphone or wireless connectivity.
• Best if you want an included carrying bag → Meters Ashdown NOVU-1. Its package includes a cloth bag; the ATH-M20x bundle lists a desktop stand instead.
A common search is “best earbuds for meetings,” but these are not earbuds. They are over-ear wired headphones, and the listed details do not establish either as a complete meeting headset. If your meeting setup depends on a microphone, confirm that separately or choose a model that explicitly includes one. Likewise, shoppers looking for “extra bass bone conduction headphones for meetings” are comparing a different kind of product: neither headphone here is described as bone conduction, and the supplied specifications do not make a specific extra-bass claim.
My Verdict
For meetings, though, I would not buy either on the assumption that it includes a microphone. The listed features do not confirm one. If a desktop stand and monitoring-oriented presentation matter more than a detachable cable, I’d choose the ATH-M20x instead.
No. Both are listed as wired headphones with a 3.5mm jack. Each has a 3m cable, but only the NOVU-1 cable is specified as detachable.
Neither product’s listed features specify a built-in microphone or wireless calling. For listening during a meeting, either may suit a wired setup, but if you need to speak, verify your microphone arrangement before choosing.
The NOVU-1’s supplied information does not establish active noise cancellation, despite a noise-control field mentioning it. The ATH-M20x is described as using sound isolation, which is not the same as active noise cancellation.
That depends on how you use your headphones. The NOVU-1 includes a cloth carrying bag and a 1/4-inch adapter; the ATH-M20x bundle includes a desktop stand. Check the current price on Amazon if you are comparing overall value, since the included accessories may matter differently to each buyer.
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