If you want flexible wired connections and easy single-ear monitoring for music production, choose OneOdio A71; if you need a studio-focused, closed-back design with a dedicated left-side cable, choose Audio-Technica ATH-M20x. For a home setup that may include several kinds of audio gear, I lean toward the A71; for straightforward tracking and monitoring, the ATH-M20x makes a more focused case.
OneOdio A71 vs Audio-Technica ATH-M20x at a Glance
• Audio-Technica ATH-M20x strength: circumaural earcups designed for sound isolation, with a simple left-side cable exit. Trade-off: it offers fewer connection and monitoring options than the A71.
• Choose the A71 if you want one wired pair to move among computers, mixers, instruments, and other listed sources.
• Choose the ATH-M20x if your priority is a closed-back monitoring design for tracking and mixing.
• Neither is wireless for listening: both are wired headphone designs, so plan around a cable and a compatible audio output.
The A71 is the more adaptable-looking pick for a home recording corner where the gear changes from day to day. Its cable has both 3.5 mm and 6.35 mm plugs, so the stated connections cover common sources such as computers and laptops as well as amplifiers, keyboards, guitars, and mixers. That can simplify a setup if you switch between a computer session and an instrument or mixer without wanting to hunt for a separate adapter.
Its 90-degree swiveling earcups support single-sided monitoring: keep one earcup on and turn the other away when you need to listen to someone nearby. That is useful during a recording session or a conversation at a shared desk. The padded ear cushions and adjustable, stretchable headband are intended to help with fit over longer listening periods; the earcups also fold inward for storage. A shared audio port gives you a way to connect another pair for shared listening, while the cable’s stated length range of 6.6 to 9.8 feet offers reach but can leave extra cord to manage close to a laptop.
I’d consider it if flexible connections, one-ear monitoring, and sharing audio matter more than keeping the design minimal. Its 32-ohm impedance is a listed electrical specification, not a promise that every source will sound identical, so the actual result will depend on the connected device and listening setup. The A71 is wired, and the coiled cable is part of its practical footprint.
Skip it if you want a simple straight cable with a clearly specified single-side exit, or you do not need the A71’s extra connection and monitoring features.
The ATH-M20x puts its emphasis on studio tracking and monitoring. Its circumaural, closed-back design contours around the ears and is specified for sound isolation in loud environments. That makes it a plausible fit when you want to focus on a recording or listen to a monitor mix without an open-style earcup design. Isolation is not the same as active noise cancellation, though; the supplied specifications describe the earcup design, not electronic cancellation.
Audio is delivered through 40 mm dynamic drivers, with the tuning described as favoring low-frequency performance. That point may appeal to someone who wants bass to be present while tracking, but it should not be read as a claim that the headphones make every mix decision for you. The ATH-M20x has a 3.0 m straight cable exiting on the left side and includes a 6.3 mm snap-on adapter. It is a direct, familiar arrangement for a studio desk, though the fixed cable and adapter are less flexible than the A71’s two-plug setup.
The listed frequency range is 15 Hz to 20,000 Hz, and the listed impedance is 47 ohms. Those figures help describe the device, but they do not independently establish sound quality or guarantee compatibility with every audio source. For someone building a tracking setup around one main output, the focused cable arrangement and circumaural fit may be appealing. Someone moving among different gear types may prefer the A71’s included plug options and swiveling earcups.
Skip it if you specifically want a shared audio port or 90-degree swiveling earcups for single-ear monitoring.
• Best for changing between listed audio gear → OneOdio A71. Its cable includes 3.5 mm and 6.35 mm plugs, with stated compatibility across computers, laptops, amplifiers, keyboards, guitars, and mixers.
• Best for a studio-monitoring-first design → Audio-Technica ATH-M20x. Its stated purpose is tracking and mixing, and the circumaural design is intended to provide isolation in louder environments.
• Best for single-ear monitoring → OneOdio A71. The 90-degree swiveling earcups are the specific feature that supports this use.
• Best for a straight cable routed from one side → Audio-Technica ATH-M20x. Its 3.0 m cable exits on the left, a straightforward layout for a stationary desk.
• Best for sharing audio with another pair → OneOdio A71. The shared audio port is designed for connecting another pair without a splitter.
• Best for a listed driver size and low-frequency tuning → Audio-Technica ATH-M20x. It has 40 mm drivers and is described as tuned for enhanced low-frequency performance.
• Best for extra reach through a coiled cord → OneOdio A71. Its cable is listed as 6.6 to 9.8 feet; the coiled construction may be convenient for reach but less tidy on a close, uncluttered workstation.
• Best for fewer setup choices → Audio-Technica ATH-M20x. Its simpler cable-and-adapter arrangement may suit someone who knows what output they use and does not need the A71’s added features.
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-12 · 16 min read · Independent comparison
For music production, start with the shape of your actual sessions rather than a single specification. If you record while talking with another person, or regularly need to monitor with one ear free, the A71’s swiveling earcups give you a specific workflow option. If your sessions are mostly seated tracking and mixing in one place, the ATH-M20x’s circumaural design and left-side cable may feel like the more purposeful arrangement on paper.
Think about the output you use. The A71 lists both 3.5 mm and 6.35 mm plugs, while the ATH-M20x comes with a 6.3 mm snap-on adapter alongside its straight cable. Check your interface, mixer, computer, or instrument output before deciding; the connection details are practical, but they do not tell you how loud a particular source will drive the headphones.
Comfort is personal, and neither specification sheet can settle fit for every head or ear. The A71 describes padded cushions and an adjustable, stretchable headband. The ATH-M20x describes professional-grade ear pad and headphone materials for extended wear. Both are over-ear designs, but those details alone cannot establish which will feel better to you after a long session.
If you are searching for lightweight head phones for music production, don’t assume a listing’s weight is a complete comfort verdict. Since the ATH figure excludes those parts and the A71’s figure is described as item weight, that is not a like-for-like comparison. Fit, padding, cable movement, and your own preference still matter.
The two other phrases that sometimes come up—bone conduction headphones for music production and comfortable sports earbuds for music production—describe very different product categories from these wired, over-ear studio headphones. Neither model here is a bone-conduction design or an earbud. If your goal is monitoring and mixing at a desk, compare these as studio headphones rather than expecting a sports or open-ear listening format.
Finally, look at cable management. The ATH-M20x uses a straight 3.0 m cable from the left earcup. The A71’s coiled cable can extend from 6.6 to 9.8 feet. A straight cable may be easier to route predictably across a desk; a coiled cable can keep some slack close, but may feel more present in a compact setup. The better match depends on where your source sits and how much movement you need.
In my opinion, I would choose the OneOdio A71 for a flexible home music-production setup. Its two plug sizes, swiveling earcups, and shared audio port cover more day-to-day situations than the ATH-M20x’s simpler studio arrangement. I’d choose the ATH-M20x instead for a dedicated tracking station where circumaural isolation and a straight left-side cable are the priorities.
For a setup that moves among several listed sources or benefits from single-ear monitoring, I’d favor the A71. For tracking and monitoring with a circumaural design and straightforward left-side cable, the ATH-M20x is the more focused fit.
The listed information describes sound isolation from the earcup design, not active noise cancellation. The ATH-M20x is specified as circumaural and intended to isolate sound; the A71’s padded cushions are described as helping with isolation.
That depends on your layout. The ATH-M20x has a 3.0 m straight cable exiting on the left, while the A71 uses a coiled cable listed at 6.6 to 9.8 feet and includes both 3.5 mm and 6.35 mm plugs.
The A71 has a shared audio port intended to connect another pair for shared listening. The supplied ATH-M20x details do not list an equivalent sharing port.
{} in final
If you want flexible wired connections and easy single-ear monitoring for music production, choose OneOdio A71; if you need a studio-focused, closed-back design with a dedicated left-side cable, choose Audio-Technica ATH-M20x. For a home setup that may include several kinds of audio gear, I lean toward the A71; for straightforward tracking and monitoring, the ATH-M20x makes a more focused case.
• OneOdio A71 strength: 3.5 mm and 6.35 mm plugs, plus swiveling earcups for single-ear monitoring. Trade-off: its long coiled cable may feel bulky in a compact desk setup.
• Audio-Technica ATH-M20x strength: circumaural earcups designed for sound isolation, with a simple left-side cable exit. Trade-off: it offers fewer connection and monitoring options than the A71.
• Choose the A71 if you want one wired pair to move among computers, mixers, instruments, and other listed sources.
• Choose the ATH-M20x if your priority is a closed-back monitoring design for tracking and mixing.
• Neither is wireless for listening: both are wired headphone designs, so plan around a cable and a compatible audio output.
The A71 is the more adaptable-looking pick for a home recording corner where the gear changes from day to day. Its cable has both 3.5 mm and 6.35 mm plugs, so the stated connections cover common sources such as computers and laptops as well as amplifiers, keyboards, guitars, and mixers. That can simplify a setup if you switch between a computer session and an instrument or mixer without wanting to hunt for a separate adapter.
Its 90-degree swiveling earcups support single-sided monitoring: keep one earcup on and turn the other away when you need to listen to someone nearby. That is useful during a recording session or a conversation at a shared desk. The padded ear cushions and adjustable, stretchable headband are intended to help with fit over longer listening periods; the earcups also fold inward for storage. A shared audio port gives you a way to connect another pair for shared listening, while the cable’s stated length range of 6.6 to 9.8 feet offers reach but can leave extra cord to manage close to a laptop.
I’d consider it if flexible connections, one-ear monitoring, and sharing audio matter more than keeping the design minimal. Its 32-ohm impedance is a listed electrical specification, not a promise that every source will sound identical, so the actual result will depend on the connected device and listening setup. The A71 is wired, and the coiled cable is part of its practical footprint.
Skip it if you want a simple straight cable with a clearly specified single-side exit, or you do not need the A71’s extra connection and monitoring features.
Audio-Technica ATH-M20x: Who It's For
The ATH-M20x puts its emphasis on studio tracking and monitoring. Its circumaural, closed-back design contours around the ears and is specified for sound isolation in loud environments. That makes it a plausible fit when you want to focus on a recording or listen to a monitor mix without an open-style earcup design. Isolation is not the same as active noise cancellation, though; the supplied specifications describe the earcup design, not electronic cancellation.
Audio is delivered through 40 mm dynamic drivers, with the tuning described as favoring low-frequency performance. That point may appeal to someone who wants bass to be present while tracking, but it should not be read as a claim that the headphones make every mix decision for you. The ATH-M20x has a 3.0 m straight cable exiting on the left side and includes a 6.3 mm snap-on adapter. It is a direct, familiar arrangement for a studio desk, though the fixed cable and adapter are less flexible than the A71’s two-plug setup.
The listed frequency range is 15 Hz to 20,000 Hz, and the listed impedance is 47 ohms. Those figures help describe the device, but they do not independently establish sound quality or guarantee compatibility with every audio source. For someone building a tracking setup around one main output, the focused cable arrangement and circumaural fit may be appealing. Someone moving among different gear types may prefer the A71’s included plug options and swiveling earcups.
Skip it if you specifically want a shared audio port or 90-degree swiveling earcups for single-ear monitoring.
• Best for changing between listed audio gear → OneOdio A71. Its cable includes 3.5 mm and 6.35 mm plugs, with stated compatibility across computers, laptops, amplifiers, keyboards, guitars, and mixers.
• Best for a studio-monitoring-first design → Audio-Technica ATH-M20x. Its stated purpose is tracking and mixing, and the circumaural design is intended to provide isolation in louder environments.
• Best for single-ear monitoring → OneOdio A71. The 90-degree swiveling earcups are the specific feature that supports this use.
• Best for a straight cable routed from one side → Audio-Technica ATH-M20x. Its 3.0 m cable exits on the left, a straightforward layout for a stationary desk.
• Best for a listed driver size and low-frequency tuning → Audio-Technica ATH-M20x. It has 40 mm drivers and is described as tuned for enhanced low-frequency performance.
• Best for extra reach through a coiled cord → OneOdio A71. Its cable is listed as 6.6 to 9.8 feet; the coiled construction may be convenient for reach but less tidy on a close, uncluttered workstation.
• Best for fewer setup choices → Audio-Technica ATH-M20x. Its simpler cable-and-adapter arrangement may suit someone who knows what output they use and does not need the A71’s added features.
For music production, start with the shape of your actual sessions rather than a single specification. If you record while talking with another person, or regularly need to monitor with one ear free, the A71’s swiveling earcups give you a specific workflow option. If your sessions are mostly seated tracking and mixing in one place, the ATH-M20x’s circumaural design and left-side cable may feel like the more purposeful arrangement on paper.
Think about the output you use. The A71 lists both 3.5 mm and 6.35 mm plugs, while the ATH-M20x comes with a 6.3 mm snap-on adapter alongside its straight cable. Check your interface, mixer, computer, or instrument output before deciding; the connection details are practical, but they do not tell you how loud a particular source will drive the headphones.
Comfort is personal, and neither specification sheet can settle fit for every head or ear. The A71 describes padded cushions and an adjustable, stretchable headband. The ATH-M20x describes professional-grade ear pad and headphone materials for extended wear. Both are over-ear designs, but those details alone cannot establish which will feel better to you after a long session.
If you are searching for lightweight head phones for music production, don’t assume a listing’s weight is a complete comfort verdict. Since the ATH figure excludes those parts and the A71’s figure is described as item weight, that is not a like-for-like comparison. Fit, padding, cable movement, and your own preference still matter.
The two other phrases that sometimes come up—bone conduction headphones for music production and comfortable sports earbuds for music production—describe very different product categories from these wired, over-ear studio headphones. Neither model here is a bone-conduction design or an earbud. If your goal is monitoring and mixing at a desk, compare these as studio headphones rather than expecting a sports or open-ear listening format.
Finally, look at cable management. The ATH-M20x uses a straight 3.0 m cable from the left earcup. The A71’s coiled cable can extend from 6.6 to 9.8 feet. A straight cable may be easier to route predictably across a desk; a coiled cable can keep some slack close, but may feel more present in a compact setup. The better match depends on where your source sits and how much movement you need.
In my opinion, I would choose the OneOdio A71 for a flexible home music-production setup. Its two plug sizes, swiveling earcups, and shared audio port cover more day-to-day situations than the ATH-M20x’s simpler studio arrangement. I’d choose the ATH-M20x instead for a dedicated tracking station where circumaural isolation and a straight left-side cable are the priorities.
For a setup that moves among several listed sources or benefits from single-ear monitoring, I’d favor the A71. For tracking and monitoring with a circumaural design and straightforward left-side cable, the ATH-M20x is the more focused fit.
The listed information describes sound isolation from the earcup design, not active noise cancellation. The ATH-M20x is specified as circumaural and intended to isolate sound; the A71’s padded cushions are described as helping with isolation.
That depends on your layout. The ATH-M20x has a 3.0 m straight cable exiting on the left, while the A71 uses a coiled cable listed at 6.6 to 9.8 feet and includes both 3.5 mm and 6.35 mm plugs.
The A71 has a shared audio port intended to connect another pair for shared listening. The supplied ATH-M20x details do not list an equivalent sharing port.
• Fenpos Bone Conduction Headphones vs Monster Open Ear AC390
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