Short answer: the AKG K240 Studio. It ranks #141 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.4/5, at $54.95; the Audio-Technica ATH-M20x ranks #149, rated 3.3/5, and costs $58, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
What the AKG K240 Studio does well: A preference score of 68 in oratory1990’s measurement puts it in the middle of the pack, with a fairly even tilt and bass within about 1.4 dB of target from 60 to 200 Hz. The catch: Sub-bass from 20 to 60 Hz sits about 13.7 dB below target, so kick drums and synth bass lack rumble and weight.
What the Audio-Technica ATH-M20x does well: The response is gentle in the midrange, with upper mids within about half a dB of target, so voices sit naturally. The catch: Sub-bass under 60 Hz is about 7 dB below target, so deep synth bass and kick drums lack rumble.
Buy the AKG K240 Studio. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Audio-Technica ATH-M20x and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Want more options? Browse the full Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| AKG K240 Studio | Audio-Technica ATH-M20x | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $54.95 | $58.00 |
| Ranked | #141 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #149 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 68 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 65 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 3.33 dB standard deviation | 3.08 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.30 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.71 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 84 Hz (-17.6 dB at 30 Hz) | Falls 6 dB below target at 32 Hz (-6.7 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Semi-open | Closed |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 30mm dynamic | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 55 ohms | 47 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 104 dB SPL/V | 96 dB |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (240 g) | 0.4 lbs (190 g) |
| Frequency Response | 15Hz - 25kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 15Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How AKG K240 Studio compares with other leading options:
- AKG K240 Studio vs Sennheiser HD 400 S
- AKG K240 Studio vs HyperX Cloud Alpha
- Audio-Technica ATH-M20x vs HyperX Cloud Alpha
- Audio-Technica ATH-M20x vs HyperX Cloud II
- Sennheiser HD 400 S vs Audio-Technica ATH-M20x
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Headphones In Full
AKG K240 Studio: $54.95 Amazon eBay
Pros: A preference score of 68 in oratory1990’s measurement puts it in the middle of the pack, with a fairly even tilt and bass within about 1.4 dB of target from 60 to 200 Hz. At 55 ohms and 104 dB sensitivity it runs fine from a phone or laptop without a dedicated amp. The semi-open design weighs 240 g and suits critical listening at home, and it is rated higher than the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro and the Sony WH-CH510.
Cons: Sub-bass from 20 to 60 Hz sits about 13.7 dB below target, so kick drums and synth bass lack rumble and weight. A 6.2 dB dip near 3.6 kHz pulls back vocal presence and detail, while a 3.7 dB peak near 7 kHz can add a touch of edge to cymbals. The semi-open back leaks sound and offers little isolation, and there is no microphone.
Full AKG K240 Studio review and specifications →
| Back | Semi-open |
|---|---|
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.33 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 30mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 15Hz - 25kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 68 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 55 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 104 dB SPL/V |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 84 Hz (-17.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.30 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (240 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.2 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +6.3 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 204 Hz | -3.2 dB | 0.33 |
| Peak | 4,207 Hz | +5.2 dB | 3.07 |
| Peak | 1,585 Hz | +5.4 dB | 3.15 |
| Peak | 75 Hz | +2.9 dB | 1.48 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +1.8 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 6,459 Hz | -2.3 dB | 2.56 |
| Peak | 5,428 Hz | +2.7 dB | 3.81 |
| Peak | 2,689 Hz | -1.7 dB | 4.63 |
| Peak | 9,322 Hz | -2.0 dB | 2.55 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Audio-Technica ATH-M20x: $58.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: The response is gentle in the midrange, with upper mids within about half a dB of target, so voices sit naturally. Closed backs, a 47 ohm impedance and 96 dB sensitivity let it run from a phone or laptop, and at 190 g it is a light wired headphone.
Cons: Sub-bass under 60 Hz is about 7 dB below target, so deep synth bass and kick drums lack rumble. A 12.8 dB dip near 5.6 kHz and presence about 8 dB low make vocals and snare detail recede, and treble stays dull overall, which suits warm tastes but loses sparkle.
Full Audio-Technica ATH-M20x review and specifications →
| Released | Feb 2014 (12 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.08 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 15Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 65 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 47 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 96 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 32 Hz (-6.7 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.71 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs (190 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.8 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +6.8 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 1,496 Hz | -2.9 dB | 0.94 |
| Peak | 4,437 Hz | +7.7 dB | 1.40 |
| Peak | 76 Hz | -7.0 dB | 0.88 |
| Peak | 2,559 Hz | -3.1 dB | 1.82 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -0.6 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 248 Hz | +2.8 dB | 2.38 |
| Peak | 137 Hz | -1.6 dB | 2.05 |
| Peak | 76 Hz | +0.9 dB | 2.36 |
| Peak | 49 Hz | -0.7 dB | 2.58 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons