Short answer: the HyperX Cloud III. It ranks #170 of 481 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.8/5, at $57.99; the Audio-Technica ATH-M20x ranks #293, rated 3.3/5, and costs $59, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The HyperX Cloud III is the better-sounding choice. A low priced closed back gaming headset with a built in microphone that still scores 77 on the preference scale in squig.link hobbyist measurements. Watch for: The 3 to 6 kHz presence range sits about 3 dB below target, which softens footsteps, vocal edges and detail cues.
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 tradeoff: Sub-bass under 60 Hz is about 7 dB below target, so deep synth bass and kick drums lack rumble.
Buy the HyperX Cloud III. 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.
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A low priced closed back gaming headset with a built in microphone that still scores 77 on the preference scale in squig.link hobbyist measurements.
Amazon $57.99 eBay
The response is gentle in the midrange, with upper mids within about half a dB of target, so voices sit naturally.
Amazon $59.00 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 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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Specifications Side By Side
| HyperX Cloud III | Audio-Technica ATH-M20x | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $57.99 | $59.00 |
| Ranked | #170 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones | #293 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 77 (median of 2 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 65 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.16 dB standard deviation | 3.08 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.55 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.71 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-3.4 dB at 30 Hz) | Falls 6 dB below target at 32 Hz (-6.7 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 53mm dynamic | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 64 ohms | 47 ohms |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (308 g) | 0.4 lbs (190 g) |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 21kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 15Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | - |
| Sensitivity | - | 96 dB |
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