Short answer: the Sennheiser HD 400 S. It ranks #142 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.4/5, at $69.95. The Audio-Technica ATH-M20x ranks #149, rated 3.3/5, at $58, $11.95 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
What the Sennheiser HD 400 S does well: Crinacle’s measurement gives it a solid preference score of 68, a respectable result for a budget closed headphone. The catch: A 3.2 dB spread around the target means the response is not especially smooth.
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 Sennheiser HD 400 S. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $11.95 you would save on the Audio-Technica ATH-M20x does not close the gap.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sennheiser HD 400 S | Audio-Technica ATH-M20x | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $69.95 | $58.00 |
| Ranked | #142 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 crinacle, via AutoEQ) | 65 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 3.23 dB standard deviation | 3.08 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.35 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.71 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Impedance | 18 ohms | 47 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 120 dB SPL/V | 96 dB |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (217 g) | 0.4 lbs (190 g) |
| Frequency Response | 18Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 15Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | - |
| Drivers | 1 x dynamic | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Sub-bass Extension | - | Falls 6 dB below target at 32 Hz (-6.7 dB at 30 Hz) |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How Sennheiser HD 400 S compares with other leading options:
- AKG K240 Studio vs Sennheiser HD 400 S
- Sennheiser HD 400 S vs HyperX Cloud Alpha
- Audio-Technica ATH-M20x vs HyperX Cloud Alpha
- AKG K240 Studio vs Audio-Technica ATH-M20x
- Audio-Technica ATH-M20x vs Sennheiser HD 280 Pro
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
Sennheiser HD 400 S: $69.95 B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: Crinacle’s measurement gives it a solid preference score of 68, a respectable result for a budget closed headphone. With 18 ohm impedance and 120 dB/V sensitivity it gets loud from any phone, and at 217 g it is light, with an inline microphone for calls.
Cons: A 3.2 dB spread around the target means the response is not especially smooth. The AKG K240 Studio earns the same rating for less money.
Full Sennheiser HD 400 S review and specifications →
| Released | 2019 (7 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.23 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 18Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 68 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 18 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 120 dB SPL/V |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.35 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (217 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -3.8 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 | +7.5 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 195 Hz | -16.4 dB | 0.18 |
| Peak | 5,708 Hz | +8.8 dB | 0.96 |
| Peak | 223 Hz | +19.5 dB | 0.50 |
| Peak | 5,459 Hz | -10.9 dB | 2.60 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +1.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 58 Hz | -0.9 dB | 2.68 |
| Peak | 775 Hz | +1.1 dB | 2.76 |
| Peak | 3,779 Hz | +3.7 dB | 4.57 |
| Peak | 3,093 Hz | -1.5 dB | 0.84 |
- 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