Audio Technica ATHM20xBT Wireless Headphones Review: Sound quality is amazing, but the price is high!
The Audio-Technica ATH-M20x has been around for a while now and was once a popular product for affordable studio monitor sound. Now, the company has launched a wireless version of the device as its latest offering. Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT Priced at Rs 13,500 in India, it gives its old fans a chance to experience the same unique sound signature with wireless connectivity. With 60 hours of battery life, multi-point connectivity and optional wired connectivity, is this the best wireless overear headset under Rs 15,000 you can buy right now? Let’s find out in this review.
Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT Design and Specifications
The Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT is the wireless version of its classic and wired model Audio-Technica ATH-M20x. It looks similar as well. The headset has a good overear fit, comfortable padding around the ears and on the headband, and a metal frame connecting the two ear cups. Other similarities in design elements include the ATH-M20x’s etched edges, a gently swivel and telescopically adjustable headband, and exposed audio wires near the headband.
The headset is currently available only in black color. It weighs 216 grams. The weight of the headphones is not too much as per the size, it feels light and comfortable to wear. The padding around the earcups covers the ears completely.
I did not find its passive noise isolation to be particularly impressive. It did not seem to be very effective in blocking out external sounds. However, one advantage of this was that I did not have to remove the headphones from my ears to let some outside air in. Its fit is such that it allows outside air to come in as per the need.
There are some differences in its design from the older model, which are given for the controls and buttons. These include a stereo socket for wired listening, a USB Type C port for charging, and three buttons to control playback and volume which are given on the left side. The sales package also includes a USB Type-A to Type-C charging cable and a stereo cable for wired connectivity. But unfortunately, there is no carrying case for the headphones.
The Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT uses Bluetooth 5 for primary connectivity with support for SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs. The headphones feature 40mm dynamic drivers, a frequency response range of 5 to 32,000Hz, a rated sensitivity of 100dB, and an impedance of 36Ohms. There is a microphone on the M20xBT, allowing you to use it as a hands-free headset.
It has multi-point connectivity so that you can pair and connect two devices simultaneously. Here the headphone keeps switching between the two based on its intelligence. This depends on what kind of content is being played or whether a call is being received. Active noise cancellation is not available in the headset nor is app support provided. It also does not have wear detection sensors, meaning it cannot detect itself when worn. This shortcoming takes the headset behind its competitors like Sony, JBL and Sennheiser.
Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT performance and battery life
The Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT falls a bit short in terms of features. But it offers a lot when it comes to sound quality. Being the wireless version of the ATH-M20x, it offers the same sonic tuning but with the convenience of wireless connectivity. I wouldn’t say that the M20xBT offers the exact same sound quality as the M20x, as wired connectivity always sounds better than wireless connectivity. But, the M20xBT comes pretty close.
The Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT delivers the same neutral, studio-friendly sound that the M-series is popular for. There is a lot of audible detail in the sound. It is able to pin-point even the most muted elements, giving a studio monitor experience. The experience was the same across different genres and tracks. However, its sonic signature and tone suits slow and detail-oriented tracks more. Kamasi Washington’s Truth was a great listening experience on this, which other products in this price range can hardly achieve.
The slow progression of this jazz track was captivating, with the headphones delivering every gentle drum hit, saxophone riffs, and occasional piano elements with great precision for a wireless headset. Astropilot’s Arambol gave me a closer look at the headphones’ stereo separation, as well as specific elements along the frequency range. The bass wasn’t overly tight, with the headphones focusing on delivering a neutral, flat sound, rather than a polished, refined sound like more expensive wireless headphones.
The M20xBT seemed to get stuck while tuning in to a busy track. Perhaps advanced codec support here could have improved the overall sound a bit. The headset only supports SBC and AAC codecs, which sometimes feel choppy.
Overall, Bluetooth is the only issue here. This is very much a product of its roots as a wired headset. That said, it is not tuned for the weak wireless input of Bluetooth. Plugging in a cable reduces the listening issues, but you haven’t paid Rs 13,500 for this adjustment.
The call quality is good indoors. The connectivity is also stable and it works very well up to a distance of 4 meters from the source device. The battery life of the headphones is also quite good. It lasts for 48 hours on a single charge while listening to music continuously at moderate volume.
Our decision
Audio-Technica is a trusted name in consumer headphones and the ATH-M20xBT is an iconic product in its own right. But that’s not enough here. The headset has the same monitor-grade sound as its wired version, which is great, but there are a few shortcomings that hold it back. The headset is priced quite high and it doesn’t support advanced Bluetooth codecs.
For fans of the Audio-Technica M-series, this headphones offers convenience by offering wireless connectivity, but it lacks features as per the price. It has neither active noise cancellation, nor app support, nor any extra features other than Bluetooth connectivity. This is a very good pair of headphones to use but its price should have been less than Rs 13,500.
