Ahead of Bluetooth and wi-fi headphones grew to become a huge deal, Audio-Technica was a popular name in the business of wired customer headphones. That is not to say that the Japanese brand has missing its relevance, but some of its new items appear to be to rely intensely on nostalgia and the proven qualifications of some of its well-known models from the previous ten years, such as the M-series of observe-quality studio headphones. The product or service I’m reviewing right here is particularly that — a refreshed, Bluetooth-run model of an old favourite.
The Audio-Technica ATH-M20x has been all over for yrs, and was as soon as a quite well-liked choose for its then-novel studio check audio at a acceptable value. The firm’s latest product is the wi-fi version of it. The Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT is priced at Rs. 13,500 in India, providing nostalgic consumers a probability to encounter the unique sonic signature, but with the convenience of wi-fi connectivity. With a assure of 60 several hours of battery daily life, multi-stage connectivity, and optional wired connectivity, is this the most effective wi-fi above-ear headset you can get at all-around Rs. 15,000 suitable now? Obtain out in this assessment.
The Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT characteristics Bluetooth 5 for connectivity, but can also be utilized as a wired headset
Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT layout and requirements
The Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT is, rather actually, a wireless variation of the vintage (and wired) Audio-Technica ATH-M20x. It seems and feels the identical for the most portion, with a proper in excess of-ear in good shape, snug padding all around the ears and on the headband, and a metallic frame connecting the two ear cups. The style and design similarities also include things like the ‘ATH-M20x’ etched into the sides, the gentle swivel for in shape adjustment, the telescopically modifying headband, and the exposed audio wires close to the headband.
Available in a one black color (for now), the Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT positive aspects from the exceptionally common structure and in good shape of its predecessor. At 216g, the headphones you should not weigh as a lot as you would assume specified the measurement, and really feel light-weight and snug to use with the padding all-around the ear cups entirely masking my ears.
I wasn’t also impressed with the good quality of the passive noise isolation, with the padding just not carrying out adequate to cease outdoors sound from getting in. The upside of this was that I did not need to have to choose off the headphones to get some air as normally, with the fit making it possible for a affordable quantity of air movement to my ears.
There are, of course, tiny variances in the structure to accommodate the controls and buttons. These contain the stereo socket for wired listening, a USB Form-C port for charging, and 3 buttons to control playback and quantity, all placed on the remaining facet. Bundled in the sales bundle are a USB Sort-A to Style-C charging cable and a stereo cable for wired connectivity, but unfortunately no carry case for the headphones.
The Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT utilizes Bluetooth 5 for major connectivity, with support for the SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs. The headphones have 40mm dynamic drivers, a frequency response array of 5 to 32,000Hz, a rated sensitivity of 100dB, and an impedance of 36Ohms. There is a microphone on the M20xBT, so you can use it as a fingers-absolutely free headset.
The on-machine buttons management energy, quantity, and playback on the Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT
Usefully, there is multi-point connectivity, so you can pair and join to two units at the same time, with the headphones switching intelligently between the two primarily based on content material enjoying or phone calls gained. There is no energetic noise cancellation or application assistance on the Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT, and no wear-detection sensors as properly, making it fairly less than-geared up in contrast to competing alternatives from makes these as Sony, JBL, and Sennheiser.
Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT functionality and battery lifetime
Despite the fact that the Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT is absolutely a little bit very low on features, it guarantees a good deal when it arrives to the most essential aspect — sound high quality. Pitched as the wi-fi model of the ATH-M20x, Audio-Technica claims to offer you the exact sonic tuning, but with the convenience of wireless connectivity. I won’t go as significantly as to say that the M20xBT sounds as great as the M20x for the clear reason that wired connectivity will always audio much better than Bluetooth, but the M20xBT does appear rather near.
The place the Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT surely delivers a common listening knowledge is in the sonic signature. It is really the very same neutral, studio-friendly audio that produced the M-series so well-known, offering frequencies across the selection a good deal of space to glow. This designed for a honest amount of money of audible detail in the sound, and the means to pinpoint faint components in tracks that tied in effectively with the concept of studio screens.
This was the situation throughout genres and tracks, but the sonic signature and tonality of the Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT specifically suited slower, extra depth-oriented tracks. Listening to the exceptional Fact by Kamasi Washington, the ATH-M20xBT headphones was revealing and insightful outside of what most wi-fi headsets in this value range can reach.
The slow development of this jazz keep track of was partaking, with the headphones providing each individual light hit of the drums, the saxophone riffs, and the occasional piano factors with fantastic precision for a wi-fi headset. This put together with outstanding timbre and growl in the lows, a apparent mid selection for the orchestral vocals, and sharp highs that from time to time felt a little bit as well sharp.
While the seem is a lot like the initial ATH-M20x in terms of sonic signature, the M20xBT arrives throughout as highly-priced and below-equipped for the price
With Arambol by Astropilot, I had a improve to listen extra carefully to the stereo separation of the headphones, as well as unique things across the frequency variety. The bass in a natural way did not seem as calculated and tight as on the considerably far more impressive (and highly-priced) Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT, with the target a lot more on delivering the neutral, flat seem, alternatively than on the polish and refinement that is discovered on additional costly wireless headphones.
The clearly distinct tuning of the M20xBT tended to clearly show cracks when issues received also active and much too considerably was heading on in the observe, and this is possibly exactly where highly developed codec support may have aided the over-all seem. With assistance for just the SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs, the Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT felt a bit overwhelmed at periods.
On the total, though, Bluetooth by itself appears to be the issue listed here the Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT is way too legitimate to its roots as a wired headset, and just is not tuned for the inferior wireless enter sign of Bluetooth. Without a doubt, plugging in the cable and listening the aged-fashioned way seemed to make up for some of the shortcomings in the seem, but this just isn’t what you’re paying Rs. 13,500 for.
Call high-quality was decent indoors, with the loud seem producing a big difference in my capability to listen to the particular person on the other conclusion of the call. Connectivity was stable as effectively, with the Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT working nicely at distances of up to 4m from the supply product. Battery everyday living on the headphones is great, with the headset running for all-around 48 hours on a single demand with tunes actively playing continually at moderate volumes.
Verdict
Audio-Technica is a noteworthy name in the customer headphones and earphones place, and the ATH-M20xBT is by itself from an iconic item lineup. Even so, this doesn’t fairly support also a great deal right here. Although it has the exact same check-grade seem as its wired variation, is relatively revealing and insightful, and has great battery life, it really is held again by a couple troubles. These incorporate its deficiency of assist for superior Bluetooth codecs, and the significant rate.
It may possibly make sense for enthusiasts of the Audio-Technica M-series lineup who want the gain of wireless connectivity, but the ATH-M20xBT feels a little bit beneath-geared up for the price, with no energetic sound cancellation, app assist, or anything at all over and above Bluetooth connectivity for that issue. Objectively, this is a great pair of headphones in itself, but must have price significantly fewer than Rs. 13,500.
