Audio-Technica ATH-M40x (report for a pro)

After testing in the benchmark mode in the Reference Audio Analyzer software, the data is added to the online database of the RAA website.

You can view the test results on the comparison pages and summary reports for beginners and professionals. You can go to the desired report or comparison/selection service through the menu on this page. Additionally, you can go to the comparison pages from any graph in this report and add other tested products for direct comparison.

This is a summary report of headphones for professionals.

You can additionally look for Audio-Technica ATH-M40x

Sensitivity average in band from 100 Hz - 10 kHz	113.4	dB/V SPL
	99.2	dB/mW SPL
Impedance average in band from 40 Hz - 15 kHz	38.6	ohm
For 90 dB SPL, a voltage is required	-23.4	dBV
	0.068	V_RMS
Taking into account the peak factor of 9 dB for the music signal	-14.4	dBV
	0.191	V_RMS
Measurements were performed on the stand:	HDM-X

С 2024 года измерения полноразмерных наушников в RAA проводятся не только на инструментальных стендах, но и вживую с помощью разработанной системы в RAA - Live Measurement System. Это позволяет увидеть реальное поведение наушников и их вариативность звучания относительно стандартных стендов. Результаты таких измерений в отчетах обозначаются как со стендов Human. В этом отчете - это:

Т.к. АЧХ зависит от посадки наушников и их прогрева/износа, то в RAA была разработан универсальный комплект Live Measurement System для контроля своих наушников на собственной голове. Типовые комплекты доступны для приобретения.

Frequency response Audio-Technica ATH-M40x headphone

АЧХ - Стенд: HDM-X

Graphics setting view

Channel

Range

Frequency band

Smoothing

Brief information

The graph shows the frequency response of the headphones without compensation to the target curve. Additionally, the basic target curve is shown. The frequency response depends on the measurement stands used. Since all artificial stands are simplified or averaged models of people, the results are always approximate.

The HDM-X stand uses the concept of a binaural microphone with microphone caps positioned at the entrance to the ear canal. The unevenness in the high frequency range above 2~3 kHz is formed from the shape of the auricle, the fit of the headphones on the stand and the relative internal volume between the ear and the driver. There is no resonance from the ear canal in this type of stand.

Since 2024, all headphones are measured on the head of the founder of the RAA project and in some cases on the head of the owners of the headphones as part of an individual calibration.The stand for live measurements is called both Human + Human identifier. Such a measurement has not yet been performed for Audio-Technica ATH-M40x, but if possible, such a measurement will be added. Such measurements show the low-frequency and mid-frequency range most accurately, since they take into account the real pressure of the ear pads and damping of the real head. The high-frequency range in this measurement is less accurate, because it depends on the fit of the microphone in the ear.

For overhead and full-size headphones, the basic target curve RAA v1 with low-frequency correction from Harman Target Curve Over-Ear 2018 is given.

The combined frequency response of the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x with various amplifier sources is shown in an additional summary report.

The export of the frequency response graph is available on the comparison pages, which can be accessed using any graph from the report below. A separate summary report shows the recommended Audio-Technica ATH-M40x equalization settings and a comparison with various target curves.

Clicking on the graph will take you to the comparison page of different models with advanced graph display settings.

Impedance / Electric phase Audio-Technica ATH-M40x headphone

Graphics setting view

Channel

Frequency band

Channel:	Left	Right
Impedance average in band from 40 Hz - 15 kHz	38.5	38.6	ohm
Resistance at 1 kHz	37.4	37.4	ohm
Resistance at 500 Hz	38.1	38.2	ohm
The minimum value in band from 40 Hz - 15 kHz	35.9	35.8	ohm
The maximum value in band from 40 Hz - 15 kHz	44.5	43.9	ohm

Graphics setting view

Channel

Range

Frequency band

Channel:	Left	Right
Phase deviation is the average in the range 40 Hz - 15 kHz	0.8	0.8	°
Phase at 1 kHz	-1.4	-1.6	°
Phase at 500 Hz	-1.8	-1.9	°
The minimum value in band from 40 Hz - 15 kHz	-3.3	-3.0	°
The maximum value in band from 40 Hz - 15 kHz	9.0	8.8	°

Brief information

Clicking on the graph will take you to the comparison page of different models with advanced graph display settings.

Frequency response and sensitivity Audio-Technica ATH-M40x headphone

Graphics setting view

Channel

Frequency band

Smoothing

Channel:	Left	Right
Sensitivity average in band from 100 Hz - 10 kHz	114.0	112.5	dB/V SPL
Sensitivity average in band from 100 Hz - 10 kHz	99.9	98.4	dB/mW SPL
Sensitivity at 1 kHz	112.8	112.3	dB/V SPL
Sensitivity at 500 Hz	110.2	111.3	dB/V SPL

Graphics setting view

Type of chart

SPL

SPL	Voltage		Current		Power
dB SPL	dBV	V_RMS	dB(mA)	mA	dBm	mW
60	-53.4	0.002	-25.1	0.056	-39.2	0.000
70	-43.4	0.007	-15.1	0.18	-29.2	0.001
80	-33.4	0.021	-5.1	0.56	-19.2	0.012
90	-23.4	0.068	4.9	1.8	-9.2	0.12
100	-13.4	0.21	14.9	5.6	0.75	1.2
110	-3.4	0.68	24.9	17.6	10.8	11.9
120	6.6	2.1	34.9	55.5	20.8	119
130	16.6	6.8	44.9	176	30.8	1189

Brief information

Clicking on the graph will take you to the comparison page of different models with advanced graph display settings.

Impulse response Audio-Technica ATH-M40x headphone

Graphics setting view

Channel

Duration for impulse

Waveforms

Graphics setting view

Channel

Frequency of square wave

Brief information

The impulse response is a reaction to a single pulse of the shortest possible duration

The step response is a playback on a step (front square) signal. It is built on the derivative impulse response. According to the transition characteristic, the correct polarity of the inclusion of radiators in the speaker is usually determined.Most of the studied parameters are calculated from the impulse response: frequency response, phase-frequency response, group delay, Watterfalls, step response and square wave.

Since the waveform of the impulse response primarily depends on the frequency response and attenuated resonances and reverberation of the headphones themselves and the camera of the stand, the visual visibility of the parameters directly on the impulse response is extremely low. To obtain most of the characteristics, the fast Fourier transform and other mathematical algorithms with analysis of the total impulse length are used. The total pulse length is about 5 seconds, while visually the pulse is displayed with a duration of 2-4 milliseconds. Vertically, the visual detail does not exceed 40-45 dB. Thus, for a visual view, an alternative view is used from the sum of the half-wave modules of the impulse response shown on a logarithmic scale.

The visual definition of frequency response and resonances by impulse response was relevant only in "pre-computer" times. Today, according to the impulse response, only the same or different polarity of the emitters and the possible high-frequency resonance are looked at, if there is no graph of attenuated resonances. There is an opinion that the impulse response "immediately shows everything", and its absence is a concealment of the truth. Here the impulse response is given to dispel this misconception. Additionally, you can see the dependence of the shape of the impulse response on the stand.

When testing the speakers, the reverberation of the room is determined by the impulse response. The headphones work on a small volume and there is no reverberation from late reflections and this characteristic does not show useful data. The impulse response on a logarithmic scale is given for general educational purposes - to show that the usual type of impulse response is not a short burst of 2-4 ms, but a long-term attenuation for several seconds.

RAA measurements are made in 192 kHz / 24 bit mode.

The impulse response is displayed as is, without compensation of the frequency response for the microphone or smoothing. It is RAW data. The reduction in the frequency response of the microphone starts at 20 kHz. The lower limit is from 2~4 Hz.

Clicking on the graph will take you to the comparison page of different models with advanced graph display settings.

Динамический спектр Audio-Technica ATH-M40x headphone

Ваттерфол

Graphics setting view

Channel

Frequency band

Graph Display Type

Затухание

Graphics setting view

Channel

Frequency band

Graph Display Type

Brief information

Thecumulative spectrum of the signal attenuation shows resonances and reverberations after the headphones cease to reproduce the signal.

The change in the cumulative spectrum of the signal attenuation is a cumulative spectrum of the signal attenuation, where the original frequency response is represented by a straight line.

The cumulative spectrum of signal attenuation is constructed by impulse response . The graph does not use three-wave smoothing. Time zones with an interval of 1 ms are painted in a certain color. For convenience of perception, the graph does not have vertical displacement, limited only to horizontal displacement. From the position of 3D - this is a view with a small turn in the horizontal plane. You can accurately assess the level on a vertical scale. To obtain good resolution in the time domain, a small window of 2048 samples is used, which directly affects the low resolution of the low frequency region and the graph in the region below 200-300 Hz does not show useful information.

Variants of "good" and "bad" cumulative spectra

Clicking on the graph will take you to the comparison page of different models with advanced graph display settings.

Other summary reports for Audio-Technica ATH-M40x headphone

report for a newbie

A simple report for beginners with explanations of the main characteristics.

Compatibility with amplifier sources

A report evaluating the compatibility of Audio-Technica ATH-M40x with various amplifier sources.

Target curves and equalization

A report with an assessment of compliance with target curves and recommended settings for Audio-Technica ATH-M40x equalization

More detailed

Measurements of Audio-Technica ATH-M40x were carried out by Roman Kuznetsov on the hardware-software complex RAA.

The Audio-Technica ATH-M40x test was conducted as a black box test, without regard to cost and prestige. This is the basic principle for making measurements, measurement reports and developing tests in RAA.

I believe that it is important to do not make an absolute assessment of the device, but an aggregate assessment when working together with a source amplifier and taking into account external factors. This allows you to effectively reveal the potential of the entire set of devices or to make a more optimal choice of components.

Kuznetsov Roman
Founder of RAA

Known by the nickname romanrex
Аuthor of articles iXBT.com

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Audio-Technica ATH-M40x (report for a pro)

Frequency response Audio-Technica ATH-M40x headphone

АЧХ - Стенд: HDM-X

Impedance / Electric phase Audio-Technica ATH-M40x headphone

Frequency response and sensitivity Audio-Technica ATH-M40x headphone

Impulse response Audio-Technica ATH-M40x headphone

Динамический спектр Audio-Technica ATH-M40x headphone

Ваттерфол

Затухание

Other summary reports for Audio-Technica ATH-M40x headphone

report for a newbie

Compatibility with amplifier sources

Target curves and equalization

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