Audio Technica Headphones for Beginners: A Complete Guide

If you're feeling a little overwhelmed at the thought of buying your first pair of Audio-Technica headphones, take a breath — this is genuinely one of the friendlier corners of music gear to learn. There's no wrong first step here, and a sensible pair will serve you well for years. Let's go through it gently, one idea at a time.

You don't need to understand everything at once

New students of any instrument tend to think they need to master the theory before they're allowed to start playing. Headphones are the same — you really don't need to understand every spec before you buy a good first pair. The one thing worth knowing early is that Audio-Technica headphones come in two basic shapes: closed-back, which seal around your ear, and open-back, which let air (and sound) pass through the back of the earcup. As a beginner, closed-back is almost always the right choice — it's more forgiving, keeps outside noise out, and won't leak sound if you're ever recording near a microphone.

Meet your likely first pair: the ATH-M20x

Audio-Technica's ATH-M20x is often exactly right for a first purchase. It's closed-back, built around 40 mm drivers, and comes with a straightforward fixed cable — one less thing to think about while you're finding your feet. It won't do absolutely everything forever, but as a first pair of proper studio headphones, it's a calm, low-risk place to begin.

If you'd rather buy once and grow into it

Some beginners prefer to spend a little more up front so they're not shopping again in six months. If that's you, the ATH-M50x is worth the stretch. It's still closed-back and beginner-friendly to use, but it comes with three different cables in the box, so it can move from your desk to a rehearsal room without a fuss. Think of it as the pair you can genuinely grow into rather than out of.

Words you'll see and what they actually mean

A few terms come up again and again when people talk about Audio-Technica headphones. None of them need to be intimidating:

• Impedance — how much power the headphone needs. Lower numbers (Audio-Technica's studio range mostly sits between 38 and 47 ohms) are easier to power from a laptop or phone.
• Frequency response — the range of pitches, from very low to very high, the headphone is designed to reproduce. A bigger number on the box doesn't automatically mean it sounds better.
• Closed-back / open-back — whether the earcup is sealed (closed) or vented (open). Beginners should start closed-back.
• Detachable cable — a cable that unplugs from the earcup, so a worn lead is a cheap fix rather than the end of the headphone.

Settling in with your new headphones

Once you've got a pair, give yourself a little time to adjust before deciding whether you love them. Check the headband sits comfortably without pinching, that the earcups fully surround your ears rather than resting on them, and that the cable you're using suits how you'll actually use the headphones day to day — the short cable for a desk, the longer or coiled one if you'll move around more. None of this needs to be perfect immediately; small adjustments over the first week are completely normal.

You don't need to buy the most expensive pair to sound your best

It's tempting to assume the priciest Audio-Technica headphones on the shelf must be the "proper" choice. They're not — they're built for a specific, more demanding job (professional mixing and mastering in a treated room), not for being a better beginner headphone. A well-chosen, comfortable entry-level pair will teach you far more about how music actually sounds than an expensive pair you're anxious about damaging.

When it might be time to upgrade

You'll know you're ready to look further afield when you find yourself asking more specific questions — wanting a more spacious, open sound for mixing, or wondering about the newer open-back R-Series models Audio-Technica introduced in 2025. At that point, our round-up of the best options for the money and our complete buyer's guide will make a lot more sense than they might right now — and that's absolutely fine. Everyone starts somewhere.

A gentle summary

Start closed-back, start simple, and don't feel you need to understand every spec before you buy. The ATH-M20x is a sound, low-pressure first choice, and the ATH-M50x is a sensible step up if you'd rather buy once. For the fuller picture of the whole range once you're feeling more confident, our overview guide is there whenever you're ready for it — and it's worth a quick look at some common mistakes so you can sidestep them from day one.

Frequently Asked Questions