Audio-Technica ATH-E40
The ATH-E40 brings exceptional instrument separation and realistic imaging to an affordable wired in-ear monitor, placing vocals and backing layers in convincing space. MajorHifi found its detailed, articulate presentation especially rewarding, with sweet midrange tone, controlled bass, and smooth, relaxed highs—an impressively composed listen for focused sessions.
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Nicely Roasted
Sound Quality
88/100
Fit Comfort Isolation
80/100
Build Accessories
84/100
Value for Money
92/100
Pros
Excellent separation and realistic spatial imaging keep vocals and backing instruments distinctly placed.
Detailed, articulate sound with sweet mids and controlled bass that shows little midrange bleed.
Strong value at the reviewed price, competing credibly with established Sennheiser, Shure, and Beyerdynamic in-ears.
Cons
Large earpieces were slightly uncomfortable for the reviewer, and the preinstalled tips did not stay secure until a larger size was used.
Treble is somewhat relaxed, so listeners seeking extra sparkle or a more energetic sound may prefer another tuning.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 88/100
The ATH-E40 is described as articulate and impressively detailed, with particularly strong separation and a realistic sense of space. Its tuning favors sweet midrange presence and controlled bass over aggressive treble energy, with the upper end described as slightly relaxed.
Bass
86/100
Bass is described as present without becoming overpowering or absent. It is mostly accurate and shows little bleed into the midrange, though the review stops short of calling it especially forceful or textured.
Midrange
90/100
The review calls the mids "sweet as pie," indicating an especially pleasing and engaging vocal and instrumental presentation. The controlled bass response should also help preserve midrange clarity.
Treble
84/100
High frequencies are described as a touch relaxed rather than sharp or overtly energetic. This suggests a smoother presentation, but one that may offer less sparkle and bite than a more treble-forward monitor.
Resolution Separation
91/100
The reviewer reports an impressive level of detail and calls separation fantastic. This is a clear strength for the E40, helping individual elements remain distinct in a mix.
Soundstage Imaging
90/100
The E40 is said to place the listener a few feet from the artist while positioning backing instruments farther behind, giving music a realistic spatial arrangement. It was favorably compared with the Sennheiser Momentum In-Ear, Shure SE215, and Beyerdynamic DTX 160 iE in this respect.
Dynamics Coherence
85/100
The overall presentation is described as articulate with a pretty amazing sound, and no disconnected or incoherent behavior is reported. The review says little directly about macrodynamic slam, transient impact, or rhythmic drive.
FIT COMFORT ISOLATION PERFORMANCE 80/100
A larger supplied tip resolved the reviewer's initial retention problem, but the shells were also found slightly uncomfortable due to their size. There is no direct assessment of passive noise isolation.
Seal Stability
84/100
The preinstalled tips would not stay in the reviewer's ears, so a proper seal was not immediate. Moving up to a slightly larger supplied tip fixed the issue, making this more of a tip-selection concern than a persistent fit failure.
Comfort
80/100
The earpieces are described as somewhat large and just a little uncomfortable. They were not reported to protrude excessively, but listeners sensitive to larger in-ear shells may want to take note.
Isolation
75/100
The review does not directly discuss how effectively the ATH-E40 blocks outside noise. Its fit observations confirm that tip choice matters, but they do not establish a clear isolation result.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Accessories
84/100
The package includes multiple silicone tip sizes, a semi-hard carrying case, a detachable cable, and a 6.3 mm adapter. The reviewer calls the case decent, while providing little commentary on long-term shell, cable, or connector durability.
Value for Money
92/100
At the reviewed $99 price, the E40 was said to go toe-to-toe with leading options from Sennheiser, Shure, and Beyerdynamic. The reviewer found very little to fault, framing it as a particularly competitive choice in its price class.
Reviews & Sources
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Specifications
- Headphones
- Dynamic
- Type
- 20 – 20,000 Hz
- Frequency Response
- 107 dB/mW
- Sensitivity
- 12 ohms
- Impedance
- 10 g (0.3 oz), without cable
- Weight
- Detachable 1.6 m (5.2') with A2DC connectors
- Cable
- 3.5 mm (1/8") gold-plated stereo mini-plug, L-shaped
- Connector
- Carrying case, silicone eartips (XS/S/M/L), 6.3 mm (1/4") adapter
Manufacturer's Description — Audio-Technica
ATH-E40
The proprietary dual phase push-pull driver design of the ATH-E40 professional in-ear monitor headphones provides improved fidelity and efficiency. These headphones deliver powerful bass along with balanced mid and high frequencies to convey the full emotion of the music from the stage to the street.
The proprietary dual phase push-pull driver design of the ATH-E40 professional in-ear monitor headphones provides improved fidelity and efficiency. These headphones deliver powerful bass along with balanced mid and high frequencies to convey the full emotion of the music from the stage to the street.
The ATH-E40 features specially designed housings that provide incredible isolation. The isolation – and the comfort – are enhanced by the four sizes of included silicone eartips (XS/S/M/L), which allow you to create a custom fit. The headphones also come with a detachable 1.6 m (5.2') cable, with newly developed A2DC (Audio Designed Detachable Coaxial) connectors at the headphones and a 3.5 mm (1/8") stereo mini-plug output, and a carrying case.
ATH-E40
The proprietary dual phase push-pull driver design of the ATH-E40 professional in-ear monitor headphones provides improved fidelity and efficiency. These headphones deliver powerful bass along with balanced mid and high frequencies to convey the full emotion of the music from the stage to the street.
The ATH-E40 features specially designed housings that provide incredible isolation. The isolation – and the comfort – are enhanced by the four sizes of included silicone eartips (XS/S/M/L), which allow you to create a custom fit. The headphones also come with a detachable 1.6 m (5.2') cable, with newly developed A2DC (Audio Designed Detachable Coaxial) connectors at the headphones and a 3.5 mm (1/8") stereo mini-plug output, and a carrying case.
ATH-E40 High Resolution Audio Connectivity
Since 2015, Audio-Technica has used the specially designed A2DC (Audio Designed Detachable Coaxial) connector on all of our in-ear headphones and select over-ear headphones with detachable cables. But why did we develop this connector and what makes it perform better than existing connectors in audio applications?
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Authorized dealers for Audio-Technica ATH-E40
- The Audio Association — in-store — Anaheim, California, United States (website)
- A1 Futureshop — online and in-store — North Rocks, New South Wales, Australia (website)
- Absolute Audio - Canada — in-store — Calgary, Alberta, Canada (website)
- Abt Electronics — online and in-store — Glenview, Illinois, United States (website)
- Accesory Jack — online and in-store — New Territories, Hong Kong (website)
- Acclaim Sound and Light — online and in-store — North Bay, Ontario, Canada (website)
- Acoustic Sounds — online and in-store — Salina, Kansas, United States (website)
- Acoustic Technologies — online and in-store — Montréal, Québec, Canada (website)
- Acton Gate Audio — online and in-store — Cymru, United Kingdom (website)
- Adorama — in-store — New York, New York, United States (website)
and 235 more verified dealers