This article was translated from Japanese by AI. The original is at https://blog.semnil.com/post-1271.html
After buying the ATH-M60xa and listening to it, I was struck by the sonic impression created by its consistently low THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) across the entire frequency range, so I am writing down my impressions here.
Information I Referred To
Before purchasing, I referred to review articles on the Sonarworks Blog as well as opinions I heard from a Vtuber who actually uses these headphones. I was initially considering the SHURE SRH840A, but in the end I was very fortunate to be able to buy this one (the ATH-M60xa).
First Impressions
My impression when I first listened right after unboxing — using the headphone output of the RME Fireface UFX II — matched the opinions I had heard before buying: the sonic smearing I used to notice with the SHURE SRH1540 was gone, and everything sounded clearer. On the tracks I played to confirm this, the attack of the bass drum in particular came through distinctly without blending into the other sounds, and I felt a big difference. Because the low end sounds crisp rather than smeared — even though the bass is not actually louder — this may be part of why it is rated as well suited to low-centered music.
The SRH1540 I compared it against has relatively high THD in the low end, so I think that made the difference feel all the more pronounced. For the THD measurement results I am referring to the review articles on the Sonarworks Blog.
- AudioTechnica ATH-M60x Studio Headphone Review
- When I checked the technical data on the product page and the downloadable owner’s manual, the difference between the ATH-M60x and the ATH-M60xa appears to be the presence or absence of a limiter switch; I believe the other specifications are largely the same.
- Shure SRH1540 Studio Headphone Review
- Shure SRH840 Studio Headphone Review
- Its THD shows a tendency similar to the SRH1540, so I imagine that had I chosen it, I might not have felt the kind of difference the ATH-M60xa gave me.
Integrating It Into My Home System
I do not have the ears (including the skill, knowledge, and experience) to judge how something sounds while accounting for a headphone’s frequency response, so I normally use SoundID Reference correction enabled on the headphone output of the Universal Audio Apollo x6 (Gen2). Dedicated correction profiles are available for both the ATH-M60xa and the SRH1540, so I applied them and compared the two by ear. Even after frequency-response correction, the ATH-M60xa still does not smear, and compared with the SRH1540 at the same volume, I found the overall sound easier to distinguish.
For long listening sessions, other factors — such as whether it causes listening fatigue and how comfortable it is to wear — become important, so I cannot draw a simple conclusion about which is better. The SRH1540 is somewhat large but lightweight and extremely comfortable to wear, staying comfortable even during long use. The ATH-M60xa’s compact, lightweight design, which is also easy to drive even from portable devices, is wonderfully comfortable to carry around, but I cannot deny that its on-ear form feels a little tight. That said, thanks to good engineering, that tightness is kept to a minimum, and I felt it is an exceptionally well-balanced product. I plan to put it to work whenever I want to listen to sound analytically and with focus going forward.
Correcting a Headphone’s Frequency Response
There are not many yet, but products do exist that can correct a monitor headphone’s frequency response with virtually no latency using hardware.
- Sonarworks SoundID Reference + Apollo Monitor Correction Add-on (* As of November 2025, the ATH-M60x is listed in SoundID’s list of supported headphones.)
- IK Multimedia ARC ON•EAR (* As of November 2025, the ATH-M60xa is not listed in the list of supported headphones.)
Frequency response can be corrected with products like these, but THD and impulse-response performance cannot. Since I expect to keep choosing gear on the assumption that correction is available, for the headphones I use for analytical listening I will likely prioritize performance other than a flat frequency response.
In Closing
I would like to once again express my gratitude to everyone involved in the design and manufacture of the wonderful products mentioned here, and to Misty, who kindly shared her opinions while taking into account my use case and preferences that I consulted her about. Thank you very much.
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