Over-Ear
Audio-Technica M20x
68Good
$59
Full review dataAudio-Technica M20x vs QCY H3S: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the QCY H3S comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 81. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: QCY H3S - Outstanding overall at around $34.
Over-Ear
QCY H3S
81Outstanding
$34
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
QCY H3S leads on 7 of 7 measures.
- Audio-Technica M20x
- QCY H3S
HearWiki score
68
81
Sound
6.5
7.5
Noise cancelling
-
7.4
Battery
-
9.8
Calls
-
5.4
Value
8.0
9.5
Price (USD)
$59
$34
Generation & platform
The scores rank quality. This is the other question: is the newer one actually newer technology, or the same platform in a new shell?
New platform
Both shipped in 2025. The QCY H3S is the newer platform here: Bluetooth 6.0 against 5.0, Top codec LDAC against AAC and ANC type Adaptive against None. It also adds USB-C.
- M20x2025
- H3S2025
What differsM20xH3S
- Bluetooth
- 5.0
- 6.0
- Top codec
- AAC
- LDAC
- ANC type
- None
- Adaptive
- USB-C
- No
- Yes
Platform
Everyday features
Level on: Multipoint pairing.
Specifications
M20xH3S
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $59
- $34
- HearWiki score
- 68
- 81
- Released
- 2025
- 2025
- Availability
- Sold new
- Sold new
- Driver
- 40 mm dynamic
- 2-driver hybrid
- Driver type
- dynamic
- hybrid
- Driver size
- 40 mm
- 40 mm
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 2
- Frequency response
- 15 Hz - 20 kHz
- 20 Hz - 40 kHz
- Impedance
- 47 Ω
- 32 Ω
- Sensitivity
- 96 dB/mW
- -
- Bluetooth
- 5.0
- 6.0
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC
- AAC, LDAC
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- Yes
- Wireless range
- -
- 10 m
- Battery life
- 60 h
- 102 h
- Battery life (ANC on)
- -
- 58 h
- Full charge time
- -
- 120 min
- Quick charge
- -
- 10 min → 7 h
- Wireless charging
- No
- No
- Active noise cancelling
- No
- Yes
- ANC type
- none
- adaptive
- Transparency mode
- No
- -
- Companion app
- No
- -
- Custom EQ
- No
- -
- Wear detection
- No
- -
- Controls
- none
- buttons
- Voice assistant
- -
- Yes
- Weight
- 190 g
- 240 g
- Water resistance
- none
- none
- Foldable
- No
- Yes
- Detachable cable
- No
- -
- USB-C
- No
- Yes
- Connector
- 6.35 mm
- -
- Microphones
- -
- 7
What reviewers said
Audio-Technica M20x
The Audio-Technica M20x is an affordable, wired closed-back headphone aimed at studio tracking and casual listening. It offers a generally balanced, warm sound with a slight emphasis on bass, though its treble clarity and overall detail are limited. While its neutral tuning makes it a solid budget choice for monitoring, its bulky design and lack of isolation make it less suitable for portable use.
- Pro:Neutral, warm sound signature good for monitoring
- Pro:Very affordable for entry-level studio use
- Pro:Comfortable for long sessions with plush earpads
- Con:Lacks detail and treble accuracy
- Con:Poor noise isolation for commuting
- Con:Non-detachable cable limits portability
QCY H3S
The QCY H3S is a budget-friendly over-ear wireless headphone that packs adaptive active noise cancellation, a hybrid dual-driver setup, and support for LDAC and Bluetooth 6.0. Its foldable design and lightweight build add to its portability and convenience.
- Pro:Effective adaptive ANC for the price
- Pro:LDAC and AAC codec support for high-quality audio
- Pro:Multipoint connectivity and Bluetooth 6.0
- Con:No water resistance rating
- Con:No wireless charging support
- Con:Controls are button-based, not touch
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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