Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Headphone No Sound from One Ear Cup

If your Audio-Technica ATH-M40x headphones only produce sound from one speaker or side, follow this troubleshooting guide to resolve the issue.

The Audio-Technica ATH-M40x model has two headphone jacks that have different sizes:

• A 3.5mm headphone jack
• A 6.5mm headphone jack

You should insert the 3.5mm headphone jack into computers or any other modular device that uses that size input and the 6.5mm headphone jack into the headset. Make sure to twist the 6.5mm headphone jack to stick it in place, or it will be loose, causing audio loss.

When connecting your headphone jack to the computer or the headset itself, you want to ensure that both ends are clean because prolonged use of the headphones can lead to dirt or debris buildup in the headphone jack, which can interfere with the connection. Use a compressed air can or a soft brush to remove dirt or debris.

Here's how to fix that:

• Clean out the speakers by using a brush and other tools from the headphone cleaning kit to clean out any debris inside the ear cups
• Use a dust blower to clean out the speakers inside⏎

If the headset has specific instructions stating that the headset supports stereo output, make sure that the device that you are connecting to supports stereo output. Here is how you do so:

1. At the bottom right of your computer, go to your taskbar and click the speaker icon
2. Click on "More Volume Settings."
3. The output section has a setting called "Mono Audio."
4. Turn off the "Mono Audio" setting to produce stereo audio output.

Your computer probably has an audio driver problem. Here is how you update and troubleshoot your audio driver to help fix this solution:

To troubleshoot your audio driver:

1. On the Windows search bar, search Troubleshoot Settings
2. Scroll down till you see the audio section
3. Click on troubleshoot to troubleshoot the audio section

To update your audio driver:

1. Open up Control Panel in the Windows search bar and select Device Manager
2. Locate Sound, video, and game controllers, and find your headset device.
3. Right-click on it and select "Update Driver."

With the model ATH-M40x and M30x, a poor design choice leads to the cable connecting to the correct driver brake, causing sound distortion. If you keep storing your headphones by folding them inward, you slowly break the cable connecting the right side over time. One way to fix this issue is by cutting the material that is covering the wire. Cut an inch or two off the broken wire on both ends, separating the wire by color and twisting them together by color. After that, solder the wires or use electrical tape to wrap the wire together.

The driver on one side of your headphones may have stopped working completely due to damage and it will need to be replaced. Follow this guide to replace the driver of your Audio-Technica ATH-M40x.