Short answer: the AKG K271 MKII, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #124 of 134 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 2.5/5, at $214.38. The Sennheiser HD 569 ranks #130, rated 1.6/5, at $129.95, $84.43 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 134 over-ear headphones, and the Sennheiser HD 560S, ranked #5 at $199.95, is a better place to start if sound quality matters.
The AKG K271 MKII is the better-sounding choice. A closed-back studio design with 104 dB sensitivity at 55 ohms, so it plays loudly from a phone or laptop without an amp. The catch: Bass is thin, with sub-bass about 15 dB and the 60 to 200 Hz region about 8 dB under target, so music lacks weight and punch.
Why pick the Sennheiser HD 569: A wired closed-back headphone with a built-in microphone. The tradeoff: Treble from 6 to 10 kHz is about 5 dB low and presence is down 4 dB, with an 11.7 dB dip near 10 kHz, so the sound is dull and veiled.
Buy the AKG K271 MKII. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $84.43 with the Sennheiser HD 569 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Want more options? Browse the full Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| AKG K271 MKII | Sennheiser HD 569 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $214.38 | $129.95 |
| Ranked | #124 of 134 in Over-Ear Headphones | #130 of 134 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 48 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 28 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 3.85 dB standard deviation | 3.97 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +1.16 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -2.31 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 30mm dynamic | 1 x 38mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 55 ohms | 23 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 104 dB SPL/V | 115 dB SPL/V |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (240 g) | 0.7 lbs (300 g) |
| Frequency Response | 16Hz - 28kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 10Hz - 28kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for AKG K271 MKII:
- Sony WH-1000XM5 vs AKG K271 MKII
- Jabra Evolve 40 vs AKG K271 MKII
- AKG K271 MKII vs Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
- Sennheiser HD 505 vs Sennheiser HD 569
- Sennheiser HD 599 vs Sennheiser HD 569
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The Two Headphones In Full
AKG K271 MKII: $214.38 Amazon eBay
Pros: A closed-back studio design with 104 dB sensitivity at 55 ohms, so it plays loudly from a phone or laptop without an amp. Treble from 6 to 10 kHz and the lower mids land almost exactly on the Harman target in oratory1990’s measurement. A slightly bright tilt suits listeners who prefer a neutral to bright sound.
Cons: Bass is thin, with sub-bass about 15 dB and the 60 to 200 Hz region about 8 dB under target, so music lacks weight and punch. Presence from 3 to 6 kHz is down about 6 dB, with a 7.5 dB dip near 4 kHz that pulls vocals and guitars back. At 240 g with a preference score of 48, the Beats Studio3 Wireless is rated higher.
Full AKG K271 MKII review and specifications →
| Released | May 2008 (18 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.85 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 30mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 16Hz - 28kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 48 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 55 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 104 dB SPL/V |
| Tonal Tilt | +1.16 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (240 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.5 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +6.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 812 Hz | -3.2 dB | 0.18 |
| Peak | 4,439 Hz | +8.0 dB | 1.08 |
| Peak | 145 Hz | +6.6 dB | 1.69 |
| Peak | 8,134 Hz | -4.5 dB | 0.99 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +2.3 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 1,771 Hz | -3.4 dB | 2.92 |
| Peak | 830 Hz | +3.3 dB | 2.86 |
| Peak | 2,453 Hz | +2.0 dB | 2.96 |
| Peak | 650 Hz | -2.9 dB | 5.06 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Sennheiser HD 569: $129.95 Amazon eBay
Pros: A wired closed-back headphone with a built-in microphone. A 23 ohm impedance and 115 dB sensitivity make it very easy to drive from a phone. A bass lift of about 5 dB suits listeners who prefer a warm, bassy sound.
Cons: Treble from 6 to 10 kHz is about 5 dB low and presence is down 4 dB, with an 11.7 dB dip near 10 kHz, so the sound is dull and veiled. The warm tilt and bass emphasis can make mixes sound heavy. At 300 g, wired only, it is rated below the Logitech G Pro X and the Jabra Evolve 40.
Full Sennheiser HD 569 review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.97 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 38mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 28kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 28 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 23 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 115 dB SPL/V |
| Tonal Tilt | -2.31 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (300 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.2 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -0.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 79 Hz | -7.0 dB | 0.60 |
| Peak | 10,000 Hz | +4.2 dB | 0.26 |
| Peak | 4,676 Hz | +3.2 dB | 5.65 |
| Peak | 818 Hz | -1.9 dB | 1.41 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -2.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 280 Hz | +1.7 dB | 2.28 |
| Peak | 2,195 Hz | +2.0 dB | 2.24 |
| Peak | 3,255 Hz | -3.5 dB | 4.88 |
| Peak | 154 Hz | -1.1 dB | 2.14 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons