Short answer: the AKG K361. It ranks #122 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.5/5, at $123.04; the HIFIMAN Sundara Closed-Back ranks #147, rated 3.3/5, and costs $129, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The case for the AKG K361: Bass is a little above target, about 2.6 dB in the sub-bass and 2.1 dB in the bass, so kick drums and bass lines have solid weight. The catch: Presence is about 3.8 dB low between 3 and 6 kHz and a 7.4 dB dip near 3.9 kHz pulls back vocal clarity and the bite of snares and guitars.
What the HIFIMAN Sundara Closed-Back does well: A planar magnetic closed-back at 20 ohms and 98 dB, so a phone can drive it. The catch: Presence from 3 to 6 kHz is about 4.8 dB low, with a 9.5 dB dip near 4 kHz, so vocals and snare attack sound recessed.
Buy the AKG K361. It is rated higher for sound quality than the HIFIMAN Sundara Closed-Back and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| AKG K361 | HIFIMAN Sundara Closed-Back | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $123.04 | $129.00 |
| Ranked | #122 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #147 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 71 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 66 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.19 dB standard deviation | 2.77 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.99 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.87 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+3.0 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-2.4 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Planar magnetic |
| Drivers | 1 x 50mm dynamic | 1 x 50mm planar magnetic |
| Impedance | 32 ohms | 20 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 114 dB SPL/V | 98 dB |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (219 g) | 0.9 lbs (426 g) |
| Frequency Response | 15Hz - 28kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 6Hz - 50kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
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More worthwhile head-to-heads for AKG K361:
- RODE NTH-100 vs AKG K361
- AKG K361 vs Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus
- Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus vs HIFIMAN Sundara Closed-Back
- HIFIMAN Sundara Closed-Back vs Razer BlackShark V2 Pro
- Austrian Audio Hi-X15 vs HIFIMAN Sundara Closed-Back
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Headphones In Full
AKG K361: $123.04 Amazon eBay
Pros: Bass is a little above target, about 2.6 dB in the sub-bass and 2.1 dB in the bass, so kick drums and bass lines have solid weight. Midrange from 200 Hz to 3 kHz tracks the target within a fraction of a dB, which keeps vocals natural. A 32 ohm impedance and 114 dB sensitivity let it run loudly from a phone, and the closed 219 g design isolates somewhat from surroundings.
Cons: Presence is about 3.8 dB low between 3 and 6 kHz and a 7.4 dB dip near 3.9 kHz pulls back vocal clarity and the bite of snares and guitars. A 2.4 dB peak near 8.8 kHz adds a touch of sharpness on top of the dull presence region. Treble overall is a bit soft, about 1.7 dB under target from 6 to 10 kHz.
Full AKG K361 review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.19 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 50mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 15Hz - 28kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 71 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 114 dB SPL/V |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+3.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.99 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (219 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -5.8 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 | -2.3 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 149 Hz | -3.3 dB | 1.47 |
| Peak | 4,019 Hz | +5.9 dB | 2.87 |
| Peak | 75 Hz | +1.3 dB | 2.02 |
| Peak | 42 Hz | -1.4 dB | 1.64 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -1.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 2,560 Hz | -1.0 dB | 2.54 |
| Peak | 378 Hz | +0.7 dB | 1.79 |
| Peak | 7,330 Hz | +2.4 dB | 5.94 |
| Peak | 1,338 Hz | -1.0 dB | 2.72 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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HIFIMAN Sundara Closed-Back: $129.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: A planar magnetic closed-back at 20 ohms and 98 dB, so a phone can drive it. Bass from 60 Hz to 3 kHz is within about 0.5 dB of target, giving a natural foundation for vocals. The closed back isolates.
Cons: Presence from 3 to 6 kHz is about 4.8 dB low, with a 9.5 dB dip near 4 kHz, so vocals and snare attack sound recessed. Treble from 6 to 10 kHz is another 3.3 dB under, adding dullness, and sub-bass is about 2.6 dB light. At 426 g it is heavy, and it is wired only, with no wireless or noise cancelling.
Full HIFIMAN Sundara Closed-Back review and specifications →
| Released | Aug 2022 (4 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.77 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic |
| Drivers | 1 x 50mm planar magnetic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 6Hz - 50kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 66 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 20 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 98 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-2.4 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.87 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (426 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.3 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 | +2.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 3,877 Hz | +6.3 dB | 2.27 |
| Peak | 1,315 Hz | -3.9 dB | 2.53 |
| Peak | 302 Hz | -4.1 dB | 3.68 |
| Peak | 110 Hz | -3.0 dB | 0.74 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -2.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 9,405 Hz | +4.2 dB | 2.95 |
| Peak | 549 Hz | +3.8 dB | 2.49 |
| Peak | 362 Hz | -1.7 dB | 4.10 |
| Peak | 1,015 Hz | -1.6 dB | 4.84 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons