Short answer: the Anker Soundcore Life Q30, though neither ranks well in its class. Both are rated 1.6/5 for sound quality (#223 and #222 of 231 over-ear headphones), and the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 costs $55.99 against $79 for the HIFIMAN HE-R9, with sound quality a draw, the lower price decides it. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 231 over-ear headphones; for better sound, the JBL Tune 720BT ranks #47 at $89.95.
The case for the Anker Soundcore Life Q30: Active noise cancelling and a claimed 60 hours of battery (40 with ANC on) make it an inexpensive travel and commuting option, and a wired connection is there when the battery runs out. Watch for: The response is far from neutral, with a preference score of only 27.7, and the boosted bass spills over vocals and instruments.
Why pick the HIFIMAN HE-R9: Listeners who want a big bass boost get one, with the 60 to 200 Hz range about 8 dB above target and sub-bass extending to 20 Hz with no roll-off. The tradeoff: A preference score of 28 in oratory1990’s measurement reflects a heavily skewed tuning, with bass and low mids swelling over the midrange so voices sound muffled and boomy.
Buy the Anker Soundcore Life Q30. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $23.01 less than the HIFIMAN HE-R9.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Anker Soundcore Life Q30 | HIFIMAN HE-R9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $55.99 | $79.00 |
| Ranked | #223 of 231 in Over-Ear Headphones | #222 of 231 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 28 (median of 1 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 28 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 4.23 dB standard deviation | 4.30 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -2.21 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -2.05 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+4.3 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+1.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wireless and wired | Wired |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic | 1 x 50mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 16 ohms | 32 ohms |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (260 g) | 0.7 lbs (328 g) |
| Frequency Response | 16Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 15Hz - 35kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | - |
| Battery Life | 60 hours (40 with ANC on, Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | - |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
| Sensitivity | - | 100 dB |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How HIFIMAN HE-R9 compares with other leading options:
- Sennheiser HD 450BT vs HIFIMAN HE-R9
- HIFIMAN HE-R9 vs Sennheiser HD 569
- HIFIMAN HE-R9 vs Razer Barracuda X
- HIFIMAN HE-R9 vs AKG K92
- Anker Soundcore Life Q30 vs OneOdio Pro-10
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
Anker Soundcore Life Q30: $55.99 Wireless Amazon $55.99 eBay
Pros: Active noise cancelling and a claimed 60 hours of battery (40 with ANC on) make it an inexpensive travel and commuting option, and a wired connection is there when the battery runs out. Listeners who want heavy bass get it: in hobbyist measurements the sub-bass sits about 6.6 dB and the bass about 7 dB above target, so kick drums and synth lines hit hard. The 16 ohm load is trivial for any phone or laptop, and AAC support suits iPhone owners.
Cons: The response is far from neutral, with a preference score of only 27.7, and the boosted bass spills over vocals and instruments. A dip of 8.5 dB near 9.2 kHz followed by a 9.8 dB peak near 11.9 kHz makes cymbals sound uneven, alternating between dull and splashy. The presence region near 3 to 6 kHz sits almost 4 dB low, so voices lack clarity next to the bass.
Full Anker Soundcore Life Q30 review and specifications →
| Released | Sep 2020 (6 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes |
| Back | Closed |
| Battery Life | 60 hours (40 with ANC on, Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Connection | Wireless and wired |
| Deviation From Target | 4.23 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 16Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 28 (median of 1 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 16 ohms |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+4.3 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -2.21 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (260 g) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
HIFIMAN HE-R9: $79.00 Amazon $79.00 eBay
Pros: Listeners who want a big bass boost get one, with the 60 to 200 Hz range about 8 dB above target and sub-bass extending to 20 Hz with no roll-off. The closed back keeps sound in and outside noise out. At 32 ohms it runs straight from a phone or laptop.
Cons: A preference score of 28 in oratory1990’s measurement reflects a heavily skewed tuning, with bass and low mids swelling over the midrange so voices sound muffled and boomy. A 7.6 dB peak near 8 kHz next to a 4.8 dB dip near 10 kHz makes treble uneven. At 328 g it is heavy for a closed headphone, and the Logitech G Pro X carries a higher rating.
Full HIFIMAN HE-R9 review and specifications →
| Released | Feb 2022 (4 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 4.30 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 50mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 15Hz - 35kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 28 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+1.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -2.05 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (328 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.1 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 | +5.9 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 127 Hz | -7.4 dB | 0.18 |
| Peak | 1,761 Hz | +6.8 dB | 0.80 |
| Peak | 448 Hz | +6.6 dB | 1.69 |
| Peak | 57 Hz | -3.1 dB | 0.69 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -3.5 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 4,215 Hz | +3.4 dB | 1.24 |
| Peak | 3,235 Hz | -5.0 dB | 3.16 |
| Peak | 258 Hz | -1.6 dB | 4.22 |
| Peak | 205 Hz | +1.2 dB | 3.57 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons