Short answer: the Audio-Technica ATH-A990Z, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #208 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 1.8/5, at $249. The Audio-Technica ATH-G1 ranks #214, rated 1.0/5, at $189, $60 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 216 over-ear headphones; for better sound, the Sennheiser HD 550 ranks #6 at $199.95.
The Audio-Technica ATH-A990Z is the better-sounding option. The closed back keeps sound in and outside noise out, which suits shared rooms and late night listening. The tradeoff: A preference score of 32 in crinacle’s measurement puts it far from the response most listeners prefer, so it will sound noticeably colored without EQ.
Why pick the Audio-Technica ATH-G1: It is a closed-back gaming headset with a built-in microphone, so it isolates from room noise and handles voice chat without a separate mic. The catch: A preference score of just 7 in crinacle’s measurement is among the furthest from the preferred target of any over-ear, so music sounds heavily colored without EQ.
Buy the Audio-Technica ATH-A990Z. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $60 with the Audio-Technica ATH-G1 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Audio-Technica ATH-A990Z | Audio-Technica ATH-G1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $249.00 | $189.00 |
| Ranked | #208 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #214 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 32 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) | 7 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 4.08 dB standard deviation | 5.13 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -2.02 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -2.76 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 53mm dynamic | 1 x 45mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 44 ohms | 45 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB/mW | 101 dB/mW |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (335 g) | 0.6 lbs (250 g) |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 42kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 5Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How Audio-Technica ATH-A990Z compares with other leading options:
- Audio-Technica ATH-AD900X vs Audio-Technica ATH-A990Z
- Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless vs Audio-Technica ATH-A990Z
- Beyerdynamic DT 770 M vs Audio-Technica ATH-A990Z
- Audio-Technica ATH-A990Z vs Sennheiser HD 569
- Audio-Technica ATH-A990Z vs iBasso SR1
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
Audio-Technica ATH-A990Z: $249.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: The closed back keeps sound in and outside noise out, which suits shared rooms and late night listening. At 44 ohms and 100 dB/mW it gets loud from a phone or laptop without a dedicated amp, and the large 53 mm dynamic driver suits listeners who like a warm, colored sound.
Cons: A preference score of 32 in crinacle’s measurement puts it far from the response most listeners prefer, so it will sound noticeably colored without EQ. The AKG K271 MKII and the Audio-Technica ATH-AD900X both rate higher and cost less, and at 335 g it is on the heavy side.
Full Audio-Technica ATH-A990Z review and specifications →
| Released | 2015 (11 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 4.08 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 53mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 42kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 32 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 44 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB/mW |
| Tonal Tilt | -2.02 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (335 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -7.2 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 | +10.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 81 Hz | -10.2 dB | 0.44 |
| Peak | 8,626 Hz | +4.9 dB | 1.18 |
| Peak | 2,626 Hz | +4.2 dB | 0.85 |
| Peak | 905 Hz | -2.2 dB | 0.97 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -2.8 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 4,151 Hz | -3.8 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 5,030 Hz | +2.5 dB | 5.35 |
| Peak | 3,282 Hz | +2.5 dB | 5.47 |
| Peak | 2,359 Hz | -1.4 dB | 5.88 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Audio-Technica ATH-G1: $189.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: It is a closed-back gaming headset with a built-in microphone, so it isolates from room noise and handles voice chat without a separate mic. At 250 g it is light for an over-ear, and 45 ohms with 101 dB/mW lets it run from a controller, phone or laptop jack.
Cons: A preference score of just 7 in crinacle’s measurement is among the furthest from the preferred target of any over-ear, so music sounds heavily colored without EQ. The AKG K271 MKII costs about the same and is rated well above it.
Full Audio-Technica ATH-G1 review and specifications →
| Released | Jul 2019 (7 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 5.13 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 45mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 7 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 45 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 101 dB/mW |
| Tonal Tilt | -2.76 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (250 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.4 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 | -2.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 198 Hz | -10.5 dB | 0.58 |
| Peak | 2,422 Hz | +6.0 dB | 0.26 |
| Peak | 345 Hz | +9.7 dB | 1.99 |
| Peak | 979 Hz | -5.9 dB | 0.84 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -3.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 2,653 Hz | +2.2 dB | 1.83 |
| Peak | 3,939 Hz | -4.0 dB | 4.17 |
| Peak | 7,114 Hz | +3.2 dB | 5.38 |
| Peak | 1,563 Hz | -1.4 dB | 3.22 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons