Audio-Technica ATH-A990Z vs iBasso SR1

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 iBasso SR1 ranks #211, rated 1.5/5, and costs $399, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 216 over-ear headphones, so if sound quality matters, consider the HIFIMAN Ananda Nano instead, ranked #4 at $319.

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 catch: 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 case for the iBasso SR1: A low 22 ohm impedance means the 50 mm dynamic driver runs from a phone or laptop without a separate amp. The tradeoff: Crinacle’s measurement gives it a preference score of only 25, with a steep warm tilt and large deviations of about 4.5 dB on average from the Harman target, so most listeners will hear a muffled, uneven balance.

Buy the Audio-Technica ATH-A990Z. It is rated higher for sound quality than the iBasso SR1 and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.

Want more options? Browse the full Headphones rankings.

Specifications Side By Side

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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
  • AutoEQ results for the Audio-Technica ATH-A990Z (crinacle measurement)
• Head-to-Head Comparisons
  • Audio-Technica ATH-A990Z vs Sennheiser HD 569
  • Audio-Technica ATH-A990Z vs Beyerdynamic DT 770 M
  • Audio-Technica ATH-A990Z vs Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
  • Audio-Technica ATH-A990Z vs Audio-Technica ATH-G1
  • Audio-Technica ATH-A990Z vs Audio-Technica ATH-AD900X

iBasso SR1: $399.00 Amazon eBay

Pros: A low 22 ohm impedance means the 50 mm dynamic driver runs from a phone or laptop without a separate amp. Its very warm tilt can appeal to listeners who want a dark, bass-heavy sound and dislike any brightness.

Cons: Crinacle’s measurement gives it a preference score of only 25, with a steep warm tilt and large deviations of about 4.5 dB on average from the Harman target, so most listeners will hear a muffled, uneven balance. The semi-open back leaks sound and lets outside noise in, and the cheaper Sony WH-1000XM5 rates noticeably higher.

Full iBasso SR1 review and specifications →

Released	2018 (8 years ago)
Back	Semi-open
Built-in Microphone	No
Connection	Wired
Deviation From Target	4.48 dB standard deviation
Driver Type	Dynamic
Drivers	1 x 50mm dynamic
Form Factor	Over-ear
Frequency Response	3Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified)
Harman Preference Score	25 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ)
Impedance	22 ohms
Sensitivity	108 dB
Tonal Tilt	-2.12 (negative is warmer, positive brighter)
Weight	0.9 lbs (420 g)

EQ preset to match the Harman target

Set a preamp of -6.8 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	+1.7 dB	0.70
Peak	196 Hz	-5.9 dB	0.52
Peak	5,980 Hz	+10.5 dB	0.63
Peak	103 Hz	-0.7 dB	3.84
Peak	5,700 Hz	-13.9 dB	2.77
High shelf	10,000 Hz	+4.5 dB	0.70
Peak	1,100 Hz	-1.1 dB	2.13
Peak	3,462 Hz	+2.2 dB	4.43
Peak	8,402 Hz	-2.5 dB	4.80
Peak	3,096 Hz	-1.9 dB	6.00

• Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
  • AutoEQ results for the iBasso SR1 (crinacle measurement)
• Head-to-Head Comparisons
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