Short answer: the Audio-Technica ATH-A990Z, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #452 of 481 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 1.8/5, at $249. The Sony INZONE H9 ranks #456, rated 1.6/5, at $198, $51 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 481 over-ear headphones; for better sound, the Sennheiser HD 550 ranks #8 at $199.95.
Why pick the Audio-Technica ATH-A990Z: 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.
The case for the Sony INZONE H9: Active noise cancelling and 32 hours of battery (ANC off) suit long gaming sessions, and it has a built-in microphone. The catch: A 13.8 dB hole near 4.6 kHz and a 13.2 dB spike near 11.9 kHz make the response very uneven, with a preference score of 29, so voices recede while treble hiss and sibilance stick out.
Buy the Audio-Technica ATH-A990Z. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $51 with the Sony INZONE H9 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
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The closed back keeps sound in and outside noise out, which suits shared rooms and late night listening.
Amazon $249.00 eBay
Active noise cancelling and 32 hours of battery (ANC off) suit long gaming sessions, and it has a built-in microphone.
Amazon $198.00 Lowest Sony $199.99 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 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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Specifications Side By Side
| Audio-Technica ATH-A990Z | Sony INZONE H9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $249.00 | $198.00 |
| Ranked | #452 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones | #456 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 32 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) | 29 (median of 1 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 4.08 dB standard deviation | 4.46 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -2.02 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -1.97 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Connection | Wired | Wireless |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 53mm dynamic | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 44 ohms | - |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB/mW | - |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (335 g) | 0.7 lbs (335 g) |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 42kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 5Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Sub-bass Extension | - | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+5.8 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Active Noise Cancelling | - | Yes |
| Battery Life | - | 32 hours (ANC off, Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.0 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, AAC |
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