Short answer: the Audio-Technica ATH-M20x. It ranks #149 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.3/5, at $58. The HyperX Cloud II ranks #174, rated 2.9/5, at $47.48, $10.52 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
The Audio-Technica ATH-M20x is the better-sounding pick. The response is gentle in the midrange, with upper mids within about half a dB of target, so voices sit naturally. The catch: Sub-bass under 60 Hz is about 7 dB below target, so deep synth bass and kick drums lack rumble.
Why pick the HyperX Cloud II: A built-in microphone and a closed-back design make it a ready-made gaming headset, and the 60 ohm impedance with 98 dB sensitivity means it runs easily from a PC or console. Watch for: A deep dip of roughly 15 dB near 4.2 kHz hollows out presence, so voices and the attack of instruments sound recessed, while a peak of about 9 dB near 8.6 kHz adds a sharp, sizzly edge to cymbals and sibilance.
Buy the Audio-Technica ATH-M20x. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $10.52 with the HyperX Cloud II does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Want more options? Browse the full Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Audio-Technica ATH-M20x | HyperX Cloud II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $58.00 | $47.48 |
| Ranked | #149 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #174 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 65 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 58 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 3.08 dB standard deviation | 3.60 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.71 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.74 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 32 Hz (-6.7 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.1 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic | 1 x 53mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 47 ohms | 60 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 96 dB | 98 dB SPL/mW |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs (190 g) | - |
| Frequency Response | 15Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 15Hz - 25kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More top alternatives to Audio-Technica ATH-M20x:
- AKG K240 Studio vs Audio-Technica ATH-M20x
- Sennheiser HD 400 S vs Audio-Technica ATH-M20x
- Audio-Technica ATH-M20x vs HyperX Cloud Alpha
- Audio-Technica ATH-M20x vs Sennheiser HD 280 Pro
- Sony WH-CH510 vs HyperX Cloud II
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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Headphones In Full
Audio-Technica ATH-M20x: $58.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: The response is gentle in the midrange, with upper mids within about half a dB of target, so voices sit naturally. Closed backs, a 47 ohm impedance and 96 dB sensitivity let it run from a phone or laptop, and at 190 g it is a light wired headphone.
Cons: Sub-bass under 60 Hz is about 7 dB below target, so deep synth bass and kick drums lack rumble. A 12.8 dB dip near 5.6 kHz and presence about 8 dB low make vocals and snare detail recede, and treble stays dull overall, which suits warm tastes but loses sparkle.
Full Audio-Technica ATH-M20x review and specifications →
| Released | Feb 2014 (12 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.08 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 15Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 65 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 47 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 96 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 32 Hz (-6.7 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.71 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs (190 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 | +6.8 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 1,496 Hz | -2.9 dB | 0.94 |
| Peak | 4,437 Hz | +7.7 dB | 1.40 |
| Peak | 76 Hz | -7.0 dB | 0.88 |
| Peak | 2,559 Hz | -3.1 dB | 1.82 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -0.6 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 248 Hz | +2.8 dB | 2.38 |
| Peak | 137 Hz | -1.6 dB | 2.05 |
| Peak | 76 Hz | +0.9 dB | 2.36 |
| Peak | 49 Hz | -0.7 dB | 2.58 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
HyperX Cloud II: $47.48 Amazon eBay
Pros: A built-in microphone and a closed-back design make it a ready-made gaming headset, and the 60 ohm impedance with 98 dB sensitivity means it runs easily from a PC or console. The large 53mm driver delivers bass about 4 dB above the Harman target, which suits listeners who want punchy explosions and a warm, bass-forward presentation. Sub-bass and the lower midrange sit close to target, so the low end is fuller without being muddy.
Cons: A deep dip of roughly 15 dB near 4.2 kHz hollows out presence, so voices and the attack of instruments sound recessed, while a peak of about 9 dB near 8.6 kHz adds a sharp, sizzly edge to cymbals and sibilance. Treble above 6 kHz runs about 4 to 5 dB hot, which can become fatiguing at higher volumes. The HyperX Cloud Alpha has a higher rating at a lower price.
Full HyperX Cloud II review and specifications →
| Released | Feb 2015 (11 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.60 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 53mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 15Hz - 25kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 58 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 60 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 98 dB SPL/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.1 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.74 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
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 | +4.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 170 Hz | -7.0 dB | 1.06 |
| Peak | 271 Hz | +3.7 dB | 0.58 |
| Peak | 3,828 Hz | +5.4 dB | 3.60 |
| Peak | 57 Hz | -4.8 dB | 0.58 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -7.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 8,085 Hz | -3.0 dB | 3.98 |
| Peak | 2,378 Hz | -1.9 dB | 2.78 |
| Peak | 3,700 Hz | +1.3 dB | 2.71 |
| Peak | 1,123 Hz | +1.1 dB | 3.29 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons