Short answer: the Austrian Audio Hi-X15. It ranks #145 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.3/5, at $149; the Yamaha HPH-200 ranks #155, rated 3.2/5, and costs $160, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The case for the Austrian Audio Hi-X15: Bass runs about 5.5 dB above target from 60 to 200 Hz and stays within 6 dB of target all the way to 20 Hz, so kick drums and bass lines hit with weight and real rumble. The tradeoff: A 9.3 dB peak near 6 kHz and treble about 5 dB above target from 3 to 10 kHz can make sibilance and cymbals sound sharp and tiring at higher volume.
Why pick the Yamaha HPH-200: The open 40mm dynamic design has an airy, speaker-like staging, and at 48 ohms and 98.5 dB/mW it runs fine from a phone or laptop. Watch for: Sub-bass is roughly 9 dB under target, so deep bass is largely absent.
Buy the Austrian Audio Hi-X15. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Yamaha HPH-200 and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Austrian Audio Hi-X15 | Yamaha HPH-200 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $149.00 | $160.00 |
| Ranked | #145 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #155 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 67 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 64 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 3.70 dB standard deviation | 3.20 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.05 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.64 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+4.7 dB at 30 Hz) | Falls 6 dB below target at 42 Hz (-11.2 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Closed | Open |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 44mm dynamic | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 25 ohms | 48 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 113 dB SPL/V | 98.5 dB/mW |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (225 g) | - |
| Frequency Response | 12Hz - 24kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Austrian Audio Hi-X15:
- Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus vs Austrian Audio Hi-X15
- Austrian Audio Hi-X15 vs HIFIMAN Sundara Closed-Back
- Austrian Audio Hi-X15 vs Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X
- Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X vs Yamaha HPH-200
- 1MORE Triple Driver Over Ear vs Yamaha HPH-200
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
Austrian Audio Hi-X15: $149.00 B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: Bass runs about 5.5 dB above target from 60 to 200 Hz and stays within 6 dB of target all the way to 20 Hz, so kick drums and bass lines hit with weight and real rumble. The midrange sits within half a dB of target, keeping vocals natural. At 25 ohms and 113 dB/V it plays loud from a phone, and the closed back keeps sound in. It is rated equal to the HIFIMAN Sundara Closed-Back at a similar price.
Cons: A 9.3 dB peak near 6 kHz and treble about 5 dB above target from 3 to 10 kHz can make sibilance and cymbals sound sharp and tiring at higher volume. Its 3.7 dB standard deviation from target shows a fairly uneven, V shaped response rather than a balanced one.
Full Austrian Audio Hi-X15 review and specifications →
| Released | Aug 2021 (5 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.70 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 44mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 12Hz - 24kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 67 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 25 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 113 dB SPL/V |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+4.7 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.05 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (225 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.7 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 | -5.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 378 Hz | +5.8 dB | 1.59 |
| Peak | 90 Hz | -6.1 dB | 1.30 |
| Peak | 52 Hz | +7.8 dB | 1.18 |
| Peak | 1,701 Hz | +5.4 dB | 3.59 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -1.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 6,036 Hz | -6.7 dB | 2.76 |
| Peak | 2,825 Hz | -7.1 dB | 2.33 |
| Peak | 2,042 Hz | +3.5 dB | 1.81 |
| Peak | 953 Hz | -2.0 dB | 3.63 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Yamaha HPH-200: $160.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: The open 40mm dynamic design has an airy, speaker-like staging, and at 48 ohms and 98.5 dB/mW it runs fine from a phone or laptop. Bass from 60 to 200 Hz is about 1.6 dB above target and the midrange sits close to it, giving voices a natural body.
Cons: Sub-bass is roughly 9 dB under target, so deep bass is largely absent. A 12.3 dB dip near 4.8 kHz and presence about 6 dB low are paired with a 4.8 dB peak near 7.4 kHz, which makes vocals recede while hi-hats and sibilants stand out. The open back leaks sound and gives no isolation.
Full Yamaha HPH-200 review and specifications →
| Back | Open |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.20 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 64 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 48 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 98.5 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 42 Hz (-11.2 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.64 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.3 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 | +5.8 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 83 Hz | -6.4 dB | 0.54 |
| Peak | 4,730 Hz | +6.7 dB | 1.88 |
| Peak | 41 Hz | +3.8 dB | 0.94 |
| Peak | 6,680 Hz | -5.1 dB | 4.60 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +1.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 518 Hz | +1.1 dB | 1.05 |
| Peak | 1,328 Hz | -1.1 dB | 2.04 |
| Peak | 8,923 Hz | -2.3 dB | 4.29 |
| Peak | 243 Hz | -0.7 dB | 1.68 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons