Short answer: the Cleer Next. Both are rated 3.9/5 for sound quality (#82 and #87 of 216 over-ear headphones), and the Cleer Next costs $699.99 against $859 for the HIFIMAN Mini Shangri-La, so with nothing between them on sound quality, price settles it.
Why pick the Cleer Next: A preference score of 80, with bass 2.1 dB above target from 60 to 200 Hz and extension within 2.7 dB of target at 30 Hz, giving a warm, full low end. The catch: A 4.8 dB peak near 4.7 kHz can make vocals and strings sound forward or edgy at higher volumes, while a 10.7 dB dip near 10.8 kHz takes away treble air.
Buy the Cleer Next. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $159.01 less than the HIFIMAN Mini Shangri-La.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Cleer Next | HIFIMAN Mini Shangri-La | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $699.99 | $859.00 |
| Ranked | #82 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #87 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 80 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 79 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.17 dB standard deviation | 2.22 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.46 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | +0.39 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-2.7 dB at 30 Hz) | Falls 6 dB below target at 53 Hz (-11.1 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Open | Open |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Electrostatic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic | - |
| Impedance | 16 ohms | - |
| Sensitivity | 92 dB/mW | - |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (395 g) | 0.7 lbs (320 g) |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 45kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 7Hz - 90kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Cleer Next:
- Cleer Next vs HIFIMAN Audivina
- Cleer Next vs Focal Spirit Classic
- HIFIMAN HE6se V2 vs HIFIMAN Mini Shangri-La
- HIFIMAN Mini Shangri-La vs Meze 109 Pro
- HIFIMAN Mini Shangri-La vs Focal Bathys
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
Cleer Next: $699.99 Cleer Audio eBay
Pros: A preference score of 80, with bass 2.1 dB above target from 60 to 200 Hz and extension within 2.7 dB of target at 30 Hz, giving a warm, full low end. The mids stay within about 1.7 dB of target, so voices keep good body and presence. It rates above the AKG K712 and Meze 109 Pro.
Cons: A 4.8 dB peak near 4.7 kHz can make vocals and strings sound forward or edgy at higher volumes, while a 10.7 dB dip near 10.8 kHz takes away treble air. Its 92 dB/mW sensitivity is low for an over-ear, so a phone may run out of volume and a headphone amp helps. The open back leaks sound and offers no isolation. See headphone amps and DACs with enough power to drive it.
Full Cleer Next review and specifications →
| Released | 2017 (9 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.17 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 45kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 80 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 16 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 92 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-2.7 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.46 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (395 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -5.0 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 | +3.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 9,129 Hz | +5.9 dB | 1.09 |
| Peak | 200 Hz | -3.9 dB | 0.47 |
| Peak | 1,021 Hz | +4.2 dB | 0.48 |
| Peak | 2,593 Hz | -3.3 dB | 0.48 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -1.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 3,859 Hz | +3.2 dB | 5.86 |
| Peak | 4,784 Hz | -3.5 dB | 5.81 |
| Peak | 6,387 Hz | +1.6 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 2,290 Hz | -0.7 dB | 4.41 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
HIFIMAN Mini Shangri-La: $859.00 Amazon eBay
Full HIFIMAN Mini Shangri-La review and specifications →
| Released | Jun 2024 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.22 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Electrostatic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 7Hz - 90kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 79 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 53 Hz (-11.1 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.39 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (320 g) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons