Short answer: the Dan Clark Audio Ether CX. Both are rated 4.2/5 for sound quality (#54 and #55 of 481 over-ear headphones), and the Dan Clark Audio Ether CX costs $696.78 against $799 for the HEDD Audio D1, so with nothing between them on sound quality, price settles it.
Why pick the Dan Clark Audio Ether CX: Measured response gives it an excellent Harman preference score of 86 with a 2.20 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 0.5 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural. The catch: Sub-bass is 5.7 dB short at 30 Hz, so deep bass lacks rumble.
Why pick the HEDD Audio D1: The median of 6 hobbyist measurements gives it an excellent Harman preference score of 85 with a 1.85 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 0.6 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural. Watch for: A 5.6 dB peak near 11.5 kHz can make cymbals and sibilance sound sharp.
Buy the Dan Clark Audio Ether CX. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $102.22 less than the HEDD Audio D1.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Measured response gives it an excellent Harman preference score of 86 with a 2.20 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 0.5 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural.
Amazon $696.78 eBay
The median of 6 hobbyist measurements gives it an excellent Harman preference score of 85 with a 1.85 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 0.6 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural.
Headphones.com $799.00 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
| Dan Clark Audio Ether CX | HEDD Audio D1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $696.78 | $799.00 |
| Ranked | #54 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones | #55 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Back | Closed | Open |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic | Dynamic |
| Impedance | 23 ohms | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 92 dB/mW | 100 dB/mW |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (430g) | 0.8 lbs (350 g) |
| Harman Preference Score | 86 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 85 (median of 6 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.20 dB standard deviation | 1.85 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.06 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.28 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 56 Hz (-5.7 dB at 30 Hz) | Falls 6 dB below target at 32 Hz (-6.3 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Drivers | - | 1 x 50mm dynamic |
| Frequency Response | - | 5Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
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