Short answer: the FiiO FT3. It ranks #47 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.1/5, at $219.99. The AKG K612 Pro ranks #68, rated 4.0/5, at $209.95, $10.04 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
The case for the FiiO FT3: The FT3 scores 85 for preference in the median of five hobbyist measurements on squig.link, with a 1.71 dB deviation from target and a warm tilt. The catch: At 350 ohms it needs a dedicated headphone amplifier to reach full volume and control.
Why pick the AKG K612 Pro: Crinacle’s measurement gives it a preference score of 81, and across hobbyist measurements on squig.link every band from 60 Hz to 10 kHz sits within about 2 dB of the Harman target, so voices, guitars and pianos come through with a natural balance. Watch for: Sub-bass averages 4.4 dB below target under 60 Hz and falls 6 dB short by 28 Hz, so synth bass and kick drums lose some deep rumble.
Buy the FiiO FT3. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $10.04 with the AKG K612 Pro does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
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Specifications Side By Side
| FiiO FT3 | AKG K612 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $219.99 | $209.95 |
| Ranked | #47 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #68 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 84 (median of 5 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 81 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.71 dB standard deviation | 2.27 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.47 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | +0.33 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-2.0 dB at 30 Hz) | Falls 6 dB below target at 28 Hz (-5.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Open | Open |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 60mm dynamic | 1 x 50mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 350 ohms | 120 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 105 dB/Vrms | 101 dB SPL/V |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (391 g) | 0.5 lbs (238 g) |
| Frequency Response | 7Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 12Hz - 39.5kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
Related Headphone Comparisons
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- FiiO FT1 Pro vs FiiO FT3
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- FiiO FT3 vs Sivga Oriole
- Sennheiser HD 25 Plus vs AKG K612 Pro
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
FiiO FT3: $219.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: The FT3 scores 85 for preference in the median of five hobbyist measurements on squig.link, with a 1.71 dB deviation from target and a warm tilt. Bass runs about 1.4 dB above target and holds within 2 dB at 30 Hz, so the low end has real body for an open dynamic headphone. Its 60 mm driver suits listeners who like a warm or bassy tuning.
Cons: At 350 ohms it needs a dedicated headphone amplifier to reach full volume and control. A 5 dB dip near 6.3 kHz followed by a 6.5 dB peak near 10.7 kHz makes the treble uneven, so some cymbals sound recessed while others stand out. The open back leaks sound and offers no isolation. See headphone amps and DACs with enough power to drive it.
Full FiiO FT3 review and specifications →
| Released | 2023 (3 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.71 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 60mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 7Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 84 (median of 5 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 350 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 105 dB/Vrms |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-2.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.47 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (391 g) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
AKG K612 Pro: $209.95 Amazon eBay
Pros: Crinacle’s measurement gives it a preference score of 81, and across hobbyist measurements on squig.link every band from 60 Hz to 10 kHz sits within about 2 dB of the Harman target, so voices, guitars and pianos come through with a natural balance. The open back gives a spacious, speaker-like presentation, and at 238 g it is a light headphone for long sessions at a desk. It suits listeners who want a neutral or mildly V-shaped sound.
Cons: Sub-bass averages 4.4 dB below target under 60 Hz and falls 6 dB short by 28 Hz, so synth bass and kick drums lose some deep rumble. A 6.9 dB peak near 11.5 kHz in the squig.link measurements can make cymbals sound splashy, and at 120 ohms and 101 dB/V it gets louder and fuller from a headphone amp or strong dongle than from a phone. The open back leaks sound and blocks no outside noise. See headphone amps and DACs with enough power to drive it.
Full AKG K612 Pro review and specifications →
| Back | Open |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.27 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 50mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 12Hz - 39.5kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 81 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 120 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 101 dB SPL/V |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 28 Hz (-5.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.33 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (238 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -5.9 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 | +6.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 175 Hz | -1.9 dB | 0.45 |
| Peak | 744 Hz | +2.9 dB | 1.70 |
| Peak | 2,519 Hz | -2.4 dB | 3.07 |
| Peak | 5,923 Hz | -2.8 dB | 6.00 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +1.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 67 Hz | -1.2 dB | 2.17 |
| Peak | 85 Hz | +2.2 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 1,518 Hz | +0.7 dB | 4.54 |
| Peak | 4,342 Hz | +0.9 dB | 6.00 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons