Short answer: the HIFIMAN Sundara. It ranks #87 of 429 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.0/5, at $179; the FiiO FT5 ranks #246, rated 3.4/5, and costs $499.99, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
Why pick the FiiO FT5: Lower mids sit within about 0.5 dB of target, keeping voices and guitars natural. The tradeoff: Presence sits about 3.7 dB low with a 9.4 dB dip near 10.3 kHz, so vocals and instruments lose some bite.
The HIFIMAN Sundara is the better-sounding choice. Crinacle’s measurement gives a preference score of 82, and the midrange and treble stay within about 1 dB of target in hobbyist measurements on squig.link, so voices and instruments sound natural with a neutral balance. The catch: Sub-bass falls about 5 dB below target under 60 Hz and is 6.1 dB down at 30 Hz, so kick drums and synth bass lack deep rumble.
Buy the HIFIMAN Sundara. It is rated higher for sound quality than the FiiO FT5 and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| FiiO FT5 | HIFIMAN Sundara | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $499.99 | $179.00 |
| Ranked | #246 of 429 in Over-Ear Headphones | #87 of 429 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Back | Open | Open |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic | Planar magnetic |
| Drivers | 1 x 90mm planar magnetic | 1 x planar magnetic |
| Impedance | 36 ohms | 37 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 96 dB/mW | 94 dB/mW |
| Frequency Response | 7Hz - 40kHz | 6Hz - 75kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 1 lbs (456 g) | 0.8 lbs (372 g) |
| Harman Preference Score | 67 (median of 6 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 82 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.77 dB standard deviation | 1.54 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.73 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.01 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-4.9 dB at 30 Hz) | Falls 6 dB below target at 30 Hz (-6.1 dB at 30 Hz) |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How HIFIMAN Sundara compares with other leading options:
- AKG K371 vs HIFIMAN Sundara
- HIFIMAN Sundara vs Sennheiser HD 6XX
- Audio-Technica ATH-R50x vs HIFIMAN Sundara
- Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro vs HIFIMAN Sundara
- Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro vs HIFIMAN Sundara
Prices on this page were last checked October 13, 2026 at 3:17 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 FT5: $499.99 Amazon $499.99 eBay
Pros: Lower mids sit within about 0.5 dB of target, keeping voices and guitars natural. It uses 1 x 90mm planar magnetic.
Cons: Presence sits about 3.7 dB low with a 9.4 dB dip near 10.3 kHz, so vocals and instruments lose some bite. A 4.2 dB peak near 11.9 kHz can make cymbals and sibilance sound sharp. Sub-bass is 4.9 dB short at 30 Hz, so deep bass lacks rumble.
Full FiiO FT5 review and specifications →
| Released | 2023 (3 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.77 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic |
| Drivers | 1 x 90mm planar magnetic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 7Hz - 40kHz |
| Harman Preference Score | 67 (median of 6 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 36 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 96 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-4.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.73 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 1 lbs (456 g) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
HIFIMAN Sundara: $179.00 Amazon $179.00 eBay
Pros: Crinacle’s measurement gives a preference score of 82, and the midrange and treble stay within about 1 dB of target in hobbyist measurements on squig.link, so voices and instruments sound natural with a neutral balance. The air band is lifted almost 4 dB above 10 kHz, adding openness and detail without a harsh peak. The open-back planar design gives a spacious presentation, and it is rated equal to the AKG K612 while costing less.
Cons: Sub-bass falls about 5 dB below target under 60 Hz and is 6.1 dB down at 30 Hz, so kick drums and synth bass lack deep rumble. At 94 dB/mW it needs more power than most over-ears and can run short of volume from a phone, and 372 g is heavy. The open back leaks sound and offers no isolation.
Full HIFIMAN Sundara review and specifications →
| Released | 2018 (8 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.54 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic |
| Drivers | 1 x planar magnetic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 6Hz - 75kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 82 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 37 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 94 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 30 Hz (-6.1 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.01 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (372 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.1 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 | +6.5 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 127 Hz | -2.0 dB | 0.29 |
| Peak | 2,009 Hz | +6.5 dB | 2.96 |
| Peak | 4,085 Hz | -4.4 dB | 1.19 |
| Peak | 7,580 Hz | +2.3 dB | 0.66 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -1.6 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 63 Hz | -1.2 dB | 2.40 |
| Peak | 38 Hz | +0.9 dB | 2.27 |
| Peak | 789 Hz | -1.6 dB | 4.10 |
| Peak | 5,821 Hz | +1.9 dB | 6.00 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons