Short answer: the FiiO FT7. Both are rated 4.4/5 for sound quality (#15 and #18 of 481 over-ear headphones), and the FiiO FT7 costs $699.99 against $799 for the HIFIMAN HE600, so with nothing between them on sound quality, price settles it.
What the FiiO FT7 does well: Superb measured tuning: the median of 5 measurements scores 91 on the Harman preference scale with a 1.59 dB spread, and everything from bass through the treble sits within about 1.5 dB of target. The tradeoff: Sub-bass falls about 4.5 dB short at 30 Hz, as is common for open backs, and a peak near 12 kHz in the measurements can add sharpness on bright tracks.
The case for the HIFIMAN HE600: The median of six hobbyist measurements on squig.link gives the HE600 a preference score of 90.4, with an unusually even response (1.8 dB of deviation) and essentially no overall tilt toward warm or bright. The tradeoff: Sub-bass sits about 4.7 dB below target under 60 Hz, so deep synth lines and organ pedals have less rumble than the midbass suggests.
Buy the FiiO FT7. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $99.01 less than the HIFIMAN HE600.
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Superb measured tuning: the median of 5 measurements scores 91 on the Harman preference scale with a 1.59 dB spread, and everything from bass through the treble sits within about 1.5 dB of target.
Amazon $699.99 eBay
The median of six hobbyist measurements on squig.link gives the HE600 a preference score of 90.4, with an unusually even response (1.8 dB of deviation) and essentially no overall tilt toward warm or bright.
Amazon $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
| FiiO FT7 | HIFIMAN HE600 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $699.99 | $799.00 |
| Ranked | #15 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones | #18 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Back | Open | Open |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Planar | Planar magnetic |
| Drivers | 1 x 106mm planar magnetic | 1 x planar magnetic |
| Impedance | 25 ohms | 28 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 94 dB/mW | 94 dB |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 8Hz - 65kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (427 g) | 0.9 lbs (389 g) |
| Harman Preference Score | 91 (median of 5 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 90 (median of 7 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.59 dB standard deviation | 1.74 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.10 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | +0.02 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-4.5 dB at 30 Hz) | Falls 6 dB below target at 27 Hz (-5.7 dB at 30 Hz) |
Frequency Response Compared
Both headphones’ measurements overlaid on the Harman target. Above the target sounds louder in that range, below it quieter. Each curve is the median of several independent measurements, shifted so its 500 Hz to 2 kHz average sits at 0 dB, so only the tuning is compared.
Measurement data: the FiiO FT7 from gadgetrytech, kr0mka, kuulokenurkka, sai and superreview; the HIFIMAN HE600 from aden, audioamigo, daemonxar, dl, gadgetrytech, kuulokenurkka and sai, all via squig.link.
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