Short answer: the FiiO JT7. Both are rated 4.2/5 for sound quality (#43 and #52 of 481 over-ear headphones), and the FiiO JT7 costs $119.99 against $149 for the Sony Pulse Elite, and with sound quality even, the cheaper one is the better buy.
The case for the FiiO JT7: The median of five hobbyist measurements on squig.link gives the JT7 a preference score of 87 with a nearly flat tilt, so it sounds balanced rather than warm or bright. Watch for: Sensitivity of 92 dB/mW is low, so a phone or laptop jack may run out of volume and a small headphone amp is a sensible addition.
What the Sony Pulse Elite does well: Measured response gives it an excellent Harman preference score of 86 with a 1.61 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 0.6 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural. Watch for: A 4.8 dB peak near 11.4 kHz can make cymbals and sibilance sound sharp.
Buy the FiiO JT7. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $29.01 less than the Sony Pulse Elite.
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The median of five hobbyist measurements on squig.link gives the JT7 a preference score of 87 with a nearly flat tilt, so it sounds balanced rather than warm or bright.
Amazon $119.99 eBay
Measured response gives it an excellent Harman preference score of 86 with a 1.61 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 0.6 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural.
Amazon $149.00 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 JT7 | Sony Pulse Elite | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $119.99 | $149.00 |
| Ranked | #43 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones | #52 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 86 (median of 6 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 86 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.11 dB standard deviation | 1.61 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.03 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.50 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 28 Hz (-5.6 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.7 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Bluetooth |
| Back | Open | Closed |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic | Planar magnetic |
| Drivers | 1 x 95x86mm planar magnetic | - |
| Impedance | 18 ohms | - |
| Sensitivity | 92 dB/mW | - |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (318 g) | 0.8 lbs (347g) |
| Frequency Response | 7Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 20Hz - 20kHz |
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