Short answer: the Focal Listen Professional, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #177 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 2.9/5, at $329; the KLH Ultimate One ranks #197, rated 2.5/5, at $325.11. Close enough in price that the sound-quality gap is the deciding factor. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 216 over-ear headphones, so if sound quality matters, consider the HIFIMAN Ananda Nano instead, ranked #4 at $319.
The Focal Listen Professional is the better-sounding option. A closed back headphone with a 32 ohm impedance and 122 dB/V sensitivity, so it plays loud straight from a phone. The tradeoff: A preference score of 58 in crinacle’s measurement means its tuning lands well away from what most listeners prefer, so expect an audibly colored sound.
Why pick the KLH Ultimate One: Bass from 60 to 200 Hz runs about 8.5 dB above target with sub-bass 5 dB up, so bass lovers get heavy, rumbling lows from an open headphone. The tradeoff: In oratory1990’s measurement the treble also sits about 5 dB above target from 3 to 16 kHz with a 9.6 dB peak near 6 kHz, which can make vocals and cymbals sound sharp and tiring at volume.
Buy the Focal Listen Professional. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $3.89 with the KLH Ultimate One does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Want more options? Browse the full Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Focal Listen Professional | KLH Ultimate One | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $329.00 | $325.11 |
| Ranked | #177 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #197 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 58 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) | 49 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 3.89 dB standard deviation | 3.96 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.48 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -1.03 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Closed | Open |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic | 1 x 50mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 32 ohms | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 122 dB SPL/V | 97 dB/mW |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (280 g) | 0.7 lbs (340 g) |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 18Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
| Sub-bass Extension | - | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+2.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
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- Austrian Audio Hi-X55 vs KLH Ultimate One
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
Focal Listen Professional: $329.00 B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: A closed back headphone with a 32 ohm impedance and 122 dB/V sensitivity, so it plays loud straight from a phone. At 280 g it is moderately light, and it includes a built in microphone. It is rated above the Beats Studio3 Wireless.
Cons: A preference score of 58 in crinacle’s measurement means its tuning lands well away from what most listeners prefer, so expect an audibly colored sound. It is wired only, with no wireless or noise cancelling features.
Full Focal Listen Professional review and specifications →
| Released | 2018 (8 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.89 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 58 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 122 dB SPL/V |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.48 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (280 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 | +5.8 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 294 Hz | -5.6 dB | 0.47 |
| Peak | 3,379 Hz | +7.4 dB | 1.68 |
| Peak | 126 Hz | +5.5 dB | 0.87 |
| Peak | 4,799 Hz | -4.8 dB | 2.25 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -5.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 9,268 Hz | +1.8 dB | 2.61 |
| Peak | 1,675 Hz | -1.1 dB | 4.47 |
| Peak | 2,125 Hz | +0.7 dB | 3.56 |
| Peak | 632 Hz | +0.4 dB | 3.00 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
KLH Ultimate One: $325.11 Amazon eBay
Pros: Bass from 60 to 200 Hz runs about 8.5 dB above target with sub-bass 5 dB up, so bass lovers get heavy, rumbling lows from an open headphone. At 32 ohms and 97 dB/mW it plays at moderate volume from a phone or laptop without an amp, and it rates level with the Audio-Technica ATH-AD900X and AKG K271 MKII.
Cons: In oratory1990’s measurement the treble also sits about 5 dB above target from 3 to 16 kHz with a 9.6 dB peak near 6 kHz, which can make vocals and cymbals sound sharp and tiring at volume. A deviation of nearly 4 dB and a preference score of 49 mean most listeners will hear a heavily colored sound, and the open back leaks noise both ways. The Neumann NDH20 rates slightly higher.
Full KLH Ultimate One review and specifications →
| Released | 2020 (6 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.96 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 50mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 18Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 49 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 97 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+2.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.03 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (340 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 | +0.6 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 1,122 Hz | +6.6 dB | 0.74 |
| Peak | 206 Hz | -7.1 dB | 0.57 |
| Peak | 478 Hz | +3.3 dB | 1.24 |
| Peak | 2,632 Hz | -5.8 dB | 2.57 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -3.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 6,143 Hz | -4.3 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 4,905 Hz | +2.7 dB | 2.64 |
| Peak | 43 Hz | -0.6 dB | 2.14 |
| Peak | 5,841 Hz | -1.7 dB | 6.00 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons