Short answer: the Focal Listen Professional, though neither ranks well in its class. Both are rated 2.9/5 for sound quality (#177 and #175 of 216 over-ear headphones), and the Focal Listen Professional costs $329 against $449 for the Sennheiser HD 598 CS, with sound quality a draw, the lower price decides it. 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.
What the Focal Listen Professional does well: 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 Sennheiser HD 598 CS: A low 23 ohm impedance and very high 115 dB sensitivity let it play loudly from a phone or laptop with no headphone amp. The catch: Treble is the weak point, running about 6 dB below target from 6 kHz up and dropping into a 13.5 dB dip near 9.9 kHz, so cymbals, air and detail sound dull and closed in.
Buy the Focal Listen Professional. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $120 less than the Sennheiser HD 598 CS.
Want more options? Browse the full Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Focal Listen Professional | Sennheiser HD 598 CS | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $329.00 | $449.00 |
| Ranked | #177 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #175 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 58 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) | 58 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 3.89 dB standard deviation | 2.84 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.48 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -1.31 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic | - |
| Impedance | 32 ohms | 23 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 122 dB SPL/V | 115 dB |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (280 g) | - |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 10Hz - 28kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | - |
| Sub-bass Extension | - | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+1.2 dB at 30 Hz) |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How Sennheiser HD 598 CS compares with other leading options:
- Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 vs Sennheiser HD 598 CS
- Austrian Audio Hi-X55 vs Sennheiser HD 598 CS
- Sennheiser HD 598 CS vs Beats Studio3 Wireless
- Sennheiser HD 598 CS vs Neumann NDH20
- Focal Listen Professional 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
Sennheiser HD 598 CS: $449.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: A low 23 ohm impedance and very high 115 dB sensitivity let it play loudly from a phone or laptop with no headphone amp. The closed-back build keeps sound in and outside noise down, which is useful for shared spaces. Bass is close to target, only about 1 dB above it, so the low end is warm without being boomy.
Cons: Treble is the weak point, running about 6 dB below target from 6 kHz up and dropping into a 13.5 dB dip near 9.9 kHz, so cymbals, air and detail sound dull and closed in. Presence between 3 and 6 kHz is also about 4 dB low, which pushes voices back. The Sony MDR-M1ST has a higher rating at a lower price.
Full Sennheiser HD 598 CS review and specifications →
| Released | 2016 (10 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.84 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 28kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 58 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 23 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 115 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+1.2 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.31 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -4.8 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 | -2.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 10,000 Hz | +6.1 dB | 0.40 |
| Peak | 1,121 Hz | -2.7 dB | 0.57 |
| Peak | 178 Hz | -3.9 dB | 1.12 |
| Peak | 297 Hz | +4.2 dB | 1.74 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -3.6 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 3,480 Hz | -3.3 dB | 5.91 |
| Peak | 4,410 Hz | +1.7 dB | 4.27 |
| Peak | 2,845 Hz | +1.7 dB | 5.08 |
| Peak | 55 Hz | -0.4 dB | 1.59 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons