Short answer: the Fosi Audio i5. It ranks #75 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.0/5, at $589.99; the HIFIMAN Audivina ranks #79, rated 3.9/5, and costs $634.42, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Fosi Audio i5 does well: A large 97mm planar magnetic driver scores 80.7 for preference in the median of four squig.link measurements, with the low mids about 1 dB over target for a full, warm tone. Watch for: Sub-bass drops roughly 5.8 dB below target and is already 6 dB down by 42 Hz, so deep synth bass and kick drum rumble lack impact.
What the HIFIMAN Audivina does well: The closed back planar design isolates noise and keeps sound from leaking, which suits shared rooms better than most planar headphones. Watch for: Sub-bass is about 8 dB below target under 60 Hz and the rest of the spectrum sits a couple of dB under, so deep bass and kick drum impact are lacking and the presentation can feel thin and laid back.
Buy the Fosi Audio i5. It is rated higher for sound quality than the HIFIMAN Audivina 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
| Fosi Audio i5 | HIFIMAN Audivina | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $589.99 | $634.42 |
| Ranked | #75 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #79 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 81 (median of 5 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 80 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.17 dB standard deviation | 2.41 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.28 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | +0.27 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 40 Hz (-6.6 dB at 30 Hz) | Falls 6 dB below target at 38 Hz (-8.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Open | Closed |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic | Planar magnetic |
| Drivers | 1 x 97mm planar magnetic | - |
| Impedance | 28 ohms | 20 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 98 dB/mW | 97 dB |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs (550 g) | 1 lbs (470 g) |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 50kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 5Hz - 55kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
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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
Fosi Audio i5: $589.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: A large 97mm planar magnetic driver scores 80.7 for preference in the median of four squig.link measurements, with the low mids about 1 dB over target for a full, warm tone. Air above 10 kHz runs about 4.4 dB hot, which adds openness and detail to strings and cymbals. At 28 ohms and 98 dB/mW it is easier to drive than many planars and works from a modest desktop DAC or a capable dongle.
Cons: Sub-bass drops roughly 5.8 dB below target and is already 6 dB down by 42 Hz, so deep synth bass and kick drum rumble lack impact. A 5.8 dB dip near 2.2 kHz and a presence region about 3.2 dB low push vocals back, while the 5.1 dB peak at 10.9 kHz can sound splashy. It weighs 550 g, and the open back leaks sound and blocks no outside noise.
Full Fosi Audio i5 review and specifications →
| Released | Apr 2025 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.17 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic |
| Drivers | 1 x 97mm planar magnetic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 50kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 81 (median of 5 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 28 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 98 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 40 Hz (-6.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.28 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs (550 g) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
HIFIMAN Audivina: $634.42 Amazon eBay
Pros: The closed back planar design isolates noise and keeps sound from leaking, which suits shared rooms better than most planar headphones. Its preference score of 80 and a deviation of about 2.4 dB show a fairly smooth response, with no single large peak (the highest is about 2.5 dB near 6.1 kHz). At 20 ohms and 97 dB sensitivity it is easy to drive from a phone or laptop dongle and it rates higher than the AKG K712 while costing more.
Cons: Sub-bass is about 8 dB below target under 60 Hz and the rest of the spectrum sits a couple of dB under, so deep bass and kick drum impact are lacking and the presentation can feel thin and laid back. A 7 dB dip near 7.2 kHz takes the edge off cymbals and sibilance, and presence around 3 to 6 kHz is about 3 dB low, which can push vocals back. At 470 g it is on the heavy side.
Full HIFIMAN Audivina review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.41 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 55kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 80 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 20 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 97 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 38 Hz (-8.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.27 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 1 lbs (470 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.4 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 | +6.9 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 923 Hz | -6.5 dB | 2.05 |
| Peak | 295 Hz | +4.5 dB | 1.71 |
| Peak | 71 Hz | -5.8 dB | 1.06 |
| Peak | 3,635 Hz | +3.4 dB | 3.23 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -3.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 5,959 Hz | -4.3 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 1,870 Hz | +1.7 dB | 4.35 |
| Peak | 599 Hz | +2.0 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 727 Hz | -1.7 dB | 5.75 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons