Short answer: the Fostex TH900mk2. It ranks #158 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.2/5, at $1,399.98; the Audio-Technica ATH-AWAS ranks #166, rated 3.0/5, and costs $1,499, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
Why pick the Fostex TH900mk2: Sub-bass and bass sit about 2.7 and 3.7 dB above target, giving a full, weighty low end with strong kick drums and bass guitar. The catch: A 8 dB peak near 5.4 kHz makes vocals, snares and electric guitars sound sharp or shouty, while a 8.3 dB dip near 9.4 kHz leaves the upper treble uneven.
Why pick the Audio-Technica ATH-AWAS: A wired closed-back headphone with a large 53mm driver, 40 ohms and 99 dB/mW sensitivity, which a phone can drive at moderate volumes though a headphone amplifier will suit it better. The catch: The response is fairly uneven, with a standard deviation near 3.7 dB.
Buy the Fostex TH900mk2. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Audio-Technica ATH-AWAS and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Fostex TH900mk2 | Audio-Technica ATH-AWAS | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,399.98 | $1,499.00 |
| Ranked | #158 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #166 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 63 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 60 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.94 dB standard deviation | 3.69 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.94 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.53 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+2.6 dB at 30 Hz) | - |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 50mm dynamic | 1 x 53mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 25 ohms | 40 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB/mW | 99 dB/mW |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 45kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 5Hz - 42kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
| Weight | - | 0.9 lbs (395 g) |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How Fostex TH900mk2 compares with other leading options:
- Audeze MM-500 vs Fostex TH900mk2
- Sendy Peacock vs Fostex TH900mk2
- Fostex TH900mk2 vs Beyerdynamic DT 1350
- Sendy Peacock vs Audio-Technica ATH-AWAS
- Audio-Technica ATH-AWAS vs Beyerdynamic DT 1350
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
Fostex TH900mk2: $1,399.98 Amazon eBay
Pros: Sub-bass and bass sit about 2.7 and 3.7 dB above target, giving a full, weighty low end with strong kick drums and bass guitar. The 25 ohm, 100 dB/mW closed-back design runs easily from a phone or portable amp, and presence and air are both lifted about 2.4 dB for added sparkle.
Cons: A 8 dB peak near 5.4 kHz makes vocals, snares and electric guitars sound sharp or shouty, while a 8.3 dB dip near 9.4 kHz leaves the upper treble uneven. Upper mids from 1 to 3 kHz sit about 1.5 dB under target, so the tonal balance feels bass-heavy. There is no built-in microphone.
Full Fostex TH900mk2 review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.94 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 50mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 45kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 63 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 25 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+2.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.94 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -4.9 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 | -0.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 189 Hz | -3.6 dB | 0.18 |
| Peak | 2,364 Hz | +5.5 dB | 1.54 |
| Peak | 5,351 Hz | -8.4 dB | 4.70 |
| Peak | 454 Hz | +5.3 dB | 1.17 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -3.8 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 81 Hz | +0.5 dB | 2.33 |
| Peak | 39 Hz | -0.3 dB | 1.38 |
| Peak | 196 Hz | -0.3 dB | 1.57 |
| Peak | 292 Hz | +0.3 dB | 2.64 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Audio-Technica ATH-AWAS: $1,499.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: A wired closed-back headphone with a large 53mm driver, 40 ohms and 99 dB/mW sensitivity, which a phone can drive at moderate volumes though a headphone amplifier will suit it better. Its Harman preference score of 60 in crinacle’s measurement shows a response that is reasonably close to target. The rated range of 5 Hz to 42 kHz points to a wide, extended design.
Cons: The response is fairly uneven, with a standard deviation near 3.7 dB. At 395 g it is heavy for long sessions, and it has no wireless option or microphone. The price is extremely high for this score, and the Focal Elear has a higher rating for less money.
Full Audio-Technica ATH-AWAS review and specifications →
| Released | Nov 2019 (6 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.69 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 53mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 42kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 60 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 40 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 99 dB/mW |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.53 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (395 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.2 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 | +6.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 7,334 Hz | +6.5 dB | 0.38 |
| Peak | 258 Hz | -3.4 dB | 0.58 |
| Peak | 1,856 Hz | -4.5 dB | 1.50 |
| Peak | 4,512 Hz | -6.3 dB | 3.33 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -3.9 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 167 Hz | +2.0 dB | 3.76 |
| Peak | 97 Hz | -1.9 dB | 3.56 |
| Peak | 59 Hz | +0.6 dB | 1.80 |
| Peak | 230 Hz | -1.0 dB | 3.01 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons