Short answer: the Fostex TH900mk2. It ranks #160 of 231 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.2/5, at $1,399.98. The Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H95 ranks #164, rated 3.1/5, at $1,250, $149.98 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
What the Fostex TH900mk2 does well: 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.
The case for the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H95: A full-featured wireless ANC headphone with aptX Adaptive, AAC and SBC, Bluetooth 5.1, a built-in microphone, a wired option and a rated 38 hours of battery (50 without ANC). The catch: Treble is erratic, with a 9.6 dB peak near 11.9 kHz and a 6.7 dB dip near 10 kHz, which makes the top end uneven and slightly hot in places.
Buy the Fostex TH900mk2. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $149.98 saving on the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H95 is not enough to make up the difference.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Fostex TH900mk2 | Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H95 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,399.98 | $1,250.00 |
| Ranked | #160 of 231 in Over-Ear Headphones | #164 of 231 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 63 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 62 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.94 dB standard deviation | 2.65 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.94 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -1.22 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+2.6 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+5.2 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wireless and wired |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 50mm dynamic | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 25 ohms | 12 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB/mW | 101.5 dB/mW |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 45kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 20Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Weight | - | 0.7 lbs (323 g) |
| Active Noise Cancelling | - | Yes |
| Battery Life | - | 38 hours (50 without ANC, Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.1 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More top alternatives to Fostex TH900mk2:
- Audeze MM-500 vs Fostex TH900mk2
- Sendy Peacock vs Fostex TH900mk2
- Fostex TH900mk2 vs Audio-Technica ATH-AWAS
- Fostex TH900mk2 vs Beyerdynamic DT 1350
- Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H95 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 $1,399.98 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
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H95: $1,250.00 Wireless Amazon $1,250.00 eBay
Pros: A full-featured wireless ANC headphone with aptX Adaptive, AAC and SBC, Bluetooth 5.1, a built-in microphone, a wired option and a rated 38 hours of battery (50 without ANC). Sub-bass sits about 6 dB over target and the upper bass about 3 dB over, so low notes have weight and warmth. The midrange stays close to target, within about 2 dB, and the overall curve is fairly smooth for a wireless model.
Cons: Treble is erratic, with a 9.6 dB peak near 11.9 kHz and a 6.7 dB dip near 10 kHz, which makes the top end uneven and slightly hot in places. The bass boost and a 1.9 dB lift in the low mids can make male vocals and bass guitar a little thick. At 323 g and a very high price, it asks a lot for sound that scores only 62 on the Harman preference scale.
Full Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H95 review and specifications →
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Battery Life | 38 hours (50 without ANC, Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Connection | Wireless and wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.65 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 62 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 12 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 101.5 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+5.2 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.22 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (323 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -3.6 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 | -4.5 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 252 Hz | -3.8 dB | 1.28 |
| Peak | 2,644 Hz | +2.2 dB | 0.56 |
| Peak | 61 Hz | -2.0 dB | 0.66 |
| Peak | 93 Hz | +5.1 dB | 2.32 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -8.8 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 9,731 Hz | +3.6 dB | 1.42 |
| Peak | 1,253 Hz | -2.3 dB | 2.36 |
| Peak | 842 Hz | +2.1 dB | 3.42 |
| Peak | 1,919 Hz | +2.1 dB | 3.99 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons