Short answer: the HarmonicDyne Romantic. It ranks #60 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.0/5, at $346.86; the HIFIMAN Edition XV ranks #84, rated 3.9/5, and costs $399, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
What the HIFIMAN Edition XV does well: Its open back planar driver scores 79.8 for preference in the median of 8 squig.link measurements, a strong result for an open headphone. The catch: An 8.7 dB dip near 9.7 kHz dulls cymbal shimmer and sibilance, and sub-bass falls about 4 dB short below 60 Hz, as open planars often do.
Buy the HarmonicDyne Romantic. It is rated higher for sound quality than the HIFIMAN Edition XV and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| HarmonicDyne Romantic | HIFIMAN Edition XV | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $346.86 | $399.00 |
| Ranked | #60 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #84 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 83 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 79 (median of 9 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.09 dB standard deviation | 2.18 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.25 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.44 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-2.4 dB at 30 Hz) | Falls 6 dB below target at 27 Hz (-5.8 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Open | Open |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Planar magnetic |
| Drivers | 1 x 60mm dynamic | - |
| Impedance | 64 ohms | 12 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 107 dB SPL/mW | 92 dB |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 50kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 8Hz - 50kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | - | 1 lbs (452 g) |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How HarmonicDyne Romantic compares with other leading options:
- Audio-Technica ATH-M70x vs HarmonicDyne Romantic
- Sennheiser HD 650 vs HarmonicDyne Romantic
- HarmonicDyne Romantic vs Logitech G Astro A50 X
- HarmonicDyne Romantic vs Audeze Maxwell
- Logitech G Astro A50 X vs HIFIMAN Edition XV
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
HarmonicDyne Romantic: $346.86 Amazon eBay
Full HarmonicDyne Romantic review and specifications →
| Back | Open |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.09 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 60mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 50kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 83 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 64 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 107 dB SPL/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-2.4 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.25 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
HIFIMAN Edition XV: $399.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: Its open back planar driver scores 79.8 for preference in the median of 8 squig.link measurements, a strong result for an open headphone. Bass from 60 to 200 Hz sits right on target, so bass guitar and cello come through full and clean. A gentle warm tilt and a 2.3 dB lift in the 10 to 16 kHz air band keep it airy without harshness.
Cons: An 8.7 dB dip near 9.7 kHz dulls cymbal shimmer and sibilance, and sub-bass falls about 4 dB short below 60 Hz, as open planars often do. Sensitivity of 92 dB is low for an over-ear, so a phone will struggle and a desktop amp is the better partner. The open back leaks sound and blocks no outside noise, and the 452 g weight is heavy. See headphone amps and DACs with enough power to drive it.
Full HIFIMAN Edition XV review and specifications →
| Released | Sep 2025 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.18 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 8Hz - 50kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 79 (median of 9 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 12 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 92 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 27 Hz (-5.8 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.44 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 1 lbs (452 g) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons