Short answer: the HEDD Heddphone 2. It ranks #172 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.0/5, at $1,999; the AKG K872 Pro ranks #199, rated 2.5/5, at $1,999. The price gap is small enough that the sound-quality ranking should decide it.
The HEDD Heddphone 2 is the better-sounding option. A full range Air Motion Transformer driver sets it apart from conventional dynamic and planar designs, and the open back gives a spacious presentation. The tradeoff: oratory1990’s measurement shows treble about 8.9 dB below target with an 11.8 dB dip near 9.6 kHz, which leaves cymbals and air sounding muffled, and sub-bass falls 6 dB short by 47 Hz.
Why pick the AKG K872 Pro: The closed back blocks outside noise and keeps sound from leaking, which suits studio tracking and shared rooms. Watch for: A preference score of 48 in crinacle’s measurement puts its tuning far from what most listeners prefer.
Buy the HEDD Heddphone 2. It is rated higher for sound quality than the AKG K872 Pro at the same price, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| HEDD Heddphone 2 | AKG K872 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,999.00 | $1,999.00 |
| Ranked | #172 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #199 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 60 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 48 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 3.17 dB standard deviation | 4.16 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.95 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.91 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 47 Hz (-7.7 dB at 30 Hz) | - |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Open | Closed |
| Driver Type | Air Motion Transformer | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x Air Motion Transformer (full range) | 1 x 53mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 41 ohms | 36 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 89 dB/mW | 112 dB SPL/V |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs (550 g) | 0.9 lbs (390 g) |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 5Hz - 54kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for HEDD Heddphone 2:
- Audio-Technica ATH-AWKT vs HEDD Heddphone 2
- Fostex TH909 vs HEDD Heddphone 2
- Audeze LCD-3 vs HEDD Heddphone 2
- HEDD Heddphone 2 vs Dan Clark Audio Voce
- HEDD Heddphone 2 vs Focal Stellia
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
HEDD Heddphone 2: $1,999.00 HEDD eBay
Pros: A full range Air Motion Transformer driver sets it apart from conventional dynamic and planar designs, and the open back gives a spacious presentation. In oratory1990’s measurement the low mids sit about 0.8 dB above target, and its warm tilt suits listeners who dislike bright treble. Its rating equals the Audeze LCD-3 and sits above the Dan Clark Audio Voce.
Cons: oratory1990’s measurement shows treble about 8.9 dB below target with an 11.8 dB dip near 9.6 kHz, which leaves cymbals and air sounding muffled, and sub-bass falls 6 dB short by 47 Hz. At 89 dB/mW it needs a dedicated headphone amp to reach comfortable levels. It weighs 550 g, and the open back leaks sound and offers no isolation. See headphone amps and DACs with enough power to drive it.
Full HEDD Heddphone 2 review and specifications →
| Back | Open |
|---|---|
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.17 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Air Motion Transformer |
| Drivers | 1 x Air Motion Transformer (full range) |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 60 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 41 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 89 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 47 Hz (-7.7 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.95 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs (550 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.0 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 | +7.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 126 Hz | -3.6 dB | 0.26 |
| Peak | 6,938 Hz | +5.6 dB | 1.34 |
| Peak | 1,094 Hz | -2.8 dB | 3.12 |
| Peak | 9,336 Hz | +3.0 dB | 2.62 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -4.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 2,136 Hz | +3.1 dB | 2.31 |
| Peak | 1,441 Hz | -1.4 dB | 3.31 |
| Peak | 3,207 Hz | -1.8 dB | 5.46 |
| Peak | 131 Hz | +0.4 dB | 2.04 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
AKG K872 Pro: $1,999.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: The closed back blocks outside noise and keeps sound from leaking, which suits studio tracking and shared rooms. With 36 ohms and 112 dB/V sensitivity it reaches high volume from a phone or laptop without a dedicated amp.
Cons: A preference score of 48 in crinacle’s measurement puts its tuning far from what most listeners prefer. At 390 g it is a heavy headphone, and the Sennheiser HD 820 is rated higher at a similar price.
Full AKG K872 Pro review and specifications →
| Released | Oct 2016 (10 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 4.16 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 53mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 54kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 48 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 36 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 112 dB SPL/V |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.91 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (390 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.6 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 | +6.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 140 Hz | -7.3 dB | 0.86 |
| Peak | 2,439 Hz | +6.8 dB | 2.79 |
| Peak | 49 Hz | +1.4 dB | 2.71 |
| Peak | 3,988 Hz | -2.5 dB | 2.58 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +6.6 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 1,235 Hz | +1.0 dB | 0.94 |
| Peak | 1,695 Hz | -2.0 dB | 4.20 |
| Peak | 5,057 Hz | -1.8 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 996 Hz | -0.2 dB | 2.49 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons