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 Sennheiser HD 820 ranks #189, rated 2.7/5, and costs $1,999.95, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
What the HEDD Heddphone 2 does well: 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 catch: 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.
What the Sennheiser HD 820 does well: It is a closed back flagship, so it isolates and keeps sound in, unlike most headphones at this price. The catch: In oratory1990’s measurement presence and treble sit about 3 dB below target from 3 to 10 kHz with a 6.6 dB dip near 11.7 kHz, so cymbals and detail sound dull and veiled.
Buy the HEDD Heddphone 2. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Sennheiser HD 820 and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Want more options? Browse the full Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| HEDD Heddphone 2 | Sennheiser HD 820 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,999.00 | $1,999.95 |
| Ranked | #172 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #189 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 60 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 52 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 3.17 dB standard deviation | 3.55 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.95 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -1.15 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 47 Hz (-7.7 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+4.0 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 56mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 41 ohms | 300 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 89 dB/mW | 103 dB SPL/V |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs (550 g) | 0.8 lbs (360 g) |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 12Hz - 43.8kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How HEDD Heddphone 2 compares with other leading options:
- 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
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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
Sennheiser HD 820: $1,999.95 Amazon eBay
Pros: It is a closed back flagship, so it isolates and keeps sound in, unlike most headphones at this price. Bass sits 3 to 4 dB above the Harman target and holds down to 20 Hz, which suits warm and bassy taste profiles. It rates above the AKG K872 Pro and the Fostex TH900 at about the same price.
Cons: In oratory1990’s measurement presence and treble sit about 3 dB below target from 3 to 10 kHz with a 6.6 dB dip near 11.7 kHz, so cymbals and detail sound dull and veiled. The 300 ohm impedance needs a dedicated headphone amp to reach proper volume, and the Dan Clark Audio Voce and the Focal Stellia both rate higher. See headphone amps and DACs with enough power to drive it.
Full Sennheiser HD 820 review and specifications →
| Released | 2018 (8 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.55 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 56mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 12Hz - 43.8kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 52 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 300 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 103 dB SPL/V |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+4.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.15 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (360 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 | -2.9 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 147 Hz | -8.6 dB | 1.79 |
| Peak | 294 Hz | +7.6 dB | 2.24 |
| Peak | 5,732 Hz | +1.8 dB | 0.18 |
| Peak | 965 Hz | -3.9 dB | 1.74 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -1.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 74 Hz | +6.7 dB | 2.74 |
| Peak | 69 Hz | -2.8 dB | 0.80 |
| Peak | 3,823 Hz | +3.6 dB | 5.33 |
| Peak | 5,091 Hz | -4.0 dB | 5.68 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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