Short answer: the HIFIMAN Ananda Stealth. It ranks #25 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.3/5, at $249; the AKG K701 ranks #51, rated 4.1/5, and costs $249.99, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
Why pick the HIFIMAN Ananda Stealth: A preference score of 88 and a neutral tilt show a tuning that tracks the Harman target well, with bass from 60 to 200 Hz about 1 dB above target and presence about 1.6 dB above for added clarity. The catch: An 8.8 dB dip near 9.5 kHz sits beside a 6.6 dB peak at 11.9 kHz, and the air band is about 4 dB high, so the treble can sound uneven and bright.
Why pick the AKG K701: A preference score of 83 with a deviation of 2.14 dB shows a smooth response. The tradeoff: A 4.2 dB peak near 5.9 kHz can add some edge to vocals and sibilants.
Buy the HIFIMAN Ananda Stealth. It is rated higher for sound quality than the AKG K701 and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| HIFIMAN Ananda Stealth | AKG K701 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $249.00 | $249.99 |
| Ranked | #25 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #51 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 88 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 83 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.09 dB standard deviation | 2.14 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.03 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.31 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-4.6 dB at 30 Hz) | Falls 6 dB below target at 27 Hz (-5.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Open | Open |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic | Dynamic |
| Impedance | 16 ohms | 62 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 93 dB | 105 dB/mW |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (399 g) | 0.5 lbs (235 g) |
| Frequency Response | 8Hz - 55kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 10Hz - 39.8kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for HIFIMAN Ananda Stealth:
- Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X vs HIFIMAN Ananda Stealth
- HIFIMAN Ananda Stealth vs Sennheiser HD 400 Pro
- AKG K701 vs Audio-Technica ATH-MSR7b
- AKG K701 vs Sivga Oriole
- AKG K701 vs AKG K702
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
HIFIMAN Ananda Stealth: $249.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: A preference score of 88 and a neutral tilt show a tuning that tracks the Harman target well, with bass from 60 to 200 Hz about 1 dB above target and presence about 1.6 dB above for added clarity. It is easy to drive at 16 ohms and 93 dB, so a phone or laptop can power it. It has the same rating as the Beyerdynamic DT 880 and Sennheiser HD 505.
Cons: An 8.8 dB dip near 9.5 kHz sits beside a 6.6 dB peak at 11.9 kHz, and the air band is about 4 dB high, so the treble can sound uneven and bright. Low mids are lifted about 1.7 dB and sub-bass is about 3 dB light under 60 Hz. The open back leaks sound and gives no isolation, and it weighs 399 g.
Full HIFIMAN Ananda Stealth review and specifications →
| Back | Open |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.09 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 8Hz - 55kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 88 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 16 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 93 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-4.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.03 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (399 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -4.6 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 | +5.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 84 Hz | -2.7 dB | 0.32 |
| Peak | 2,044 Hz | +4.1 dB | 2.00 |
| Peak | 3,064 Hz | -3.3 dB | 2.02 |
| Peak | 1,428 Hz | +2.0 dB | 3.19 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -4.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 6,231 Hz | -2.0 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 5,374 Hz | +2.1 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 965 Hz | -1.1 dB | 5.99 |
| Peak | 119 Hz | +0.3 dB | 2.44 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
AKG K701: $249.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: A preference score of 83 with a deviation of 2.14 dB shows a smooth response. Bass from 60 to 200 Hz is about 1.6 dB above target and low mids about 2.3 dB above, giving warm, full vocals and bass guitar, while treble from 6 to 10 kHz lands within 0.2 dB of target. At 62 ohms and 105 dB/mW sensitivity it runs fine from most sources, and 235 g is light. It costs less than the AKG K702 at the same rating.
Cons: A 4.2 dB peak near 5.9 kHz can add some edge to vocals and sibilants. Sub-bass is about 3.5 dB under target, and the low mids may sound slightly thick on busy mixes. The open back leaks sound and offers no isolation.
Full AKG K701 review and specifications →
| Back | Open |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.14 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 39.8kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 83 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 62 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 105 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 27 Hz (-5.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.31 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (235 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.1 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 | +7.5 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 131 Hz | -4.1 dB | 0.21 |
| Peak | 937 Hz | +3.7 dB | 0.65 |
| Peak | 2,378 Hz | -3.3 dB | 2.56 |
| Peak | 3,536 Hz | +3.6 dB | 3.04 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -0.6 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 5,837 Hz | -2.9 dB | 5.42 |
| Peak | 55 Hz | -0.9 dB | 1.90 |
| Peak | 116 Hz | +1.2 dB | 3.55 |
| Peak | 27 Hz | +0.7 dB | 3.27 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons