Short answer: the HIFIMAN Ananda Stealth. Both are rated 4.3/5 for sound quality (#25 and #27 of 216 over-ear headphones), and the HIFIMAN Ananda Stealth costs $249 against $279 for the Sennheiser HD 400 Pro, and with sound quality even, the cheaper one is the better buy.
The case for 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 tradeoff: 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.
Buy the HIFIMAN Ananda Stealth. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $30 less than the Sennheiser HD 400 Pro.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| HIFIMAN Ananda Stealth | Sennheiser HD 400 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $249.00 | $279.00 |
| Ranked | #25 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #27 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 88 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 88 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.09 dB standard deviation | 1.57 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 32 Hz (-6.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Open | Open |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic | Dynamic |
| Impedance | 16 ohms | 120 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 93 dB | 110 dB SPL/V |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (399 g) | 0.5 lbs (240 g) |
| Frequency Response | 8Hz - 55kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 6Hz - 38kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
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 AKG K701
- Sennheiser HD 600 vs Sennheiser HD 400 Pro
- Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X vs Sennheiser HD 400 Pro
- Sennheiser HD 505 vs Sennheiser HD 650
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
Sennheiser HD 400 Pro: $279.00 Amazon eBay
Full Sennheiser HD 400 Pro review and specifications →
| Released | Nov 2021 (4 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.57 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 6Hz - 38kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 88 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 120 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 110 dB SPL/V |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 32 Hz (-6.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.31 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (240 g) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons