Short answer: the HIFIMAN Audivina. It ranks #79 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.9/5, at $634.42; the Focal Spirit Classic ranks #99, rated 3.8/5, and costs $672.53, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
The case for the HIFIMAN Audivina: The closed back planar design isolates noise and keeps sound from leaking, which suits shared rooms better than most planar headphones. The catch: Sub-bass is about 8 dB below target under 60 Hz and the rest of the spectrum sits a couple of dB under, so deep bass and kick drum impact are lacking and the presentation can feel thin and laid back.
Why pick the Focal Spirit Classic: The response is smooth, with a deviation of only 2.15 dB around the target, so tonal balance sounds coherent without sharp spikes. The catch: Sub-bass is about 3 dB light and the upper mids, presence and treble all run roughly 2.5 dB under target, giving a warm, slightly veiled tilt that softens detail.
Buy the HIFIMAN Audivina. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Focal Spirit Classic and costs less, 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
| HIFIMAN Audivina | Focal Spirit Classic | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $634.42 | $672.53 |
| Ranked | #79 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #99 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 80 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 77 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.41 dB standard deviation | 2.15 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.27 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.65 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 38 Hz (-8.0 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-4.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic | Dynamic |
| Impedance | 20 ohms | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 97 dB | 102 dB SPL/mW |
| Weight | 1 lbs (470 g) | 0.7 lbs (310 g) |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 55kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 5Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | - | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How HIFIMAN Audivina compares with other leading options:
- Fosi Audio i5 vs HIFIMAN Audivina
- Cleer Next vs HIFIMAN Audivina
- Focal Spirit Classic vs Neumann NDH30
- Cleer Next vs Focal Spirit Classic
- Focal Spirit Classic vs Meze 109 Pro
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 Audivina: $634.42 Amazon eBay
Pros: The closed back planar design isolates noise and keeps sound from leaking, which suits shared rooms better than most planar headphones. Its preference score of 80 and a deviation of about 2.4 dB show a fairly smooth response, with no single large peak (the highest is about 2.5 dB near 6.1 kHz). At 20 ohms and 97 dB sensitivity it is easy to drive from a phone or laptop dongle and it rates higher than the AKG K712 while costing more.
Cons: Sub-bass is about 8 dB below target under 60 Hz and the rest of the spectrum sits a couple of dB under, so deep bass and kick drum impact are lacking and the presentation can feel thin and laid back. A 7 dB dip near 7.2 kHz takes the edge off cymbals and sibilance, and presence around 3 to 6 kHz is about 3 dB low, which can push vocals back. At 470 g it is on the heavy side.
Full HIFIMAN Audivina review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.41 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 55kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 80 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 20 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 97 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 38 Hz (-8.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.27 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 1 lbs (470 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.4 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 | +6.9 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 923 Hz | -6.5 dB | 2.05 |
| Peak | 295 Hz | +4.5 dB | 1.71 |
| Peak | 71 Hz | -5.8 dB | 1.06 |
| Peak | 3,635 Hz | +3.4 dB | 3.23 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -3.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 5,959 Hz | -4.3 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 1,870 Hz | +1.7 dB | 4.35 |
| Peak | 599 Hz | +2.0 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 727 Hz | -1.7 dB | 5.75 |
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Focal Spirit Classic: $672.53 Amazon eBay
Pros: The response is smooth, with a deviation of only 2.15 dB around the target, so tonal balance sounds coherent without sharp spikes. Bass at 60 to 200 Hz is within half a dB of the target and a slight lift in the low mids adds body to vocals and guitars. At 32 ohms and 102 dB/mW it runs fine from a phone, and the closed back at 310 g is portable enough for daily use.
Cons: Sub-bass is about 3 dB light and the upper mids, presence and treble all run roughly 2.5 dB under target, giving a warm, slightly veiled tilt that softens detail. A 5.5 dB dip near 7.5 kHz takes some edge off cymbals. It costs far more than the AKG K712 for an equal rating.
Full Focal Spirit Classic review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.15 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 77 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 102 dB SPL/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-4.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.65 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (310 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -3.2 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 | +2.6 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 544 Hz | -3.4 dB | 0.41 |
| Peak | 2,189 Hz | +4.1 dB | 0.69 |
| Peak | 7,443 Hz | +2.6 dB | 4.61 |
| Peak | 103 Hz | -1.2 dB | 1.52 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -0.8 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 4,490 Hz | +1.6 dB | 5.05 |
| Peak | 3,885 Hz | -1.4 dB | 4.10 |
| Peak | 5,059 Hz | +1.0 dB | 4.56 |
| Peak | 6,119 Hz | -1.1 dB | 6.00 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons