Short answer: the HIFIMAN Edition XV. It ranks #84 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.9/5, at $399; the AKG K712 ranks #100, rated 3.8/5, and costs $465, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
What the HIFIMAN Edition XV does well: Its open back planar driver scores 79.8 for preference in the median of 8 squig.link measurements, a strong result for an open headphone. Watch for: An 8.7 dB dip near 9.7 kHz dulls cymbal shimmer and sibilance, and sub-bass falls about 4 dB short below 60 Hz, as open planars often do.
The case for the AKG K712: The open back gives a wide, airy presentation with a flat midrange, presence and treble within about 0.3 dB of the target between 3 and 10 kHz. Watch for: Sub-bass is about 3.7 dB under target and the low mids are about 3 dB hot, so music sounds a touch thick in the midrange while the deepest bass lacks rumble.
Buy the HIFIMAN Edition XV. It is rated higher for sound quality than the AKG K712 and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| HIFIMAN Edition XV | AKG K712 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399.00 | $465.00 |
| Ranked | #84 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #100 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 79 (median of 9 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 77 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.18 dB standard deviation | 2.51 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.44 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.40 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 27 Hz (-5.8 dB at 30 Hz) | Falls 6 dB below target at 34 Hz (-6.5 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Open | Open |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic | Dynamic |
| Impedance | 12 ohms | 62 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 92 dB | 105 dB/mW |
| Weight | 1 lbs (452 g) | 0.5 lbs (235 g) |
| Frequency Response | 8Hz - 50kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 10Hz - 39.8kHz |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
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- HarmonicDyne Romantic vs HIFIMAN Edition XV
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- HIFIMAN Edition XV vs Sennheiser HD 660S2
- HIFIMAN Edition XV vs Sennheiser HD 490 Pro
- AKG K712 vs Focal Azurys
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 Edition XV: $399.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: Its open back planar driver scores 79.8 for preference in the median of 8 squig.link measurements, a strong result for an open headphone. Bass from 60 to 200 Hz sits right on target, so bass guitar and cello come through full and clean. A gentle warm tilt and a 2.3 dB lift in the 10 to 16 kHz air band keep it airy without harshness.
Cons: An 8.7 dB dip near 9.7 kHz dulls cymbal shimmer and sibilance, and sub-bass falls about 4 dB short below 60 Hz, as open planars often do. Sensitivity of 92 dB is low for an over-ear, so a phone will struggle and a desktop amp is the better partner. The open back leaks sound and blocks no outside noise, and the 452 g weight is heavy. See headphone amps and DACs with enough power to drive it.
Full HIFIMAN Edition XV review and specifications →
| Released | Sep 2025 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.18 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 8Hz - 50kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 79 (median of 9 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 12 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 92 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 27 Hz (-5.8 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.44 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 1 lbs (452 g) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
AKG K712: $465.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: The open back gives a wide, airy presentation with a flat midrange, presence and treble within about 0.3 dB of the target between 3 and 10 kHz. Bass from 60 to 200 Hz is about 1.4 dB warm, which adds a little body. At 235 g it is light, and 105 dB/mW sensitivity is high for a 62 ohm design.
Cons: Sub-bass is about 3.7 dB under target and the low mids are about 3 dB hot, so music sounds a touch thick in the midrange while the deepest bass lacks rumble. A 6 dB dip near 9.4 kHz and a 3.8 dB peak near 5.9 kHz make treble slightly uneven. The open design leaks sound and offers no isolation, and the Austrian Audio Hi-X65 matches its rating for a lower price.
Full AKG K712 review and specifications →
| Back | Open |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.51 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 39.8kHz |
| Harman Preference Score | 77 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 62 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 105 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 34 Hz (-6.5 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.40 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (235 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -5.8 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 | 143 Hz | -3.6 dB | 0.23 |
| Peak | 1,217 Hz | +5.0 dB | 1.43 |
| Peak | 3,049 Hz | +4.8 dB | 3.18 |
| Peak | 2,178 Hz | -3.4 dB | 3.30 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -0.3 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 5,868 Hz | -2.6 dB | 5.87 |
| Peak | 67 Hz | -0.6 dB | 1.75 |
| Peak | 157 Hz | +0.9 dB | 1.87 |
| Peak | 243 Hz | -0.5 dB | 2.27 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons