Short answer: the HIFIMAN HE-R9, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #210 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 1.6/5, at $79. The AKG K92 ranks #215, rated 1.0/5, at $69.95, $9.05 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 216 over-ear headphones, and the Mackie MC-250, ranked #54 at $89.99, is a better place to start if sound quality matters.
The HIFIMAN HE-R9 is the better-sounding choice. Listeners who want a big bass boost get one, with the 60 to 200 Hz range about 8 dB above target and sub-bass extending to 20 Hz with no roll-off. The tradeoff: A preference score of 28 in oratory1990’s measurement reflects a heavily skewed tuning, with bass and low mids swelling over the midrange so voices sound muffled and boomy.
Why pick the AKG K92: The closed-back design isolates noise at home or in the office, and the 32 ohm impedance with 113 dB sensitivity means a phone or laptop drives it to full volume without an amp. Watch for: The response is far from the Harman target, with a preference score of only 3 and a very uneven 6.33 dB deviation.
Buy the HIFIMAN HE-R9. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $9.05 with the AKG K92 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| HIFIMAN HE-R9 | AKG K92 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $79.00 | $69.95 |
| Ranked | #210 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #215 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 28 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 3 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 4.30 dB standard deviation | 6.33 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -2.05 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -2.06 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+1.0 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+1.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Impedance | 32 ohms | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB | 113 dB SPL/V |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (328 g) | 0.4 lbs (200 g) |
| Frequency Response | 15Hz - 35kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 16Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
| Drivers | 1 x 50mm dynamic | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More top alternatives to HIFIMAN HE-R9:
- Sennheiser HD 450BT vs HIFIMAN HE-R9
- HIFIMAN HE-R9 vs Sennheiser HD 569
- HIFIMAN HE-R9 vs Razer Barracuda X
- AKG K92 vs Razer Barracuda X
- AKG K72 vs AKG K92
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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Headphones In Full
HIFIMAN HE-R9: $79.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: Listeners who want a big bass boost get one, with the 60 to 200 Hz range about 8 dB above target and sub-bass extending to 20 Hz with no roll-off. The closed back keeps sound in and outside noise out. At 32 ohms it runs straight from a phone or laptop.
Cons: A preference score of 28 in oratory1990’s measurement reflects a heavily skewed tuning, with bass and low mids swelling over the midrange so voices sound muffled and boomy. A 7.6 dB peak near 8 kHz next to a 4.8 dB dip near 10 kHz makes treble uneven. At 328 g it is heavy for a closed headphone, and the Logitech G Pro X carries a higher rating.
Full HIFIMAN HE-R9 review and specifications →
| Released | Feb 2022 (4 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 4.30 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 50mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 15Hz - 35kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 28 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+1.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -2.05 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (328 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 | +5.9 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 127 Hz | -7.4 dB | 0.18 |
| Peak | 1,761 Hz | +6.8 dB | 0.80 |
| Peak | 448 Hz | +6.6 dB | 1.69 |
| Peak | 57 Hz | -3.1 dB | 0.69 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -3.5 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 4,215 Hz | +3.4 dB | 1.24 |
| Peak | 3,235 Hz | -5.0 dB | 3.16 |
| Peak | 258 Hz | -1.6 dB | 4.22 |
| Peak | 205 Hz | +1.2 dB | 3.57 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
AKG K92: $69.95 Amazon eBay
Pros: The closed-back design isolates noise at home or in the office, and the 32 ohm impedance with 113 dB sensitivity means a phone or laptop drives it to full volume without an amp. At 200 g it is light for a full-size headphone. It suits listeners who want a bass-heavy, warm tuning, since bass sits about 7.6 dB above the Harman target.
Cons: The response is far from the Harman target, with a preference score of only 3 and a very uneven 6.33 dB deviation. A 9 dB dip near 2.9 kHz pulls vocals and instrument body backward, while a 9.6 dB peak near 6.7 kHz makes cymbals and sibilants sharp. Bass and low mids are boosted by roughly 6 to 8 dB, so music sounds thick and boomy.
Full AKG K92 review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 6.33 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 16Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 3 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 113 dB SPL/V |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+1.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -2.06 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs (200 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -7.1 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 | -4.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 150 Hz | -11.1 dB | 0.73 |
| Peak | 1,874 Hz | +7.2 dB | 0.85 |
| Peak | 77 Hz | +10.4 dB | 1.43 |
| Peak | 508 Hz | -4.1 dB | 2.97 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +0.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 6,500 Hz | -6.8 dB | 5.23 |
| Peak | 3,179 Hz | +2.3 dB | 4.30 |
| Peak | 1,201 Hz | +2.1 dB | 4.75 |
| Peak | 864 Hz | -1.8 dB | 4.08 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons