Short answer: the HIFIMAN Mini Shangri-La. It ranks #140 of 481 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.9/5, at $859; the Aurorus Audio Borealis ranks #186, rated 3.7/5, and costs $899.99, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
The case for the HIFIMAN Mini Shangri-La: The median of 3 hobbyist measurements gives it a very good Harman preference score of 79 with a 2.22 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 0.5 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural. Watch for: Sub-bass is 11.1 dB short at 30 Hz, so deep bass lacks rumble.
Why pick the Aurorus Audio Borealis: A broadly balanced tuning with a preference score of 76 against the Harman target. The tradeoff: About 7 dB less bass than the Harman target below 150 Hz, which can sound thin on pop, hip hop and electronic music.
Buy the HIFIMAN Mini Shangri-La. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Aurorus Audio Borealis and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
The median of 3 hobbyist measurements gives it a very good Harman preference score of 79 with a 2.22 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 0.5 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural.
Amazon $859.00 eBay
A broadly balanced tuning with a preference score of 76 against the Harman target.
Aurorus Audio $899.99 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 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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Specifications Side By Side
| HIFIMAN Mini Shangri-La | Aurorus Audio Borealis | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $859.00 | $899.99 |
| Ranked | #140 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones | #186 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 79 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 76 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.22 dB standard deviation | 2.73 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.39 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | +0.21 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 53 Hz (-11.1 dB at 30 Hz) | Falls 6 dB below target at 47 Hz (-9.4 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired (3.5mm detachable) |
| Back | Open | Open |
| Driver Type | Electrostatic | Dynamic |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (320 g) | - |
| Frequency Response | 7Hz - 90kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
| Drivers | - | 1 Dynamic (50mm) |
Frequency Response Compared
Both headphones’ measurements overlaid on the Harman target. Above the target sounds louder in that range, below it quieter. Each curve is the median of several independent measurements, shifted so its 500 Hz to 2 kHz average sits at 0 dB, so only the tuning is compared.
Measurement data: the HIFIMAN Mini Shangri-La from gadgetrytech, sai and vsg; the Aurorus Audio Borealis from capraaudio, hadoe, listener and ragnarok, all via squig.link.
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