Short answer: the HIFIMAN Mini Shangri-La. It ranks #87 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.9/5, at $859. The Meze 109 Pro ranks #91, rated 3.8/5, at $799, $60 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
Why pick the Meze 109 Pro: The open back has a warm, full tuning, with bass from 60 to 200 Hz about 2 dB above target and low mids 2.2 dB above, giving music weight and body. The catch: A 6.3 dB dip near 9.5 kHz sits next to a 4.5 dB peak near 7.4 kHz, so cymbals and sibilants sound uneven.
Buy the HIFIMAN Mini Shangri-La. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $60 you would save on the Meze 109 Pro does not close the gap.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| HIFIMAN Mini Shangri-La | Meze 109 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $859.00 | $799.00 |
| Ranked | #87 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #91 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 79 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 78 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.22 dB standard deviation | 2.25 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.39 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.50 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 53 Hz (-11.1 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-4.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Open | Open |
| Driver Type | Electrostatic | Dynamic |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (320 g) | 0.8 lbs (375 g) |
| Frequency Response | 7Hz - 90kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 5Hz - 30kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
| Drivers | - | 1 x 50mm dynamic |
| Impedance | - | 40 ohms |
| Sensitivity | - | 112 dB SPL/mW |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How HIFIMAN Mini Shangri-La compares with other leading options:
- HIFIMAN HE6se V2 vs HIFIMAN Mini Shangri-La
- Cleer Next vs HIFIMAN Mini Shangri-La
- HIFIMAN Mini Shangri-La vs Focal Bathys
- Meze 109 Pro vs Focal Bathys
- Meze 109 Pro vs Denon AH-D5200
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 Mini Shangri-La: $859.00 Amazon eBay
Full HIFIMAN Mini Shangri-La review and specifications →
| Released | Jun 2024 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.22 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Electrostatic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 7Hz - 90kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 79 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 53 Hz (-11.1 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.39 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (320 g) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Meze 109 Pro: $799.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: The open back has a warm, full tuning, with bass from 60 to 200 Hz about 2 dB above target and low mids 2.2 dB above, giving music weight and body. Treble and air are lifted, with the top octave about 4.7 dB above target, which adds some openness. It uses a single 50 mm dynamic driver, runs at 40 ohms and 112 dB SPL per milliwatt so a phone can drive it, and the preference score is 78.
Cons: A 6.3 dB dip near 9.5 kHz sits next to a 4.5 dB peak near 7.4 kHz, so cymbals and sibilants sound uneven. The upper mids are about 1.8 dB low, which pulls vocals back slightly. It costs well above the HIFIMAN Audivina yet rates lower, and at 375 g it is heavier than some alternatives.
Full Meze 109 Pro review and specifications →
| Back | Open |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.25 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 50mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 30kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 78 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 40 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 112 dB SPL/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-4.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.50 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (375 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -5.3 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 | +7.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 72 Hz | -4.2 dB | 0.25 |
| Peak | 2,028 Hz | +5.6 dB | 1.63 |
| Peak | 2,856 Hz | -1.9 dB | 4.04 |
| Peak | 83 Hz | -1.2 dB | 1.11 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -4.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 8,692 Hz | +1.6 dB | 2.63 |
| Peak | 825 Hz | -0.9 dB | 2.44 |
| Peak | 475 Hz | +0.4 dB | 1.32 |
| Peak | 4,705 Hz | +1.3 dB | 6.00 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons