Short answer: the OLLO S4R. It ranks #171 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.0/5, at $289; the Focal Listen Professional ranks #177, rated 2.9/5, and costs $329, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The case for the OLLO S4R: It is a closed back wired headphone with a 50 ohm, 106 dB SPL sensitive 50 mm driver that plays loudly from a phone or interface without a dedicated amp. The catch: Its preference score is only 60.0 with a 3.28 dB deviation, so the tonal balance is uneven overall.
Why pick the Focal Listen Professional: A closed back headphone with a 32 ohm impedance and 122 dB/V sensitivity, so it plays loud straight from a phone. The tradeoff: A preference score of 58 in crinacle’s measurement means its tuning lands well away from what most listeners prefer, so expect an audibly colored sound.
Buy the OLLO S4R. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Focal Listen Professional and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| OLLO S4R | Focal Listen Professional | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $289.00 | $329.00 |
| Ranked | #171 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #177 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 60 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 58 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 3.28 dB standard deviation | 3.89 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.85 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | +0.48 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.6 dB at 30 Hz) | - |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 50mm dynamic | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 50 ohms | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 106 dB SPL @ 0 dBu | 122 dB SPL/V |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (420 g) | 0.6 lbs (280 g) |
| Frequency Response | 15Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 5Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How OLLO S4R compares with other leading options:
- Sony MDR-M1ST vs OLLO S4R
- OLLO S4R vs Austrian Audio Hi-X55
- Sony MDR-M1ST vs Focal Listen Professional
- Austrian Audio Hi-X55 vs Focal Listen Professional
- Focal Listen Professional vs KLH Ultimate One
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
OLLO S4R: $289.00 OLLO Audio eBay
Pros: It is a closed back wired headphone with a 50 ohm, 106 dB SPL sensitive 50 mm driver that plays loudly from a phone or interface without a dedicated amp. In oratory1990’s measurement, bass holds within 2 dB of target at 30 Hz and upper bass gets a 2.5 dB lift, which suits listeners who like a warm, bass forward tone. It is rated a touch higher than the more expensive Austrian Audio Hi-X55 and Focal Listen Professional.
Cons: Its preference score is only 60.0 with a 3.28 dB deviation, so the tonal balance is uneven overall. A deep 13.9 dB dip near 7 kHz and treble averaging 5.7 dB below target from 6 to 10 kHz make cymbals and detail sound muffled. At 420 g it is also on the heavy side.
Full OLLO S4R review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.28 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 50mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 15Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 60 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 50 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 106 dB SPL @ 0 dBu |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.85 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (420 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.2 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 | 188 Hz | -5.9 dB | 0.48 |
| Peak | 409 Hz | +9.7 dB | 1.70 |
| Peak | 2,060 Hz | -3.3 dB | 2.18 |
| Peak | 7,656 Hz | +4.9 dB | 3.00 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -0.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 36 Hz | +3.9 dB | 4.97 |
| Peak | 51 Hz | -1.8 dB | 2.71 |
| Peak | 3,962 Hz | -2.9 dB | 5.89 |
| Peak | 3,178 Hz | +2.9 dB | 6.00 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Focal Listen Professional: $329.00 B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: A closed back headphone with a 32 ohm impedance and 122 dB/V sensitivity, so it plays loud straight from a phone. At 280 g it is moderately light, and it includes a built in microphone. It is rated above the Beats Studio3 Wireless.
Cons: A preference score of 58 in crinacle’s measurement means its tuning lands well away from what most listeners prefer, so expect an audibly colored sound. It is wired only, with no wireless or noise cancelling features.
Full Focal Listen Professional review and specifications →
| Released | 2018 (8 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.89 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 58 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 122 dB SPL/V |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.48 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (280 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 | +5.8 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 294 Hz | -5.6 dB | 0.47 |
| Peak | 3,379 Hz | +7.4 dB | 1.68 |
| Peak | 126 Hz | +5.5 dB | 0.87 |
| Peak | 4,799 Hz | -4.8 dB | 2.25 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -5.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 9,268 Hz | +1.8 dB | 2.61 |
| Peak | 1,675 Hz | -1.1 dB | 4.47 |
| Peak | 2,125 Hz | +0.7 dB | 3.56 |
| Peak | 632 Hz | +0.4 dB | 3.00 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons