Short answer: the Sendy Peacock. It ranks #150 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.3/5, at $1,499; the Audio-Technica ATH-AWAS ranks #166, rated 3.0/5, at $1,499. Close enough in price that the sound-quality gap is the deciding factor.
Why pick the Sendy Peacock: The open-back 88mm planar driver gives a spacious presentation, and at 50 ohms and 103 dB sensitivity it is easy enough to drive from a modest amp or dongle. The tradeoff: Presence is about 4 dB low and a 8.7 dB dip near 9.9 kHz softens cymbals and string detail, so the top end sounds subdued.
What the Audio-Technica ATH-AWAS does well: A wired closed-back headphone with a large 53mm driver, 40 ohms and 99 dB/mW sensitivity, which a phone can drive at moderate volumes though a headphone amplifier will suit it better. The catch: The response is fairly uneven, with a standard deviation near 3.7 dB.
Buy the Sendy Peacock. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Audio-Technica ATH-AWAS at the same price, 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
| Sendy Peacock | Audio-Technica ATH-AWAS | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,499.00 | $1,499.00 |
| Ranked | #150 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #166 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 65 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 60 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.78 dB standard deviation | 3.69 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.90 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.53 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 40 Hz (-7.1 dB at 30 Hz) | - |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Open | Closed |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 88mm planar magnetic | 1 x 53mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 50 ohms | 40 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 103 dB | 99 dB/mW |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (578 g) | 0.9 lbs (395 g) |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 5Hz - 42kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More top alternatives to Sendy Peacock:
- Denon AH-D9200 vs Sendy Peacock
- Audeze MM-500 vs Sendy Peacock
- Sendy Peacock vs Fostex TH900mk2
- Fostex TH900mk2 vs Audio-Technica ATH-AWAS
- Audio-Technica ATH-AWAS vs Beyerdynamic DT 1350
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
Sendy Peacock: $1,499.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: The open-back 88mm planar driver gives a spacious presentation, and at 50 ohms and 103 dB sensitivity it is easy enough to drive from a modest amp or dongle. Bass from 60 to 200 Hz lands almost exactly on target, and low mids are slightly full at about 1.6 dB above it, giving a warm, smooth tone.
Cons: Presence is about 4 dB low and a 8.7 dB dip near 9.9 kHz softens cymbals and string detail, so the top end sounds subdued. Sub-bass is roughly 5 dB under target. At 578 g it is heavy, and the open back leaks sound and offers no isolation.
Full Sendy Peacock review and specifications →
| Released | Aug 2023 (3 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.78 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic |
| Drivers | 1 x 88mm planar magnetic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 65 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 50 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 103 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 40 Hz (-7.1 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.90 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (578 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -5.7 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 | +6.3 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 127 Hz | -3.6 dB | 0.26 |
| Peak | 4,272 Hz | +3.4 dB | 0.39 |
| Peak | 10,000 Hz | +1.2 dB | 1.54 |
| Peak | 974 Hz | -3.5 dB | 2.18 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -4.5 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 4,260 Hz | +2.8 dB | 3.45 |
| Peak | 2,978 Hz | -2.7 dB | 2.66 |
| Peak | 1,869 Hz | +2.6 dB | 4.50 |
| Peak | 64 Hz | -0.6 dB | 2.10 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Audio-Technica ATH-AWAS: $1,499.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: A wired closed-back headphone with a large 53mm driver, 40 ohms and 99 dB/mW sensitivity, which a phone can drive at moderate volumes though a headphone amplifier will suit it better. Its Harman preference score of 60 in crinacle’s measurement shows a response that is reasonably close to target. The rated range of 5 Hz to 42 kHz points to a wide, extended design.
Cons: The response is fairly uneven, with a standard deviation near 3.7 dB. At 395 g it is heavy for long sessions, and it has no wireless option or microphone. The price is extremely high for this score, and the Focal Elear has a higher rating for less money.
Full Audio-Technica ATH-AWAS review and specifications →
| Released | Nov 2019 (6 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.69 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 53mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 42kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 60 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 40 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 99 dB/mW |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.53 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (395 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 | +6.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 7,334 Hz | +6.5 dB | 0.38 |
| Peak | 258 Hz | -3.4 dB | 0.58 |
| Peak | 1,856 Hz | -4.5 dB | 1.50 |
| Peak | 4,512 Hz | -6.3 dB | 3.33 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -3.9 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 167 Hz | +2.0 dB | 3.76 |
| Peak | 97 Hz | -1.9 dB | 3.56 |
| Peak | 59 Hz | +0.6 dB | 1.80 |
| Peak | 230 Hz | -1.0 dB | 3.01 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons